Hooray - time to book the villa - need some thoughts!

[vi lover]

Finally able to officially plan/book villa for next February!!! 3 adult couples coming down. Wanting to stay closer to Cruz Bay side and easy access (not necessarily walking but not a big drive either) is what we want. Here are some villa "finalists". Any thoughts on location, amenities, value, cleanliness, etc would be greatly appreciated as I whittle it down to my final 3 (before presenting to the other couples for a final decision). Thanks!!!

La Barracuda
Villa Catalina
Sea View
Chez Shell
Southern Exposure (seems pretty far away from Cruz)
Finnestere
Wind Chime

Thanks again!!!

[Knolmom]

La Barracuda is a very old villa--I mean it was old when we looked at it in 1995. Dont much care for the location either.
Chez Shell has no pool. January is a hard month to say whether you would use the pool or not.
Windchime is also an older house.

[pswlrw]

I stayed at La Barracuda about 5 years ago. It is an older home and probably wouldn't recommend it. If you are looking for something well priced, take a look at Villa Villakula (seaviewhomes.com) It is close to Cruz Bay, right on the water and comes with kayaks. We really enjoyed it.

[petepie]

Stayed at Villa Cataline in 05. At that time, it was comfortable and good for our group of 2 couples. We used the upstairs bedrooms. Never went into the 3rd bedroom downstairs, but at the time it would not have been at all equal to the others -- no view, seemed a little dank down there. FYI the pool is very small, one of those "wally" pools (about 8 x 12 ft). The view was good, and the villa was good for our group. beds comfortable, A/C good, easy drive up rock ridge road, easy (but steep) driveway. I don't know how well it's been maintained since then.

[St. John Lover]

Perhaps Sapphire Breeze would work for you? It's nice & close to town but tucked away and quiet. It has a pool with a fountain, outdoor bathroom right down a couple steps from the pool, a hot tub, a huge stone dining table under a portico on the deck.

Downstairs is a bedroom suite with a kitchen and living area. Outside of it is a neat open bar area with a 'window' through which you can see into the lower part of the pool.

Upstairs is a bedroom suite off the pool deck--sliding doors open onto the pool deck.

Attached to the living area & kitchen upstairs is another bedroom suite as well as a 4th loft bedroom. All bedroom suites have a/c except for the upstairs loft bedroom which it doesn't seem you would need anyway. Plus in January it would be perfectly comfortable.