Starting to plan next trip and need villa advise...

[Coden]

Ok - so we have another couple interested in going to STJ and sharing the cost of a villa. Yippee!!!

This will be in Sept - Nov of 2008 and we'll want a villa with a pool (with warm water), at least a/c in the bedrooms, if not the whole villa, and easy driveway access.

I would really like to stay within walking distance to Francis Bay, if possible. If not, I would like to be within walking distance to A beach.

We do not need anything lavish, just CLEAN, with a beautiful view and the above criteria.

We stayed in Coral Bay our 1st time and Loved It...we will stay anywhere though. Plus we are going for two full weeks so we need to make sure that we have the best villa for us.

Any suggestions for us??? Thanks bunches!!!

[Coden]

Oh, I have another question: Is it rainy season in Sept, Oct or Nov? Thnx!!

[Coden]

Or, maybe two apartments or condo's side by side that are oceanfront, easy access to the beach?

[mia]

Coden,
We stayed at Francis Bay Estate during the first two weeks of September last year. It is a beautiful villa, but we would not stay there again. The living area was unbearably hot for most of the day, the breezes were nonexistent plus the skeeters & noseeums were brutal. The villa faces due west, so the extreme rays hit it almost continuously. Even the fairly large pool was too warm to enjoy. If your trip is at the end of September, you might not encounter the same problems.

http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/ultimate/ ... /index.asp

Another villa in the same area is Sunnyledge...I believe that this is where VickiH recently stayed.

http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/vaca ... -1911.html

Carnival Beach House has always looked interesting to me for two couples, though I don't know anything about it and it's not near Francis Bay.

http://www.caribbeandays.com/stjohn/1be ... ouse.shtml

Good luck!....mia

Oh...we did not experience alot of rain, maybe one shower a day...maybe two.

[cypressgirl]

I'm trying to think of a good choice for you. When you say not lavish that pretty much rules out Peter Bay, but that is where you would find a North Shore beach to walk to, ac, nice pool, but very expensive.

On the budget side of things I have stayed at Cruz View condos right in town (up the road from Woody's), very reasonable, nice pool that no one seems to use, ac, and great view of the water and STT. Gallows point is also very nice had has great views, but you would need two units since they only have 1 bedroom, and I think you could get a nice villa for the price of 2 units at Gallows. Palm Terrace Villas are condos that are just past Gallows Point and they look great for the price. I think the 3 bedroom has the best view and you can walk to Frank Bay. (I think that's the name of the bay)

Next month I mentioned that I'm staying at La Mirimar. It is almost "in" the water it is so close, but it's rocky and not a north shore beach. But you can walk a short way to Chocolate Hole beach. It has full ac, very spacious, nice views, but only a small dipping pool. It is very reasonable and you can rent directly from the owner.

Terrahawk is a fully ac'd 2 bedroom right on Hawksnest, but it does not have a pool. But it is pretty reasonable.

On Francis Bay there is Francis Bay Estate, which would be perfect in every way except for the cost,(isn't that always the case) and Villa Serenity that is a modest 2 bedroom that has everything you want except a pool.

I'm sure I've been no help. I know others will have some more possibilities.

[Coden]

Thank you Mia and Cypressgirl. I will check your suggestions out.

I did check out the Carnival House and it seems great. I wonder how hard it is to get to the beach and back up? My friend has a gimpy leg, which gets gimpier when drinking!

[tropigal]

Carnival Beach House is right on Klein Bay Beach. Klein Bay Beach is a rocky beach with somewhat difficult access because of rocks and sea urchins--but once you get out into the bay the swimming is excellent, the snorkeling fair and the color of the turquoise water is spectacular.

[KPlumm]

Coden, we stayed at Rainbow Beach in Coral Bay about five years ago. It is on Johnson Bay and is right on the beach, although it is not a "north shore" type of beach. http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/rainbow/rainbow.html

The pictures are a bit out of date in that I don't recall much sand in front of the villa and there is not a four poster bed. My memory has dimmed somewhat, but I do recall that we really enjoyed the villa. The beach is pebbles and there is sea grass. You have a lovely view of Coral Bay and the passing boats. It has flat access roads and driveway. It is in between Shipwreck and Miss Lucys.

We stayed there with our three kids and my mother in November. I remember that the foecast was for rain every day and that I was freaking out, since we were bringing the family for their first time. I remember that the only rain we got was early morning - just enough to give us a lovely rainbow over Coral Bay at Rainbow beach.

[Coden]

Thank you Tropigal for that very important information - I think that would be too hard for my friend to get in and out of. Sometimes his leg just doesn't want to work and we can't have him falling on a sea urchin. Ouch!

KPlumm - Rainbow Beach looks lovely. We are having dinner with our friends on Wed. night so I'll show them this house and the others that I've collected. We may even try to get a 3rd couple involved since what I am finding are houses with 3 + bedrooms. Might as well split the cost up if we can.

Thanks everyone for your help!!

[tropigal]

Hi, Coden, FYI: Rainbow Beach, as with any direct waterfront, low-lying villa, can be very buggy: skeeters and no-see-ums. The skeeters depend on rainfall but the no-see-ums are bad at the shoreline in the early morning and early evening. The water there is also very shallow with a sea grass bottom--not great for either swimming or snorkeling. I'd recommend a hillside villa: better breezes , fewer bugs and, in my opinion, better, more panoramic views.There are tons of gorgeous hillside villas to choose from especially in low season when you're going..

[Coden]

Thanks for the great advice, Tropigal - I don't like no see-ums and other biting critters. Ugh!

We had such lovely breezes in Dec., at our house in Coral Bay. And were not bothered by bugs of any sort. And the view was awesome. I think we'll probably keep looking for someplace like that. A main criteria will be a pool though, they have a pool and are pool people and I think they would really miss one. Us, not so much, after being in the water all day snorkeling, we are ready to be dry. Ha!!

Thanks again!

[liamsaunt]

Forts Cove is beachfront, with full ac and a pool...see it here:

http://www.vivacations.com/viewproperty ... tyID=20468

Personally, I would rather be up on the hill but if you want waterfront this might work.

[bj]

Coden wrote:
Oh, I have another question: Is it rainy season in Sept, Oct or Nov? Thnx!!

Usually it never rains for very long. September is the very height of the hurricane season. October can be very humid.

[Coden]

Liamsaunt - Forts Cove is Awesome!! What a house. Thanks for telling me about it. We would definitely have to bring in a 3rd couple, if we want to do two fulls weeks.

bj - thank you for the weather info. I appreciate it.

[AquaLassie]

Coden - We had Forts Cove reserved for April 2008, but it has just been sold and is leaving the rental market. Also, I was told Spindrift (beachfront next door) will be off the rental market as of this July.

So our search is back on -- good luck with yours!