Where the Heck is Maria Bluff?

Knolmom · Post by **Knolmom** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:19 am

We are just finalizing our plans for our November trip. We are coming in 5 days ahead of the crowd and were thinking of renting Nautilus on Maria Bluff.
Do any of you who are familiar with that area know where Villa Nautilus is located?
I have read the reviews and folks say it has great views. I toured Beyond the Sea a few years ago, and was wondering if it was near that house, or near Seastone or Belvedere.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
We will be on St John Nov 5 to 16, the latter part of the trip will be at Sol Inclination, a new villa at Fish Bay.

kirk · Post by **kirk** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:39 am

i'll upload a pic. kirk
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7998196@N04/475631472/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/4756 ... 7817_o.jpg" width="1280" height="915" alt="2a"></a>

Knolmom · Post by **Knolmom** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 1:34 pm

Thanks so much. WOW-you are really good with this stuff. Tried to work with this google earth stuff last winter and did not have much luck with it.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:22 pm

Ask and ye shall receive...

I am going to Hale Lani in three weeks. (Three weeks!) I have been very nervous since there aren't many reviews, but it sounds like that's because people haven't really rented it yet. And yes, Peggy from DSJ indicated this was an introductory price.

It sounds like we made the right choice, and I promise that I'll give you a full report when I get back.

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:37 pm

Yay LULU! Can't wait to hear your report. Unless it is terrible, then don't post it until Nov. 14th when I will be on my way already

I am really curious about the bedrooms.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:40 pm

I know. I am too. I have seen the pictures of the upstairs ones, but I haven't seen anything downstairs. I hope they're OK.

I saw a kinda-sorta review on another Web site and she said they were all fine. I hope they are.

I just have a big group coming with me, and I don't want anyone to be disappointed. Some folks wanted to stay in other houses, and if anything goes wrong I'm sure it'll be my fault for letting Peggy talk me into Hale Lani! (I'm sure it'll be fine; I'm just a worry-wart.)

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:43 pm

Our group seems to keep growing...we started with just hubby & me, the two kiddos and gramma.

Now we have added another couple (we've traveled with them to STJ before and they meet all of RickG's criteria --- NO WHINING especially) & our babysitter. Hey the ticket was $230 and we'd already paid for the house it was a no brainer!

So now 6 adults & 2 kids. All I know is I get the best bedroom

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:46 pm

This was the review that I found on another Web site. It's not much, but it sounds good to me.

I just got back from Hale Lani and can say that it's just beautiful. Excellent views to St. Thomas, nicely appointed, airy. It has a smaller deck area around the pool (maybe an issue if you have a full house but fine for the two of us) -- but there is a lovely lani above the pool deck if you are looking to lounge in the shade or take a nap. The main building includes the kitchen/dining/living area. Attached by the lani is one king (two twins together) bedroom and bath -- almost as large as the master. On the opposite side is the master bedroom/bath (again two twins that make a king but feels fine). The lower level has two rooms that connect with a door. One has a queen and the other two twins. They share a large bath. The landscaping is beautiful, too. Overall there's nothing to be afraid of!

I told everyone that I get a bathroom with an open stone shower. That's my only requirement. There are nine of us now. There were eight, and we all split the house, but then another girl asked if she could come and pay the extra person fee. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. And who's really in the house enough to care if it stinks or not?

Rachelle & Joe · Post by **Rachelle & Joe** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:45 pm

awsome pic! thanks for posting it!!! can't wait for more reviews on hale lani! almost booked it for next spring but opted for miles away it had such great reviews! Thanks & have a great time! Rachelle & Joe:)

SanDiegoMark · Post by **SanDiegoMark** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:31 am

We've stayed on Maria Bluff some years back and loved it. It was actually our first trip to STJ. We stayed at Belle View which I don't believe is on the rental market anymore. Incredible sunsets, beautiful views. A friend did a walk through of your villa and highly recommended it to us for our June 08 trip. We ended up going with Anole, but my buddy really liked your choice and he visits STJ so much he's practically a resident.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:52 am

That is great to hear! I am really starting to get excited, and I'm a lot calmer now that I'm seeing some positive comments on Hale Lani. I know that Peggy wouldn't have recommended it, especially when I was looking at some places that were pricier, if it wasn't perfect for our group, but it's still hard when something's so new.

ScottB · Post by **ScottB** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:22 am

Kirk,

Thank you for that amazing aerial!! If that's Maria Bluff, Kirk, do you know which one Villa Belvedere is? We are very close to booking this for next year.

Thanks again!!

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:41 am

Just FYI on Hale Lani. I guess Peggy was right about giving those of us who booked it the first year an introductory rate, because when I went to show it to some of my friends who asked about our trip, the off-season rate is now about 20% more than what we paid.

I have a suspicion that we got a really good deal, although that means when I fall in love with it, I'll have to pay more next year.

I can't believe it's a little over two weeks. I totally need to start packing so I can see if I have the right luggage.

augie · Post by **augie** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:20 pm

kirk - you may have let the genie out of the bottle now!

Is there any way you could post one of those pictures showing Cielo Vista on Gift Hill Rd.?

I can certainly get by without one, but since we've never been anywhere but the north shore and one circumnavigation around the island (more or less) I'd like to be able to show my wife (OK - I would love to see it too - you caught me!).

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:32 pm

Scott, look at the houses on the furthest left of the map. See the one with the big red roof? That is, I think, a privately owned home, because there are always cars parked there with license plates that say "Jazz" and "Inn Love." They have a stone wall along the house that sparkles at night. The next house is Serenity, the house after that is Belvedere, I don't know the name of the next one, and the next house is Coqui. We've stayed at both Belvedere and Coqui.

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