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DESPERATELY SEEKING VILLA HELP
DESPERATELY SEEKING VILLA HELP
Hi everyone, newbie here trying to plan a surprise trip for my husbands 50th within first three weeks of April. We were at St John once on a cruise and knew we wanted to return but not real familiar with everything. Trying to stay around Cruz Bay or north as we'll probably hit the north beaches and out for dinner several nights, don't want to push the driving on the left too much. Would like a pool, privacy and view for 2 with a budget in mind. Does anybody have any thoughts or experience with Villa Catalina or Sea Scape in Chocolate Hole or is Serenity Villa on Marias Bluff worth a little more? This is hard not having a second opinion! Any thoughts will be appreciated and thanks for the great info you have already shared on this forum!
Kay,
Welcome to the forum. Quick question...can you travel after April 15th? Many management companies consider this the beginning of low season now so this may save you some considerable money.
We're staying at Timeout in Chocolate Hole in February. My friends have stayed there and loved it. Check it out at: http://www.vrbo.com/57926
I've never stayed at any of the villas you mentioned. I did visit Sea Scape but it was under renovation. It is definitely an older villa but has amazing views.
Be sure to check out the villa reviews on this site under St. John. Also, do a search on the archives to see if you can see any other threads on these villas.
You are a great wife - your husband will love his gift and I'm sure you'll love St. John. This February will be our 13th trip!
Take care!
Welcome to the forum. Quick question...can you travel after April 15th? Many management companies consider this the beginning of low season now so this may save you some considerable money.
We're staying at Timeout in Chocolate Hole in February. My friends have stayed there and loved it. Check it out at: http://www.vrbo.com/57926
I've never stayed at any of the villas you mentioned. I did visit Sea Scape but it was under renovation. It is definitely an older villa but has amazing views.
Be sure to check out the villa reviews on this site under St. John. Also, do a search on the archives to see if you can see any other threads on these villas.
You are a great wife - your husband will love his gift and I'm sure you'll love St. John. This February will be our 13th trip!
Take care!
NancyB
Villa location maps
Most of the villas in the areas I liked best can be seen on the maps at these links, and info on these can uaually be found by doing a Google search on the villa name + "villa"...have fun...
There are also alot of villas that aren't on here too...
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php ... PHPSESSID=
There are also alot of villas that aren't on here too...
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php ... PHPSESSID=
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
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traveler22
- Posts: 853
- Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:17 pm
- Location: New Jersey
Kay-
If I give you my wife's cell phone # can you drop her some hints for my 45th B-day and while your at it, my 46th, 47th,48th etc. Great advice so far, especially about renting after April 15th, that will save you alot and you can probably get more villa for your budget. If you don't want to drive alot, try Gallows Point, you can walk to town, get taxi's to the beach and it has a pool that I've never seen anbody use when I stayed there.
Good Luck planning your trip!
If I give you my wife's cell phone # can you drop her some hints for my 45th B-day and while your at it, my 46th, 47th,48th etc. Great advice so far, especially about renting after April 15th, that will save you alot and you can probably get more villa for your budget. If you don't want to drive alot, try Gallows Point, you can walk to town, get taxi's to the beach and it has a pool that I've never seen anbody use when I stayed there.
Good Luck planning your trip!
Welcome to the forum Kay.
I've not stayed at Serenity, but I have stayed at its next door neighbor, Coqui, so I can tell you about the view! It's a great view, wide open to Pillsbury Sound, with views over to St. Thomas. Excellent sunsets, no other houses in your way. We could see part of Serenity's pool/deck from Coqui's deck, just fyi. The neighborhood is very quiet, and the drive is easy, on paved roads all the way. I'd estimate you are about 5 minutes from town in that location.
I hope this helps a little.
I've not stayed at Serenity, but I have stayed at its next door neighbor, Coqui, so I can tell you about the view! It's a great view, wide open to Pillsbury Sound, with views over to St. Thomas. Excellent sunsets, no other houses in your way. We could see part of Serenity's pool/deck from Coqui's deck, just fyi. The neighborhood is very quiet, and the drive is easy, on paved roads all the way. I'd estimate you are about 5 minutes from town in that location.
I hope this helps a little.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Welcome to the Forum, Kay!! You'll find ALOT of great info from alot of great people here!
We're staying at Time Out Villa in May & loved what we've read about it & heard from some reviews. The owner has been great to work with. Nancy_B will be having some great insight for us after their Feb. stay there!
Anyway, welome & enjoy your planning!
We're staying at Time Out Villa in May & loved what we've read about it & heard from some reviews. The owner has been great to work with. Nancy_B will be having some great insight for us after their Feb. stay there!
Anyway, welome & enjoy your planning!
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Rachelle & Joe
- Posts: 677
- Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:23 pm
- Location: ohio
villas
Hi Kay, have u looked at Cielo vista thru carefreegetaway's.com located on gift hill with amazing views & the price is right for off season! also Nancy, looking forward to your views on time out! & pianogirl, will be there also in May & will hopefully see u at Beach Bar & get your views on time out also! Good Luck Kay!
Hi Kay-
We stayed at Serenity over Thanksgiving. It is a nice villa with a spectacular view.
The villa has decks at pool level and near the kitchen. The pool is on the small side, but fine. You can see all of the cruise ships leaving at night (which was really beautiful) and you can see St. Thomas as well as distant islands on clear days. We spent 90% of our time on the deck. Then again, we were on the beaches the whole time and just at the villa late afternoon and evening. The furnishings are fine but on the basic side (rattan sofa with cushions, etc..) Everything was nice, clean and in working order (the ac broke once but was fixed the same day). The refrigerator was a little old and could have been a bit cooler but it wasn't a big deal.
The best thing about this villa is the view (and the management company was really good also-fixing ac same day). They left us a bunch of stuff the first night in the fridge. We absolutely loved being on Maria Bluff. We noted much fewer mosquitos being up there on the cliff with the breezes. The outdoor shower is wonderful and is open air facing the water (with trees between you and the water)
The down side of the villa-nothing really, but it is basic compared to some of the more luxurious villas. They had lots of books and cds which was great. We also liked the house being "seperate" from the sleeping areas, since we have kids. We would not hesitate at all to go back, but I have to say the next time we go to St. John we will still definitely shop around as we didn't fall head over heels in love with the villa either.
Hope this helps.
We stayed at Serenity over Thanksgiving. It is a nice villa with a spectacular view.
The villa has decks at pool level and near the kitchen. The pool is on the small side, but fine. You can see all of the cruise ships leaving at night (which was really beautiful) and you can see St. Thomas as well as distant islands on clear days. We spent 90% of our time on the deck. Then again, we were on the beaches the whole time and just at the villa late afternoon and evening. The furnishings are fine but on the basic side (rattan sofa with cushions, etc..) Everything was nice, clean and in working order (the ac broke once but was fixed the same day). The refrigerator was a little old and could have been a bit cooler but it wasn't a big deal.
The best thing about this villa is the view (and the management company was really good also-fixing ac same day). They left us a bunch of stuff the first night in the fridge. We absolutely loved being on Maria Bluff. We noted much fewer mosquitos being up there on the cliff with the breezes. The outdoor shower is wonderful and is open air facing the water (with trees between you and the water)
The down side of the villa-nothing really, but it is basic compared to some of the more luxurious villas. They had lots of books and cds which was great. We also liked the house being "seperate" from the sleeping areas, since we have kids. We would not hesitate at all to go back, but I have to say the next time we go to St. John we will still definitely shop around as we didn't fall head over heels in love with the villa either.
Hope this helps.
what villa is this? I could only find a villa serenity in coral bay.djmom wrote:Hi Kay-
We stayed at Serenity over Thanksgiving. It is a nice villa with a spectacular view.
The villa has decks at pool level and near the kitchen. The pool is on the small side, but fine. You can see all of the cruise ships leaving at night (which was really beautiful) and you can see St. Thomas as well as distant islands on clear days. We spent 90% of our time on the deck. Then again, we were on the beaches the whole time and just at the villa late afternoon and evening. The furnishings are fine but on the basic side (rattan sofa with cushions, etc..) Everything was nice, clean and in working order (the ac broke once but was fixed the same day). The refrigerator was a little old and could have been a bit cooler but it wasn't a big deal.
The best thing about this villa is the view (and the management company was really good also-fixing ac same day). They left us a bunch of stuff the first night in the fridge. We absolutely loved being on Maria Bluff. We noted much fewer mosquitos being up there on the cliff with the breezes. The outdoor shower is wonderful and is open air facing the water (with trees between you and the water)
The down side of the villa-nothing really, but it is basic compared to some of the more luxurious villas. They had lots of books and cds which was great. We also liked the house being "seperate" from the sleeping areas, since we have kids. We would not hesitate at all to go back, but I have to say the next time we go to St. John we will still definitely shop around as we didn't fall head over heels in love with the villa either.
Hope this helps.
http://www.vacationvistas.com/2007/sere ... _john.htmlmbw1024 wrote:
what villa is this? I could only find a villa serenity in coral bay.
Come see us!
Thanks for your responses, the search is still on.
The only review on them I found prior to posting was sailorgirls in recent years which made me uneasy.
Cielo Vista was booked and I'm checking on Time Out and others.
Even though the DH is turning 50, its nice to reap the benefits so I can put a good word in for ya traveler22!
The only review on them I found prior to posting was sailorgirls in recent years which made me uneasy.
Cielo Vista was booked and I'm checking on Time Out and others.
Even though the DH is turning 50, its nice to reap the benefits so I can put a good word in for ya traveler22!
http://www.caribehavens.com/casa_contant.htm
This looks like a cute place with a pool and nice view!
This looks like a cute place with a pool and nice view!
Villa Catalina
I stayed in Villa Catalina in 2005, and it was comfortable (but I'd use Sailorgirl's review over mine since she was there more recently), but I would choose the Maria Bluff location of Serenity. The view from Villa Catalina was great, but I prefer to be closer to the water, even right on it if possible. Coqui and Villa Serenity are both on the water out on Maria Bluff, so without having seen the inside of Serenity, I would pick that location over upper Chocolate Hole (Catalina's location).
Both Catalina and Serenity are on easy access, paved roads. When you pass the Westin, you make a left on Rock Ridge to head up towards Catalina, make a right to head out Maria Bluff toward Serenity.
Both Catalina and Serenity are on easy access, paved roads. When you pass the Westin, you make a left on Rock Ridge to head up towards Catalina, make a right to head out Maria Bluff toward Serenity.