Picking a House!

[flip-flop]

My spreadsheet is working overtime and has grown to 22 houses. I thought organizing things would help ... but not so much.

Our group - 6 adults, 3 kids (18, 7, 2.5 at the time of travel)

We want:

-5 bedrooms or 4 with an extra bed/loft something somewhere

-a/c in the bedrooms

-a GREAT pool

-prefer coral bay

-great views & solitude

-room to spread out

-child friendly/safe would be nice!

-Around $4000-6000 budget in the off season

Anyone know anything PRO or CON about these houses? Have I somehow missed the perfect house?

CORAL RAYS
MAISON MIELE
CASA LUNA
La Papaya
DeBolina
CASA DE SUENOS
VILLA RENDEZVOUS
CRYSTAL SEAVIEW
Ambiance
INDIGO
MYSTIC RIDGE
VISTAERO
SEA GATE
OCEANA
CHATEAU MARGOT
COCO CARIBE
RISTABA
OCEANA
CHATEAU MARGOT
MYSTIC RIDGE
VIDA DE MAR

[liamsaunt]

No AC at Maison Miele except in the guest cottage...it's been keeping us from staying there. I don't mind no AC sometimes but that close to the water I would be worried.

[RickG]

What, no Kismet?!

Chateau Margot has a North East exposure that minimizes sun time. I've stayed away for that reason. Nothingtolose and Cat loved Ristaba. Johns Folly Ocean Villa is something I'm going to drive by and check out - 6 bedrooms! Kalorama in VGE is looking interesting.

With this kind of group and price range I would probably call Destination St. John and have them do their thing. Their website NEVER has enough informatin. La Jolla Caribe looks good.

Cheers, RickG

[Kentuckygirl]

I've been trying to come up with something to add Flip-Flop, but they are either on you list, or not enought BRs. Francis Bay Estate has 5BRs and looks nice, but it is a little over budget.
RickG, That's the first that I have seen about Johns Folly Ocean Villa. It looks very interesting for a big group!

[mia]

We are looking at John's Folly Ocean Villa for our September trip...it looks amazing!

http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/johns-folly/index.html

FYI...It is not managed by CV, it is merely one of their listings. I consider this a "good thing".

[RickG]

As soon as I saw Johns Folly Ocean Villa I thought of Jorge. There's enough there to have nude and prude sides of the house with separate kitchens and pools.

Cheers, RickG

[flip-flop]

Thanks all ... as I feared it may just not exist this time. We may have to compromise

Kygirl - Francis Bay Estate is on my list if I win the lotto in the next few months it would be a done deal.

RickG - Very funny on Kismet. We can afford it if we cut the length of our stay from 9 nights to 1 night! That's where I'll be if I hit the powerball. I have contacted DSJ and they recommend La Papaya or a couple of options of separate houses close to one another.

The search continues....

[iowaguy]

flip Flop---Not sure if its your perfect house, but Villa Panache has 5BR plus a den/library adjacent to one of the masters that has a daybed. So you could be in the master with the daybed in the adjoining room for the little one. Then there are 4 separate bedrooms---all pretty private---for the others. Just a thought.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

We've stayed at Vistaero and have very much enjoyed it with our four kids (twice now) but it has it's quirks. However, it fits your bill pretty much on all fronts other than the fact that it's not in the Coral Bay area.

Please feel free to PM me or Pete or post specific questions about it here.

[RickG]

La Papaya looks okay and is the right price. Does it have an interior stairway? If not, it sounds like you can keep the little peeps upstairs nearby.

Cheers, RickG

[flip-flop]

Vistaero was my #1 until I talked to DSJ. Great looking house that lives large and was the right price. I am worried about the little ones. I want to be able to put them to bed and not worry about them being too far away from where we are hanging out.

I bugged Mr. Marcia about it a bit and based on that info it is still very much on the list.

But then again I am a worrier!

Hale Lani is similar in that two masters are upstairs and two lesser bedrooms were downstairs off of the driveway. I would have never put the kids down there alone! I want the kids sleeping nearby but not IN the room with us if possible.

I really do appreciate all of your help!!!

[papabou]

ff,

another option might be 2 adjoing villas. desstj handles temptress (2 bedrooms, one with twins and full ac) and treasure ridge (3 bdrms all ac, 2 on main level away from pool that open to entrance foyer with a huge great room/kitchen and adjoing covered porch large enough to handle your crowd). upper rockridge location has great panoramic & sunset views and still close to cruz bay.

papabou

[chicagoans]

I've been looking for a large villa in the Coral Bay area too, and it's hard to find one. Have you looked at Ixora? The pool looks great. Don't know if it has A/C but seems like it would get good breezes.
http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/ixora/ixora.html
Looks affordable too.

Also, kids could stay in upper level bedrooms, not pool level, which I liked.

[flip-flop]

Thanks Papa. Those are the two houses DSJ recommended, but I just can't see paying a combined total of that much for two houses. Plus, we are really trying to not be in the choc. hole area. Its gotten quite busy for our taste.

Chicagoans, I did take notice of Ixora but like a lot of CVs houses it looks a bit dated, and we have decided (not only because of the 5% thing) not to rent through CV anymore.

[RickG]

Ixor is near the North Shore Road/Centerline exchange and can get noisy during the day.

Cheers, RickG