Why is the villa selction part so darn hard?

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:52 am

I feel like we search and search and search and still can not find the right one. You would think after living on the island, selling real estate and managing properties that this whole process would be easier but I am getting frustrated!

Does anyone else go out of their mind?

Diana2 · Post by **Diana2** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:00 am

I totally agree that the villa selection is the hardest part of the planning. There are so many choices and because there is not one comprehensive list you have to look through so many websites, it is very labor intensive. And I rule out the whole south side of the island (since my husband refuses to stay over there) and I still have lots to go through and keep up with but that's also part of the fun IMHO.

Jo Ann - VA · Post by **Jo Ann - VA** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:02 am

YES, I go crazy trying to narrow dowm the selection. I did a spread sheet this year. That helped tremendously. I forwarded it to the other two couples (newbies) and they choose the ones they liked. From that selection then I looked at the location, reviews etc and I choose the one I thought would be best.
Hope I made the right decision!

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:02 am

Xislandgirl wrote: Does anyone else go out of their mind?

Emphatic YES. I am insane until the house is chosen. Then I relax. Until its time to pack.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:15 am

My problem is that there are so many places that look so great to me, I can't decide which to pick! I have been happy with every house we rented so far except for one.

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:18 am

The main problem that I have is that Chip will not stay in Coral Bay. He has said that while he likes it, he just wants to be closer to Cruz Bay. So, it limits my search for a smaller, more economical house.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:36 am

I have the same problem wtih Hubs, he also will not consider staying in Coral Bay. I had picked several houses for 2009 and almost had him convinced to stay Coral Bay...

This probably sounds incredibly spoiled and ridiculous but not being able to pick a STJ house is one of the reasons we are going to the BVI next year.

CindyM · Post by **CindyM** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:57 am

The first time we rented a villa, I booked it a year in advance and drove myself crazy agonizing over the choices. This villa turned out to be the most expensive and our least favorite of all.

Since then, I've booked 4 last minute trips (a few days to a few weeks out), which helped with the agony because the choices were so few. Luckily, every single one of these villas were terrific and came with a nice last minute discount which made them even better.

This year we booked last minute again, but most of the inexpensive villas that I like were booked so we had to splurge a bit but landed a brand new villa that we're really excited about - another advantage to last minute. We'll be spending more than our usual budget. Hopefully it will be worth it. We had a great villa choice in Coral Bay for a good price, but we like Cruz Bay. We leave in 5 days!

lazylane · Post by **lazylane** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:26 am

We operate a cabin rental business in a very busy tourist region in Ohio and the Hocking Hills Tourism Association links ALL the cabin owners (who are members) to the same online reservation system. Although we still do our own marketing and bookings at least this helps narrow down availability for searchers! Are you listening VI tourism????

Neeners · Post by **Neeners** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:35 am

For me the hardest part is choosing between so many beautiful places! When I'm having a particularly bad day, I love to look at the pics on the site for the next villa we've chosen

.

chrisn · Post by **chrisn** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:43 am

I hear ya fruitcake!

Villa selection makes me psychotic!

susan & herb · Post by **susan & herb** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:49 am

I guess that's why we are staying at the same villa again next May!
The villa search drove me crazy last year. We were set on Reef Madness which at the time had not yet been completed, when all of a sudden someone booked the 10 days we were planning on!

We wound up stayed at Villa Carolina this May (still have to do a trip report) and loved it so much that we are going back again!

cirruskye · Post by **cirruskye** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:51 am

Here's an "addition" to the losing-your-mind-over-villa-choices.....how about being a newbie/lurker that has been trying to get to STJ for TWO YEARS!! (we've had quite a few "mini" crisis that have scrubbed vacations <sigh>) I have read EVERY villa review for the last three years, have been all over this forum like crazy (I feel like I know all of you guys from all the postings!) I have been trying to find the perfect villa, with the perfect sunset, finally decided we need to be in Cruz Bay because I am nervous about the roads, my DH is a bug magnet, want to go when Skinnys is open-but not when the whole world has invaded the island, trying to get a good value and not have to sell my kidney on eBay to rent a villa, must have a pool and wifi(business never sleeps).
Hmmm-I think I am picky with a hefty dose of OCD, maybe I need some meds....perhaps a painkiller will work

I would really like to say THANK YOU to everyone on this forum, all your info has helped me so much, that once we get there it will be the "perfectest" vacation ever!! Luckily, we live 30 minutes from O'hare Airport and American has tickets for $349 pretty consistantly to STT.
WHEW!

chrisn · Post by **chrisn** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:03 pm

susan & herb wrote:We wound up stayed at Villa Carolina this May (still have to do a trip report) and loved it so much that we are going back again!

That one is next on my list!

susan & herb · Post by **susan & herb** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:10 pm

pm me if you want info. and pictures. My trip report may never come.

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