Private home for Private Vacations ?

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:26 pm

We found a house we like with a wonderful price but I am curious if anyone has rented from them.
The rental policy says that they will send you a deposit notice but they do not accept personal checks, but later in their policies it says that they don't take credit cards.

Anyone have any insight or am I just confusing myself?

KPlumm · Post by **KPlumm** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:58 pm

We rented from PHPV last November and will again next May. When I read the reservation policy, I read it the way you did, which confused me because that was not how it was last year. I then reread the deposit info and found that it says "we DO accept personal cheques".

They are different than any other agency we have used. They send you a notice, but don't want any money until later. They will send you a deposit request (in October for us) and then you don't pay the balance until you arrive. Way different, but they told me they have been doing it that way for 30 years and it works for them.

They were very responsive and great to work with. Wouldn't accept a tip after taking us to the villa.

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:06 pm

Thanks so much for the clarification, I was really confused.
We are looking at Tesseract. It is close to Cruz Bay, has a view, a pool, and outside shower, and one bedroom with AC for less than what we wanted to spend.
I can't seem to find any reviews, but it is such a good deal I am tempted to book it now.

Wanda Creech · Post by **Wanda Creech** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:30 pm

We rented Sago Palms from Private Homes this past June. I liked not paying the deposit until Oct, and the final payment when you get to St. John. They are great people to work with. We have already reserved Sago Palms next june with them.

Maryanne · Post by **Maryanne** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:58 pm

I used them once and really liked them. Very low-key and trusting.

Knolmom · Post by **Knolmom** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:47 pm

We rented Nautilus from them last year. They were wonderful to work with.
Our flight from SJU was delayed and we were not going to arrive in time to pick up our rental car by 6PM from Denzel Clyne. We really needed the car that night, and not just a ride to the villa, as we had to pick up other guests who were arriving at 11PM. We called Private Homes from San Juan, and although we could not get through to them directly, we left a message advising them of our plight. And despite the fact that we did not arrange the rental through them, they were able to pick up the car for us, ascertain what time our flight would arrive and they were waiting at the ferry for us.They were running late aftyer picking us up, and did not want to wait around for us to locate the payment check in our bags. They asked us to leave it under the telephone and they would pick it up after we left for our next villa, as they did not want to disturb us during our vacation.
Talk about service. We would not hesitate to rent from them again.
P>S< Tesseract got very good reviews from someone on the traveltalk site who rented it last summer. Nice pics too!!

Travelhappy · Post by **Travelhappy** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:26 am

We rented Island Horizons (in Coral Bay) from Private Homes in May and also found this agency great to work with. Just like a previous poster, we also felt we should offer some sort of tip after the agency rep escorted us to the home and gave the tour and all the info, and she would not accept it. She said it was "part of the service." It's a small, family-run agency, and we liked them very much. If we make it back to St. John someday, and I hope we do, we would definitely not hesitate to rent from them again.

SheilaW1 · Post by **SheilaW1** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:59 am

We rented Poinciana on Hart Bay from Private Homes a couple of years ago and the same thing - they collected our final check once we were on island and all settled in. They were very responsive before and during our vacation. We had a probem with the hot tub temperature setting the first day and they sent someone out and it was fixed before we got home from the beach. We would use them again without hestitation.

steveo2916 · Post by **steveo2916** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:56 pm

Ditto on all the nice comments re. Private Homes. They're great. Have rented Tesseract twice (but not in the last ten years). It's a nice house. I like the lap pool, the windows in living room open wide for breezes. Handy location. Good value.

TropicAtHeart · Post by **TropicAtHeart** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:22 am

Private Homes is a great company! Awesome people! They are very experienced. We just rented from them and our experience with them was a great one.

KPlumm · Post by **KPlumm** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:30 pm

If anyone has rented Island Horizons from PHPV, would they please share their experience?

cosmolady · Post by **cosmolady** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:17 pm

To me, it is amazing how the internet has made travel so much easier. Also, how word can spread so fast about service. Here is a company that I really never heard of and I would eagerly send them a check based on great recommendation after great recommendation!
They are to be commended for such fabulous recommendations! WOW! I am so impressed...wish I could afford another trip right now I would sign with them!

cass · Post by **cass** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:21 pm

cosmolady - I'm with you. I thought I had looked at every rental company on the net, but I had never heard of them either. I went to their site, and was really excited to see a lot of villas in my price range represented by a company with such an outstanding reputation!

My only problem now, is that it has added to my list of dozens and dozens of possibilities! I need to really shorten the list, but want to stick with only theirs now!

How do you all do it? It's such a hard decision!

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Private home for Private Vacations ?

Private home for Private Vacations ?

Private Homes