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St. John Villa for Honeymoon--Please Help
This is my first post on the new board (well... not so new any more) as well! I've been looking at Aria, which is on Ajax Mountain and would seem to fit most of your needs, and has gotten a few nice reviews. We rented Creolla, which sounds like is near Aria, a few years ago and loved the view from the deck, hot tub, dining gazebo, and yes, the grill! (I'm with you there, irbgolfin.) Creolla was very nice, but no A/C (didn't need it in January) and no pool... but we loved the hot tub and used it every night.
The views from the entire deck area, pool and hot tub (including the grill:}) are open to the water.
The landscape was perfectly maintained during our 2007 vist and the front part of the yard was mowed down and the trees did not interfere at all with the view.
The pool, while not truly an infinately pool, felt like it because when you are in the pool, you can't see the ground.
Yes, I would say it is a clothing optional deck and pool, especially at night as the warm is very warm due to the full sun exposure. I felt it was private enough.
Paved road all the way as well as the driveway.
The landscape was perfectly maintained during our 2007 vist and the front part of the yard was mowed down and the trees did not interfere at all with the view.
The pool, while not truly an infinately pool, felt like it because when you are in the pool, you can't see the ground.
Yes, I would say it is a clothing optional deck and pool, especially at night as the warm is very warm due to the full sun exposure. I felt it was private enough.
Paved road all the way as well as the driveway.
Last edited by PA Girl on Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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mark & susan
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:35 pm
- Location: Frederick, Maryland
This is an area that we have stayed at twice, first at Aria, then at Bayview (we are also returning to Bayview next year)
We had some real issues with Aria, and our review reflected those reservations. I continue to be suprised by posts that immediately followed ours - refuting our observations. What we saw as uncomfortable furniture suddely became very comfortable etc. The "jungle" has limited the amount of sunshine that the pool gets and it was tool cold for our use during our visit. The view is great, and the deck is in fact CO but the issues in our view overwhelmed any positives.
Bayview on the other hand (with the limitation of no high speed internet) is a great villa. It's located very near Aria, just down the road. Access to the North Shore beaches and Coral Bay was great. While it has 2 bedrooms one is below the other and is thus not quite as nice, but we we're there just the two of us so it was great. The house sits on a ridge so you literally have views in two or three directions depending on the deck that you are sitting on.
Look sor Bob and Anita's comments on the house and their great series of pictures. The house, and all of the most of the decks are CO, the ones that are not would require someone with binoculars to really care enough to observe you.
Feel free to PM with additional questions.
We had some real issues with Aria, and our review reflected those reservations. I continue to be suprised by posts that immediately followed ours - refuting our observations. What we saw as uncomfortable furniture suddely became very comfortable etc. The "jungle" has limited the amount of sunshine that the pool gets and it was tool cold for our use during our visit. The view is great, and the deck is in fact CO but the issues in our view overwhelmed any positives.
Bayview on the other hand (with the limitation of no high speed internet) is a great villa. It's located very near Aria, just down the road. Access to the North Shore beaches and Coral Bay was great. While it has 2 bedrooms one is below the other and is thus not quite as nice, but we we're there just the two of us so it was great. The house sits on a ridge so you literally have views in two or three directions depending on the deck that you are sitting on.
Look sor Bob and Anita's comments on the house and their great series of pictures. The house, and all of the most of the decks are CO, the ones that are not would require someone with binoculars to really care enough to observe you.
Feel free to PM with additional questions.
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St. John Lover
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:14 pm
- Location: Chicago
For both posters (original honeymooner & the non-honeymooner), I have a couple more suggestions to add to your lists, our stays at both of which we greatly enjoyed.
Perelandra: has great views, including killer sunset views, all of which you can see while grilling. Has a very private pool, clothing-optional, which you can see views from now that they've cut down the palm tree that used to be in front of the pool. Also is fronted by some beautiful bougainvilla & jasmine bushes (dk bloom times). Bedrooms have a/c. Convenient location. Paved road to the villa. (a1vacations.com/214431)
Cinnamon Tarn: close to the North Shore beaches (in fact can take the very rough unpaved jeep trail directly down to very close to Cinnamon). No pool but large hot tub. Can't remember if it has a/c. Has beautiful views but not sunset views at the time of year we were there. (vacationvistas.com/cinnamon-tarn.html)
Have also stayed at Creolla (mentioned by a previous poster). Does have great views & breeze but a little too rustic for us.
Perelandra: has great views, including killer sunset views, all of which you can see while grilling. Has a very private pool, clothing-optional, which you can see views from now that they've cut down the palm tree that used to be in front of the pool. Also is fronted by some beautiful bougainvilla & jasmine bushes (dk bloom times). Bedrooms have a/c. Convenient location. Paved road to the villa. (a1vacations.com/214431)
Cinnamon Tarn: close to the North Shore beaches (in fact can take the very rough unpaved jeep trail directly down to very close to Cinnamon). No pool but large hot tub. Can't remember if it has a/c. Has beautiful views but not sunset views at the time of year we were there. (vacationvistas.com/cinnamon-tarn.html)
Have also stayed at Creolla (mentioned by a previous poster). Does have great views & breeze but a little too rustic for us.
Perelandra does look nice too. I just really had my heart set on a pool and hot tub, both.
I was looking at Villa Belvedere and saw it has some good reviews too. What do you all think is better between Splendore and Villa Belvedere for us? I wasn't sure if Belvedere is too spread out for 2 honeymooners or not. They are the same price so...
Sorry to keep asking so many questions but you all are just so helpful!
I was looking at Villa Belvedere and saw it has some good reviews too. What do you all think is better between Splendore and Villa Belvedere for us? I wasn't sure if Belvedere is too spread out for 2 honeymooners or not. They are the same price so...
Sorry to keep asking so many questions but you all are just so helpful!
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St. John Lover
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:14 pm
- Location: Chicago
Have never stayed at either Splendore or Belvedere but a search of reviews and postings indicate consistent favorable opinions re: Splendore and a mixed bag re: Belvedere. But recent upgrades to the latter have been mentioned. Hopefully someone who's stayed there recently will reply to you.
I did come across someone's posting of some great pictures of Splendore: http://mg.yrci.com/stjohn/splendore/index.html
I did come across someone's posting of some great pictures of Splendore: http://mg.yrci.com/stjohn/splendore/index.html