USVI-On-Line

We used SuiteStJohn.com when we rented for 2 years before buying a timeshare at the Westin, on our second stay, there was this huge storm, The electric lines crossed sending surge into the house. Everything blew, I was running through the house to try and save what I could by unplugging everything. The owner who lives in MD but has very nice employees on the Island. Anything we needed they came through, even the alarm clock was not spared, we knew we had to get up early the last day and they were there with one the minute we called. I felt bad for them, all the appliances were not working and they people coming in after us.
If we ever need to rent a Villa again, we would go through them. I would not rent if I knew there was no one there on Island to help.

If I rent a villa through an agency, I expect the agency to be responsible for any issues that arise. It's really CV's reputation that's on the line. The villa owner may have some people choose not to rent his/her villa, whereas CV may have quite a few decide not to rent any of their villas. I've never thought to ask an agency whether or not they're responsible for the maintenance of the villas they represent.

KatieH wrote:If I rent a villa through an agency, I expect the agency to be responsible for any issues that arise.

Yep, and its up to us to insist that be covered in the villa rental contract. How many folks check and then ask that be added before signing?

Cheers, RickG

Rick - You're right. I just wouldn't have thought to do it. Are you and the girls going back next March?

Katie, no more Spring Break trips for us. The theme song for that trip was "Moo, mooooo, moooooooooo" we were so much a part of the herd. The St. Pats fest was great, though!!

We were just talking in the car yesterday:

Me: "Girls, we don't have any vacation plans for next year, what do you want to do?

Elizabeth (16): "St. John."

Ana (11): "New Zealand"

Elizabeth: "St. John."

Me: "The only place futher than New Zealand is Antarctica!"

Elizabeth: "St. John."

Ana: "Okay, Australia"

Elizabeth: "St. John."

Me: "Closer!"

Elizabeth: "St. John."

Ana: "Ocean City, MD"

Elizabeth: "St. John!!! Ocean City is crowded, dirty, I can't see my feet in the water, there are no fish, the ocean smells bad, the only view you get is the condo next door with ignorant hillbillies on the balcony and the food sucks, I WANT TO GO TO ST. JOHN!"

Me: "What about another trip to France?"

Elizabeth: "Go anywhere you want, I'm going to St. John, I turn 18 next December and I can do anything I want."

Christine: "So, you're going to get a job and your driver's license and save the money to do whatever you want? Hah!"

Me: "How about St. John?"

Cheers, RickG

I think some owners must be penny wise, pound foolish.

Owning a $1 million+ asset and trying to go frugal on trying to handle their own maintenance, as opposed to paying an on-island professional, just doesn’t make sense to me.

Our last rental was missing basic items such as beach towels and paper products. (hot water, usable pots and pans, a working grill, too but I should stop beating this particular horse-house)

It took me two days and several phone calls to get enough beach towels. One per adult guest was not an unreasonable request.

The management company’s excuse/rational was that they needed to get approval from the owner’s to provide us with towels.

That pissed me off.

Someone owns a $6 million house (listing price) and they are stingy with $20-$30 beach towels?

Ilios was managed by Cimmaron and there were several notes with their phone number on it.
We had a problem with the cable box and they were there in 20 minutes with a new box.

I have no issue with the house being managed by another company, I just want to have all the info to reach them in case of a problem.

RickG- I tried to get Chip to go somewhere else next year. His answer was simple " I will go on vacation anywhere you want, as long as it is St John."

I am going with Chip and Elizabeth. Those two have their heads screwed on straight!