USVI-On-Line

Despite the unchanging jobs outlook in our lives, we have decided that we are forgoing other expenses and do a shorter trip to STJ next year rather than no trip at all. (we finally have enuff ff miles!! ) However, after finally finding what I thought was the perfect villa(price, location, ac in bdrms) I find that there is only a master in the upstairs, all the others must be accessed thru an outside stairwell that winds around the property. This house would be perfection for up to four couples traveling together. (RickG would get the Master I'm sure as he is the planning guru), but we have 2 adults and two kids...one is over 18, the other is in Jr high. We have a possible other child traveling next year also.

How do those of you who have traveled with kids do it? We have always bought kids with us, We've done Gallows, the Westin (garden rooms for years), and another rental villa on STJ that had bedrooms off the Great room. I've searched exhaustingly. Nothing similar is open within thousands of $.

Kids have looked at the property...they are excited. They think their parents are nuts.

What do you think???

PS...Reason this didn't come to me sooner is that I couldn't properly read the house plans. Oh yeah and also...five people don't fit into rooms/studios at the Westin or Gallows. Other condo properties still are considering the time of our visit high season.

I don't think you're nuts...We have always rented villas...and fortunately our daughter is only 7...so she stays in our room with us...I know, I know, not the most romantic way to travel for my hubby and I but we always seem to find time to be alone...not only that, I think shes more comfortable in our room as well...I think our next trip I'm going to look in to this villa. The floor plan would work for our group and there is a little bedroom off one of the masters that has a twin bed...I don't know what your budget is like but this might work for you as well...good luck!

http://cateredto.com/VillaPage/EBB

I am a little confused. Do you have four couples, two of whom have children? (So you are looking for a 6 bedroom house?)

Thank you Piscesgirl. This is what we were looking for villa wise, but as it's adajacent to the huge construction project going on, so it wouldn't work at this time. Thank you for the vote of Good luck...our youngest is a girl also!

Liamsauntwe are four confirmed, possibly (strong) five. Otherwise we could do a Westin room/studio again. The budget starts to go nuts when you look at 2 bdrms at the Westin or pretty much any other Condo place at the time we're looking at.

PS>>If anybody wants to know the property we picked and dilemma, please PM.

If you are talking about just the five of you (two married adults with two of their own children-one over 18, the other in middle school and one more child age?), I think I can address this issue.

We have traveled to STJ with our four kids and rented a home with a similar arrangement. The master bedroom and one other bedroom was on the "main" level and the other three were down below. (Villa Vistaero) We did not have any problem having three kids on the lower level...they were ages 14, 13 and 10 the first year we did it. Since you will have an older child along with you (over 18), the separate area should be just fine for all of them.

Hope this helps.

What is your price range?

Also I've had our kids in the lower level when staying at Cygnus now called beach music with no problems

This sounds like our next trip. Summer 2010. 2 couples, one 8-year old.

I have plenty of time to think about it (among other things), but part of it is the whole 2BR with rollaway or 3BR question.

Thank you Pete...that villa is completely stunning. I wish we could do something like that, but it's out of our range at this time. It must have been a fantastic time for all of you. I've looked an dreamed of this one!

Thanks Waterguy...Budget is limited...I Pmd you.

Pipanale ...didn't come across any rollaways on my hunt. (one was a possibility with a couch, but the price was high). I couldn't believe how many villas don't take kids.

pipanale wrote:This sounds like our next trip. Summer 2010. 2 couples, one 8-year old.

I have plenty of time to think about it (among other things), but part of it is the whole 2BR with rollaway or 3BR question.

If you don't mind fish bay there is a cute house out there with a good family friendly setup. It has one room that has a small bedroom attached. So privacy but safety too.

http://www.vivacations.com/viewproperty ... tyID=18570

Would Oceanport through Destination St. John be in your budget? There's no pool but the view is of endless ocean. You can even walk down to the private beach if your ambitious. It's 4 bedrooms/4 baths & reasonably priced (imo). Personally, I really like it. Good luck. Ali~
http://www.destinationstjohn.com/oceanport.htm

flip-flop wrote:If you don't mind fish bay there is a cute house out there with a good family friendly setup. It has one room that has a small bedroom attached. So privacy but safety too.

http://www.vivacations.com/viewproperty ... tyID=18570

I think Fish Bay may be too far for my wusses..

Back on topic....Peace O'Heaven had 2 BR and a rollaway i none of them. Of course, since I have no reason to hate you, I would not advise renting that house. What do we all know? If I have rented it, you should not.

Hi Berlingirl:

We travel with our kids; next trip they will be 11 and 13. We have one boy and one girl, so we try for places where we can get two twins rather than them sharing a bed. We travel over the holidays so we also stick to looking at places that aren't too pricey. The kids are getting old enough that I don't have to worry too much about the set up... but I do anyway. I just don't want them to be too far from us, so I look for places with interior access or at least bedrooms near each other (e.g. on same floor.)

Trip 1 was with 2 other families (10 people); we stayed at Starlit Escape which has 3 interior bedrooms plus a loft, plus another master suite downstairs with outside access. Worked out great for us and is a great value and they will charge you less for fewer people.

For our next trip it is just the 4 of us. (4 is alot easier than 5!) Of course I have looked at a bunch of villas. Some that have 2 bedrooms on either side of a great room (which would be a good layout for us) are: Caneel Trailside Cottage; Fun and Contentment; Monkey No Climb. Rhumb Runners has 2 bedrooms upstairs next to each other.

I sure wish more villa owners would provide floor plans. They are a big help in determining how suitable a villa is for a particular group.

When is your trip? We booked a Westin Villa through st john condos and got a pretty decent discount, even in February. I'm guessing you are going early December or so as its close to high season, but regardless, you may be able to find a Westin Villa at a discount through them, redweek or other online sites (VRBO, perhaps). They are happy to take counteroffers so it never hurts to ask.

How do you normally book your Westin villa?

flip-flop. Love the decorating style at Seaview. It is sweet, but we like to be near the Westin. It looks like a great villa out there.

b-as-u-r...I'm not fussy, but one child doesn't like the feel of sand/rocks on her feet so we were lucky to have a pool for her last year at the Westin. (LOL, and pipanale thinks he has a fussy crew.)

Chicagoans...it is hard to find something for five, it's a fairly big $ jump at most places. I've looked into Caneel trailside villa when it was still a for sure four going, but now it's a maybe five...and it's a huge difference. I loved the Happy hour tower at Starlit Escape, what a concept, it looks neat.

Crasherino, wish we were going in Dec... wouldn't have to wait until spring!
Booked the Westin last year thru a private party from one of the timeshare websites. I've noticed a number of listings this year, but prices are up there, but they do have heavenly beds...

Starlit Escape is only $2640 for 5 guests $2360 for four as long as it is not a holiday week.