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Planning first trip: Family of 9! Need expert help!
Planning first trip: Family of 9! Need expert help!
Hello all,
Just found this rather active forum and am glad I did!
My family of 9 (brother and parents included) is trying to plan a week trip to St. John. We're on a bit of a short leash and trying to make plans for Late July or August (I know, I know...).
We're huge Carib fans but with so many in the family don't get there much, it's been 6 years since the last trip to Provo, which was great.
To start (I'm sure I'll get banned by the time I'm done bending everyone's ear) we're trying to find an affordable villa. We're pretty sure we want to choose view vs being close to the beach. If someone can get me started, I don't even know what area to look at:
- family friendly
- needs to be 4 bedrooms minimum
- needs to sleep 9!
- AC, at least in BR
- Price is an issue, something in the $2k range would be great. $4k is a stretch.
- close enough to sites worth seeing for the kids (ages 4-15) and stuff to do.
- conversely, we're a quiet family and generally avoid anything boisterous. Example: we don't do bars but we love outdoor festivals/cultural events.
There are simply too many choices to know where to start.
Thanks & cheers.
Just found this rather active forum and am glad I did!
My family of 9 (brother and parents included) is trying to plan a week trip to St. John. We're on a bit of a short leash and trying to make plans for Late July or August (I know, I know...).
We're huge Carib fans but with so many in the family don't get there much, it's been 6 years since the last trip to Provo, which was great.
To start (I'm sure I'll get banned by the time I'm done bending everyone's ear) we're trying to find an affordable villa. We're pretty sure we want to choose view vs being close to the beach. If someone can get me started, I don't even know what area to look at:
- family friendly
- needs to be 4 bedrooms minimum
- needs to sleep 9!
- AC, at least in BR
- Price is an issue, something in the $2k range would be great. $4k is a stretch.
- close enough to sites worth seeing for the kids (ages 4-15) and stuff to do.
- conversely, we're a quiet family and generally avoid anything boisterous. Example: we don't do bars but we love outdoor festivals/cultural events.
There are simply too many choices to know where to start.
Thanks & cheers.
Last edited by Abouna on Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I think the biggest problem may be price, we try to do some budget trips, but lodging for 4-6 usually runs us 1500 for 4 up to 4300 for six. Hopefully someone will have a suggestion that is closer to your price range.
Sol Inclination is a wonderful villa that meets everything but price. It has four amazing bedrooms each with own bath and an office that has a pull out couch with another guest bath or a day bed in the guest house. It's in the 4,000.00 range. You will probably need to look out in Coral Bay and will likely not have A/C which I highly recommend in July/August. I hope you can find something that will work!!
Sol Inclination is a wonderful villa that meets everything but price. It has four amazing bedrooms each with own bath and an office that has a pull out couch with another guest bath or a day bed in the guest house. It's in the 4,000.00 range. You will probably need to look out in Coral Bay and will likely not have A/C which I highly recommend in July/August. I hope you can find something that will work!!
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
Look up Coconut Coast. If you got a 3 bedroom(which is a 2 bed. connected to a studio) and a studio, and went for 6 nights, it would be within your budget. Although the view's not the best it is within walking distance of town. It has a pool, hot tub,wifi and all the amenities. We stayed there with our 4 teens and were very comfortable.
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baseball0717
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:50 pm
- Location: GEORGIA
LAST STAY IN S.J. WE RENTED VILLA ALTAGRACIA THRU
CATEREDTO.COM.VILLA WAS VERY LARGE 4 BEDROOM 4 BATH.
BEDROOMS ARE AIR CONDITIONED MAIN HOUSE IS NOT.PLENTY OF ROOM FOR NINE. ALSO HAS POOL.LOCATED IN THE CONSTANT POINT AREA JUST OUTSIDE CRUZ BAY.GREAT VIEW OF ST. THOMAS AND WATER ISLAND.WILL NEED A RENTAL CAR.
WE STAYED JUNE 2008 PRICE WAS LOW $3000.00
CATEREDTO.COM.VILLA WAS VERY LARGE 4 BEDROOM 4 BATH.
BEDROOMS ARE AIR CONDITIONED MAIN HOUSE IS NOT.PLENTY OF ROOM FOR NINE. ALSO HAS POOL.LOCATED IN THE CONSTANT POINT AREA JUST OUTSIDE CRUZ BAY.GREAT VIEW OF ST. THOMAS AND WATER ISLAND.WILL NEED A RENTAL CAR.
WE STAYED JUNE 2008 PRICE WAS LOW $3000.00
After many group trips, including a family trip with 24, here are my group travel rules:
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=11927
Your budget is a challenge. August us certainly going to help. Check out the 4 bedroom unit at Palm Terrace - http://www.palmterracevillas.com/ - being able to walk to town makes sense.
Check out the Caribbean Villas last minute travel page - http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/lastminute.asp - add the 5% service charge to their prices.
Remember to add the 8% tax to all lodging prices.
Cheers, RickG
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=11927
Your budget is a challenge. August us certainly going to help. Check out the 4 bedroom unit at Palm Terrace - http://www.palmterracevillas.com/ - being able to walk to town makes sense.
Check out the Caribbean Villas last minute travel page - http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/lastminute.asp - add the 5% service charge to their prices.
Remember to add the 8% tax to all lodging prices.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
We're a family of 5 heading to STJ the last week in July. I know that Inn Paradise is available for that timeframe and it's just a little over 2K. It's a 4 bed 4 bath above Chocolate Hole at the top of Rock Ridge road. Small pool and hot tub. A little older, but nice for the proce. We strongly considered it but went with a Coral Bay location instead. We're from Central Iowa - how bout you? Here's the link.
http://www.carefreegetaways.com/innparadise.html
John
http://www.carefreegetaways.com/innparadise.html
John
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
We stayed at Starlit Escape with a group of 10 (6 adults 4 kids) and it worked out very well for our group. It's an affordable villa with 4 bedrooms + loft and a small pool. The view is from the "happy hour tower", not from the main deck or pool. Lack of A/C didn't bother us due to breezes and ceiling fans... but we were there in Dec/Jan.
There's a write up on the Villa Reviews page and I can give you more info if you like.
As others have recommended, check management companies for specials and it never hurts to ask about a discount since times are tough.
A couple others I ran across when looking for affordable places for a group (but I've never seen so can't tell you anything else about them):
http://www.vrbo.com/159605 this one is actually 3 separate units that can be rented together; price seems good.
http://www.bookitvi.com/skyridge8.htm The site says it can sleep 8 but they told me it could go up to 10 (5 bedrooms.) Children over 12 only according to their site, which might not work for you.
http://www.bookitvi.com/woodup.htm and http://www.bookitvi.com/woodstone.htm a property with 2 separate units that can be rented together.
There's a write up on the Villa Reviews page and I can give you more info if you like.
As others have recommended, check management companies for specials and it never hurts to ask about a discount since times are tough.
A couple others I ran across when looking for affordable places for a group (but I've never seen so can't tell you anything else about them):
http://www.vrbo.com/159605 this one is actually 3 separate units that can be rented together; price seems good.
http://www.bookitvi.com/skyridge8.htm The site says it can sleep 8 but they told me it could go up to 10 (5 bedrooms.) Children over 12 only according to their site, which might not work for you.
http://www.bookitvi.com/woodup.htm and http://www.bookitvi.com/woodstone.htm a property with 2 separate units that can be rented together.
Thanks eveyone! I'm trying to sort through all this now. I;ve added AC to the must list.
Greetings! We're in CR.hawk64 wrote:...We're from Central Iowa - how bout you? Here's the link.
http://www.carefreegetaways.com/innparadise.html
John
Two I can think of that are in your price range (higher end of it though) are:
Villa Villekula - haven't stayed here but looked at it for our group. It's on Great Cruz Bay, near the Westin (in case you want to go over to their pool, restaurants etc.), easy drive on paved roads, near Cruz Bay restaurants etc. Booked through Seaview Homes.
Casa Luna - out on the Coral Bay (quieter) side of the island, more of a drive for restaurants, activities etc. It looks like both vivacations and carefree getaways book it.
Villa Villekula - haven't stayed here but looked at it for our group. It's on Great Cruz Bay, near the Westin (in case you want to go over to their pool, restaurants etc.), easy drive on paved roads, near Cruz Bay restaurants etc. Booked through Seaview Homes.
Casa Luna - out on the Coral Bay (quieter) side of the island, more of a drive for restaurants, activities etc. It looks like both vivacations and carefree getaways book it.
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cruiserkcs
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:40 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Try Morgan Point through Carefree Getaways. The price only shows up to 6 guests, but there are 3 bedrooms on the main level & a 1 bedroom apartment on the lower level that they will rent with the house if needed. You will probably be able to negotiate a good price. The villa is very reasonably priced and has full house a/c. We stayed there a couple of weeks ago. It is very convenient to Cruz Bay.