Destination St. John
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:11 pm
If you have rented from them, what was your experience? I threw Coconut Breeze in Coral Bay out there but doesn't look like anyone has rented it. Do you like this rental company?
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:28 pm
We rented from them a few years ago and had a great experience. Very responsive and super helpful!
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:35 pm
Ixsland Girl, thanks for your experience with them. We rented from CVilla two weeks last year and are trying a different rental for 3 couples instead of 2. Did they have a welcome basket at your villa?
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:50 pm
We have rented through them (Villa Vistaero) a couple of times. Yes, they are very helpful and friendly. As well, there was a gift basket but it contained cheese that had obviously been sitting out all afternoon before we got there so we had to pitch it out. No complaints about Destination St. John.
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:03 pm
Thanks,Martha. I'm with you on pitching the cheese! This villa looks so comfortable with 3rd bedroom in guest house, beautiful Coral Bay overlook and really nice pool. Can't wait to get back!
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:06 pm
Oops, sorry Marcia - didn't mean to rename you! Watching S/O burn steaks on grill, so distracting! 
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:06 pm
Great company 
Pia
Pia
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:54 pm
we used them to rent La Jolla Caribe, very helpful. Nice gift basket, helped arrange rental car, ferry greeter etc Very good experience.
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:53 pm
They have bent over backwards for us in the past. Love them. Very helpful with honest assessments of the houses they represent and great to work with!
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:05 pm
Ditto to all of the above!
No probs dealing with DSJ at all
and would definately use them again.
Nice basket of goodies...no cheese
No probs dealing with DSJ at all
and would definately use them again.
Nice basket of goodies...no cheese
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:27 pm
Also had very good experience with Destination St. John. Had a small welcome basket, housecleaning mid-stay was excellent and thorough, when we reported that a TV stopped working, they had a replacement the next day.
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:41 pm
Ditto to all of the above -PLUS- they discount repeat guests!
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:16 pm
Destination St. John is great. I also really like Catered To. Only St. John based rental company I am less enthusistic about is Caribbean Villa---but to be honest, they have some good houses, and their slightly inferior service (and 5% fee) would not be a deal-killer for me---just a factor to consider.
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:26 am
I'm a dissenting voice here. I had a lukewarm experience with Destination St. John last October and would personally be hesitant to rent from them again.
What happened: 1. We were told the bedrooms were equal in our villa - they were NOT; 2. Our villa rep drove us around to three different houses before she remembered where ours was; 3. the pool was so over-filled when we arrived that the filter wouldn't work. We had to empty large amounts of water out so the filters would work - and I know the maintenance guy was there just before we arrived b/c he had just adjusted the chlorine levels; 4. doors had locking problems.
Granted, these seem like small things, but I've rented from many different villa companies and ultimately I just didn't feel the love from DSJ. I had a better experience with Caribbean Villa, which surprised me. It's worth noting that the house we stayed in isn't in their portfolio any longer. I wouldn't advise someone not to use DSJ, but I'll think twice before I do again.
What happened: 1. We were told the bedrooms were equal in our villa - they were NOT; 2. Our villa rep drove us around to three different houses before she remembered where ours was; 3. the pool was so over-filled when we arrived that the filter wouldn't work. We had to empty large amounts of water out so the filters would work - and I know the maintenance guy was there just before we arrived b/c he had just adjusted the chlorine levels; 4. doors had locking problems.
Granted, these seem like small things, but I've rented from many different villa companies and ultimately I just didn't feel the love from DSJ. I had a better experience with Caribbean Villa, which surprised me. It's worth noting that the house we stayed in isn't in their portfolio any longer. I wouldn't advise someone not to use DSJ, but I'll think twice before I do again.
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:34 am
I really like Destination St. John as well. Our first trip could've been a nightmare, but they really picked the ball up and ran with it when it got dropped.
Our greeter's car broke down and he never showed up and they couldn't get in touch with him because it was a part of the island where there's no cell phone service. However, the owner of the company came and picked us up and got us checked in to the villa. And yes, there was a basket with some chips and salsa, fruit, melted cheese and crackers waiting on the counter for us. (But they leave stuff in the villa from previous people unlike some companies, so we were able to enjoy a cocktail until we could get to Dolphin Market.)
Even though our trip started out bumpy, we had a great trip. They really work to help you find THE perfect villa for your group. My first call to them started out "My friends and I want to stay here," and the lady who helped us said, "No, this villa will work better for your group." And it did.
I want to rent from them again, but I haven't found the right place and haven't had enough people to go back to Hale Lani.
Our greeter's car broke down and he never showed up and they couldn't get in touch with him because it was a part of the island where there's no cell phone service. However, the owner of the company came and picked us up and got us checked in to the villa. And yes, there was a basket with some chips and salsa, fruit, melted cheese and crackers waiting on the counter for us. (But they leave stuff in the villa from previous people unlike some companies, so we were able to enjoy a cocktail until we could get to Dolphin Market.)
Even though our trip started out bumpy, we had a great trip. They really work to help you find THE perfect villa for your group. My first call to them started out "My friends and I want to stay here," and the lady who helped us said, "No, this villa will work better for your group." And it did.
I want to rent from them again, but I haven't found the right place and haven't had enough people to go back to Hale Lani.