USVI-On-Line

OK: narrowed it down to these- but would like your vote and input:

Perelandra, Miles Away or Bongo Bongo

We will be going June/July 2010, so let me know if one of these villas does not have good AC

Stayed at Miles Away in Jan 2008- Loved it! The bedrooms have A/C which worked great. The LR/Kit area has no A/C- It would be warm in the late afternoon if we were out all day and had the house closed up, but was fine after we opened all the doors and tuned on the fans. Great location-last house on a dead end street. Wonderful pool that got all day sun and pretty sunrise view. You won't be disappointed with M.A it's a beautiful comfy villa.

I am staying at MA in November. Very excited, looks beautiful and great reviews. I do admit I would love to stay at Bongo Bongo but can't since I have a little one. I would choose either of these two over Perlandra.

It looks like 3 good choices. Perlandra is the oldest, but has really nice views and gets great reviews. Miles Away is always popular and booked up most months. Bongo Bongo is a great looking villa, I don't know how warm it might get in the summer. I'm also not crazy about the Pond Bay construction. If view is a big deal, I'd look into that a little more. But it has a great pool and so many amenities. Have you considered staying on another part of the island since it is really warm on the west side that time of year? Some don't mind the warm weather indoors....I can't stand it. Trade winds can be wonderful or not much at all. You just can't completely count on them.

We stayed at Perelandra last July. When we were there the villa was air conditioned only in the bedroom. We LOVED the villa (and the gorgeous views, and the privacy in the pool area) but we were very uncomfortable in the rest of the house due to the heat. When we were there we didn't have any breeze through the villa at all so it was HOT. The owners are WONDERFUL to work with and I had heard they were thinking of putting a/c in throughout the villa, don't know if that has happened yet or not. We found the villa to be in a convenient location and if the new a/c was in we would definitely book there again. All that being said, everyone's heat tolerance is different so maybe a/c in the bedrooms is enough for you...it just wasn't for us.

I've stayed at Bongo and Perelandra. Is your party 1 or 2 couples? If it's 2, I think Bongo is the better layout but the great room will be hot in the later afternoon. In Perelandra, the second bedroom is down below and I thought it felt a bit 'damp'. Also, the laundry room is located in that bedroom and it was a bit inconvenient. So, my vote is Bongo.

Vic.....joepagan here on the Forum (& his wife Rochelle) can give you some great insight into Miles Away as they have stayed there alot. Check with him about MA. I don't think you could go wrong with any of these 3....they all are great from what I hear.

Hi, Yes, as Robyn has posted we have stayed at lovely Miles Away & r booked to stay again next may We LOVE the villa & it's location The owners take great pride & care with MA ! have not stayed at the others but have read great reviews on all. if u have any further questions on MA please e-mail us. Best, Rachelle & Joe

Hey Rachelle & Joe....so glad y'all are coming back to STJ next May. We are hoping to & planning in that direction; just won't know until after Jan. 1. Hope to see y'all then.
Sorry Vic.....now back to your thread! hehehe

DK if you've made your decision already or not but here's my 2 cents worth.

Pool/Hot Tub: all 3 have pools, Bongo Bongo's is biggest by far, looks like Miles Away & Perelandra's are similar sizes (Miles Away is the only one of the 3 that I haven't physically been in/seen). Bongo is only one with a hot tub. In June, you'll probably use pool more than hot tub.

Kitchen/Great Room Area/Costs: Both Bongo Bongo and Miles Away have much bigger and more upscale living areas, with rents to match (granite vs concrete; plenty of room for 2 to cook vs a 1-person kitchen, etc) but rents @ Perelandra are about 1/3 less it seems. So this really depends on how much cooking and lounging around inside you plan to do.

Views: Perelandra has the best view of the 3. It looks like Miles Away looks over Fish Bay which, unfortunately, is one of my least favorite bays to view since for some reason it doesn't have the same clarity as many of the other views on St. John. Plus, beyond that, it seems to just look out at open water (of course also the peninsula between Rendezvous & Fish bays). DK if there are a lot of little twinkling lights at night.

Bongo Bongo also has open waters view and is lower down then both Miles Away and Perelandra. Don't think it looks over the Pond Bay project but haven't been there recently enough to say for sure. Others on this forum will probably know better. So not as much to look at.

Perelandra has a full view from the almost-deserted St. James cays to the Grass/Lovongo/Thatch etc cays plus has all the Pillsbury Sound boating activity and all the pretty lights at night (not to mention full-on sunsets).

Location: Perelandra is closest to town and the North Shore Beaches, then comes Bongo Bongo, then, farthest away of the 3, is Miles Away.

Hope this gives you more information to help you make the right decision for YOU!

PS: I should have previewed my previous reply. I meant clarity of the BAY not the view when I was talking about Fish Bay.

Also, I forgot to mention that I stayed at Perelandra in June of this year and it's washer/dryer are now in a separate little shed outside (on lower deck) rather than off the lower BR bathroom area. DK when the previous poster stayed there but definitely before then and I'm thinking perhaps in September? or near then. Anyway, in June, we were very comfortable in the non-air-conditioned living area (there were 4 of us and we were all fine), BRs do have great a/c, and downstairs bedroom/bath was fine (not musty or anything--may have been related to the washer/dryer being inside perhaps???).

I can't remember where Bongo Bongo's laundry facilities are and don't remember seeing where Miles Away are from the site I looked at. Others on this forum will probably be able to give input, I'm sure.

Bongo's are off the kitchen near the half bath.

here's a view from Bongo in 2006. That strip of land you see near the boats is where Pond Bay is being constructed.

I have plenty more pic's if you are interested.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Vg ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SlEH6DLCO2I/RSpQA ... 6.JPG"></a>

I should mention also that like I said this is A view not THE view. It's been a while but I would say if you are standing just outside the great room and looking dead head over the pool, this view would be off to your left.
This is more the straight out view .. to the West I guess. Have no idea on directions!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/d5 ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SlEH6DLCO2I/RSpQr ... 2.JPG"></a>

We've rented both Perelandra and Miles Away. Perelandra is nice, but Miles Away hands down is the more "premium" of the two- newer, nicer, better amenities, very well appointed. Still only 10 minutes to Cruz Bay, yet on the end of a very quiet street in a private setting. Never had a issue with the heat in the non-a/c living areas since there was always a nice breeze the week we were there early this past May. Pool was toasty warm thanks to abundant sunshine on the pool area most of the day. Both the large master bedrooms were equipped with Tempur-Pedic mattresses and powerful a/c- wonderful! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there.

In my opinion, the only edge Perelandra may have is its view. A concern to consider is the on-going Sirenusa project located near Perelandra.