USVI-On-Line

We are planning our return trip to St. John, same time next year (Jan-Feb) ... what do most people do: book the same villa as last time (very happy with it) or try a new place?

I have found 2 that I like so now I stick with them.

We have stayed at a differnt villa each trip. We like the variety of the different areas - and potentially seeing and doing things just because we are in the area...

For example, we stayed in Reef Bay and were walking distance to the trail to the beach. If we weren't staying there, I doubt we would have driven out there to do that. We also stayed on Bourdeaux Mt and liked the close proximity to Chateaux Bourdeaux (which we had never gone to) and we were a short hike away from the Bourdeaux Mt. Trail - another place never ventured to before.

We have also stayed 1/4 mile away fromt the Smoothie Stand (an obvious advantage to this location!). For our upcoming trip, we will be staying near Hart Bay...another beach I have not explored.

We like the variety. Maybe one day, we will settle down - but not yet.

We've been to a different villa on each trip.

We have been happy with each villa. Sometimes want to try a different location. Sometimes need different sized accommodations. Mostly just want to try new things.

We have been to STJ at least a dozen times and I can remember 9 different villas. Every year I ask the family if "this" is the perfect villa for a return trip and each year, as much as we love every villa we have ever stayed, we opt for a different experience. We stayed at Gallow's Point a few times for convience and other reasons, and that is the only duplicate.

I don't know if there is a "most" people answer, it probably just depends. We stayed at our first villa twice because we liked it so much. The next trip we had grandma and all four kids with us so we had a bigger villa. Both were in the Coral Bay area, so the next time we decided to try a different view and stayed on Gifft Hill. This year my first choice villa (North Shore) was not available for our dates, so we are back on Gifft Hill, but in a different villa that has been on my "list" for some time.

We keep trying new villas. Different groups have different wants/needs. The biggest discriminators have been clothing optional private pool, equality of bedrooms, A/C, child safe, handicap accessibility and location. The emphasis changes with the group. With just Christine and I heading down in April only the first item is important!

With 6 of us going in October the emphasis was on A/C, western exposure (for sunset and no early sunrises) and location. Oh, and clothing optional privacy. I've had my eye on some 3 bedroom villas and I took the opportunity to rent Eaglesnest this time around.

There's been a lot more villas coming on the rental market. It's fun to browse.

Cheers, RickG

We have the same requirements as this past trip, same number of people, kid-friendly, etc. I guess my paranoia lies in the concern of the villa not living up to what it appears to be online. That being said, it seems most of the forumites have been happy with their villa choices, I guess the standard of villas runs fairly high on St. John. Has anybody ever rented something that turn out to be "less than expected?"

"I guess my paranoia lies in the concern of the villa not living up to what it appears to be online."

I can totally understand your concern. I feel the same way. We are one our third different accomodation in 12 years of visiting St. John. We are switching villas this year only because our past favorite doesn't allow kids under 8.

This will be our sixth trip in as many years. Different villa each year.

This is the first trip we are repeating villas. We always said that we would not repeat, because there are so many great places to stay. However, this year we invited my parents to join us for a week, so we wanted a "known quantity" with them along. We had very specific needs to make a trip with them a great time, and we knew Argonauta would be perfect for those needs. Once we decided on Argonauta, we decided to rerent Cinnamon Tarn too, because we fell in love with the North Shore views last year, and most of the villas over there are just too big for the two of us or too expensive for our vacation budget.

We try to get back to our honeymoon villa whenever we can. Last year's villa was huge (necessitated by the number of people on that trip)and we had a great time, but we can't wait to get back Cliffside. It was the perfect villa for us. Of course now that they're talking about building that Pond Bay Club at Chocolate Hole, who knows.

It depends on your personality.

Here's a good question: Are you the kind of person who goes to the same restaurant at home time and time again or are you constantly looking for new places to eat?

If you are in the former category then rent the same place because you probably like consistency and familiarity which allows you to relax. If you fall in the latter category, then pick a new place and roll with it.

We found a place (Cygnus) and rented several times. My gal pal Flip Flop always likes to stay in a different place everytime. I on the other hand like consistency. That being said when we've gone with the Flip Flops in the past we've stayed at new places. But trips on our own we've stayed at Cygnus. We've always stuck with Choc Hole area.

And just to make things even MORE complicated -- we're going back by ourselves this December and decided on a completely new place on Cinnamon Bay.

Bottom line: To thine own self be true. GO with whatever option allows you to be most at ease and without stress as you plan for your next visit.

Gromit wrote:It depends on your personality.

Just a quick follow-up to Gromit's post....I agree.
Another item that some of us use, is the organization
or person we rent the villa from.

While most rental companies are very good...
some are better then others.

I feel very comfortable using certain rental people
who are on-island, as I trust their word and judgment.

Do what feels right, and deal with people who you are
comfortable with....it helps a lot.

"like consistency and familiarity which allows you to relax"

Gromits statement sums up why we return to STJ again and again. We are relaxed before we even get to the island because STJ is a proven winner for us.