QUESTION/OPINION ON WHEN TO RENT VILLA

kklay · Post by **kklay** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:09 am

I have a question that I would like my fellow Forumites to provide feedback on. There are three of us couples who will be returning to St. John this Spring. We've picked our dates, March 11th - 21st. We want to stay on the Cruz Bay side, either Great Cruz Bay, Chocolate Hole, even looking at Rendevzous Bay area. So my question is, would you be booking in the next week/two weeks, etc.? We've been looking at villas on-line and the one couple is supposed to be making some calls. We do not have our flights yet (I'm checking daily and so far, in the past 3-4 days the prices keep going up!). I'm not a big gambler and do not like waiting until the last minute to book (unless of course, we have a last minute trip). We're having a meeting this coming Friday to discuss - I hate to be pushy, but I am getting a little concerned. Just looking for feedback/advice from you all!

Thanks!

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:17 am

By all means...book now. The villa you're interested in may be booked and that's peak season...Also rent your car now.

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:54 am

For high season, I would think you'd want to get booking soon.

If you haven't already, I would start checking villa availability and have a list of villas to bring with you to the meeting. (or at least check with the friend making calls).

I usually nail down air first; but, then I'm usually fully booked at least 6 months in advance.

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:24 pm

book now, car, villa, tickets. it's really close.

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:53 pm

I'm with everyone else on this: book right away. Tag your flights with Yapta in case fares go down.

I booked far in advance (in February for a December vacation) and already some of the villas I was interested in were booked.

I like the suggestion of going to the meeting with a short list of available villas for the group to choose from.

Greenskeeper · Post by **Greenskeeper** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:14 pm

Book ASAP. So many logistics to work out and learn from my anxiety attack there are a finite number of rental vehicles. With that many people, you will need more than one vehicle along with a villa with driveway space that fits them and is navigable.

djmom · Post by **djmom** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:36 pm

If I booked the villa I would book the tickets also.

Usually we do plane tickets first. If the prices on the plane tickets shoot sky high after you book the villa, (and you can save a lot by adjusting by a day or two) you might be in trouble if your villa is booked those dates.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:58 pm

We either book villa and plane tickets 9-12 months in advance or wait to the last minute and grab cheap air and place to stay (in that order). Pre-planning lets you get the perfect space and time. Last minute is all about prices.

March 11, 2010? I'd call that last minute travel. You're running out of time and either need to pull the trigger or prepare for disappointment.

Cheers, RickG

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:46 pm

I'm with Rick G on this. The only reason you will have any luck at this point is because the economy sucks and people aren't traveling. In past years you'd be SOL.

Finding a villa is esp difficult when you have three couples and you want to get three equal bedrooms.

Of course location, pool etc will also factor into the challenge.

Most places will have two really nice bedrooms and then a not so nice one. I speak from experience.

Also whenit comes to teavelling with others use Rick G's trick. You choose your bedroom in the order that you pay your deposit and commit!

Pick your dates, find your villa, book air and book car. Do it yesterday, unless of course you are really going to do it at the absolute last minute and are very flexible.

If of course we have all misunderstood and you meant March 2011 then you obviously have time and airfares won;t be avaialble for a few more months.

Ether way I generally plan a year in advance to get the best choices.

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:53 pm

I'm so anal I book for the following year as soon as we get home...No comments on the "anal" thing please...

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:01 pm

We do the same thing, Bev. We book for the following year right when we get home. In part that is to soften the blow of vacation being over. Please don't say anything about the "blow" part.

Berlingirl · Post by **Berlingirl** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:05 pm

We plan a year in advance also...one year I didn't and the trip didn't happen...

toes in the sand · Post by **toes in the sand** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:57 pm

Our timing usually goes like this;
I watch airfare.
She watches the budget.
Airfare drops for a time period that fits our calendar.
I convince her the budget can handle it (doesnt take much arm twisting).
Book air.
Book jeep and begin villa search.
Two weeks searching available villa and it's time to book.

If you have the time slot picked, book your jeep NOW and finalize your villa search and book it.

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:08 pm

bevm wrote:I'm so anal I book for the following year as soon as we get home...No comments on the "anal" thing please...

Pete (Mr. Marcia) wrote:We do the same thing, Bev. We book for the following year right when we get home. In part that is to soften the blow of vacation being over. Please don't say anything about the "blow" part.

You two crack me up! (No comments about my crack please.)

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QUESTION/OPINION ON WHEN TO RENT VILLA

QUESTION/OPINION ON WHEN TO RENT VILLA