USVI-On-Line

We are excited to be headed back to St. John in January. Typically we stay at Westin(we have a a timeshare in May). We heard that they are having some wearther related problems and didn't seem like much availability. I wanted to reach out to forumites and find out where the best place to stay with small kids(6, 4 & 1). We like Cruz Bay and would prefer a no depth pool. Grande Bay looked interesting. Prefer not to rent a car but not a major concern. Thanks in advance, Jim

Jim,
You may want to do a search for threads on toddlers and kids. There have been a lot with lots of discussion on where to stay. If you don't want to stay at the Westin, your other options are pretty much Caneel, a condo (Grande Bay, Lavender Hill, etc.), or a villa. A condo gives you a community pool, maybe more of a sense of security (especially if its just your family). A villa gives you more space, probably a private pool, and can be cheaper especially if you get a large group together (multiple families). With villas, the big items I look for are how close the pool is to the house (if it's right outside the living room doors, or has a small pool deck, I worry more that a kid will tumble into it -- I prefer a place where the pool is off to the side of the villa, or maybe down a level). The other main concern is the floorplan. Many of the villas have bedrooms that are separated in different buildings, and the only access between them is to walk outside. There have been several threads on villas with interior access bedrooms. Some I can think of are: Crystal Seaview, Ristaba, Villekula, Idyllic, Leeward, plus many more if you can get by with just 2 bedrooms.

Good luck with the search, St. John is great with little kids!

When our son was 18 months, Jazz Villa was recommended to us. We ended up staying somewhere else where the bedroom set-up would be less than desirable for you.

La Lapin sticks in my mind as a villa that was mentioned as having interior bedroom access.

You may want to check out Morgan Point...its a 3 bedroom with all interior access...I would definatly recommend having a jeep, though...I think it would be easier with kids than trying to get a cab every time you want to go any place...just my opinion...

We are have stayed at the Westin Villas a number of times in the past 10 years with our kids and it's been fantastic. Always. We did Gallows once too, but they were smaller then so it was easier. A couple of years ago we rented Idyllic villa. While we found it was a good for us, there were only two bedrooms inside. The third was accessed from an outdoor stairwell which was difficult because one of kids in our party had parents who stayed down there and she was about 8 years old at the times. Safe beautiful pool though! Another plus was it was a great walking location to the Westin though. You could make it there in five minutes. Walking back up the hill was a killer ...

We stayed in Blue Agave last trip which is further up the hill from the Westin overlooking Chocolate hole. We found it was not a kid friendly villa. Pool had a drop off of about twenty feet all the way around on two sides. Only one bedroom had interior access, the others were down a level with exterior locking doors. Two of which were glass doors covered by blinds that had been completely trashed by the wedding party that rented the week before us. (you could see right inside and there was no way to rig a coverup!) We thought we could manage it, but the entire week we stressed over our 13 year old and 8 year girls old down there, granted we had our older son (over 18 years old) in another room next to them, we still worried.

What we have discovered is...the Westin works best for us.

I could be wrong, but I believe Gallows has a minimum age- so that would be out for you.

We have little ones (10 and 6) and usually do the Westin, too. I would look at Grande Bay and definitely the villas others here recommend. There are probably several that would work- many in the Chocolate Hole area not too far from town, but you would def need a car. We always rent the 4 door jeep with the kids. Love it.

I would think (hope!) by Jan the Westin would have the water problems under control, but who knows. We have a time share there in June but often go other times and rent a Westin villa or regular rooms- can't beat the convenience with the kiddos!

piscesgirl0314 wrote:You may want to check out Morgan Point...its a 3 bedroom with all interior access...I would definatly recommend having a jeep, though...I think it would be easier with kids than trying to get a cab every time you want to go any place...just my opinion...

We stayed there in July with an 8 year old and it could work for kids. And...one of the bedrooms can split to 2 twin beds.

Carefree does say "Children over 8 are welcome". I don't know how strict those rules are, but it's worth checking beforehand. The house seems pretty indestructible...nothing too fancy in it. A great house all around.

Renting a car could be hard...3 carseats...you must have a large vehicle at home. What could you rent that would have a large enough back seat? Would you fit in a Durango? I'm kinda carseat crazy, so I'd be reluctant to take cabs anywhere...where do you keep the seats while you're not in the cab?

Forgot to add that there are also some villas with sleeper sofas in the bedrooms, so you could all stay together in one room. There are also some others with lofts - that might work for your older ones, with the baby in a pack n play (Ambiance, Amani come to mind as two villas with lofts). Also, be sure to describe your party and the ages of the kids to all the villa agents. We found that Destination St. John does not charge for kids under 6, so their prices were much lower than other agencies who did count kids in calculating the rate. Also, some agencies will count babies, some don't if they're in a pack-n-play.

Gallows has a 5 year old age minimum. But Lavender Hill has no minimum and is also within walking distance of town. You may be able to squeeze into a 1 bedroom if you want 2 kids on the living room sleep sofa. Otherwise they have some 2 bedroom units.