need help selecting 5/6 bedroom villa in St. John

[claraclyde]

We can really use help in selecting a villa. We need a 5-6 bedroom villa, with a pool (heated would be great) and one with a great view and location. Some of the villas we are contemplating are Mermaid, Marebleu, Monte Bay, Ocean Palms, Rhapsody (may be too expensive), Serenata, Island Stones, Chateau Margot and Contentment. Are there any pros or cons to these villas? This is our first time and are taking children and grandchildren. Or does anyone suggest a different villa. 10K a week is maximum.

[byado18]

Check out Vida de Mar http://www.vidademar.com/stj_info.html

It is a great villa and meets your budget unless you are going during the holidays(Christmas/New Year's)

I did a review in 2009.

[iowaguy]

Those are all beautiful villas. The biggest difference between them, in my opinion, is the location. Contentment and Rhapsody are relatively close to Cruz Bay (the main town)and have beautiful westward (sunset) views, looking out toward St. Thomas. Island Stones has a fantastic north shore view and is very high up in the hills---further from town. I assume "Mermaid" is "Mermaid Falls." This villa would probably get my vote, primarily based on location. Its in upper Peter Bay so it has gorgeous north shore views, but is closer to the fabulous national park beaches than any of the houses you have selected. We have stayed in Monte Bay-other --its a very nice house also, and has a waterfront location, near Mare Blu. This is a fairly quiet location and relatively close to town.Views are very nice, but probably not to the level of the north shore views, or the western views of the first two houses. Ocaean Palms looks like quite a place---it is on the"other" side of the island from most of the other houses---near Coral Bay. Lots of good choices here---hard to go wrong.

[Karen DC]

We toured this villa in December as we were staying just above it and thought it might work for a larger group. It is a very, very nice house. Bright, vivid colors and a great open air feeling. The bedrooms offer a lot of sleeping arrangement options for an extended family. Super clean - we were there while the caretakers/cleaners were there and watched how they worked. We love this location as the sunsets and views are fabulous and it is close to town/markets. We don't object to the quick swing through town to get to the north shore beaches and like hiking along some of the south shore points. The road is very short and has about 5-6 houses on it - Contentment is the second one. Practically no traffic.

[Bigcheeze]

Check out Vida de Mar http://www.vidademar.com/stj_info.html

It is a great villa and meets your budget unless you are going during the holidays(Christmas/New Year's)

I did a review in 2009.

I agree great villa!