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Getting so frustrated! Trying to book a quickie trip!
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:01 pm
by mindehankins
Hubby got some time off of work and I'm trying to book a trip for 4/23-5/1. We want to go to St. John...been longing for it since we got back in Nov.09. But GEEZ I'm such a tightwad, and the prices! And the availability...
If anyone has any tricks up their sleeves, let me know.
Airfares are around $600
We are very basic travellers. Cruz Views was fine last trip, but they're booked up. I should have started sooner, but don't ever know when Blaine will be able to get off of work.
I don't even know that we'd be able to find a car, at this point....
Whaddya think, forum? Is it too late?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:08 pm
by Iluvstjohn
Hmmmmm..tricky one. Some ideas come to mind...sunset ridge? Battery hill? Lavendar hill? Those are all stand bys for us...we even had a splendid time at cinnamon bay campgroundnin a cottage forna last minute 4 night trip
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:09 pm
by deejayjay
Take a deep breathe. . . . O kay. You're going off season. shouldn't be a problem to find a car, or a place to stay. We stayed at Harmony Suites in Maho camps 5 yrs ago. Very nice for the price. At that time it was 140 per night. Beautiful views and location. Maho camps is really a special place. Not fancy accomodations, but sofa and chair. Table and chairs , linens, towels, Queen bed. Large bathroom with shower. Kitchenette with small refrig, microwave and cook top. Loungers on deck. Good food in the dining area if you choose to eat there. Again, not fancy, not a fancy villa, but clean, comfortable, and a view to die for.
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:13 pm
by Iluvstjohn
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:21 pm
by liamsaunt
What is your budget? A quick plug in of your dates shows this house available at $1960/week with a pool and ocean views:
http://www.caribbeanvillas-stjohn.com/Amora/Amora.html
or this one, around the same price, with pool and ocean views:
http://www.caribbeanvillas-stjohn.com/H ... sbill.html
or this one, slightly less:
http://www.privatehomesforprivatevacati ... wtiful.htm
There is a place over in Fish Bay/Rendevous that is very reasonable, private condos with a shared pool. I once ran into a forumite who was staying there for a whole month! Can anyone think of the name?
Have you checked Coconut Coast?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:31 pm
by Lovermont
Hey Minde,
Well, you and Blaine survived Cinnamon Bay, so might you want to look at Maho? Their tents are $135 a night, and you could probably forgo a rental Jeep for a couple of days. The day you arrive - for instance, you could just use Frett's Taxi out to Maho from the ferry (I believe $7 per person). Then day one, you could rent a kayak and do Whistling Cay. Waterlemon is a very doable walk from Maho, so you could do that one day. Then, rent a car the other days and do all the places (Vie's!) that you'd want to hit with a Jeep.
You know you want to...
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:39 pm
by mindehankins
Oh gosh, guys! Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm checking them all out.
I actually called AAA today, and asked a travel agent to help. I usually have more planning time!
I'd like to keep the cost of the housing to below $2000. I think the stairs at Maho might be a problem, cause when I get tired I get weak on the stroke side. I called Cinnamon Bay today, but missed the reservation person, so I'm keeping that as a last hope.
Sure do appreciate your helpfulness, and hate to sound like such a spazz
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:44 pm
by Xislandgirl
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:03 pm
by Lovermont
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:43 pm
by mindehankins
That's where I'm searching, Ruth!
I'd ruled out the Palmy Daze place because of the staircase but it looks like that might be the second bedroom, not the only bedroom.
Where is Pastory Estates/ Palmy Daze? That's Cruz Bay, right?
I even found this tiny little place:
http://www.vrbo.com/296002
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:00 pm
by Lovermont
Hmmm... this place was brought up some time ago... perhaps a year ago or so. Do you remember who was thinking of staying there? I'm always fascinated by the little minimalistic places. The price is right, the location would be quite convenient, but the beds don't look too comfortable. It looks like it's very open to the outside, and after May 2009, I'd want to make sure that mosquitoes are not going to be an issue. I'm thinking that Rick might be a pretty colorful character! 
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:55 pm
by Puddlejumper
This downstairs unit looks available. I am partial to this place because I lived on the property in the caretakers cottage. Coral Bay Outlook has a separate unit downstairs from the main house. Both can be rented together, or apart. It has fairly easy access. You mentioned you would have problems with stairs, well this has a ramp up to the lower level. You do walk up two to three terraced gardens from the car. It really is easy. The view is fantastic, and it has a fully equipped kitchen, ceiling fan, and deck furniture.
http://www.vrbo.com/73383
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:09 pm
by Teresa_Rae
We stayed at Coral and Blue in 2004, which is a neighboring condo to Palmy Daze. It was ok. To get there you go up Centerline from town. It's only a few minutes outside of Cruz Bay.
You would definitely need a car.
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:30 pm
by mindehankins
Hugs going out to all of you, for helping so graciously.
We missed vacations last year cause we bought the house. We're dying to get back in that impossibly blue water!
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:48 pm
by Berlingirl
This year Easter is April 24th so it is a late high season...combined with school vaca for New England and New York. That is why your finding limited air inventory. Plus...prices have been going up on airline tickets for the past few weeks since oil prices are spiking. Therefore the higher prices. See if you can rent a vechicle on STT as that will be a real savings. We always rent an economy car and have NEVER had a problem on STJ anywhere we've gone. Usually it's around $200-250 per week. You've got lots of suggestions for the land portion. Personally, I'd recommend the B&B next to Asolare if you can get it. You can do it Minde...blue waters are waiting for you!
