usvi-on-line
A/C in late May/early June
A/C in late May/early June
As I said in an earlier post, we are just beginning our planning for a late May/early June trip. In looking at villas, one major question has come to mind - how necessary is air conditioning in May/June. Being from Atlanta, we can't imagine not having it, but I realize that I could be wrong! One other related question - what does it mean when a description says "split air conditioning" in the bedrooms?
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
We have been traveling to STJ for approx 20 years. In the past we have rented villas in Catherineberg that did not have A/C and we were mostly comfortable, however now that I'm a bit older, I personally nix any villa that does not have A/C at least in the bedrooms. It's really not the heat that drives my need for A/C but the humidity. While you do get both in Atlanta the heat and humidity are different in the tropics. I need my sleep and I have found that I sleep better with A/C. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 
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greyhoundmom
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:06 pm
- Location: Columbia South Carolina
In our six years of STJ summers, never had a problem. In 2009 we had a downstairs bedroom with an A/C unit in the wall above the bed. Very musty, moldy...had to air the pillows out on the pool deck in the hot sun because of the mold smell. S/O developed a horrible sinus/migraine headache for the first 3 days of our trip from sleeping with the air on in this bedroom. Thank goodness for a travel companion who had lots of experience with this. She did sinus rubs, hot and cold compresses for about 2 hours and finally put him to sleep. From there out, we turned off the air, opened the doors and slept without pillows. Just know if you have sinus problems, a downstairs bedroom can be a bitch!
A split AC is a unit in the wall, however, the condenser is outside which makes them much more quiet than a window A/C. They also are good as humidifiers. We have one in our home and just love it. Ours has a thermostat and you can set it for the temperature you prefer.
We have been to St. John the last two years in the beginning of May. Last year it was comfortable to sleep without the A/C, but we did so anyway since the roosters would wake us up each morning. The previous year, we had some really warm days and nights - more like June weather, and we needed the A/C at night in the bedrooms.
We have been to St. John the last two years in the beginning of May. Last year it was comfortable to sleep without the A/C, but we did so anyway since the roosters would wake us up each morning. The previous year, we had some really warm days and nights - more like June weather, and we needed the A/C at night in the bedrooms.
For me, A/C in the bedrooms is critical for a few reasons:
1. Sunburn - if you're sunburned, there is nothing worse than laying in a hot stick bed with bad sunburn
2. Security - if you want to lock up the villa at night, you'll need A/C
3. Humidity - after about 5 days, EVERYTHING is damp and it can be a real problem to get stuff dry (especially if you haven't had a lot of sunny bright weather). The relief from the damp is nice.
4. Mosquitos - I don't like having DEET on 24/7, so if the house has screens that aren't very tight or have some holes, it's nice to know that you can shut the house up tight and turn on the A/C overnight to escape the mosquitos.
These are reasons to have A/C no matter when you go - I figure that if it's breezy and cool enough to go without, that's a bonus, but it's good to have the option as a backup.
1. Sunburn - if you're sunburned, there is nothing worse than laying in a hot stick bed with bad sunburn
2. Security - if you want to lock up the villa at night, you'll need A/C
3. Humidity - after about 5 days, EVERYTHING is damp and it can be a real problem to get stuff dry (especially if you haven't had a lot of sunny bright weather). The relief from the damp is nice.
4. Mosquitos - I don't like having DEET on 24/7, so if the house has screens that aren't very tight or have some holes, it's nice to know that you can shut the house up tight and turn on the A/C overnight to escape the mosquitos.
These are reasons to have A/C no matter when you go - I figure that if it's breezy and cool enough to go without, that's a bonus, but it's good to have the option as a backup.
It's not really a question of A/C being necessary, but if it's necessary for you. As a general rule, I believe that anyone who thinks to ask about A/C should be sure to have A/C. We're fine with overhead fans. The couple of times that we had A/C we didn't use it. I like to be able to hear the night sounds in the Caribbean. I'd probably feel differently if I was living and working on STJ, but we're real low maintenance on vacation. I used to love backpacking.
Some folks would be absolutely miserable without A/C, and not just in the bedroom. But people have lived on STJ for a long time before there was A/C. Many residents don't have A/C and the West Indian-style cottages that we've rented haven't had it. Caneel didn't have any A/C until relatively recently. Also, people do stay at Maho and Cinnamon and Vie's and enjoy themselves. We stayed at Maho on our first couple of trips to STJ. We love it there, but some folks would find it intolerable and be utterly miserable.
Usually, though, I believe that anyone who thinks to ask about A/C will need A/C.
Some folks would be absolutely miserable without A/C, and not just in the bedroom. But people have lived on STJ for a long time before there was A/C. Many residents don't have A/C and the West Indian-style cottages that we've rented haven't had it. Caneel didn't have any A/C until relatively recently. Also, people do stay at Maho and Cinnamon and Vie's and enjoy themselves. We stayed at Maho on our first couple of trips to STJ. We love it there, but some folks would find it intolerable and be utterly miserable.
Usually, though, I believe that anyone who thinks to ask about A/C will need A/C.
I agree with PetiePie's reasons. I love to hear the Caribbean sounds, however, we have been there in May when its really hot and sticky. We were much more comfortable with A/C in the bedroom. We stayed at Concordia one year and got by with just a fan, but would have preferred A/C. We only use the A/C in the bedrooms, because we are mostly sitting outside when we are at the villa. Happy villa hunting!
