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Cruz Views
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silverheels
- Posts: 890
- Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:18 am
- Location: The Nutmeg State
Cruz Views
Looking at Cruz Views for a 2 week stay this coming summer. Thought that some of the forumites had stayed there before and had certain preferences on the units.
Would love some input on the units. I am familiar with the location and almost bought a unit there but that was long ago and I can't remember which place I liked better.
Your help would be great.
Would love some input on the units. I am familiar with the location and almost bought a unit there but that was long ago and I can't remember which place I liked better.
Your help would be great.
Re: Cruz Views
As I am considering staying there, I have gathered this info from other posts:
Would never stay in #2 again (unless it got a new owner as #1 recently did). It’s br a/c made a LOT of noise but really didn’t work at all, it was dark, had cheap, old furniture, dishes, towels etc—what little it had, and owner’s idea of an entertainment system was a cassette-playing boom box! Never again, I don’t care how cheap it was.
#7 & #10 have both been nicely updated and both have central air BUT they are below the pool so don’t have as nice views plus you are constantly trudging up and down the stairs to get to the pool and out to the parking lot which makes carrying beach items and groceries a real pain. Plus 7 is a 1 BR and 10 has a captains ladder which has become very difficult for me to climb up and down on as I’ve gotten a bit older plus is a major concern for my young grandkids. Wouldn’t stay in these again unless I really had to.
#3 & 4 are both 2 br’s. Both have stairs going directly down to the pool and have decks/balconies that overlook the pool. #3 has a very nice very large shower in a recently updated bathroom. They have stocked nice china, linens, etc. Very nice views (sea & sunset). Have a fan on the deck which is nice. But they only have a/c in the br’s which can make the kitchen/living area uncomfortable (especially from June through November). Plus they have the dreaded captain’s ladder to the 2nd floor BR.
#4 is not as nicely updated or provisioned as #3 but has a very nice large wrap-around deck. Again, a/c is only in the br’s. Again, very nice if you have kids and want to watch them swim in pool from the comfort of your deck with easy access to drinks & food. Again, the dreaded captains ladder climb to 2nd floor br. But also again very nice views.
#1 now has a brand new owner (last year) who totally remodelled the whole unit. It now has central air, dishwasher, its own grill on its private patio (largest—both inside and outside--of the 10 CV units), really an amazing redo. What’s extra nice about this unit is that it has a spiral staircase to the 2nd floor BR (which has million dollar views). EVERYTHING inside is new plus it doesn’t share any adjoining walls with any other unit so it’s like a ‘stand-alone’ villa. It has it’s own parking spot steps away from the door to the private courtyard and you can pull the car right up to the door to load for the beach or carry groceries/luggage in. We have stayed there once since the redo and immediately booked again for our next trip (even before we left St. John!).
#1 is more expensive than the other units but really—IMHO—well worth it; plus you can go directly through the owner so you don’t have to pay Caribbean Villas 5% service fee. Since we booked again within a year of staying there, the owner automatically gave us a 10% discount plus our dates were flexible enough that we could arrive on the same day that another guest was leaving so she offered us an additional 5% off. With the 20% savings, we felt #1 was well worth the extra $15/day it came out to be. Plus we save because we can cook in more--it's got a great kitchen.
Would never stay in #2 again (unless it got a new owner as #1 recently did). It’s br a/c made a LOT of noise but really didn’t work at all, it was dark, had cheap, old furniture, dishes, towels etc—what little it had, and owner’s idea of an entertainment system was a cassette-playing boom box! Never again, I don’t care how cheap it was.
#7 & #10 have both been nicely updated and both have central air BUT they are below the pool so don’t have as nice views plus you are constantly trudging up and down the stairs to get to the pool and out to the parking lot which makes carrying beach items and groceries a real pain. Plus 7 is a 1 BR and 10 has a captains ladder which has become very difficult for me to climb up and down on as I’ve gotten a bit older plus is a major concern for my young grandkids. Wouldn’t stay in these again unless I really had to.
#3 & 4 are both 2 br’s. Both have stairs going directly down to the pool and have decks/balconies that overlook the pool. #3 has a very nice very large shower in a recently updated bathroom. They have stocked nice china, linens, etc. Very nice views (sea & sunset). Have a fan on the deck which is nice. But they only have a/c in the br’s which can make the kitchen/living area uncomfortable (especially from June through November). Plus they have the dreaded captain’s ladder to the 2nd floor BR.
#4 is not as nicely updated or provisioned as #3 but has a very nice large wrap-around deck. Again, a/c is only in the br’s. Again, very nice if you have kids and want to watch them swim in pool from the comfort of your deck with easy access to drinks & food. Again, the dreaded captains ladder climb to 2nd floor br. But also again very nice views.
#1 now has a brand new owner (last year) who totally remodelled the whole unit. It now has central air, dishwasher, its own grill on its private patio (largest—both inside and outside--of the 10 CV units), really an amazing redo. What’s extra nice about this unit is that it has a spiral staircase to the 2nd floor BR (which has million dollar views). EVERYTHING inside is new plus it doesn’t share any adjoining walls with any other unit so it’s like a ‘stand-alone’ villa. It has it’s own parking spot steps away from the door to the private courtyard and you can pull the car right up to the door to load for the beach or carry groceries/luggage in. We have stayed there once since the redo and immediately booked again for our next trip (even before we left St. John!).
#1 is more expensive than the other units but really—IMHO—well worth it; plus you can go directly through the owner so you don’t have to pay Caribbean Villas 5% service fee. Since we booked again within a year of staying there, the owner automatically gave us a 10% discount plus our dates were flexible enough that we could arrive on the same day that another guest was leaving so she offered us an additional 5% off. With the 20% savings, we felt #1 was well worth the extra $15/day it came out to be. Plus we save because we can cook in more--it's got a great kitchen.
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Re: Cruz Views
We've stayed in 1 (before remodel), 2 and 8. We'd stay again in 1 or 8. #8 works out for us particularly well because hubby likes to sit outside and read at night, and it has a second porch on the side (no view) that is screened to protect from mosquitoes. I know a couple who return often to unit 3.
I PMd you with the names of a few other forum folks who might be able to give you feedback.
Happy planning!
I PMd you with the names of a few other forum folks who might be able to give you feedback.
Happy planning!
Re: Cruz Views
I am currently staying in unit 10. We are young, so the walk isn't an issue for us! There are a lot of stairs. The unit itself is nice. The view isn't the best we've had on St. John, but it's good enough and is unobsrtucted. You can sometimes hear the ferries coming in, and you are among "the locals" so you can hear dogs barking, music playing, and just general life happening around you. These things do not bother us, but it is probably not the place for you if you want really quiet and private. Our biggest complaint is the parking. Many of the guests do not park properly in the tight spots, which does not leave much room for everyone else. Just something to consider!
Overall, we'd stay here again. PM if you have any specific questions!!
Overall, we'd stay here again. PM if you have any specific questions!!
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silverheels
- Posts: 890
- Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:18 am
- Location: The Nutmeg State
Re: Cruz Views
Thank you for all your information on Cruz Views. We are going to stay at Pastory Estates. It's like going home for me as we once owned a unit there (a very famous captain now owns it). Early on when we were looking to buy on St. John we looked at Cruz Views. but I like Pastory better. The unit that we are renting is right by the pool and the view out to St. Thomas is great. It's a one bedroom that has been updated recently. I don't have the link right now but I'll post it at a later time.