USVI-On-Line

Hello Formites want some homework? Find me a Villa. I have been looking for weeks and can't seem to make up my mind.

We usually stay in the same villa on each visit to STJ, however we are looking for some place different. It is just me and hubby so we only need one Bdrm but I know that sometimes a 3 Bdrm is the same price as one. I would like to stay under $2,800.00 for the week but am willing to spend a little more for the right place. We usually spend $1500 for the week but we don't have a pool, laundry, or wireless internet so I am will to pay for the extras. Here are some of the specifics:

Note: Off Season (April-May)

Necessities:
Screened Windows (the Mosquitoes LOVE me)
A/C in bedrooms
Pool
View of ocean

Would like but not necessary:
Wireless Internet
Laundry

Location:
We currently stay in Chocolate Hole and really like this location because it's close to Cruz Bay - i.e. shopping, bars, retaurants. I have never stayed on the North Shore and this is extremely appealing to me. I would love to overlook one of the North Shore beaches. I am not against Coral Bay but would like to hear from people who have stayed both areas and their opinions. I am worried that we would constantly be driving over to Cruz Bay if we stayed in Coral Bay.

Ok, there's your homework. Thanks for any suggestions!!

XOXO
Bug

We recently stayed at Calypso Del Sol with Vacation Vistas. A wonderful property great dealing with Lisa too! I am a biting bug magnet too and the great thing with Calypso is that it has a screened in porch. It looks like it has all of your criteria $2,600, laundry room, etc. The villa also has it's own site www.calypsodelsol.com If you have any specific questions, please let me know!

Highly recommended

I really like the screened in porch area!!! This place will definetly make my list Thanks so much!

We too have always stayed in Choc Hole because of the super convenience.

However, I have found the Cruz Bay seems to get busier and busier and decided that this year we would head "out of town". I looked at a ton of places in Coral Bay but ended up splitting it down the middle and reserving Anole thru Caribbean Villas.

I think it's around $2400 for the week for two poeple. We're staying for 10 days so the total in my head is more than the one on the web site.

It's just hubby and me as well, but like you I am finicky about location, amenities, view and the dire need for my own pool. Plus you are so right, I didn't care for the smaller places-- for just a little bit more you get a lot more house and more amenities.

I think you'll like the individual screened in porches!

http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/anole/index.html

Of course my dream spot is Gibney Beach Cottage! But I just can't bring myself to pay $4K a week for it.

Gromit - I loved Anole when I was villa-searching, but it didn't look like it had a/c in the bedrooms. An earlier review also mentioned that fact. Do you know if that has changed at all? I'd stay there in a heartbeat if it had a/c. A big issue for us, perhaps not for you and yours.

I am going to throw in for another Vacation Vista property - Splendore

http://vacationvistas.com/splendore_villa_st_john.html

We had rented on the North Shore for two years running but because of mobile child restrictions at our fav, we had to find a new place.

I have a review posted under the review section, dated 3-6-07.

The Vacation Vistas website really doesn't do the house justice. It was very well maintained and all furnishings were up to date. (I am fussy in this area) It was probably the best stocked house we have rented anywhere - multiple bottles of laundry detergent, paper towels, soap, etc. We purchased nothing aside from food/booze.

All the sliding doors had screens. AC in the bedrooms only. The laundry was right off the kitchen (all new or new-ish appliances) which was a nice feature.

I believe there is high speed internet access. There is a small office in the tower.

The pool was warm enough for us to use at night, in February.

Calypso Del Sol was our first choice but it was booked during our week.

I like this one http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/availabil ... 054054.asp

Also from Vacation Vistas, Belvedere is in your budget. We stayed there in 2005 and enjoyed it. She also has Serenity for the same price--that house is just a few doors down from Belvedere.

I have not been able to find a house on the North Shore with AC in the bedrooms that is in our price range. We stayed at Cinnamon Tarn last year in the last week of June and did not need air conditioning. There seems to be a constant breeze up there. We did purchase two small fans, one for each side of the bed, just to provide extra air. It was quite comfortable.

I've gone with and without A/C. My experience has been that if you open up the house the breezes are good enough to keep you cool. I would imagine that this is the same with Anole. So I'm not too worried.

We're also going in December so it's usually a bit cooler.

But you have to know what works for you and go with it.

I acclamate pretty easily as long as there is a breeze.

AT our last place (Ambiance) we had AC in the BR, but the unit was so noisy and dripped water everywhere!

Hi Bug,

We like Miles Away out on Fish Bay. We'll be there for the second time in December. It rents throught Destination St. John. I posted a review after our stay last December.

http://www.destinationstjohn.com/miles_away.htm

We looked at the Carnival beach house for our trip but it was booked. It looks very cute and is just a little further than Chocolate Hole.

http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/carnival/index.html

Gromit ~

This might be a stupid question but from the pics, I can't tell how the Great Room closes up? The front wall seems to be missing so I can't figure out how it closes? It looks absolutly stunning (I'm a big fan of the island stonework). I only time I worry about air conditioning is if you happen to be there during rain (which we just were in April).

Ryn wrote:We recently stayed at Calypso Del Sol with Vacation Vistas. A wonderful property great dealing with Lisa too! I am a biting bug magnet too and the great thing with Calypso is that it has a screened in porch. It looks like it has all of your criteria $2,600, laundry room, etc. The villa also has it's own site www.calypsodelsol.com If you have any specific questions, please let me know!

Highly recommended

Ryn, did Calypso del Sol have wireless internet? Does it have beach towels, beach chairs, & beach umbreallas? Any add'l info you can give on the villa will be appreciated.

Just checked into The Gatehouse at Peter Bay yesterday. It is a 1 bedroom & absolutely gorgeous, the view is amazing of Peter, Cinnamon, Trunk, & Tortola. It is perfect for you & your husband. Ill try to post some pics, heading down to Trunk & Hawksnest this morning, so gotta go.

I booked this villa thru Destination St. John.

If it's anything like Cygnus - and most other places - the sliding doors fit into a pocket in the wall.