Coral Bay vs Cruz Bay

Effie · Post by **Effie** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:29 pm

Just booked our flights for our trip this August and the original villa we were looking at is not available anymore. I'm sure there are a ton of threads on Coral Bay vs Cruz bay but wanted to get any opinions out there. I originally wanted to stay in Cruz Bay but every place that I like recently is in Coral Bay. We are looking for a 2 bedroom for under $3300, and I have also looked at a few 3 bedrooms to have more options. We are only a party of 4 so either will work. A few that I like right now are Memory Daze and Easy Breezes. Anyone stayed at these or have any other suggestions?
Thanks!!

loria · Post by **loria** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:46 pm

we will be staying at Easybreezes in three weeks-- i will post a report when we return, but all reports i have on the property is that it is beautiful and that the pictures in the website don't do it justice.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:47 pm

Love, love, love Reef Madness in Coral Bay

Pia

Effie · Post by **Effie** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:23 pm

Thanks for the quick responses! Reef Madness is not available for our dates.

loria · Post by **loria** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:41 pm

also love bo atabey-- near-ish to reef madness.... villa tiffany is another nice place and the view is to die for.

sherban · Post by **sherban** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:47 pm

Effie wrote:Just booked our flights for our trip this August and the original villa we were looking at is not available anymore. I'm sure there are a ton of threads on Coral Bay vs Cruz bay but wanted to get any opinions out there. I originally wanted to stay in Cruz Bay but every place that I like recently is in Coral Bay. We are looking for a 2 bedroom for under $3300, and I have also looked at a few 3 bedrooms to have more options. We are only a party of 4 so either will work. A few that I like right now are Memory Daze and Easy Breezes. Anyone stayed at these or have any other suggestions? Thanks!!

With a budget of $3300 in August you should have alot of 2-3 BR villas to choose from!
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/ca ... vi-st-john
http://www.vacationvistas.com/index.html
http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/st-john-villas/
http://www.windspree.com/homes.php

Feel free to use the villa map if you want to look in certain areas:
http://goo.gl/maps/6rPh2

Have fun!

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 7:33 pm

Have you been to STJ before? For those new to the island, Cruz Bay might be the better option.

We've been 10 trips and have done about half on one side of the island, and half on the other.

I like both sides but probably prefer the Cruz Bay side because I love several of the restaurants in Cruz Bay and it's nice being closer to Cruz Bay at night. The drive across the island and back can get a little old at night.

But that said, it's St. John so you can't go wrong.

The only part of the island that I would never choose to stay is south of Coral Bay in the Salt Pond area. It's a major hike back to Cruz Bay and some of the beaches from there.

Caw954s · Post by **Caw954s** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:54 am

sherban wrote:
Feel free to use the villa map if you want to look in certain areas:
http://goo.gl/maps/6rPh2!

Sherban thank you for posting your villa map...that is so handy!!

Pia, reef madness is REALLY nice...that,one is going on the top of my 2- bedroom list! Thanks

Caw954s · Post by **Caw954s** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:15 am

loria wrote:also love bo atabey-- near-ish to reef madness.... villa tiffany is another nice place and the view is to die for.

Both of those villas are so nice Loria thanks for sharing...looks like Bo atabey does not have any AC, correct? I gotta have AC in the bedrooms

, but otherwise love both of these and I have never heard of these before.

cool breeze · Post by **cool breeze** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:38 am

Good morning if you like a laid back 70's vibe then you will love Coral bay. We were a little hesitant about Coral bay after several stays in the Cruz bay area but once we decided to try Coral Bay we were hooked. Check out into the mystic villa, it is located in a nice location with great views and great proximity to restaurants, beaches and small grocery stores. Happy planning!

papabou · Post by **papabou** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:34 am

while we have not stayed at memory daze, we did tour her extensively last april while owner was in residence. great convenient easy access coral bay location, fantastic views, faces prevailing winds, well equipped and great floor plan with minimum steps. 3 pods with living/kitchen in middle and bedrooms on opposite ends though not really equal (large master vs an effeciency). great value at rack rates and often last minute discounts offered, BUT for us won't work because we don't do queen bedding. oh well.

good luck,

papabou

lazylane · Post by **lazylane** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:43 am

Our favorite villa to date in the Coral Bay area (Upper Carolina) is Great Turtle Villa, convenient to North Shore beaches and Coral Bay. We also liked Debolina on Ajax Peak, right past Smoothie Stand and North Shore Rd.

Both have fabulous views and a/c and great pool areas! They are both 4 bedroom but you will be charged by # of guests!

http://www.islandhideaways.com/stjohn/v ... at-turtle/

http://www.windspree.com/home.php/11/DeBolina

We have also stayed in Island Horizons and Bay House in Coral Bay.

Our new favorite area near Cruz Bay is high up on Chocolate Hole. You can cut across Gifft Hill to go to Coral Bay from there easily! We stayed at Treasure Ridge and loved it!!!

http://www.destinationstjohn.com/home.p ... re%20Ridge

sasky · Post by **sasky** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 11:40 am

The age old debate.

I can't comment on the villas, but I can share my perspective on the Cuz/Coral question.

It's 100% personal preference. I'm partial to the Cruz Bay side. Something about driving through town to get to the quiet beaches and back to the private and relaxing villa...I don't know, I just love it. On the other side I felt very isolated. On the way to the beaches we didn't see many people, as well as on the way back.

Plus I am much more of a sunset person than I am a sunrise.

CBama · Post by **CBama** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:05 pm

We picked Coral Bay for our first stay and it was the correct choice for us. I loved being 10 minutes from Maho/Francis, 10-15 from Salt Pond/Lamashur, 5-10 minutes from Vie's, and the view on drive to the other North Shore beaches is so nice it doesn't seem to take that long.

I know some locations on Cruz Bay side you can take Gift Hill to Centerline and cut out town and some time, but seems like a long way back to Salt Pond or East end.

We drove back to Cruz Bay three nights for dinner and walking around town. We clocked our drive via Centerline at around 25 minutes one night.

there were enough restaurants on the Coral Bay side for us..I just wanted to try some in Cruz Bay. I don't think I would have like driving through town every day to get to beaches...and it was so hot in town, even at night (June) that we were always ready to get back to the villa and our breezes.

but having said all that....if I found the "perfect" villa for a trip...I would book it. No wrong choice on St John.....I think location probably determines more of where you hang out during your trip...but there is no bad beach on St John (in my opinion) We went to Salt Pond twice during our trip and we probably wouldn't have done that if we had stayed closer to Cruz Bay.

We loved Coral Bay....and found everything we wanted or needed on that side of the island (with the exception of gas for our jeep)

momto3boys · Post by **momto3boys** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:01 am

We did Coral Bay our first trip and fell in love. Just booked a Coral Bay villa for our second trip. One Villa we considered that was not in Coral Bay but was already booked for our dates was Coconuts. They have some openings in August. Not sure what your dates are.

http://www.coconutsvilla.com/

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