USVI-On-Line

Hi Fellow Forumites..........
Well we are getting some of that white stuff at the moment , not sure how I feel about it, but I think of it this way, the sooner it falls the sooner it will be gone & our next trip to St Hohn will be here. Hurrah...............

So I have been looking at soo many villa's my head is spinning. I amsur it is a normal thing for us over zellous planners.

If anyone could provide any feed back on the following villa's it would be appreciated:
Dream Catcher, Coconuts, Eaglenest, Tennis Cottage, Dolphin Run, Blue Skie, Beach Music, Amorita & Cloud Nine.

Not sure if we are going to get a 2 or 3 bed villa. I am trying to talk my baby brother & his wife to join us.

Also, when renting for more than the seven days, do most places pro rate the weekly rate in to a daily rate & add the number of extra days on????

Thanks for any help.

The Shopper 3

As I've posted here before, we've stayed at Dream Catcher many years in a row and felt like it was really getting more run down and dirty each year. Last July it was really "yucky". I did speak to CV's and they told me that the owner planned to do lots of work and cleaning in October and November 07. Still it was time for us to move on. The deck and view are wonderful but what with cords falling off of ceiling fans, handles broken in showers, a/c units that didn't work, broken tile and lights in the pool and furniture you didn't want to sit on without a towel under you.......the view was not enough.

Oh...forgot to add we are staying at C9 for two weeks in July 08 because of good reviews on this forum.

I call that villa migraine! You search and search and review and review until your crosseyed with a migraine and can't even think about one more villa! All the choices always screw me all up. Good luck in your researching!

Almost thought that i couldn't speak to any of the villas you mentioned but I am wrong; Beach Music used to be called Cygnus and we've stayed at Cygnus three times.

I find this villa a great value for the money. That path to the beach and the sand is NEW!! Used to be a rocky beach. Choc Hole is listed as a great snorkeling spot in the STJ Beach Guide. This is also one of the few villas on island that is waterfront.

This place has always felt like a home away from home for us. Gets excellent breezes and has excellent views. It's also close enough to town for convenience.

Upper level BR's are the better rooms with better view (no a/c but not really needed). The lower BR's have AC but not much of a view because of foliage.
The lower BR's are accessed by exterior stairs (typical of STJ construction). Ths kind of layout is common but not suitable for families with young children becasue parents wouldn't be able to hear the kids without a monitor and they have to go outside to get to them.

Pool is smallish but 6 adults hanging out comfortably is max. You won't be doing laps. Also the pool loses the afternoon sun. It's on the side of the house and by 4 or 5pm you lose the sunlight because it's blocked by the house itself.

I like the layout, never used the reading area, nice DR table for a big family meal. Nice open kitchen so you can talk while cooking. Well equipped when we have rented in past.

NIce sturdy lounge chairs on deck. Solid and comfortable furniture. Gas Gril was decent the last time we were there. Looks like this property has changed hands so I don't know if it's the same.

Bathrooms are OK throughout. No fun outdoor showers that we have grown to like when renting villas with other friends. Downstairs bathrooms are lacking. We found that we never used the pool table much and it was a bit on the dark side downstairs. But it can be cozy for the right people.

The only thing that kept me from renting Cygnus/Beach Music this year was the Pond Bay development. There's major construction going on over there. I'm not saying it's a deal breaker but I would ask very specific questions about this construction project as it could have an impact on the quality of your stay.

AGAIN don't discount staying at this property but get some clear answers before you commit. The Pond Bay project has been an ongoing saga for ages. So it could be nothing or it could affect your stay. ASK FIRST.

Again, with the new beach they've built up by the water this is an great bargain and a decent, solid, comfortable house. We've always enjoyed our stay and not had any real probs.

To calculate additional days just divide the price by seven and you get the daily cost for the villa. Add days accordingly using this price.

But don't forget that CV adds a 5% "Service charge" but this additional charge is starting to piss me off. I've overlooked it in the past but I'm starting to reconsider and rent from another company on island.

Their on island staff is nice and helpful though.

If you have any more specific questions about this villa, feel free to ask.

Wow, Gromit's post got me to look at Beach Music (formerly Cygnus) again. We stayed there with the Gromits back in 2000 I think it was and WOW that walkway to the beach looks awesome. It also looks like they've gotten new furniture for the living area.

I 2nd basically everything she says. I do see the rate has gone up considerably, most likely due to the renovations & path. And I too have issues w/ the 5%

Gromit said about Beach Music:
"Also the pool loses the afternoon sun. It's on the side of the house and by 4 or 5pm you lose the sunlight because it's blocked by the house itself."

That isn't necessarily a minus point. Sometimes after a long day in the sun, I would welcome that when staying in a villa rather than trying to find a place to hide from the sun at that roasting time of the day when you know you've had enough. That might be just me, though.
-Ruth

Ruth, I see you point.

But our usual routine was to go to the beach in the AM, lunch at Skinny's or someplace in town and the afternoon at the pool rinsing off the salt. Then we'd shower for dinner and head out.

So I guess we would have liked a little more sun based upon our routine. It starts going away not long after 3:30 and goes down hill from there (sun wise that is).

Yes, I can see that. You are here for a short time and are trying to get as much sun as possible!

Just out of curiousity, what time(s) of the year did you stay at Cygnus/Beach Music? I'm wondering if the pool always gets shady as early as 3:30 or if it varies at different times of the year.
-Ruth

Hi the walk way at cygnus has been there 3 years it was built by the house next door as was the beach slash sitting area they encroached over the lot line the entrance to the water is on cygnuses side of the lot line but most of the sand is on the other houses never had a problem using it but just so you know the chairs and all belong to the other house. This house was sold in June and the new owners chose to make it seem like all that beach is their's. I love the layout stayed there I think 4 time the last was in Jan. If you have any ? please ask.
Tom

Stayed at Cocconuts in August 05. Check out the villa reviews. Its two bedrooms, one king, one queen with an un airconditoned loft with two twins.
Views to die for. Pool is nice, lots of sun. Its in Gift Hill right off the road. Its really four separate pods connected by covered walkways.

Thanks for all the info................
I wish I would just stop looking, I think I have 15 villa's & can't seem to narrow it down......LOL.

I would love cloud nine but it isn't available the full time we want as we are hopping to do 10 days this time, but I also like Sundance & it is available, so it is on the short/long list.

I ahve a few more, Piece of Heaven & Villa Catalina. Anyone stayed at either of these???

I have found great prices on flights as well & am bitting at the bullet to book them, but would like a definate go ahead from at least one of the couples.

IS IT MAY YET

ShopperShopperShopper, I woke this morning, I wasn't on the beach, and it was below freezing! Bloody hell.

Cheers, RickG

RICK,RICK,RICK, if you want to know what cold is you should be here, it's bloody well snowing....
I didn't think it got that cold in your neck of the woods.

At least you just had a nice warm holiday in paradise

Wish we could have made it for Halloween, but I was evil & had to disapoint Larry, guess I will have to make it up to him

We enjoyed watching your snorkel video, Deb wants to do that trip as well, maybe in May...... I will stay on board & keep watch over the BEER

The Saints want to know how WOODY'S is

So do you have any villa recommendations for us???? We are actually seriously considering renting a car this time around so that we can stay out a little further & have a better view. But not too far out still wanna make the Woody runs after the day at the beach
We have been looking at the Chocolate Hole/Gift Hill area.

Stay warm buddy............Hugs to Christine

Think about Allesandra I love it.