Family friendly villa (more help needed!!)

[lsinden]

Hi everyone,
I've made some progress in the search for a villa for our first time trip next winter. We are a couple with two year old twins, my mother (aka grandma) and my sister (this trip is 50th birthday gift). So four adults, two toddlers -- could do 2 bedrooms, but prefer 3-4 bedrooms.
We are looking at Coral Bay because it sounds appealing to us. But we are open to suggetions.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions last month. I have looked at every villa recommended -- some of them are still definitely contenders! If I wait long enough I will not have a lot of choices...
Here are priorities:
Nice villa with good layout for us(minimum of two bedrooms in main living area, preferably with inside access), nice pool that is warm enough to use but one that is remote from other outside areas (like outside dining, or an upper deck) so that we can be outside without policing a child.

A quiet location -- and definitely one that doesn't feel like a subdivision (even a really upscale one!)
We don't need to be near restaurants since we will only eat out occasionally. We would like to be less than 20 minutes from the nicer, child friendly beaches. Bedrooms with a/c.

Here is my current short list:
Casa Luna (just read the recent review -- thanks Tracy!)
Hummingbird Hill (which is on Gifft Hill -- where is that exactly)
Coral Rays
Casa de Suenos (which is located in John's Folly -- help -- I see it on a map -- how far is that??)
In the Stars
Any knowledge of these places, or other ideas?

Thanks for your help!
Lorraine in NYC

[Knolmom]

I really dont know why you are limiting yourself to the Coral Bay area if this is your first trip to St John. We have traveled to St John with twins when they were 18months and 24 months and it is a pretty long ride from the Coral Bay side to the supermarkets, entertainment, the child friendly beaches and other activities suited to kids( the Westin has gereat grounds for walking kids in a stroller);
Most of the more desirable homes in the Coral Bay area are pretty high up and their pools tend to be very chilly in the winter. I would not rule out areas like Gift Hill or Contant Point for great views and sunny warm pools.
Good luck in your search.

[Teresa_Rae]

We've gone to STJ the past 6 years and I don't think we'd ever stay on the Coral Bay side. There are some great restaurants in Cruz Bay and all that driving in the dark wouldn't be much fun. We pretty much stick to the Cruz Bay area and the Northshore beaches and go to the Coral Bay side once or twice per trip.

This year we stayed on the Cruz Bay side at the top of Skytop above Fish Bay and we thought it was too long of a drive both to town and to the beaches. So if you're looking for something remote, you can stay on the Cruz Bay side (South Shore) and still be pretty far from everything.

[kingConch]

Knolmom -

Suffer in NY ?

Is that a real location or a STJ pun?

[Jumbiegirl]

Try Chateau Margot on Bordeaux Mountain. It's a short drive to both Maho and Frances -- the best kids beaches. The pool is perfect for little kids. We had a 2 and half year old there last year. We had a safety mesh fence all around the pool so no worries about her straying. It's a super comfy place and the view is to die for!! There are 3 buildings and you can rent 1, 2 or all 3 of them.


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

[pswlrw]

Check out Choco Cruz (destinationstjohn.com). I believe they will provide a safety net around the pool.

[flip-flop]

Hello, We are going with kids (3rd trip for 1 and 2nd trip for the other) in August & June of 2009 and both houses we picked are on the Coral Bay side.

After 4 trips staying in Chocolate Hole, Maria Bluff and Fish (or was it Reef) bay, I am SO SO excited to stay in Coral Bay.

Our house for our trip in 1 month is very close to Lilly's Market and Island Blues as well as 10 minutes from the beaches that we like to go to the most with the kids - Maho & Francis.

I find myself avoiding Cruz Bay more and more on our trips. I don't mind going in the evening or for a day to shop but I really prefer to not have to drive through on my way to the beach. From Maria Bluff to Maho was a good 20 minutes. I prefer to be able to roll out of bed, have a little coffee on the deck, load up the kids, hit a beach, have lunch, head back to the house for naps & pool time for the grownups.

Coral Bay just fits that bill better for us. It only took us 4 trips to figure that out