To those that have been to St. John before, which would you do? I'm thinking 5 nights at Caneel and a week in a villa. We want to use the Caneel time to veg out and the villa time to explore the island. Caneel first or villa first?
Thanks.
-Bill

Villa first, so that your veg out time is at the end when the time will pass more slowly because YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

St. John is such a small island so even if you're at Caneel you will no doubt spend time exploring the island. It's max 5-6 miles end to end and there are only two main roads. One along the North coast and one along the spine.

Even when you're in the villa and exporing the island you will veg out. Exploring means finding a beach to go to, packing your snorkel gear in the jeep and driving 15-20min to the beach of your choice.

Caneel will give you the resort feel, pool, etc but you're still on St. John and the whole island is a veg kind of place.

I don't know if there's a good answer about Caneel vs villa first. If you go to the villa first your are sure to find a secret hideaway you just love, so even when you're at Caneel you'll want to go back there. If you go to Caneel first, you'll like the amenities + exploring, and you may miss them when you move to the villa.

Having been to St. John several times I would just rent the villa the whole time. If it's a spa you want, then go to the Westin or Caneel for a day spa. If it's great food you want, you can go to any restaurant on the island and not cook yourself.

With the extra veg time I would day trip to BVI, and if you want a day of more activity take the ferry to St. Thomas for shopping.

Good thinking xkenx!
J62,
Thanks for the input!

Yeah, we could stay another week and half in the villa for what 4 or 5 nights at Caneel will cost. Even though Caneel gets slammed for many things, I have always wanted to try it and I'm not sure that I will get another chance.
Anyone else ?
-Bill

We've been to St John a number of times because snorkeling is our main pleasure and we've not found anywhere else as good. If snorkeling is impt to you, Id suggest that you do splurge on Caneel (we do half Caneel/half Gallows Point). Nothing beats the snorkeling at Caneel for convenience. Every single one of the 7 beaches has easy access snorkeling-- each different, each quite good. Plus the beaches themselves are lovely. Plus the grounds are gorgeous. Rooms, we feel, are enormously overpriced. And food is mediocre. But we keep returning anyway, for above reasons.

Don't miss Caneel. Even though they are pricey, nothing compares for gorgeous beachfront ambiance and the wade-in snorkeling as "poss" says. The rooms at Caneel are very good. I think that people who criticise Caneel's rooms did not go prepared for the "West Indies Casual" atmosphere. They thought that big bucks meant glitter and glitz, marble baths, etc.
If people want the Ritz or Four Seasons, they should go there, but they won't get Caneel's tropical paradise atmosphere.

For the record: we have no particular fondness for glitter and glitz. We do, though, like good space. Rooms at Caneel are very small (for the price), as are the bathrooms. I love the fact that there's no t.v., but absolutely do not like the fact that there's no genuinely comfortable chairs/couches to read (which we love to do in the evenings), and no real reading lamps.

Villa all the way! We just came back from renting Las Brisas Caribe and it is absolutely spectacular. It's a 5 star resort in itself! Caneel has lovely grounds but the accomodations are very minimal. I heard they are beginning some room renovations to be completed by next year.
You can certainly veg out at a villa..take a look at :www.lasbrisascaribe.com its gorgeous!

So, I'm guessing that we should end the trip with Caneel?

This is our first trip to St. John and while it may not be our last, it may be the last time we will have the resources to afford Caneel for a while, so that is a done deal for me.

They are doing a room renovation starting in the fall and ending in the spring of 2006. They plan to do all 166 rooms.
Thanks.
-Bill

We just returned from nine days on STJ all in a villa. Our last day we had breakfast at Caneel and wished we could stay a few more days and check in a Caneel to wind down and relax. Go at the end, you won't regret it!

I'd be grateful if folks who know St John well could give me some suggestions for villa rental. I've always had the feeling that St J didn't have what we're looking for in a villa, but would love to learn that I'm mistaken. We definitely want something on a beach or several minute walk to excellent snorkeling beach. Is that possible on St John? Thanks.

There is a villa rental outfit Catered To (www.cateredto.com), and other agencies may have it also, which has a villa called Terrahawk, located up a driveway just above the public Hawksnest Beach. It is one of a very few in the National Park and next to a beach. Hawksnest is a continuation of Hawksnest Bay next to Caneel's Hawksnest Beach.

xkenx: Thanks very much for the suggestion. I hurried to look at that Hawksnest villa and it looks great. But, alas, the beds are queen size and we definitely need king. I wish I could find just that sort of villa (they even have a 2 person rate), but with a king bed. (That's why we keep going back to Gallows Point: they've got kings, great views, not bad snorkeling-- and easy walking distance to restaurants. would really love a villa though.

Hi poss-take a look at "Calypso By the Sea"
http://caribbeanvilla.com/calypso/
calypso.html
we have had wonderful experiences with this company and we typically stay
at "Aria".
R5

poss,
I am a total newbie when it comes to St. John so I am not that familiar with things through experience, but I have my eye on this apparently very cute, newly remodeled one bedroom villa in the National Park with hot tub, air, screens, lots of privacy, views of Marys Creek and a 5 minute walk to Francis Bay. It might be too small for you guys, but it sounds great for us. $1400 a week. Here is the link:
http://www.stjohnusvi.org/new_page_16.htm
-Bill

Francis Bay is our favorite swimming beach on St. John. We have been looking online at Villa Serenity (http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/villas...y/default.html) and would like to stay there next time. One bedroom has twins that can convert to a king. It might meet your needs.

To "POSS": The house above Terrahawk does have king size beds. It is called "HawksNest Villa" and has 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, & great views overlooking Hawksnest Bay, Caneel Bay Resort, and St. Thomas. It can be rented by calling Vacation Homes: (340) 776-6094

iamg..we just returned from St John.We stayed in a villa.We went to Caneel beach and ate at the resorts outdoor restaurant.If I where you..I would just stay at Caneel,it was so nice that we wish that we would have stayed there instead of the villa we rented.The location is great for exploring the island.Have fun

christie,

Thanks for the advice. If $$ were not a concern we'd stay at Cottage 7 at Caneel for two weeks! Reality however paints a different scenario.

-Bill

I know what you mean Bill.Its a little pricey.