hoya91

Hi Fodorites -

I am new to the Caribbean section, but have always gotten great info from the other areas of the forum. From what I have read here I can already sense there are many impassioned and knowledgeable folks watching these posts who dispense great info.

Here's my situation. I am turning 40 next year and would like to celebrate the milestone by taking my wife and sons to St. John for a week. I originally contemplated the Westin, but have read mixed reviews and it seems expensive, since we like to have to boys in a separate room. So, I am now trying to find a good villa to go to.

Planned timing is either the end of January 201 or early April 2010.

Things that are important to us include:
-reasonable proximity to snorkeling and activities. The boys both love the water and we plan to spend most days exploring the different beaches to snorkel.
-air conditioning and reasonably updated interior
-swimming pool
-2 or 3 bedrooms
-Good views and proximity to a nice "home" beach are much more important to me than being on a secluded part of the island or being near the action.

We're pretty low-key as a family and expect the routine mist days will involve getting up early, eating breakfast at home and packing a snack for the beach, snorkeling at one or two beaches during the day, coming back to relax at the villa, maybe dip in the pool, then go out somewhere for dinner at a local eatery. The kids are typically in bed by 8PM, so I don't see a lot of clubbing in the works for this trip.

I'd like to stay under $5000 for the week in lodging costs.

Hopefully this provides enough of a personality profile to trigger some potential thoughts. Thanks in advance for the help fodorites!

Cheers,
Steve

Tuxedocat

I have a six year old so have the same limitations as you do. $5,000 is a generous amount for lodgings for a week if you're looking for 2 bedrooms so you'll have a wide range of choices, and IMO, you'll get a lot more from your money going the villa route. BTW, the Westin also has timeshare villas which have 2-3 bedrooms, some with their own little swimming pool. These tend to rent out very reasonably and you also have the rest of the resort as a resource. For the numerous other villas, I would look at the offerings of the local agencies on island who have the best handle on both the properties and environment. Also, if any issues arise, they're right there. www.destinationstjohn.com and www.carefreegetaways.com are just a couple of them. If I think of any specific villas I think you might consider, I'll post again. If you have any questions regarding promising possibilities you should post them on this forum. We sure have a lot of opinions on these villas.

Tuxedocat

Take a look at Calypso Cove on the Destinationstjohn site.

hoya91

Thanks Tuxedocat. I have been looking at the carefreegetaways site based on previous posts I saw of yours, and really like Bongo Bongo. Just as I was ready to jump at that one I was reminded that I probably need to extend the invitation to close friends of ours who also have similarly aged kids. So now I am in the market for a 4BR villa, hopefully within 9-10k (we'll split the cost). I know the amount is semi-extravagant, but we've been saving for a while and this is a big event for us.

I'll check out the sites you suggest and probably come back at you with questions. I am particualrly worried about getting stuck in a bad location, so will very much value your input on that once I narrow the list.

Cheers,
Steve

hoya91

One other question - where do you recommend looking for good rates on teh Westin villas. They are expensive if done through the website. VBRO seems to have several listed, but wonder if folks use other sites as well.

sn1121

I visited St. John two years ago with my sisters, mother and infant son...what an amazing trip. We did a lot of research on villa rentals and ended up staying at Orion's Hill http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/orions_hill/index.html. It's closer to Coral Bay and is set up in the hills, allowing for amazing 360 degree views. I thought we'd be too far from the beaches but weren't at all. Each day we'd hop in our Jeep, visit a few beaches (Francis and Maho were our favorites) and come back to the house later in the day to barbecue and swim. The house is beautiful inside and out and the owner couldn't have been nicer. I HIGHLY recommend it!

lovethecape

We stayed at the Westin 4 years ago in a condo/villa and rented through the following couple who represent many of the time share owners(rates much cheaper than Westin:

http://www.stjohncondos.com/

The Westin was great for children with a huge swimming pool, movies at night in the pool, iguana feedings,... We would explore the island beaches during the day and then come back and watch the kids play at the beach while we had a drink,

lovethecape

You might also want to look at the following villas. I am looking at them for future stays. The first 2 are 3BR, each family could rent one. Theya re next to each other and the Wwstin is right next door.

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

http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/gull/gull.html

Try for both families:
A short 2 minute drive to the Westin:

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

Also look at Cinnamon Ridge on the same website, beautiful but not near the Westin. It is close to a very popular beach, Cinnamon Bay.

kellybeaches

hoya91,
With your generous budget, I would check out the Peter Bay villas, as they have their own private beach you can walk to. They’re in the same bay as Cinnamon bay and are very upscale. Here’s a link to one that we have our eye on for down the road. http://www.peterbayestate.com. You can do a search online for the other peter bay villas.
Good luck!

Pulley

Hoya91, I would recommend La Papaya from Destination St. John. We have rented it twice and you will come in way under budget. It's got full A/C and a great pool. It also has a small flat front yard that might be great for the kids. It over looks Chocolate Hole and to the right the Westin. We have been very please with the villa and the service for Destination St. John.

I haven't stayed at Vida De Mar but it's on the beach at Dever's Bay and has 5 bedrooms, complete A/C and a pool.

STJSun

Sunnyledge is a nice 3br house by Fransis Bay. Villa Allesandra on the hill (rock ridge rd.) overlooking the Westin. I think it has 4 br. I met the owners last year, nice folks from Wisconson/Fla. I have a Westin timeshare and I know that visitors are welcome to use the pool and beach for the day. Your kids may like that.

I leave in 16 days for a nice 10 trip to STJ!

hoya91

Thanks everyone - I had been away from the site for a few weeks due to an impromptu trip to the Westin in Cayman (happy to answer questions on that if anyone has any) - but am fully engaged on my St. John getaway again. You have all given me many great ideas to explore. Thanks for the tips!

DebitNM

Try: http://www.windspree.com/homes/memorydaze/
It is a beautiful villa in Coral Bay, with spectacular views, gorgeous pool, fabulous decor and near excellent beaches.

We have friends that live a few streets away. On a visit to our friends in 2006, we were out walking one morning and happened to see the owners of the villa out in the drive. We started talking to them and they invited us in to see their villa. They took such pride in it and rightfully so. It was breathtaking -from the views, to how nicely it was decorated [comfortable, but not overly so].

Since then our friends have gotten to know the villa owners. We were just back to visit our friends and we love Coral Bay as a place to relax, unwind, kickback, explore and simply have a wonderful trip.

Check the villa out, I think you would love it.

Deb