After reading many posts here, we are now considering the option of staying in a villa rather than at Caneel Bay for our trip to St. John.<BR><BR>Does anyone have experience with a particular villa rental company? We have looked only at the web site caribbeanvilla.com, and alot of these look great. I just want to be sure the company is reputable.<BR><BR>If anyone has particular villa recommendations, we'd love to hear, or if there are any sites where villas are reviewed, please let me know.<BR><BR>We also wanted to know if there is a better part of the island to stay at? We'd want to be fairly close to restaurants, especially at night, and near good beaches.<BR><BR>

Forgot to mention- it's just the 2 of us, and we will be going in May.

Caribbeanvilla.com is reputable, although their service charge is a bit higher than some of the other companies. You might also try:<BR><BR>www.vivacations.com<BR>www.carefreeget aways.com<BR>www.destinationstjohn.com<BR>

Hi Debbie - We too recently decided to stay in a villa during a trip in July instead of a hotel. I booked &quot;Happy Moon&quot; through caribbeanvillas.com. I was reading through some books at Borders the other day and Frommers as well another caribbean guide book both recommended caribbeanvillas.com so that made me feel good about the company.<BR><BR>Our villa is one the other side of the island from Cruz Bay (where most of the restaurants are) but since the island is only about 20sq miles I figure no drive can be too long. We decided to make a/c a top priority. Even though I hear there is a nice breeze, there is nothing I hate more than be uncomfortably hot all the time so it's important to me. <BR><BR>Good luck in your quest. I've found postings on this bulletin board very helpful. One more thing - I'd find and book a villa soon - there were a number of villas I wanted ahead of the one we chose but they were already full for the week we ar going (in July!)..<BR><BR>Lisa

Hi,<BR><BR>We rented through www.vacationvistas.com. Great company to work with and very helpful with all our questions.<BR><BR>Definintely rent on the northshore (rather than Coral Bay). We thought it was the prettier side of the island, very close to town and all the exquisite northshore beaches.<BR><BR>Do take a drive down to Coral Bay (east end) it's more rural but it was a fun day. It's about a 30 min. drive but hills and twists and turns all the way. Beautiful vistas.<BR><BR>Good luck and I think you will be so happy you went with a villa. One place that people love to rent is Great Cruz bay hillside or the Klein Bay area (a little further out from town. Make sure you ask how the roads are to the villa and privacy of neighbors. <BR><BR>good luck.

Debbie -<BR><BR>Check out the following USVI website.<BR>www.usvi-on-line.com/usviforum.html<BR>It has lots of information as far as a very informative travel forum where you can post your inquiry since it is USVI dedicated. There are also postings on villa reviews as well as quite a few villa agency brokers you can contact. Keep in mind that when you rent a villa in STJ you are charged according to the number of people traveling and not the size of the villa - interesting concept, but my husband and I have rented some 4 and 5 bedroom villas with pool and hot tub for the two of us for $1500-2000 per week. <BR><BR>I would also recommend that for your first trip, you either stay on the southwest side, i.e., Rendevous, Klein Bay area or even the Northshore. While we have grown to love Coral Bay on the east side of the island, it is a bit more remote and a bit of a distance from Cruz Bay and the majority of the restaurants, however, Coral Bay has a charm all its own, but I would not suggest the first time.<BR><BR>Some of the agencies that we have dealt with over the years are as follows:<BR><BR>Destination St. John<BR>Vacations St. John<BR>Catered To<BR>Carribbean Villas<BR><BR>Good hunting!

WE USED THE COMPANY CAREFREEGETAWAYS. THEY WERE GREAT. MADE SURE WE GOT OFF THE BOAT OKAY, GOT US TO OUR RENTAL JEEP AND TOOK US TO OUR HOUSE. THE HOUSE WAS WONDERFUL. TWO BEDROOM, OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN. WITH A POOL, JACUZZI, TWO BATHROOM VERY REASONABLE AND WITH A SECURITY BOX. MAKE SURE YOU RENT A DINGY BOAT AND SNORKEL ON YOUR OWN. WE HAVE SNORKLED AT BETTER DESTINATIONS, BUT JUST BEING OUT THERE TO SEE THE ISLAND, WAS WONDERFUL. WE PACKED A LUNCH AND SPENT THE DAY OUT THERE. HAVE FUN!!