see below

blu4u wrote:
Cruz Bay -- "the main town", very busy, noisy, hot
Chocolate Hole -- depends on particular villa
Peter Bay -- (personally not a fan for philsophical/political reasons) very high end, good down island views, good north shore location.
Catherineberg -- nice, depends upon villa,
Rendezvous Bay -- depends on villa.
Ask direct questions and expect frank replies.
1) Does vilal have a generator to power water pumps/frig if power goes out.
2) Security.
3) How close are the neighbors.
4) Is there construction near-by.
5) How steep/paved is the access road.
6) What direction (orentaintion) does the villa face?
7) Are window/doors screaned/louvered? Is it safe to leave doors/window open at night?
The island is small. You be able to access pretty much everything inside a realitivly short drive (30 minutes or less)

Those would seem to be intelligent questions which I will put forward to the villa owner/managers. What are the security concerns? Regarding screen/louvered windows, does that have more to do with security or bugs? Thanks for the prompt reply.

Personally, I don't like sleeping with A/C. I like to open the windows and enjoy the breeze and listen to the chirping tropical critters Therefore screens are important to let in the cool air and keep out the critters. If you have a ground level slider, than you may not feel comfortable with just a screen. Each house is set up different. Some have bedrooms below, some above, some have high balconies. Best to ask about the set up.

About security, I would ask if the house or neighbors have ever been broken into. Is a safe or "lock up" available for guests? Some villas have a locking closet where guest can store lap tops, cash, etc when at the beach. If you plan on bringing an ipad, SLR camera, etc then be sure to ask if there is safe place to store at your villa. This applies to any carrbean isalnd, by the way. Better to safe than sorry.

Thanks very useful info.

I also want to add that no villa is 100% perfect. St John is pricey destination. Ask alot of questions so you can make an informed choice and have a realistic expectations and ultimately rent a place that appeals to your own set of requirements. No matter where you rent, you'll find that St John has some of the most spectacular beaches and screanery found under the US flag. You probably won't be spending allot of time at the house. (if you're lucky) Amenities like flat screen TVs Sub-zero frig, etc are complete 'overkill" in the VI. (My "must haves" are a pool and a propane grill.) Happy house hunting.

Just Back. We stayed at Villa Rendezvous and it sounds like everything you are looking for. Great Views, price is very fair, and quick ride into town. Owner lives on site so any issues are solved immediately. Bedrooms have AC. We stayed in the one bedroom cottage and loved it. Unfortunately the owner was working on the pool deck and drilled through our water pipe so he moved us to the the two bedroom villa. Both were great... for different reasons. Let us know what you decide.

We stayed up on Calabash Boom. Look for the website for Calabash Cottages.

We rented a villa in Chocolate Hole, high hilllside through Destination St. John in the past. Good location and convenient to Cruz Bay and stores.

We've always migrated to Coral Bay on the side of a hill. Away of the hectic Cruz Bay area. Still an easy drive back if you want to shop or go to a restaurant.

www.starvillas.com
340-776-6704

Very nice places to stay!