Hi Ela Family,

First thing to decide is on which side of the island you prefer to stay. Most child-friendly beaches are going to be closest to Cruz Bay, so if possible, I would recommend you stay within a 10-15 minute drive of them. The villas generally cannot be rented directly from the owner unless you see a "for rent by owner" ad. Most home owners on St. John don't live on the island and thus rely on property managers to handle EVERYTHING. If you're able to plan your trip rather last-minute you can usually find 10-20% reduced rates on villa rentals. Of course, these generally aren't the most desirable units being that they are still available so last-minute. Generally the best villas are rented out 6 months to 1 year in advance. In choosing a villa, figure out what is most important. Do you need televisions, pool, spa, air conditioning, etc. Many of the more affordable homes may not offer everything you need, so prioritize. Regarding the vehicle, you can definitely rent a 7 passenger from one of the larger rental companies. Every rental will give you 4WD as it's pretty much needed for many spots on the island (cut-backs on the main road, off-roading, etc). St John Car Rental has great service; I would highly recommend them. As for the kiddies, Trunk is great, though it seems to drop off more quickly than other beaches. Hawksnest is really nice and scenic...Maho might be one your best bets. It's very calm and pretty shallow. The only problem with Maho is that the beach is practically on top of the road in most areas. You'll want to make sure they don't run toward the street. It's very manageable, though. Salt Pond Bay is great for seeing Sea Turtles while snorkeling, so the older kids might enjoy that. Also, one thing to consider would be a villa rental at the Westin. Now, if you hate resorts, then forget that idea. However, if you're open to it, The Westin is pretty kid-friendly. Their beach offers a lot of water toys and I think the resort even offers organized entertainment for kids. The 3BR villas each have a private pool & spa enclosed in a private courtyard. There are two bathtubs for bathing the kids and two showers for the adults. In addition to the private pool, there is a gigantic main pool with a nearby snackbar/restaurant. Plus, the grocery store is a very short drive away, so you can easily pick up food. Oh, and there is a car rental company on the Westin property...their rates are outstanding. If you aren't yet sure when you would like to go, just keep your options open. Choose the best lodging deal first, play around with airfare, and everything else will fall into place.

Oh, and regarding the beachfront idea...those villas are few and far between. The Westin has started construction on new villas which I think will overlook the ocean...but even the hillside villas are close enough to make it convenient.

Hope this helps!!!
Crystal

Beach front villas are very rare in St. John because most of the beaches on the island are part of the Virgin Islands National Park, and thus are protected. The first time I went to STJ, without knowing the island, I was disappointed that we weren’t able to rent a villa that was on the beach. But now I’m EXTREMELY glad that the beaches are protected from development, and I absolutely love the villa view from being at a higher elevation on the island.

Thanks for all the great tips. I will look into the Weston although I think I might find better prices through the private villas. We have been going back and forth about which side of the island to stay on. We are not at all interested in any nightlife or shopping and I have heard that most of that is on the Cruz Bay side, that said I was leaning more towards the Coral Bay side, but still undecided. Is it less expensive to stay on one side as apposed to the other? As far as the beaches go I would like to visit a lot of them, maybe try to do one or two each day? We plan on staying at least 10 nights, possibly even two weeks just to give us enough time to see a lot! The most important things to me would be that there is a pool, as the two older children are avid swimmers and I see them spending most of the free time we are at the villa in the pool, which will keep them out of my hair and let me relax!! Price is also a factor, of course I want to get the best place for the money, but on the other hand do not want to skimp and end up in a dump. Well thanks again, and I look forward to all and any future info!!

Heather

Heather:
With a toddler ask the rental firm about the bedrooms and the floor plan. Many of the villas have separate sleeping pavillions which access the pool directly. Need to ensure the toddler is under the same roof without direct access to the pool. The rental companies know which villas are child safe.
Have fun it is a great isalnd!

I highly recommend the Coral Bay side of the island if you intend to cook for yourselves rather than eat out a majority of the time. The market is smaller on that side, but you'll probably want to make a couple of trips into Cruz Bay anyway, so you can pick up more groceries while there. The nice part about staying on that side is that your ocean views will include more islands and less homes. Again, just be careful of the pool size because the kids aren't going to be THAT entertained by a 10'x6' pool....and those pools are one depth, possibly too deep for the kids. So you should really double-check that with the property management.

As for the Westin, we own 2 weeks in a 2800 square foot vila that we're offering for about $3000 per week. Being that it's part of the resort, it has more amentities than any villa I've ever rented. There is a website called redweek.com where villa owners list their timeshares. There is a 3BR available for $2750 in May, ours is available for $3000 the first week of September. Some owners list their villas really high, but others are more realistic in price.

Regarding a private villa, don't forget that you need to add tax to those prices....and they charge extra per person. Are you planning to go during the low season? If so, you should be able to find a decent place for around $3500ish. Try caribbeanvilla.com. They have a section where the villas are listed by price, grouped by 1-2BR, 3BR, 4-7BR. Plus their pictures of the villas are really great!

Hi there! I am a nanny and have traveled to STJ several times with children of all ages. I really reccomend Coral Bay...I found it nicer away from the busy Cruz Bay. We have rented many villas but my favorite was the Mayan Sky. It has 3 bedrooms all seperate from each other which was fantastic for me the nanny...in a same room with 3 children. But allowing privacy for my employers and their extended family. The pool is not large but not small and has a ledge built in around the entire edge of the pool...perfect for walking 3 years olds who want to play in the water and not swim. Thats just my opinion. Make sure you eat breakfast at miss lucy's your kids will love the pancakes!

If you want a large villa about 100yd away from the beach or maybe less you should check out Catered Too. The have a villa called Seagate which has 5 bedroom and 5 baths, a pool and an indoor hot tub. It is a very nice house equipped with all of the kitchen appliances and they have suntan lotion and bug spray which you will definitely need.

We go to STJ about every year and always go to Seagate the house has a TV, sound system and everything that a person could want! The house is incredibly close to Chocolate Hole which has very nice snorkeling. As for the Children they could sleep in the room that my family calls the Pool Room because it is next to the pool. This room also has a kitchenette with a refrigerator, plates and dining chairs. The house is definitely family friendly.

Hope this helps you make a good decision!!

I have traveled to STJ with children and without. I can recommend www.destinationstjohn.com for nice villas with pools to accomidate adults & children. My family will be staying at La Papaya 3 king size beds, kitchen, hot tub, pool & grill. I always use www.courtesycarrental.com great people, always friendly & helpful. Enjoy your vacation.