I think that if the villa is on a bad road, they will let you know. I recommend 4wd no matter where you stay, so that would not be an issue.

You will find that almost every villa has towels, beach chairs, and fully stocked kitchens.

Villas are privately owned and we have yet to find a bad one. Yes, some may be a little worn or the decor may not be my style, but they have always been clean and well kept.

What villa are you looking at?

I would agree with xislandgirl have tried several different ones and haven't been disappointed yet. Of course now that I have my favorite I try to plan ahead and re-up. Questions you might want to consider asking if it matters to you might include how close you are to other villas (including line-of-sight), some websites are very good at showing you clear views as pictures but don't show the villa right next door or right above you. If you're not the adventurous sort then the road question is a good one since some villas either have rutted dirt roads to them (my favorite since they tend to be in more private locations) or they have very steep driveways that can be a bit slick when wet or just scary to drive up and down. Check out the map locations as well to make sure they fit your needs for being near or away from restaurants, grocery stores, hotels and beaches. Either way, plan on relaxing and enjoying!!!

Thanks for your reply. I'm looking at Orion's villa.

ask if they have a manager on island or someone you can contact off-hours in case you need anything or have questions about the property.

i agree about the 4wd - get one regardless of how good your road is, because it makes exploring easier, and when it rains or there is dew or mist about, navigation will be more confident on the hills as you come and go.

ask where to take your garbage or if you villa has a delivery service.

ask what to do in case of a power outage which happen sometimes here... about not letting your water pump lose its prime and keeping the fridge closed, and whether candles and flashlights are easy to access.

have a great time on your vacation, and let us know how it went for you!

STAIRS! You may want to know how many steps there are to get into the villa, either up or down!
Good points A Davis!

Just got back from our first trip. Had a great villa at Chocolate Hole . . . well stocked kitchen (utensils and decent supply of spices etc), grill, plenty of towels, cooler, beach chairs, flashlights. If they don't have trash service, there are big bins along the roads that the locals use - actually a good idea instead of door to door. They only recycle cans.

Get a 4WD jeep. There are a lot of steep hills that can get slippery with a morning shower or when you need that extra umph to get to the top. They also give you room to get over to avoid the water trucks and are great for squeezing into little parking spaces in Cruz Bay or at the beaches.

If your staying over at Coral Bay, then do some thinking about food/meals. Coral has a couple of good eating spots but are limited and I understand they could be closed in off-season . . . ie, skinny legs. There's only a mini-mart in Coral, so groceries will have to come from Dolphin or Starfish in Cruz Bay. Also, if staying in Coral and plan on dining in Cruz Bay, limit your 'painkillers' as the drive across Centerline in the dark could be wild. If your staying near Cruz, all eating in and out shouldn't be a problem though some restaurants may be closed in August.

Have a great time, try snorkeling if you have never done it and you may want to consider a day trip to JVD . . . swim in, drink, swim out,,,,REPEAT!

good points redwine, and sherri!

very important, nearest food, drink and nightlife...!

Ask if there is any construction nearby. On one of our trips, we woke up the first morning to a trackhoe running right outside our bedroom window. We were 900 hundred feet up with a great view, house, pool; but that was just too much. Had planned on quiet. Luckily, the agency was able to move us, but the view was not as good.

Here is our list of questions:
•Are the bedrooms air conditioned?
•Are there ceiling fans and are the windows screened?
•Any type of mosquito repellant such as spray or citronella candles provided for patio use?
•How are the roads and driveway to the villa? Dirt, paved or concrete? Steep or flat?
•Is there traffic noise or traffic other than residential traffic?
•Are there currently construction projects near the villa? If so how close and size of the project. (single home or multi unit construction)
•How well is the kitchen stocked? Cookware, spices, other.
•Is there a hair blow dryer?
•BBQ grill?
•Towels, cooler, beach chairs, floats provided?
•Washer / Dryer / clothes line?
•Is there parking and how far to the villa entrance from parking?
•How much sun does the pool receive? Is there a pool cover we can use to keep the pool warm?
•Owner or others living on the property?
•Any part of the villa deck or pool that is shared with other units?
•Will there be a greeter at ferry dock to direct us to the villa and provide instructions for the villa and appliances etc?
•Local contact if something breaks?
•Is there a safe in the villa?
•Have you had any break-ins or burglaries in the last couple of years?

bravo! great list! thanks

Payment terms such as 50% down then the other 50% at 30 days from arrival...or 60 days...etc

If you have to ask about the payment terms the website or rental company is deficient!
It should be clear from the get go.

exit zero wrote:
If you have to ask about the payment terms the website or rental company is deficient!
It should be clear from the get go.

Usually true but this last time we rented from the owners and it was up to me to ask.