DW,
Have you actually spoken to a rental agency about Jungle Stone? I've heard various things... that it's being torn down and another villa built in it's place..... that it's not on the rental market currently because of construction above it on the hill. I'm not certain which of these or any of the other stories are true if any but I'd check with Caribbean Villas. They handle that villa and can tell you whether or not it's available before you get your heart set on it. The location of that particular house is awesome!!
Mermaid

Mermaid,
No, I haven't actually talked to anyone about any of the villas, I have just been searching online and I just now found this message board and have found it very informative. I would rather get a person's opinion that has actually rented a villa as opposed to the rental company because, obviously, they have a vested interest in selling it to you as being wonderful! Don't you agree? Thanks for the info, though, I would hate it if it has been torn down, it looked like a beautiful site and the views were amazing from the pictures I looked at on the website. Do you know of any other villa's you would recommend?

DW,
Please forgive me if I sounded like I was trying to tell you not to ask the question on the message board, that's not what I meant and I'm sorry if it came across that way.
Jungle Stone is/was a villa in a spectacular location. I haven't actually stayed there, and have only seen the outside so I don't know what the interior looks like. I have to say though I've heard very very few "horror stories" when it comes to villa rentals on St John. Most of the websites have honest representations of what the villas are like.

I've always had very good luck with this agency. http://www.privatehomesvi.com/ Mary-Phyllis and Mary Eileen are very down to earth and will give you the strait scoop on the houses they manage. Most agencies I've found are similar though. Yes, they want to "sell" you on one of their homes but they also want you to come back again and again and don't want to alienate people by putting them in a house that doesn't suit them. They are not looking to make enemies.
One of their houses that I've stayed in is Sago Palms and it's just spectacular. I hope you have a wonderful vacatation!
Good luck,
Mermaid

Mermaid,
I didn't take it that way at all, no apology needed. I was just glad to get some info! I looked at Sago Palms and it looks wonderful, how accessible is it to a nice white, sand beach? Also, are the roads to it all paved and how steep are they? We would probably rent a jeep while there, will the villa rental people arrange that for you if you need them to?

My husband and I went to St. John from St. Thomas last November (from a cruise) and simply fell in love with it and now we would like to go to St. John and stay a week or more. We don't really care about a party scene, we like the laid back atmosphere and just want to go and soak up the sun, the views, snorkel, swim and EAT! Total relaxation....

We like cruising, they let you sample islands and see which one's you would like to spend more time in, but they don't allow you enough time on land.

Thanks for the input.
DW

If memory serves, the final road to Sago Palms is not paved and somewhat bumpy. It's definitely to walkable to a beach but few villas on St John are. The most comfortable villas IMO are up, hillside and have views and breezes.
It's less than 10 minutes to some of the northshore beaches from Sago Palms. It's really overwhelming to do the villa research isn't it?
Mermaid

It's definitely to walkable to a beach but few villas on St John are.

That should read definitely NOT walkable to a beach.

I hit post too quick!

Mermaid

We just came back from St. John. We stayed at Sundance which is managed by Cloud9villas. (Cloud 9, which you mentioned, is one of their homes.) The property manager, Marcy, is terrific. We loved Sundance- 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, every amenity -pool, hot tub, washer, dryer, tons of beach towels, floats, beach chairs, coolers, etc. and it is reasonably priced. The villa was very clean and well appointed. Close to Cruz Bay overlooking Hart Bay. Hope this helps.

DeDe,
Yes, it does help. I looked at this villa before on the website (of course, I have looked at most of them by now) and it does look great.

Mermaid,
I am a little dizzy from looking at all the sites, that is why I was polling for personal opinions, after awhile they become a blur. I take it from some of the other folks I am not the only person "hooked" on St. John and we all are spending alot of time on research.
I just want to be there right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am the owner of Jungle Stone. It is being torn down for reconstruction this month. Construction will take 15-24 months and then it will be available again for short-term rentals. I'm not sure who will be listing it but a Google search will turn up the site once it's back on the market. It will have 4 bedroooms with baths, a pool and a hot-tub. It's' location is rather unique - above Cinnamon Bay, and within the National Park on the North Shore.
It is situated on a very private 1 acre, fairly flat lot within the rainforest (read that Bayrum trees, mahoganie, gris-gris trees and palms) with spectacular views over Cinnamon Bay , across Mary's Point (St.J) out to Jost Van Dyke in the BVi's (you can see the bay that is the home of the famous Foxy's), at the end of a gated, very private driveway. The road up to JS is definitely four-wheel drive, dirt - an adventure! The privacy is worth it! It has cool breezes all year, and is always several degrees cooler than at the shore or in town. There will be an optional guesthouse - The Pebble - with 1 bedroom, bath, kitchen, living room and screened porch. Everyone who rented the original JS signed the guestbook with one common phrase - the most beautiful views and serene spot they'd ever been to. Several stayed 2-3 times over the course of the 2 1/2 years it was on the rental market.
I hope you check out the site sometime after Oct. 2005.
Owner