First off get away from the hotels that is off season you should be able to find a private villa for that money for two people.

I agree with a Villa. It's a perfect way to stay in the VI's.

If you want some suggestion let us know

I would greatly appreciate suggestions for beach front villas or a "short walk to a beach" villa!

thanks for your quick replies!

On STJ it is hard to find beach front villa. But the island is small rent a jeep and have the whole experance so many thing and places to see that if you don't have your own wheels you will miss

Try this website

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/caribbean

They have alot in your price range.
Or you could try caribean villas.
for the first timers I like to say stay close to cruz bay or chocolate hole

We took our second trip to STX in April and do love it there so I will give you a few on STX. Here's a really cute one out on the gorgeous east end of STX:

http://www.vacationstcroix.com/islandtime.html

It has a swimmable beach right near the yacht club.

Or, The Palms has a path to the beach and a short walk down the beach is the Divi Carina Bay resort with a gorgeous beach:

http://www.vacationstcroix.com/palms_carinabay.htm

For a bit more, on STX, Blue Iguana has a gorgeous beachfront but in Judith's Fancy, I would not call it totally "swimmable" but it is a beautiful area:

http://www.vacationstcroix.com/blueiguana.htm

For a bit more, Casa del Mar has a "step off" deck on the oceanside - you step off right into the water.

http://www.vacationstcroix.com/casadelmar.html

Now, for GORGEOUS, with a perfect swimmable beach, there's D'Estasi - if you can round up another two folks to share, this would be priced right in your range. Toured this villa in April and the pictures do not do it justice one bit:

http://www.vacationstcroix.com/destasi.htm

Here's my pic of the D'Esasti waterfront:

with a view of Buck Island:

Finding lots of waterfront villas with swimmable beaches to choose from on any of the USVI's may be kind of tough in the price range. Villas are wonderful and have been our way to go for many years but you do give up the daily services of resorts. And, you will need to factor in a rental car. You do get a kitchen so there are savings to be had on not eating every meal out and being able to relax around your own pool with a beverage and snacks from your own fridge

On STX - I recommend Vacation St. Croix - Marti Gotts and her folks are great to work with.

On STT - here is a great villa manager -gorgeous pix, little videos of the properties: www.mclaughlinanderson.com Nancy Anderson has a great staff.

On STJ there are many great villa managers and lots of inventory. I'm sure others will chime in here with their favorite companies.

Then, there are the condo developments - like Gentle Winds on STX - gorgeous properties with many units available for rent from the owners. here's a shot of Gentle Winds' pool out to the beach:

In choosing your villa or condo, do your research with your wants and don't wants - just like you would with a resort. Ask lots of questions - there are many folks on these forums who know the villa inventories on each of the islands quite well and often, googling a villa's name will give you different websites to see more or different pictures of it. IMO, though, unless you have had previous experience with a certain villa broker it's best to work with the on-island villa manager for a particular property. Be sure to ask what changes have occurred since the pictures were taken - I know, for example, that VSTX is starting to update their listings with new pictures and I'm sure other sites are not all quite up to date on each property, as well, so it pays to ask what's new and if a villa you like now has the amenities you need even if the currently displayed pictures do not depict that it does.

Good luck - ask lots of questions!

this one would work

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/caribbean

or
http://www.vrbo.com/68371

There are so many pick some that you think you would like and let us know.

Hi,

I don't think you will be able to find a villa on the water/beach for what you are willing to pay. However, you might be able to find a really nice villa and just rent a car and drive to the beach:) I am actually a travel agent here on St. Thomas and I have a personal concierge service. I specialize in creating experiences and vacation packages. If at any time while on vacation please feel free to contact me, I will help you book your excursions and/or activities free of charge. Also, if you need to rent a car or charter a boat I'd be happy to help you with that as well.

Check out my website for further information:

www.personalconciergeofstthomas.com

Have fun,

D'Lynn

thank you all so much so far.

Is it safe to say that it would be better to stay in a resort/larger community for our first visit to STT and STJ? I'm worried about not being able to ask a lot of questions if we're secluded in a VRBO.

STJ you won't find alot of big resorts kind of why most of us love it. There is Caneel, Weston , and I guess gallows point. In my opinion a villa is yje way to go you can ask all the ? here ans every one on island is great.

On STJ that time of year you should be able to stay at Gallows Point for that kind of money (www.gallowspointresort.com). Gallows Point is a really nice little collective condo resort within walking distance to Cruz Bay so you would not have to rent a car like you would for any private villa. It is where our parents stay a couple nights when they come to visit us (they stay with us most of the time though).

-Josh

We have had good luck with the folks at Destination St. John; their website shows their inventory of villas and each one has an availability calendar & $ rates: http://www.destinationstjohn.com/

As other have posted you may be able to get a place at Gallows Point, or farther up the hill at their Battery Hill condos.

http://www.gallowspoint.com/
http://www.batteryhillcondos.com/

Good Luck!

i have a place on sapphire beach in stt.

it is a great beach

pm me if interested

I suggest you stay inside your comfort zone for your 1st visit, Marriott's' French mans Reef and the Wyndham are both nice, in good locations . I suggest you take a taxi to the hotel, spend your 1st day just taking in the beauty and relaxing by the pool or beach, the next day rent a car, available at both places, and explore and practice driving on the left. These are small islands, nothing like Hawaii so you really can't get lost. There are some rough areas you have to go thru, but so does everyone else. Go to Magens beach, my favorite, check out Sapphire beach and look at some units for future reference.
Take the ferry to St John and explore, talk to every other tourist you see, you get lots of tips that way.

I don't know why most people on this board assume you should stay in a villa on StJohn. Personally I would rather walk out my front door to get to the pool and beach ie. Watergate villas at Bolongo Bay and Sapphire beach.. Not having to get in the car at some remote villa and drive to the beach, go back to the villa :(you should see some of the roads) then back in the car to go to dinner, Hey, it's vacation and I'm not cooking! Not to mention the parking problems with Cruz Bay.

At Magens beach the sand is firm, gradual slope into the water, plenty of shade for all, rent a full size beach chair and turquoise pool float, the water is that calm. A full size bar, and great food at the food stand. The gift shop is full of t-shirts, swim suits and anything else you need for a day at the beach. Bath house with showers and flush toilets and since the taxi drivers are telling tourists that it is a gay beach it is not as crowded, why, they get more money taking tourists to Sapphire Beach, that is why it is now so crowded!

Go to TrunK Bay on St John and compare. the beautiful sand is so powdery it is hard to walk in, there is a sudden drop off going into the water (I have no balance!) nice showers and restrooms are further from the beach, you can rent a little up right beach chair or lay on the sand. There is a small food stand that sells drinks but I have never been there when they had enough staff. Nor have I been there when there is a breeze. Not enough shade trees to go around, and when you look up you are under these GIANT termite nests that just creep me out!

If all you want to do is snorkel then stay on St John, but Stt also has good snorkeling areas.

I agree with Connie, do any of you ever see more of STT than the airport and ferry's? You are missing out on a beautiful island. Hope my ranting helps you! Donna

reef

My suggestion is Estate Lindholm on STJ. Beautiful Bed & Breakfast. Wonderful views. Less than a five minute walk into town, although I highly recommend renting a vehicle. You don't have the crowds of people like you do at a resort. They have a small pool on site, work out facility, (if that's something you want), beach towels, chairs, coolers, water toys. They are extremely helpful with any questions you may have. They will also assist you with excursions. The owners are Lauren and Brion Morrissette. They live on the property with their two children. The Lind Point trail is just up the hill from the B&B. If you don't mind a small hike, you can reach Honeymoon and Salomon Beach. For a one week stay, you will be paying less than 2K. It is a very beautiful, clean and extremely friendly place to stay. There is also a restaurant next door to the B&B called Asolare. I highly recommend a sunset dinner here. The food is amazing. Here is there website. www.estatelindholm.com Give Lauren a call and tell her Fran from Michigan referred you. Have a great vacation!

My place is rented for July. It is Crystal Cove on Sapphire Beach. So go to VRBO.com and walk your way down to Sapphire Beach. There are a lot of entries. Some are for Sapphire Resort which has its problems. There is Sapphire Village, the cheapest, and there is Crystal Cove. Look at Trip advisor you wil see that most of the coments are positive.

If you need help I can call a few owners and see what I can do.

PM if interested.

billd