Not at all a silly question and if I were you I would definitely try and strike a bargain. The Caribbean is looking at the worst tourism downslide since the aftermath of 9/11 and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see all manner of special deals popping up in the next couple of months. Good luck and happy planning!

I believe the villa owners will rent at a lower rate rather than have the house sit unoccupied. If you don't ask you won't get anything. Make an offer and see what you can negotiate. The last and best rate from Michigan I've seen was $650 and I don't think you'll find anything cheaper. If you can find $650/pp you'd better grab it.

Most companies offer a discount for repeat guest - hence establishing a loyalty to return with them. They do not necessarily tell you that so make sure they know you have used them before.

We recently booked and the deal we agreed to end up giving us a free day and the taxes were covered. However it was the last week of season. Our group is traveling with two teachers so we are time constrained to their spring break.

However if you are shooting non-prime time they will be more willing

Recommend you look at the villa(s) availabilities. Shoot for a trapped week where some one is has booked it for Wednesday checkout and then it is rented 9 days later on a Friday. There is where you can get you best discounts. Basically shoot for the entire open time for the price of the 7 day Friday for Friday - You pick up two extra nights and a lot of times your airfare drops for a Weds departure.

If money becomes a major factor you can also look for villa(s) with lots of availabilities they seem more receptive to talk. It does not necessarily mean that the villa is not up to par. It could be new on the market as rental, new owners, recently remodeled.

To answer simply - give it try - all they can do is say no. However be reasonable – you are not going to get 50% off because the economy stinks. Unless you want to buy it :@) then a million bucks does a lot of talking.

Good Luck

It's not a silly question....we have a brand new 1-br villa. We are offering summer rates through winter '09 to attract renters in this horrible economy. Not all people will be willing to do this as the cost of maintaining a villa (management co., utilities, etc.) is really expensive. Hope you find what you're looking for!

lmcneil1125,

If this is very important to you, keep knocking on doors. One thing to keep in mind is that this sort of thing gets sour very quickly if you are kicking lots of tires and keep booking and cancelling in search of the best rates. In many cases, the actual rental is managed through one company that is contracted by the owner, although many online booking agents will represent the same property. It's a small world, and word gets around quickly if you start trying to get agents to bid against each other... mainly because for the most part they all KNOW each other.

There can be all sorts of unpleasant feelings and it makes a bad impression. If you land with an agent or representative for a particular property, stick with that one (whether they are the island manager or not, you should expect the SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE ONCE YOU ARRIVE) and keep track of the people you work with. Many times, properties get booked and are taken off the rental market, only to be released when the deposit deadline passes because the guest is really not serious and still in search of a lower rate - owners don't like that, they like for their properties to have serious inquiries, not in the meantime missing a possible good rental (at whatever price). Put on a conditional "hold" instead, but manage these well, too.

I realize that it's every man (or woman) for him (or her) self in these tight times, but a little consideration helps! Everyone is in the same boat.

It's not a dumb question, you never know if you don't ask. While some owners and managers will stand pat on published rates, there are some who will consider a reasonable offer. As seagrape says, just don't ask for the farm. And I will add, try to keep track of the properties you are holding as you proceed. Release anything you don't want as soon as possible if you find something else within the deposit or commitment window, as the manager or owner does not do this unless notified by you, or the deposit is not received on time. Time, as they say, is $$$.

Thank you for all your responses. The reason I was asking about villa discounts is my daughter just got married 3 weeks ago to a soldier in the Army National Guard. Only 2 weeks after getting engaged he was deployed to Iraq for a year and came back months ago with injuries from a roadside bomb. And now we just got word the government came knocking at him again and is re-deploying him again with past war injuries and all. This time he has no idea when we will be home and my daughter and him dont have the money for a honeymoon before he has to leave. So I would like to take all 5 of us to a place he has never been and hopefully he can see the beauty of St. John and forget where he has to go if only for a week. How sad for newlyweds to be seperated so soon after marriage. And not know if he will come home at all. Well, I will keep looking for a place I can afford and hopefully make this happen for him. Thanks again for all the advice..

Do check out the thread below "Healing Wounds In Paradise" and maybe contact them - they might be able to help

Many, many thanks and gratitude to you Son-in-Law for his service and may he come home safe and sound very, very quickly.

Pia

ps: check out Sailview -not a villa but beautiful guest suites at a very reasonable cost - 2 rooms next door to each other with a/c, full bathroom, view and wonderful hosts (no kitchen but a small fridge in the room and a great grill on the deck) - not for 5 people but maybe if you can't find something reasonable for all of you maybe an option for the newlyweds.

http://www.sailviewstjohn.com/

lmcneil1125,

I am sorry that your upcoming trip is under those circumstances! I can understand that my response may seem very cold. For that I apologize.

Most definitely check out that thread as per Pia.

Imcneil1125,
Sorry to hear of your circumstances and I am sure all of appreciate what this young man has done for our country. My heart is with you.
Hope it works out and that you all are able to make it down before he heads off once again.

Anita,
I don't think you sounded cold, you did not know the situation at hand and you only responded as such. You certainly have dealt with the situation you described! And since I know you, I know that you are one of the most sincere people I know!

All my best.

Imcneil1125,
What is your timing on this? What dates are you looking at?

Because of security all my new son in law can tell anyone about his leave is, it mostly will be BY spring but couldnt be more specific. So the sooner I can find us a place the better then I know I can do this. I will feel so bad if I wait to long and he gets called out sooner since he cant give a date for sure. Thanks all for the nice words and I will pass them on to him. He does appreaciate it...

spirit airfare out of detroit on tuesday 1-27-09 to 2-04-09 is still 135.00 each way leave during the week it is cheaper

Imcneil1125,

I think your daughter and son-in-law definitely need a break. I just returned from the Florian Villa, St. John Island, which is an incredible property and they have some incredible deals right now. If you join their Facebook group, you will get an extra discount.

Yes, things are slow in the Caribbean, but I think they are starting to pick up.

Best of luck to you and your family.

If you are polite (as you are on this forum) and respectful that the owner has costs to cover, I cannot see an owner or management company getting upset at a reasonable offer. I would think that you should be ready to pull the trigger when your offer is accepted though as I am sure that they would not want that offer out there indefinitely. Also remember that the owner/mgmnt has a posted price and if you receive a discounted offer I doubt they would appreciate it being advertised. I am sure that they would like to keep it between you and them.

Good luck and thank your Son In Law for his service to our country.

Would you consider STT?

As a reservations agent at a family owned hotel, guests who are given a special rate and then blab to everyone they meet are a pain!!

I own a rental villa in St. Thomas in Nazareth above Red Hook and have had a pretty slow rental start. I am definitely cutting people deals!