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We booked Villa Capiz through Carefree Getaways and I must say that the pictures on their web site are a true representation of what we found upon arrival. Our graduate chose the villa and we were all happy and satisfied with her choice.
The entrance to the villa is electronically gated. There is a box where you punch in your four digit code and the door swings open. The landscaping that borders the driveway is lush and private and the not too steep driveway is concrete with the exception of the very bottom by the house where it's pea gravel. There is a door on the front main level and an asian style bridge that connects with the stairs leading to both the upper and lower decks. Dave takes us upstairs to the left side entrance and before we even stepped foot in the villa, we're hearing bonzai cannonballs and screeches of delight coming from the pool. Tile inlay with the name Villa Capiz (along with Milipedes and Geckos) greet us before we step inside. Directly inside is a lovely kitchen with black granite countertops, a solid surface sink and a 4 person breakfast bar. Susie at Christy's Classics had provisioned the villa prior to our arrival. She had delivered a box I had sent, had our dinner from Joe's B-B-Q waiting, our drinks iced down, left a beautiful bouquet of island flowers and a handpainted turtle ornament as a gift for our graduate. It was the perfect touch as she happens to collect turtles! There is a queen size bedroom to the left where the A/C was like ice. Also on the main level was a bathroom, dining and family rooms. The dining and family rooms had ceiling fans and the entire villa including ouside was decorated in asian style. Family room had your typical wicker furniture and an armoir with the tv/dvd/vcr. Along the entire lenghth of the back wall (facing the ocean) is a huge panel of asian sliding doors that opened to what HAS to be one of the most gorgeous views on the island! Cooking with a view is the only way to go! So Dave is talking and honey is listening and I'm trying but it's totally useless and I was entralled into a trancelike state by the bounty set before me. I believe another poster had said that they just needed some WOW time and I did. Let Honey take care of the boring stuff, I just needed to glow! Out of the sliding doors you come to the upper deck where the hot tub resides. There is also a grill and a gorgeous wooden table for dining or entertaining. There are asian style light posts around the entire upper and lower decks and different seating areas everywhere. I didn't even get a chance to try them all out there were so many! Downstairs to the lower deck, their are more asian sliding doors at opposite ends where both of the two bedrooms are located. Two doors in the center open up to walkin showers and bathrooms connected to either bedroom. Both bedrooms have desks, armoirs and A/C and the master has a daybed and stereo system with speakers hooked up to the pooldeck also. We were able to hook the Ipod right into the stereo and spent some slammin glood times jamming out there! The master is connected to the other bedroom by a sliding door which has two twin beds and a tv/vcr. They also both have entrance doors leading to opposite sides of the villa. There is a laundry/utility room just outside of the second bedroom and a nature path surrounds and winds down and around the property where there is a mango and banana tree.
Happy shouts were coming from the pool where Lizard Boy was diving for rings and treasure. The pool and lower deck are beautiful and Graduate Girl had already had the waterfall going while she was experiencing some serious pool lounging. They were limin their way! We were compelled to lim at the villa for the rest of the night. I think Robin in NC called it villa gravity. That's good! We swam and tubbed and vegged and viwed the twinkling lights of Cruz Bay and St. Thomas in the distance as we were eaten alive by mosquitos. They were horrid! We sprayed repellent, Cactus Juice, didn't matter! I could see them rubbing their legs together in anticipation of succulent flesh they were going to feast on for dinner. It was like. I'll show you followed by evil mosquito laughter. Citronella candles did help a little out on the decks though. I was told that the islands first tropical wave rolled in that night and it poured buckets all night long and I mean buckets all night long.
Ok so I think I've covered just about every aspect of the villa. I hope I didn't bore you but I know some people like these details. Did I mention the view is STUNNING!?
LETS GET ON WITH THE GOOD STUFF ALREADY! More to come...
Hi chrisn,
I've been thoroughly enjoying your postings so far, but especially this one. We stayed in Villa Capiz a very long time ago - before the pool, kitchen remodel and other improvements. And though we've been back to STJ 5 times since, and liked or loved every villa we've stayed in, Villa Capiz is still the unanimous favorite of my entire family.
For various reasons, it's never been the right size or available for our visits since, but we've always intended to go back -- and probably will. I drool every time I look at those pictures! There are fancier places, but something about it was just so right for us. We especially loved the showers with doors that open up to that incredible view. What a luxury! And that great round table on the deck.
I'm so glad it's still lovely, that you enjoyed it, and that you're letting us all enjoy it vicariously!
Chris,
I am soooooo enjoying these reports.
Just so you know, I have been tentatively planning what is turning out to be a pretty long and very expensive villa visit in August. Today, I was thinking that maybe I would just not do it and buy furniture, or get a new kitchen, or SAVE (ha, like that's any fun)....
but now, after reading your post, I can smell and feel and taste the islands......the feeling of walking into your villa at that first moment, seeing the view for the first time, hearing the birds and tree frogs sing their welcome song, opening the fridge and finding your welcome package from the agent - fruit, cheese, wine, etc.....or maybe your provisioning package.....and walking out onto the pool deck knowing that you have days and days of this glory ahead of you...ahhhhhhhh......
the granite countertops will have to wait....the formica works just fine.....I've been convinved....again!
Thanks!!!! 🙂
chrisn & bluewater,
those of us who love st john relive our experiences when reading long posts of the 1st timer who is inraptured with the island's beauty on the first visit. chrisn, thanks for sharing your experience. my only disappointment is your failure to really comprehend the beauty and awe of evenings on gifft hill watching sunsets, the lighting of stt and the departing cruise ships. the bride (40yrs in april) and i can't seem to get enough of the 5 to 11 pm west views tacked on top of lazy days on the same beachs you also enjoyed.
bluewater, i'm addressing you because i truly enjoy your many posts but am disappointed you either have never really given the high west side villas a shot i believe you'd love or worse you're not a romantic who loves the things about stj i love. which is it? so you'll know where i'm coming from, the bride once gave me a tee shirt that announces: "you can agree with me or just be wrong!"
peace to you both.
papabou
Sorry to have disappointed you papabou. I, too, have enjoyed your many posts.
Single moms who travel with their children tend to find more comfort in villas closer to Cruz Bay. More remote villas are alluring, no doubt. But, this city lady prefers to seee a street light here and there....and hear a neighbor laugh now and then.
One day....I'll join your side and completely divest myself. I look forward to it! 🙂
Until then, I'll read your posts and take notes.
However, I have learned to appreciate the 5-11pm (and later) views of STT's East End. Likewise, I have come to miss the midnight down-island views from STT's Northside.
bluewater,
getting the kids educated and married has a price, other than money, namely aging. after you turn 60 as we have, you begin to see the days and opportunities as limited and you must go with the gusto. point don't rush through this part of your life, full independence will come soon enough.
you commented and i have seen many recent posts about the northern shore villas. some apparently even have stt views. the bride doesn't take to roads/drives that challenge a std front wheel drive sedan. do you have any recommendations, we may not be too old to venture away from our usual.
thanks for your many thoughts and i look forward to seeing your villa site's flourishing.
papabou
OK Papabou -- now you have me worried! I am leaving this Saturday and staying on Gifft Hill -- remenber you gave me a lot of advice! However -- this road situation might cause me stress! Please calm my nerves.
cj
cool it! relax and take long deep breaths. the ride up centerline road to the turn off to gifft hill is one of the tamest on stj. first trip up will probably involve white knuckles, but rest assured that that drive is a piece of cake as compared to north shore road pass caneel bay!
once you walk onto the deck at plumeria and gaze across pillsbury sound toward stt, you will be ashamed for being a doubting thomas. as i previously posted, south shore road down (especially up) can be tricky but you never have to take.
reread my dec 05 post about my love of gifft hill and stj in general if you need further assurance.
enjoy and please post when you return. remember that trip posts (and our pictures of past trips) are what sustains us true stj devotees until we return again.
papabou
Thanks!!! We can't wait. This is a busy week so time will pass fast. Our daughters are coming in from Europe on Wednesday night. They have been travelling for six weeks -- had a Eurorail pass and my credit card! I need a relaxing vacation since I have been worrying about them -- but they seem to have handled it fine. They were travelling by themselves -- 19 and 20 years old -- looks like 25 at least! Can't wait to sit on that deck and sip that rum punch!!!
In regards to my failure to comprehend the beauty and awe of the evenings and sunsets on Gifft Hill. This one's for you! 😉
Ah c'mon Papa, twighlight is my favorite time of day, at home or anywhere else. The view from my villa deck was breathtaking truly and I LOVED to watch the lights twinkle on in the distance. Our first couple of sunsets were a glorious thing to behold. I think I'm at that age where I'm just really beginning to appreciate some of life's loevely things while still rushing through others but I especially wanted you to know that....believe me, I appreciated the hells out of the beauty set before me and I'm missing it already.
St. John has had a hold on my heart since I first glimpsed her beauty back in 2002. There is a pull; a connection with her that will be with me always and I so look forward to the next time I step off the ferry and back into paradise. Sorry I didn't relay it better in my post. Does that work for you? (Bet I made ya smile?)
chrisn,
yes i smiled. went back and read your original post and well maybe you did allude to the wow factor in the view. as the baby ganddaughter says, "i sorry". bet i made you smile too as you thought about those gifft hill evening. yes? maybe?
Well --I am smiling also as I will be looking at those views this Saturday night. And you know what? I don't care -- I hope they are fabulous -- but, I am going to have a wonderful time regardless. Life is too short! I am going to enjoy St. John as best I can. I have visited 3 times now and looking forward to the 4th! You deal with what hand you are dealt and glad to be doing this on the beautiful island of St. John. Smile!!!!!!! I will keep you posted, but will bet that I will have a wonderful time even if it rains for seven days and seven nights! This is the "Polyanna" talking in me.
Take care to all!
cj
remember someone has the suffer the cruel world of stj and the vis so there will be reports for those of us wishing it were our turn in the barrel.
have a great trip in spite of the beauty.
papabou
Thanks. Clock is ticking now -- only 3 more days!
Well -- I am back! Plumeria villa was absolutely lovely and the views were spectacular! The rum punch certainly helped get me up those roads! Wow!!! Gifft Hill was a great area and thanks so much for all of your expertise. We met the people staying in the villa you normally stay in and you will be pleased to know that Plumeria does not have the exact view that you have of Great Cruz Bay, but it was wonderful and the villa itself was more updated. The outside living area that has been added in the last year was unbelievable -- veranda with couches, loungers, etc. You will have to check it out the next time you are there! We had a fabulous trip!
CJ - I am so glad you loved Plumeria!!
cj
thanks for the report and i'm glad you enjoyed plumeria and gifft hill. yes c9 is getting a little long in tooth but she sure is comfee for me and my crowd. she's not available for our tentative oct family trip dates so i am interested in plumeria that is available our dates. was the lack of ac in great house a problem? the bride must be cool when inside and the grandkids need the loft.
final question. did you do my thing about dinner on the deck at sunset at least once? if you didn't, NO MORE ADVICE FROM ME!
papabou
cj, while drive is no easier (but is shorter) try "temptress" thru dest stj. she's slightly lower than top of gifft hill and you access her via rockbridge rd (left turn off south shore road at top of hill past the westin). super views of hart, chocolate hole and great cruise bays plus the obligatory sunsets and stt lights. only 2 bedrooms in separate bldgs almost 100 feet apart. small dip pool no hot tub but central ac and great covered porch. at least take a look cause i know you're already thinking about going back. ya, been there done that, god the time i spend thinking about old stj.
Papabou --lack of air conditioning in the main house was not a factor at all! We were rarely in the house, but when we were -- all of the doors were propped open and all fans on --it waswonderful. The owner's are building a new house at the end of the road -- right down from Cloud 9 at very end. They were wonderful. The power went out on the entire island and one of us was in the shower, which meant we did not have any water and pump had to be primed (or something like that). The owner was there in 10 minutes once the power came back on. There is no hottub, but we floated in the pool, sat on the veranda which is totally covered and watch many sunsets! It was absolutely beautiful! I would stay here again in a hearbeat! I will send more details later and hopefully a photo.
cj
oh yea of little faith. told you so! thanks for feed back.
papabou
I know -- I was very nervous and I guess had "little faith" -- but I am cool now! The couple that was travelling with us had no idea what to expect. When the wife of this couple opened the doors from drive into Plumeria -- she could not speak and actually started crying! It was like the door to heaven opening -- it was beautiful! The view looking out to St. Thomas as the neighboring islands was breathtaking! I can't wait to return. This has been a hard week!!!!!
