I am not sure where you heard that you shouldn't pay what is on the website, that is not true at all. Rates vary hugely, it all depends on location and amenities.

First thing is to figure out what you want from a villa, i.e. pool, hot tub, proximity to Cruz Bay, etc. Then figure out how much you want to spend. Then start searching, there are many villa rental agencies on-island and many off-island, I recommend using an on-island company.

You will need to rent a car, so factor that into your budget as well.

As Xislandgirl stated, the rates will vary greatly.

Agents have websites, but so do many villa owners who will rent directly without an agent. There are a couple different types of agents - booking agents (marketing people) and also management agents (villa management people). If you book a villa through a booking agent, that villa will still (most likely) have a managing agent. People tend to get confused about this and think that you need to book through a local agent to get local management. Not always true.

There are ways to try to save on the published rate, but you have to be flexible and maybe willing to not book until the month before your visit and take what is available on a last-minute discount. This means you take what is left in the inventory and that may not be what you want or where you want it. Also, negotiating with owners directly for villas they rent direct is another way to save on the rental. Owners are usually willing to do this if you're making a last-minute booking and they have some days open that they want to fill on their rental calendar or if you are coming in the really slow season.

There are hundreds of villas on STJ. You'll need to decide what amenities you want and then set a budget for yourself. For a late June booking you should expect to pay about $3200 for the week in the mid-range. You can get loer end villas and higher end villas - but I think the mid would be around $3200 for two people.

http://www.mclaughlinanderson.com/ seems to be a good site to visit to at least check out some of the villas. Of course, I only look at the really expensive ones and think, "If only.."! Haha!

Check out http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/.

I've rented from them many times, and their website is easy to navigate. There are lots of other villa rental companies too though...you can find a pretty comprehensive list of all the places here: http://www.stjohnisland.com.

If you want to rent something more than a few weeks in advance, you're pretty much going to have to pay the price listed. Caribbean Villas, for example, does have discounted rates (see "last minute travel") that they list on their website, but they're only for the "left-overs," the places that haven' t been rented...and you have to wait until shortly before the trip to get those rates...and often times, those reduced rates will be for odd days, like only a few days in a row, instead of a week...and you never know what will be available, so it's risky. For example, it could end up that the only places available while you're there are 6-bedroom villas discounted 10%...in which case you would have been better off to pay the regular price for a smaller place since it'll just be two of you.

There has only been one time that I've been able to get a further discounted villa well in advance, and that was for a condo where the owner still lived in the condo while we were there (he only used the master bedroom while we were there, which had outside access...we used the other bedroom and the rest of the condo). So it was a unique situation where the owner needed renters and was willing to cut deals a few months in advance. I don't count on ever getting a discount in advance again, and it hasn't happened again since that one time.

Thanks for the help. I am looking at some places from the people at caribeanvilla.com. We are both 22 and I guess that makes us inelligible to rent a vehicle (correct me if I'm wrong). Do you think that should greatly affect my decision on where to stay (Like making sure I am close to Cruz Bay)? Of course we want to be a bit more secluded (one of the reasons we chose St. John over some of the other islands), but not knowing just how busy Cruz Bay is makes it hard for me to weigh my options. Is there a location that is a little more secluded, but still close enough where not having a vehicle would not matter too much. A mix between Cruz Bay and Coral Bay (A property on Coral Bay is one of the options I'm considering) maybe? Alright, well, I'm just trying to throw out a little more information about what we're thinking to see i we can get some help from people who know the island. Thanks again.

My husband and I first visited St. John on our honeymoon, and have been back every year since. We were 23 when we got married, but because my husband had a corporate account through his work (with Avis I think it was), he didn't have to be 25 to rent. However, some of the larger companies on St. Thomas might let you rent if you're under 25 if you pay a little more....we always rent our vehicle at the airport in STT and then take the car ferry to St. John. So I'd look into the companies in STT (Budget, Avis, Hertz, etc) and see if they'll let you rent.

My little sister (who is 22) recently had to rent a vehicle because her car was in the shop, and they charged her an extra $10 per day since she wasn't over 25. That was in the states, but some of those larger companies might have the same policy in STT.

Having a vehicle on STJ is an absolute must in my opinion. It's an amazing place but you can't explore very much of the island unless you do the driving. There are a couple beaches that have taxi pick-ups, but most of them do not. Not having a vehicle would significantly restrict your ability to see all that the island has to offer.

I think if you are carless, Coral Bay is out of the question. Why not think about renting a condo? For two they are perfect.

Check out Lavender Hill. We've stayed there on numerous occassions. You might also try Gallows Point although their prices might have gone up. There is Coconut Coast. These are all within walking distance of CB especially for young 'uns.

So check out the Lavender Hill website and even Suite St John. You can google them to find their listings.

You can get a taxi to anyone of the north shore beaches. Just walk into town and they are all there. Once you're on island, check around and maybe one of the car rental agencies will rent you. You'll also be able to walk to any place in Cruz Bay. Time of night won't be an issue. If you have any questions, just PM me.

If I wasn't clear - yes, you can get taxis to some beaches - but getting back via taxi is another story. Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay almost always have taxis available that are going back to Cruz Bay...but for most of the other beaches, you'd have to get lucky to get a taxi ride back.

You can get a get taxi back from any of the north shore beaches. Honeymoon/Caneel-always waiting in their parking lot. Hawksnest-stand by the side of the road and there are plenty on their way back. Same with any other north shore beach.

There's also a regular shuttle running to Maho (for a fee, every couple of hours). Not only for Maho residents. They're glad to pick you up or drop you off at any point along the north shore road. And then there is the VITRAN bus which runs from Cruz Bay along Centerline to Coral Bay, then on to Salt pond.

Bobby:

If you like "remote", I don't think you'd enjoy the Cruz Bay side of St. John, unless you are big on drinking and want a short walk back from the bar scene. Cruz Bay is somewhat more of the younger party crowd. You might really enjoy it.

There was a bus line Vitran (sp?) that ran from Cruz Bay out to Coral Bay all the way to Salt Pond last year. The bus might be your option if you wanted to stay in the Coral Bay area. It used to cost $1. Maybe someone that's been on STJ recently could confirm.

I'd just go up to some of the rental agencies and try to rent a 4X4 when you get there. Sometimes they do rent to those under 25. It just depends on their mood that day.

Whatever you end up doing, you'll have a fabulous time. Check out the Reef Bay Hike through the Nation Park Service. If you're going during the busy season, make sure you book ahead.

If you really want to get away from it all for your vacation and stay in a remote location with access to a good beach, check out http://www.islands.org/virgin/viers/ If you're outdoorsy backpacker types, you'd like the place. Close to the really good trails, but rustic.

Have a great trip!

Bobby,
I have to throw in my two cents about prices. I agree with the "don't pay what is listed on the website" idea. We recently rented a 4 bdrm place for $1840 (total, taxes and all) for 9 days and it was listed on the website at more than $4000 for only 7 days. Definitely work the angles! Last minute renting, working with owners (see vrbo.com), asking about a lower rate, picking a time that is not rented and inbetween other rented dates: IT's WORTH IT! Besides, we consumers can help set the prices by not automatically agreeing to pay outrageous prices!!! Good luck to you!

Bobby,

Being "near" Cruz Bay doesn't mean you have to stay "in" Cruz Bay. I'm with Promoguy - no car? No Coral Bay. Although STJ is just a little island - Coral Bay can feel REALLY far from Cruz Bay - expecially without a car. My own son (19) stopped going out after 1 night on one of our vacations when we were at Maho becuase he said "it's just TOO far" - with taxis and Maho shuttle. And Maho isn't all the way to Coral Bay.

Without a car, I would try to stay somehere in the area of Contant Point. It is just to the right of Cruz Bay (facing land). You can get something high on the hill, but a short taxi ride from Cruz Bay - 5 mins. You won't see or hear Cruz Bay from there.

Cruz Bay can be pretty busy - especialy at night. People can walk around with their drinks - so it has sort of a summer resort town feeling - with people chatting and hanging out on the sidewalks (many bars have outdoor seating) and people strolling around from bar to bar with their drinks. There are also little shops that are open in the evening and you'll see lots of people popping in and out of those. The street are really narrow and they wind around - everything is in one little area - not a big place.

There also a fun apartment in Cruz Bay called Crows Nest - it is not secluded, by any means - but is really NICE and would put you in the center of the action with a view of the Bay - http://www.mclaughlinanderson.com/caribbean-villas/CROWSNEST/

No worries:
I have to say that your deal is not the norm and would not work for a honeymoon as they have set dates, this is not a last minute trip. Also, they are looking at the week before Carnival, when summer occupancy rises.
You were lucky that you got such a great deal but as a former rental manager, I can tell you that it is rare unless it is a last minute booking in the off season. The owners set the prices, not the managers.

Bobby: There are many great places to rent that are close to Cruz Bay but away from downtown ( not that it is a bustling city) but you will be a the mercy of taxis and that can be tough sometimes. There are taxis around late in the night if you want to go out and you can find one that will help you out for the time that you are there, but it gets costly.

I recommend trying Gallows Point, Lavender Hill, or Villa Caribe. You can walk into town at night and you can easily get a cab. Good Luck and congratulations on your engagement.

Here's something else to consider when looking at all the housing options available on STJ. The first time my husband and I stayed on the island, our condo was near Cruz Bay (several minutes drive), but it was high in the hills. While it was fairly quiet and had great views, it was downright scary driving home after dark. Our headlights pointed straight up into the air. For people unfamiliar with driving on STJ, this scared the daylights out of us. Unfortunately, we decided to mostly stay home after dark. This time we are staying at a villa not so high in the hills and are planning to go out for more evening meals, drinks, listening to live music, etc. I'd suggest asking questions or getting reviews on this message board regarding exactly what kind of driving conditions you'd be dealing with. We really aren't wimps - we drive the river bluffs of Wisconsin in the winter!!!

Here's a link to a video that gives a taste of what some roads (not all roads) on STJ can be like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PITOhT4n5R0

I would recommend Gallow's Point. It is air-conditioned and you will need that in late June. It is also walking distance to Cruz Bay, but you don't hear Cruz Bay. All rooms have a good view. The sunsets are great. I know all of the condos are a little different there. We had a good one facing STT. I think it is perfect for a couple on their honeymoon. We didn't like driving at night either. We liked walking. We got a 10% discount because it was our 20th Anniversary. I am sure you can get a honeymoon discount.
Have a great time and congratulations!

Bobby,

I also toss in my vote for a Gallows condo/villa. My wife and I stayed there for both our honeymoon and first anniversary. Pony up for the Upper Ocean Front unit if you can swing it. Well worth the cost (in your timeframe, I think they offer 20% discount). Plus - you'll not need to rent a car. We never have in the 42 days we stayed there 🙂

Good Luck,
John 'Big Hat'

My husband and I rented a villa on our honeymoon (and subsequent vacations) and loved it - if you want a little more privacy than a condo allows, I would definitely recommend renting a villa. A villa feels like much more of a vacation and an adventure to us.

Cruz Bay vs. Coral Bay is really a matter of personal preference. I've stayed near both and definitely prefer Coral Bay. There is more space between villas, it feels more natural and secluded, and I absolutely love the views of Coral Bay and the BVIs. There are a number of great restaurants and even a very nice (albeit small) grocery store in Coral Bay, too. We didn't miss the late night partying in Cruz Bay at all - we much prefer having homemade drinks on our own patio, just the two of us, watching the stars and the boats that are out at night.

As far as renting a jeep if you're under 25, a few years ago Bougainvillea Leasing rented one to me when I was under 25 - I think they just asked for a letter from my insurance company or something simple like that. http://www.donaldschnell.com/vehicles.htm I rented from them again a year ago with another great experience - the jeep we rented was brand new and there was always a parking space for us by their store the few times we went into Cruz Bay.

A number of villa rental agencies will rent a car for you when you rent one of their villas (no additional fee). If you decide to rent a villa, as you're researching your villa options, you might ask the villa rental agencies if they would be able to help you out with an under 25 jeep rental.

Personally, I wouldn't want to stay on St. John without a car. I think I'd miss out on too many of the less visited beaches that I have discovered I love much more than Trunk and Cinnamon, I wouldn't feel like I could be as spontaneous, and there isn't much time in a week - I'd rather spend it relaxing than waiting for a ride, especially on my honeymoon. The days seem to slip by too quickly. Just my opinion.