Take a look at the Calabash Cottages website. These are lovely places which are owner- managed. I think they would be great for your family. they really have an "island feel".

Hi Ny Mom
First how many will there be in your group. Second when are you thinking of traveling. I've had good luck renting form caribean villas. As far as what villa answer the first 2 ? and we will beable to help more.
Tom

There are so many villas to choose from that my advice is to pick which features/options are "must haves" for you, and that will help you narrow down the choices.

The first thing I look at is price. When I'm looking at villa websites, I don't even click on the villas with dollar amounts that are out of my price range.

Then for me personally, any villa that I rent must have a/c in the bedroom (I can't sleep when I'm hot) and a pool (my husband loves to swim at night after we get back from the beach). So the list of potential villa rentals narrows, and then I choose from there.

Location is also a big deal...we usually eat dinner out every other night, so we prefer to stay somewhat close to Cruz Bay, as all of our favorite restaurants are there. There are lots of fantastic villas near Coral Bay, but I'd rather not have to drive all the way to Cruz Bay at night. Other people prefer to stay near Coral Bay.

Just figure out what is and what isn't important to you in a villa. And there are lots of villa companies to choose from...these website have links to most if not all of them: http://www.stjohnisland.com/#Accomodations and http://www.st-john.com/

Dear NYMom:

TeresaRae gave a good "nutshell" of how to start looking. A more exhaustive list of ideas is at http://www.villavantage.com/; just click on the FAQs link!

In addition to location, you might want to ask about the drive to get there. For instance, on our first trip to St. John, we rented a villa that was only minutes from Cruz Bay, beautiful views in 3 directions, and every interior feature we were looking for. However, the drive was steep and downright (upright) scary. We were afraid to go out at night because when we were driving home, the headlights pointed straight up in the air and we couldn't see the road. Just something else to consider.

The Westin has Villas and they have a kids camp, that might work for you. We have found many of the Villas on St John, do not allow children under 8. Gallows Point has condos, not sure about kids though. There are 100's of villas to choose from on St John, just do a search online. Another question you may ask of a rental agent, is the pool heated and also ask whether the TV has Cable and whether it is in working order, if it matters to you.

Because you are traveling with a little one, I think the best thing to do is call/email the various rental agencies and get a list from them of what villas will allow a toddler. Then, you can evaluate your choices based on that list. Here are few to get you started! www.destinationstjohn.com; seaviewhomes.com; vacationvistas.com; carefreegetaways.com. Happy villa hunting!!

I second pswlrw's advise. Start by finding out what villas allow a children your child's age. That will narrow your search. Then based on your 'must have' list of things like pool (heated or not), hot tub, A/C, proximity to Cruz Bay etc. further narrow your options. Then come back to the forum and see if some of us can help you make the final choice. Believe me once you've done a villa vacation you won't want to go back to resort/hotel accomodations! Remember to budget your car into the equation

Another thing to think about with little ones is the proximity of the bedrooms to each other. Many villas have odd floor plans and while you may have a 2 or 3 bedroom, they may be in seperate buildings from each other and they may only be accessible from the outside.

What PPs have said is true, once you rent a villa you will have a hard time going back to a hotel.

Bravo NY Mom! Congrats on your decision to stay in a villa on STJ.

As the mom of an 8 yr old, I totally recall traveling to the VI with a 2 yr old. I would seek a villa with an adjacent bedroom or sleep area for my 2 yr old.

Definitely, DO NOT choose a villa with a bedroom on a separate level or across the living space from the master BR.

How about a villa w/ a bedroom attached to the master? Or, a master with a bed in the master for a small child? 2 yr olds need to be close!!!! We moms only rest comfortably when our babies are close. I'll get you a list.

Sounds like you are hooked!

~Blu

Thanks for all the great tips, everyone! A lot of this stuff I hadn't even considered! So I guess I need to narrow down my choices and post back for some feedback on specific homes ...

Another question: Should I be concerned about unscrupulous villa agents or crime against villa renters? I heard some bad stories about crimes against villa renters in St. Lucia. Obviously not all islands are the same. Or, maybe this is just the "New York" talking! 🙂

Thanks, and best wishes this holiday season!!

I don't think you have to worry about rental agents and you have to be safe when it comes to crime, just like anywhere in the world.
Keep your valuables locked up, don't leave cash laying around, don't leave electronics in your rental car.

great idea to contact rental agents to get the list of villas that allow young children/also safe for them.....although stepping right from the living room to the pool might be ideal for us grown-ups, i would be on "high alert" at all times thinking of the little one just walking out and into etc..............by getting the "lists" from the agents you have no need to look and think you've found a villa you'll love , to be told not good for children !!! these are the agencies we've used in the past with excellent results ...www.caribbeanvilla.com -- www.cateredto.com -- www.suitestjohn.com . all local companies and have been in business for years ! they can also "hook" you up w/vehicles. good choice going to st. john...have fun planning and enjoy the trip !!

I agree with all the other posters. Once you try a villa you will NEVER want to vacation any other way. I have compiled a list of things that my family looks for in a villa. Some have already been mentioned so I didn't include them on this list. Remember these are just our preferences but things you may want to think about...

-distance to cruz bay
-view
-bedroom layout and size of beds
-pool
-does the pool have sun throughout the day? Is there shade for the kids?
-gas grill
-washer and dryer
-safe
-beach chairs & towels
-cable or satellite tv
-outdoor shower
-outdoor dining and deck space
-AC
-jacuzzi
-dishwasher
-deposit and cancellation policy of management company

Something to think about when renting a vehicle is whether the rental company will allow you to park in their lot in Cruz Bay if you want to do some shopping or when dining in Cruz Bay.