Any user of GE for caribbean stuff is a friend of mine.....I didn't do gifft hill but thought I'd share what I did with you...

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=EarthTravel&Number=1060718&fpart=&PHPSESSID=

also you may want to check out these...(there push-pin file download is below the map...

http://cateredto.com/Villa_Locations.php

Cheers-

Well Capt Mike we are 5 days and a wake up. I had the same desire as you - to figure exactly where the villa actually is located. We have been to STJ many times but did not know Rock Ridge Road. Using the Stick pin chart on Catered To web site (we went through Catered To) and a google earth overlay - I came up with this:

then the Jeep Cam http://www.on-stjohn.com/2008/01/18/jeep-cam-rock-ridge-road/ completed the picture...

Sometimes you wonder if too much information is good 🙂

How do i do that with a map of St. Thomas? Trying to undestand this and it would be great to have.

capt m,

there's a large cloud over tha area of gifft hill where coconuts and other "giftt hill villas" are located on google earth site. there are actually 6 gifft hill v's, cloud 9 and plumeria are other 2. there's another zoomable site with aerial pics that doesn't have cloud cover at gifft hill, if i find i'll post. meanwhile try the mapquest map at http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=VI&addtohistory=&city=cruz+bay. coconuts is right above "104" in a box and at the south corner of the second right turnoff on rte 104 (coming south from centerline). driving directions: cline rd to rte 104, which is the right turn just pass tony"s kitchen (big trucK) on right with parking area. go about 3/4 mile total on rte 104, passing school on left then new Bellevue housing on left then there will be a large stone sign on right "gifft Hill" (not far pass the large blue "fork in the road"), and you'll take a right turn onto street going downhill just in front of sign. don't dally around on turn in because there is limited sight distanc efor oncoming traffic. coconuts drive is 1st to left just behind sign. if you get to dumpster on right and sharp curve to left on 104, you just missed the rd into "gifft hill".

good luck. when you going home? we'll be back at cloud 9 beginning 2/18.

papabou

Connie,

I was lucky enough that the Catered To site uses google maps with stick pins for locating their villas. However when you zoom in it does not give you road names

So I save a copy of the stick pin picture and stuck in power point

Then did the same thing with Goggle Maps and as I zoomed in you get road names. Saved that picture and overlayed the two and then made the top one transparent.

I am sure there is a much easier way to do it - but it worked.

This map link allows you to use ~4 or 5 different maps quickly...

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=18.346152&lon=-64.784473&z=16.6&r=0&src=msl

sherban, that's the site i've been looking for, thanks for posting. i lost from my favs when i had to reload aol that i use for fav log. mike, if you go to sherban's site, click once outside overlay info box into genreal aerial of stj, overlay disappears and you'll have and interactive map. bottom right is a block to fill in cords to where you want to go. enter 18 19 44.3N 64 46 27.3W you'll get a + on top of cocunuts, zoom in and take a look. she's villa on rd, plumeria above and left, and palm and c9 to left. all to west of rte 104 there is downhill and steep so you're looking over tops of those villas unobstructed.

papabou

Papabou -- you are the person that directed me to Gifft Hill villas a few years ago. I actually stayed in Plumeria 2 years ago and Bongo Bongo last year. My husband prefers Gifft Hill because of the fabulous sunsets. Therefore -- I am trying to find out the other names of villas right around there. What is the name of the villa in front of Plumeria --- Palm something? You told me a couple of years ago that there was no outside seating/covered so we took your advice. Can you give me any more suggestions for Gifft Hill villas -- I have already checked and Cloud 9 is already booked. I do not want to stay right on the road so that rules Coconuts out for me.

Thanks.

cj, villa in front of plumneria is "Palm Villa" handled by car villas. last i heard only shade on deck is large umbrella. you may recall, c9 is to right (looking from plumeria) of palm and to right of c9 and slighly up above is seawatch also handled by cv. while i have never been in palm, the lack of shade on deck and no ac in great room are the 2 negs for me. i realize plumeria didn't have ac in great room but i believe your stay there was after front porch added that dhaded groom windows. plus palm and c9 are straight vs u shape of the other 3 so great room and kitchen at palm have no protection from the afternoon sun.

there's new villa just to right of seawatch (i believe nothingtoloose did a review of seawatch on the other board) but i believe she's a "luxury" rental that i won't spring for. see if i can get name for you while i'm down later this month.

if sunsets and breezes from up high are hub's thing (they are mine), look at ambiance, treasure ridge and temptress on upper rockbridge they are 300 feet lower that gifft hill but higher than bongo and are on a ridge line that gives west views of st thomas, choc hole, hart bay and even detliff point. sunrise in dead of winter. all are handled by dest st john. we've stayed in temp and tres ridge and would go back to either. car v also HAD allesandra in that area, don't know who has now.

good luck

papabou

Thanks to all of you for the great inputs. I beleive I have it. The instructions and data co-ordinates were right on. The jeep ride video that was posted was great too. The music under the video just had me humming along. So much so that I got sidetracked and immediately had to locate some Island tunes to take with me. For anyone intested, I found this site: http://www.islandfrank.com/. I also learned that St John has its own steel drum band, and they have a web site too. Didn't see a way to listen to any of their music. Oh well, just may have to listen to them LIVE!

My time in Paradise is too short. My 'walk of woe' is on the 16th.

Again, thanks for the clues!

Thanks Papabou,

What do you know about Seawatch? I would stay in Plumeria in a heartbeat as the ac did not bother us even in July. It was very breezy and the outside seating under the new porch was great. We are taking our daughter and she wants a hottub which Plumeria does not have. I am also checking out Villz Capiz. I am not interested in a "luxury" villa -- as we are not there all the time. In my opinion -- they are all luxury villas when you are looking out at the views. Hope you have a great trip and look forward to hearing from you when you return.

cj, i just posted info on another string about ambiance re your question there. been skiiing and just now responding. never been beyond drive to seawatch but know from pics on web site she is u-shaped like plumeria vs straight out like palm and c9. ther's a review from last summer at http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/sj/sjhotelreviews/20070709143536.shtml. seems like owners have modified/added a master but still only 2 bedrooms. my other post has coords for plumeria and mentions exact seawatch location in relation to plumeria.

plumeria is probably the best maintained of the 5 ghill villas, we just like better views of c9, staight layout, full ac and with last minute travel she's at leat 25% cheaper.

good luck.

papabou