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Hi,
My husband and I are planning our trip to STJ and we have always stayed in hotels in our past travels.
We take 1 trip a year and really like to stay in nice resorts/hotels (Four Seasons, St. Regis, etc.) as we feel this is all part of the luxury of being on vacation and all part of the splurge!
I would like to try a villa or something different, but am nervous having never done that before. We are used to the comfort of the hotel, maid service, pools, location of being close to restaurants, etc...
I am open to trying something new, but the hubby is still on the fence which I can understand. There' s the issue of feeling a little bit more secure in a hotel. It's hard to tell from the photos if the vllas will really be nice. I also wonder if it's noisy with having neighbors next to or above you?
Getting around? I feel like I would need a car if we stayed in a villa versus a hotel?
Was hoping for some great rec's and suggestions as to what to look for. We were planning on staying at the Westin on STJ......but am open to new ideas.
Has anyone stayed at Peter Bay?
If we do go with the villa and my husband doesn't like it, I'll never live it down!
: )
So, thoughts? Has anyone stayed in both a hotel and villa while at St. John, and what would do you prefer and why?
Thank you!
There are arguments to be made for both sides. I think that if you are staying on STJ, a villa is the way to go.
You will not find your typical resort on STJ. Caneel is upscale and beautiful with great beaches and wonderful food, but it is also quiet and rusticly elegant. The Westin is on a man made beach with (in my opinion) limited dining. Either resort would require travelling to off property restaurants, either by taxi or car rental.
The lure of STJ is the beaches. So many wonderful beaches to explore. Renting a villa and a car offers the flexibility of truly experiencing all the island has to offer. You can lounge in your pajamas by your own pool drinking coffee in the morning, take a swim at midnight, watch a movie in your underwear, the list is endless. Of course you will have to make your own bed (or not), wash your own dishes, and pick up after yourself but I think the benefits outweigh the negatives.
It is all about what you want on vacation. Some people enjoy the resort amenities. No matter what, I recommend renting a car. Taxis can get you to many places but there ar so many great things to do that a taxi can't get you to.
You may want to try one of the Villas at the Westin as a soft landing for Villa life the resort also has the same amenities resraunt pools etc as the hotel is on the same property. The best of both worlds.
We have one booked throgh this guy in Feb
http://stjohncondos.com/
We recently rented in Peter Bay and it was beyond awesome! Waking up to that view every morning was just incredible. It was so nice to come home after dinner, have some wine and watch the moon shine over Cinnamon Bay. I believe most villas there have a pool and/or hottub, there is a also private beach and you could probably make arrangements for maid service. It's a gated community, so there's some security if that concerns you. It was really nice being so close to the northshore beaches too and heading into Town at night to walk around and have some dinner was no problem and we actually looked forward to it. Pretty much wherever you stay, you're going to need a car, unless you stay at Gallows or one of the others on the hill. We usually do the timeshare thing and it's so refreshing to have the option of villas in STJ. Love it!
Hello Danielle
Your line of hotels is beyond my Marriott & Hilton neighborhood but having stayed at Caneel I would strongly suggest you consider that option. If you choose to use hotels to avoid the 'day-to-day' issues of house cleaning, meals & dishes then Caneel is the place. It certainly has the beaches and you have a choice of 'rooms' on the estate. Our favorite is the beach front or water view bungalows. Nothing like exploring STJ and coming back to pampered existence!
Do yourself a favor and avoid the off site visits they offer (Little Dix, etc.) they are over priced and rather disappointing considering what you can get elsewhere. Find a separate day sail and get the better deal.
Gallows Point is another option you should look into!!! It is a "Condo Resort." and is a 5 minute walk to Cruz Bay - so it is very convenient for shopping and restaurants - even if you get a vehicle (which you should) - it's nice not to have to find parking (which is not always easy to do)!
Gallows has most everything a villa would have - although, obviously you will not be isolated as there are, I believe, 60 units. Like a villa each unit has a nice kitchen stocked with cookware and many staples; beach chairs & ice chest to take along on your beach adventures. There is a gorgeous, well-maintained pool and fantastic snorkeling right there. There is no sand beach, but hey, you're on St. John - with lots of spectacular beaches to explore!!You're not supposed to stay put in a compound or on resort grounds like on some other islands!!
Unlike a villa, Gallows has free DAILY MAID SERVICE - and great service, it is! I know some people don't care about making the bed themselves- or having it left unmade. And some don't care that while on vacation, their home for the week gets all sandy (it is a BEACH DESTINATION) - and no one vacuums it up. And some don't care about having their bathrooms cleaned and shined up daily - or toiletries replenished - or more towels delivered when needed - BUT I DO!!!!!
Gallows also has a fantastic little store on site that is so convenient for so many reasons - renting a movie, getting a latte or getting the fixins' for a peanut butter & jelly sandwich - I think they even have bacon & eggs there-or film (anyone use that anymore?), renting snorkeling equipment - and so much more!
Gallows also has Zozo's - a wonderful restaurant - where you can dine (exquisite food!) or just enjoy a lovely drink at sunset.
We LOVE Gallows for so many reasons - but I think the convenience of being so close to Cruz Bay while being right on the water with the most spectacular views are among my favorite ones.
Be sure to check it out before making a decision!
Best of luck,
Lisa
I have travelled to St. John USVI ten times beginning in 1989. I would advise against the Westin. Caneel Bay is hands down the best hotel on St. John (IMO). Even if it is twice the price of the Westin it's worth it. The Westin in my opinion is overpriced. I would advise staying at Caneel Bay or rent a condo/villa if this is your first trip to St. John. I have done both. Caneel Bay is probably one of the best hotels/resorts in the Caribbean. I will be on St. John this Feb. and will be staying in a private villa. Renting a villa requires some homework. If you decide to rent a villa a 4 wheel drive vehicle is probably a must. Jeep rentals run $500+ for a week. If you decide to go the villa/condo route I can make some suggestions for you. I have been to most of the islands in the Caribbean and can honestly say St. John is my favorite. Hope this helps. Contact me for more info....
You might want to give the idea of staying at a Westin timeshare villa some serious consideration...it's a great middle ground.
We have stayed a week at the Westin in a hotel room without a rental jeep
We have rented several villas, always with rentals
We have rented (from an owner via ebay) a timeshare villa at the Westin with a rental jeep
My personal preference would be a private villa every time. However, even though I would like to think otherwise, I am not the boss 🙁 Our trip last spring we traveled with our 16 year old daughter and a friend of hers. They insisted we stay at a resort where there would be more activities etc. for teens. So we arranged to stay at a Westin timeshare villa. It was a nice compromise. I like having the kitchen and living space of a villa versus just a hotel room. You can make a stop at the grocery store and stock up with breakfast things, snacks, drinks, etc. There's more room to spread out, my wife can sleep in late, yet I can have my early morning coffee and relax without disturbing her, etc. The typical timeshare rental includes a mid-week maid service, however you can arrange (for a fee) for daily maid service - we did not. The Westin has several restaurants, a nice beach/pool bar, a beach, a big pool, all kinds of rentals, etc. all the things you would expect of a full-service, high-end resort.
I prefer to have a jeep as the best parts of St John aren't at the resort - beaches and dining especially. However, if you stay at the Westin, there are always taxi's available - we've done it both ways - cost-wise, for two people, it's probably a breakeven proposition. I can't imagine staying at a private villa without a rental.
The downside of the Westin is the beach...it's far from the nicest beach on the island. It is perfectly serviceable, but you would do yourself a huge disservice not to visit all the really great beaches that St John has to offer.
Others have suggested staying at Caneel Bay - a superb choice as well. Not a villa experience, but many beautiful beaches and excellent restaurants on-site. But also at a price.
Hi, We are going to St Croix next month, our first visit. Are the bugs(gnats, mosquitoes ect.) bad at this time of the year? Looking forward to the beach and snorkeling, staying at the Divi Resort-for the casino. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Gallows Point should definitely be considered. Very convenient to Cruz Bay. The maid service is exceptional. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. The views are great. The beach is small and coral (not sand) but there are many wonderful beaches on the island. Do rent a vehicle you will need it to explore this fantastic island. No matter what you decide this is PARADISE. Relax and enjoy. Wish I was there now.
