cj,

plumeria is one of 5 similar villas at "gifft hill" sign on rte 104. the others are palm, cloud 9, seawatch, & coconuts. we stayed at c9 twice last year, in oct and again in december. met owner of plumeria while out walking in october and did quick walk through. nice villa with great room and 2 bedrooms on main level. the loft was great for our grandchildren but not much privacy for a third adult couple.

all 5 of the ghill villas ofter what we love, openness, pool and large deck by and on same level as bedrooms, great room and kitchen area, fantastic views of sunset, stt lights and cruiseships leaving stt each night. lot of sun with west views, but plumeria has both a gazebo by pool and brand new covered deck attached to greatroom with the western views to provide some sdahde and cover from the occasional shower.

we've stayed in 3 other villas at sw corner of stj above hart bay and believe slightly longer drive to ghill is worth it if you like the views and fantastic breezes, didn't even use ac in dec and very little in oct. we always returned to villa by centerline rd and went down 104 by rendezous bay for different views (unless going to coral bay or maho leinster etc when we'd of course use centerline east bound). 104 is tuff ride up.

there is a partially completed villa across street from plumeria (which is higher up than ist 3 named villas) that you might get some construction noise from but there was no work going on there in oct or dec.

other ghill villas handled by www.cloud9villas.com and www.carribeanvilla.com.

have fun.

papabou

So do you think Gift Hill is too far to drive if we intend to dine a lot in Cruz Bay, etc.? I just do not want to be too far away. I also did not understand what you said about "villa in front of Plumeria". Does this block the view?

cj

its 10 minute drive, rush hr or not. only longer if you get behind concrete truck which i don't recall after dark (gets dark early no dlstime). would suggest designated driver if consuming with meals. frankly, after we realized what a spectalur view there was every evening, we dined on the deck almost every evening and no one had to curtail their consumption. there are wonderful food selections (meat, fish, pork (maybe chicken never tried) and prepared pasta and other salads and wine selections at starfish market and simple feast. last 4 trips except for one night out each trip, we had lunches out (if we didn't pack sandwiches for allday at beach) and dined on the deck, picking up entrees every couple of days while in cbay. while i can't vouch for pulmeria, all 4 villas we have used had gas grills on deck and WHAT WE KEPT COMING BACK FOR THE VIEW!

if your group likes to wine/dine and bar hop most evenings, you need to be within walking distance to cruz bay or close enough for cabs. if you like casual dining on the deck under the stars with some of the best views in the world from dusk to bed time, try gifft hill or upper rock ridge road. destinationstjohn.com has at least 3 there including temptress, a very unusual 2br2bt villa with dip pool but no hot tub. plumeria i believe has both as do the others on ghill.

as i recall, the view from plumeria was completely unobstructed, palm and cloud 9 are probably 60 feet lower down the hill and you may be able to see their rooftops through the vegetation. only the fronts and parking ares of all 5 gifft hill villas are visble to passersby. the villas and heavy vegetation block visibility and make the decks and living areas totally private. check the deck views of the various villas on the web sites i mentioned in my prior post, the view you see there does not do justice to the real thing.

closing comment, me and my bride of almost 40 years may view vacations differnetly from a lot of the stj regulars. we can have fine dining at quality restaurants back home (that's not to put down some excellent meals we have had at lime inn, fish trap, ten tables, and morgan's mango). unless you live on knob hill in san fran (we don't) you can't replicate the evening view from the many west facing stj villas above about 200 ft elevation! that view and the fantastic northern shore beaches where you can have choice of sun or shade on same beach (except for about 8 weeks early summer), are what keep bringing us back.

good hunting

papabou

ps you'lly fine many posts singing praises of the villas on the hillsides over coral bay. they are great. unfortunately, the sun rises before me and i can always stay up till sunset!

Thanks for the info! I think coral bay is too far -- although I do like skinny leg's!!! I think Gift Hill will be wonderful!

CJ
We stayed at Coconuts on Gift Hill in November Thanksgiving week. We loved the gorgeous views, we had a pool and a hot tub, 3bedrooms, outdoor grill. Everytthing we needed. We had no problem with noise or construction. We drove to Cruz Bay and back every evening and had no problems at all. Just drive slow and take your time. If doing alot of drinking, assign a designated Driver,or grill out at the Villa with your cocktails and watch the cruise ships leave port in the evening out of St. Thomas,or arrive early in the morning. The views up there are breathtaking! Also sunning is clothing optional...enjoy

Which company has Coconuts?

Does anyone know anything about villa named Palm Villa on Gift Hill?

You mentioned that you had gone inside Plumeria -- how close it this villa to Palm Villa? This is another of the ones you mentioned that was near the villa "Cloud 9" and "Coconuts" that you know.

cj

palm, coconuts & seawatch all handled by carribeanvillas. never been in but palm shares drive with cloud 9 and from web site comparison of palm & c9, appears same deck, pool great room; however palm has had a new master added to parking lot side (thus 4/4) but new master doesn't appear to have a view, but villa will stillhave great views from deck.

as you come downhill on gravel road from rte 104, coconuts is first on left, plumeria is second on left, there is a drive to left which continues down the hill and dead ends at palm on left and turns to right into parking for c9. if you don't take left drive the next drive to left is up a slight grade to seawatch which sets slightly above and to the right of c9.

the developer did a fantastic job of placing all 5 villas so that the locations and foliage gives each villa almost total privacy from the others. all west views are unobstructed and eyepopping.

as i have indicated only did quick walk through of plumeria and i viewed others on web and from outside, and all appear about same quality, clean and comfortable but not luxury except views and the feel of seclusion in paradise. they are not ritz carlton quality BUTTTTT, you are vacationing on a carribbean island and we like the comfort of relaxing and not worring about soiling someones new custom settee! If you want luxury try the villas at peter bay and virgin grand estates. we prefer to spend less on the villa (but without compromising on view or amenities) and come more often with the savings.

for two couples, palm will give two great master suites (though one is w/o ocean view). coconuts and seawatch were both occupied when we were there in oct & dec; plumeria not in oct but occupied in dec., palm was not occupied either time. don't know if its slightly higher rates or whatever. might want to await comments from someone who's actually stayed there before committing.

sounds like you're on right track!

papabou

ps after posted i went to cvilla web site and looked again at palm and seawatch pics. pics show the views and layouts and reminded me why we passed on palm last 2 trips; there is no gazebo or covered area for dining/sitting in shade or out of light shower. it does make a difference due to high elevation and west/southwest orientation, you'll need a place to hide from rays/rain from time to time! other 4 ghill villas have something other than picnic table umbrella.

Papabou -- I actually do not have to have a luxury villa -- just clean with a clean pool. I think Plumeria has 2 master suites -- whether king or queen bed -- this does not matter. The bedrooms both have bathrooms so this should be fine. As with you, the views are the most important thing to me! Thank you so much for your help.

cj

sounds like you've decided on plumeria. congratulations, don't believe you will be disappointed. when are you going? i'd like to hear what you think of gifft hill & plumeria after your trip.

when i met the owner (paul, i believe) in oct, he showed me the numerous changes he had made to make more liveable and enjoyable for the vacationer and he had done a good job. frankly, the things that keeps plumeria (& other ghill villas i've mentioned) out of the luxury category are they are regular rentals and thus furnished and detailed for possible abuse and the rates are a hell of a lot lower.

will probably be april/may before me and the bride get back to stj, so enjoy the view and the island in our absence!

papabou

I have not 100% decided, but it sounds great. We will be there July 1-8 -- so that is why air conditioning is so important at least in the bedrooms! I will keep you posted. I do have to say that I feel a little guilty as 3 companies have provided me information on this villa. However, the last company which is vivacations are right on the island, have been in the villa, know all types of things about the owners, etc. They seem to have the type of information I am looking for.

Did you talk to Jack at VIVA?

No -- Karen via e-mail. Says she is the general manager of vivacations.

Does this sound right? She has been very helpful.

Yes, Karen is the big cheese. Good deal!

Well that is pretty cool. She is letting someone else assist, but wants to be copied on everything. She has all types of information about the owners, etc. Apparently, when the villa is not rented -- they have "girls night out" and sometimes have 50 people up there! She also said that the St. John Yacht Club recently had something there.

The main house is not air conditioned, but the bedrooms that are in a different wing are. Do I need to be concerned about this the first week of July? I was in St. John last May. We did need air at night,but only had the sliding doors to the room.

Let me know! Thanks.

I've done STJ villas in July and if AC is in the bedrooms your are good to go. It helps if the main house (where there is no AC) has vaulted ceilings/very high ceilings and ceiling fans. That house looks really open, which is typical of the homes I have rented. I have never been uncomfortable at all and I am normally an AC person in summer.

I believe you've got a winner and am glad to see you get it. You'll neevr want to stay in another resort/hotel! Welcome to the club!

cj

never been to stj in summer, but i imagine its rather warm. would think you'd need ac in bedrooms for sure and great house? first day will be a killer getting acclimated but will get better with each day and there are some fantastic breezes on ghill (at least in oct & dec).

our fist day in a stj villa was oct 04 at sundance (much lower down over hart bay) where the great room was not ac'ed (is now) was almost my last one, it was so damned hot. escaped to ac bedrooms, beach next day and by next evening all better. BUTTTT, the bride says no more chances of her not staying cool on vacation, thus we are limited to villas that have ac in great room too! (eventhough didn't use at cloud9 in dec).

what's your bride's heat tolerance? the answer will be your answer.

papabou

Papabou -- I am the bride! I have a high heat tolerance -- but might have to rethink this now!

Bluwater -- thanks, but did you see Papabou's response about the air conditioning?