I did. I think its really a personal thing.

I just looked at pics of your villa and see that you have the right kind of vaulted ceilings with LOTS of ceiling fans. That's good.

Think about how you will use this villa. Since you are new to villa travel, I'll give you my experience. Everyone is different.

In my villa travels, I spend time in my villa in the morning (I am NOT a morning person, so I putter around for a while and usually get out around 10:30am) and then after a day out at the beach.

I return from the beach to shower and change for dinner...and then I either go out or eat in (in = by the pool). The sun sets early in the VI, so it is getting dark or is dark before I eat dinner. and, if I am eating at home, it is usually something grilled out on the grill by the pool and eaten outside. At this point, people are normally in the pool while someone is grilling. After dinner is normally more time for the pool.

The most time I have spent in the villa's unairconditioned area is while I clean the kitchen after dinner (loading dishes into the dishwasher - I don't see one listed for you villa, if that matters to you ). If you have to wash dishes by hand, you might get hot. If you don't plan on cooking at the villa, none of this matters.

Time spent sitting in the great room/living room of the villa is minimal and is usually limited to the time I need to read a guidebook or look over the options for restaurants. I am not a TV person, so I would never sit inside to watch that. If I am sitting inside for any length, I am sharing a cockatil with someone later in the evening. Again, it would be darker and cooler by then.

I really don't think I would feel good with going in and out of an air conditioned house - from the pool and deck, where I would spend tons of time, to the home, and back. I don't like those extreme changes and I think it makes me feel hotter outside, thus making me want to retreat inside - which is not what I want when I am in the islands.

Just my .02. Everyone is different. It will be hot in July. I am a naturally hot person....but I don't care for an enclosed home when in paradise. I do like comfort, though. I won't every stay at Maho again...whoa!!! Talk about hot and sweaty. I don't like to sweat. Messes up my hair 😉

Have you found anything you like with A/C? How are the others in your party about it?

I am not planning on washes any dishes -- that is for sure -- did not notice that there was not a dishwasher! I will look at this again. I am not that concerned about the air condition -- but at least one in our party might be. I will keep you posted.

Quite frankly -- did not realize they had homes without dishwashers these days!

Look at: vivacations.com

I think this villa has been updated. There is a dishwasher on the list!

I went back and looked at Palm again -- can't figure out if the main house has air conditioning or not. It appears that you have seen this house and that it does not have a gazebo. Bedrooms look a little larger than Plumeria.

CJ-

You remind me of myself and so many other villa vacationers...it IS such a tough decision.

I wasn't looking at VIVA' site when I noted the dishwasher omission. I was on another agen't site. So, I'm sure they must have one if VIVA listed it.

I just read a narrative on Palm and I don't think it has A/C in the living area, only in the BRs. It mentions A/C a few times, being very specific to refer to bedrooms.

I have a list of full A/C vilas on STJ. I receievd this list on 10/13 from Janis, the owner of Villas Caribe. I assume this list is according to what villas are in Janis' portfolio. But, her agency lists many, many villas (many more than most of the on-island agents), so it should give you someting to start with. Seems that Pap has discovered some more full A/C villas. Perhaps he and other posters here can add to the list and we can come up with something more comprehensive.
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Please note that the following villas on St. John all have full air-conditioning:

Cocotier

Crow's Nest

Hakuna Matata (not central but all main rooms have it)

Kismet

La Papaya

Palm Terrace villas/condos (this is not the same as Palm Villa)

Paulette

Time Out

Thanks -- I think I am about ready to tell these people to sleep in the pool if they are hot! I think I will be fine as I do not want to be in this paradise and be closed up anyway. I live in North Carolina and when I am on vacation at the beaches -- it is rare that I stay inside as I am usually sitting on the screen porch and there are no breezes there! I really do not think that not having air condition in the main house is going to be a huge problem. Thank you so much for your input and I will let you know how things go -- or if we change villas!

cj

bluwater's post on villa usage same as ours. only bad experience we had was 6pm checkend after sun all day on closed up great room made very unpleasant. thus bride's insistence on full ac. if bride's not happy no one's happy thus we go ac. butttt, except in bedrooms, ac has been seldom used. go figure, bride's a kept woman.

final point, i personally would prefer a gifft hill villa with no ac to a similar ac'ed villa in a much lower location.

enough from papabou

Papbou -- I love your comments and they make me think! I am the bride and even though some think I am a kept woman -- I sometimes tend to be the keeper!!!! What I meant about telling the people to sleep in the pool was a joke since I am doing all the research -- in otherwords, if they want to search for the villa -- they can! I am still leaning towards this villa Plumeria. I am sure there others, but limited since so many have already been booked. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing than sitting in the pool with a nice drink in my hand reading a book so I am not planning on being inside that much anyway! Thank you so much for all of your help.

The last comment you made about rather being up on Gift Hill without air conditioning than a villa with air conditioning in a lower villa will probably cement my decision!

Thank you!!!!

CJ,

There is a Villa in Chocolate Hole called Longview which is rented through Island Getaways. The website for the villa is http://longviewvilla.com. It is PERFECT for two couples.

Thank you, but think we have finally decided on Plumeria! It is high on the hill and with the Carnival festivities -- think it will be a little more private during the first week of July.

I hear Carnival is a great time to be there. Have fun.

I can't believe this traffic. The one time of year you don't want to go to St. John is October -- the trade winds stop blowing and so the heat, humidity and bugs become overwhelming. I say this as someone who has rented in St.John for 25 years, so obviously I love it. So much so that my wife and I decided to build there five years ago. We now have a rental villa on the south shore (much cheaper than the north shore) which we try to get to three times a year. For those readers who don't know, St John is more comfortable in July and August than the Jersey shore (where we also have a vacation home), because of the constant trade winds. These come from the east, so they hit the east end and south shore more than other sides of the island. In my opinion, west facing villas are the worst, since they get afternoon sun and heat. North shore villas are the best, since they are in the shade almost all day long, but you pay handsomely for that. East end villas have fabulous views, but you are a long way from Cruz Bay and its restaurants and food store (Starfish Market). Since St. John roads are narrow, curvy, mountainous, and drive-on-the-left, I don't recommend driving home after going out to dinner and having a couple of glasses of the good wine that is duty free. Thus, we bought and built in Point Rendezvous, on the south shore about ten minutes from Cruz Bay, just east from Gifft Hill. True, we can't see sunsets from our villa. But that is compensated for by the beautiful sunrises and moonrises, as well as the cool afternoons and evenings. More to the point, try anywhere on St. John. It is the best island in the Caribbean, and we have been to many of them.

chub,

awe, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! must differ with your take on west facing villas being worse. my bride and i like the sun, suggest the sunsets, seeing the cruise ships leave stt, and the evening views of stt's lights, offer the second best sights in world, first being the stj beachs. buttt if you are on west end after april till december you must have ac in bedrooms and preferrably in great room.

to us, a full day in paradise consists of a day at a northern shore beach most of which offer shade if desired, a leasurely drive home with astop at star market or simple feast (always find parking) to pick up something to grill and a special bottle(s) of vino and then an evening on the deck wining, dining and enjoying the views.

yes some guys like blondes while others prefer burnettes, both can be beautiful ladies (mine is a grey haired lady). stj, is a beautiful lady, both the blonde side and the brunette side!

peace,

papbou

CJ - there are Timeshare owners of the Westin villas (2bd/3Ba townhouse - 1250sqft) above the Westin Hotel that rent their units for far less than listed rates - check out the 'TUG' timeshare board - also RedWeek.

I do not know much about the Westin other than what a lot of people have said on various chatrooms. I have also visited the Westin and there are just too many people for what we are looking for. That is the main reason we wanted a villa -- lots of privacy, etc. I have booked the villa at this point so there is no turning back. I will keep this information for future trips though! Thanks.

Papabou -- finally did a search and found all the information you have given me already. I think we are going to be fine -- Plumeria still sounds great for our needs. Thanks again.