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After checking for reviews here and elsewhere, we're still hoping for any further recent info on the following villas on St. John:
Happy Moon
Viewtiful
It's About Time
Lille Paradis
Sea Spirit
We are a family of 4 (no young children) trying to put together our first Caribbean vacation for June, and without knowing the island, we're feeling overwhelmed trying to decide. So far, we're clear that we would like A/C in at least one bedroom, a view if possible, some water (pool or hot tub) on site, and a location on the Coral Bay side of the island. We're divided about whether we'd prefer a hillside site (view and breezes?), or a villa nearer the water. We're trying to keep our housing cost at or below $2,000 for the week, which all of the above villas would do. We've read mostly good things about Happy Moon (though "small pool" and "tired" were some reactions) and Viewtiful (though recently someone said the windows leaked?), but not too much info on the others. If you know the areas where these are located (near Mamey Peak/Ajax road and out toward Kittel Bay), or the villas themselves, we'd really appreciate the real-world feedback. Thanks.
Kat:
Don't know about most of the villas, but do know the owner of Sea Spirit. Her name is Terry Witham. Of the five trips, we've made to STJ, we've rented villas through Terry on the last three trips. She is an on island caretaker for several villas. Sea Spirit is a beautiful remote villa in an unbelievable oceanfront location. I don't believe that Sea Spirit has ac or a pool. Sea Spirit is on a point with fantastic trade winds and you don't really need ac. Now when we go to STJ, we like to get away from it all and spend our time snorkeling--we can swim in pools at home. There are two good snorkeling beaches just a few minutes walk from Sea Spirit. The villa is in a location where you would need to rent a vehicle. If you like remote and "private", you'd love it. Look up her number in the vi phone book (below) and give her a call.
http://www.viphonebook.com/entrymap.asp?screen=800&os=win
Liz
I am not familiar with any of those villas but I will chime in with my opinion. I like to be hillside, better view and breezes. Depending on where you are in Coral Bay, if you are up high enough you will find that AC is not needed.
I like to have a pool. it is great to hop in and relax after a long day on the beach.
Thanks for the input. We decided Sea Spirit was a little small for us, and we found out that Happy Moon is up for sale, so right now we're leaning toward Viewtiful for a mountainside and Lille Paradis if the family vote goes for trying to be closer to the water. I'm sure we can't lose either way. 🙂
Hi there (theresej here from TA;)) - Viewtiful would be more centrally located than Lille Paradis and it looks like it would have much better views than Lille Paradis, although Lille Paradis is newer which is a plus. If you plan on making daily trips to the North Shore beaches and even a trip or two into Cruz Bay you're going to have less driving from Viewtiful, I know the island is small but with all the hills and winding roads it can be a little slow going and Lille Paradis is in the Kiddel Bay area which is even farther south than Coral Bay. And you mentioned you were going in June, if you're going during Carnival you'll definitely want to see some of the festivities in Cruz Bay. We made it to Coral Bay once during our stay there last summer but never made it down to the Saltpond Bay area which is next to Kiddel Bay, hopefully next summer!!
Good luck with your decision!!
I'd definitely go with Viewtiful. The location is excellent. We stayed on Bordeaux Mountain in June and we loved this location. Ten minutes from Coral Bay, 15 minutes to Cruz Bay and 5 minutes from Maho Bay and Frances Bay. You can't go wrong. And the views from up there are really stunning.
IMHO Kiddel Bay is too far out.
Thanks to all! In response to your very good points about easier access to the whole of the island, especially for first timers like ourselves, we've decided to go with Viewtiful, despite some reviews that thought it was a little too breezy and cool up there. Most of the feedback on this and other boards was pretty positive about it, and then of course there's the fact that my husband is a big fan of mountains (his usual favorite place to vacation is New Hampshire or Maine). Maybe we'll get to try the more secluded Saltpond/Kiddel Bay area another time if he becomes a STJ convert. Now we just need to figure out how to pool our American frequent flier miles so that one of us can get a discounted ticket....
Found this review, sounds like a good choice....looks beautiful
Reviewers Rating: Great
My wife and I stayed at Viewtiful this past July and enjoyed it very much. The house is a two-bedroom home with a gorgeous view of Coral Bay and the BVI's. The living and dinning rooms are on the top floor where you enter the home and the bedrooms are below on the pool/hot tub deck area. Both bedrooms are separate from each other making this a great rental for two couples. Also having the living/dining rooms upstairs, you don't disturb anyone in the bedrooms.
The house is nicely furnished in lots of "Caribbean colors" and the view out the living room window as well as the balcony upstairs will spoil you. The kitchen is very well furnished for everything you would need to cook at home. A barbeque is right outside the kitchen for grilling. The home being on the east side of the island makes it close to the north shore beaches and Coral Bay.
You need to have four-wheel drive to get to the house; the road up from the highway is a bit steep. The only reason I don't give the villa four stars was that when it rains, and it rained almost every night we were there. Some of the windows leaked. The owners are aware of it and I assume they will replace them soon. Other than that, my wife and I would stay there again. Beautiful home, magnificent views.
