When you think about St. John’s Island, you probably picture crystal-clear, blue waters and pristine beaches. It sounds like paradise, right? However, a vacation is only what you make of it, especially when you’re making reservations. And booking a St. John’s villa for a peaceful retreat takes a bit of planning to ensure your getaway is one to remember. Here’s what you should know.
Benefits of Renting a Villa
Your only option for vacation lodging isn’t a hotel; you also have the ability to rent a villa. “But why would you do that?” you ask.
You’ll Have Privacy and Space.
As you compare your options for a vacation, you may wonder what could possibly be worth spending more money for a place to stay while you’re enjoying St. John’s, the U.S Virgin Islands’ National Park, and everything else the region has to offer.
Think about every trip you’ve been on with a hotel. Anytime it was just you or another person, sleeping in the same room, whether in the same bed or a different one, might not have been so bad. But let’s say this vacation includes you, your significant other, and the kids. Or maybe you’re going with a group of friends. A one-room hotel with a bathroom can be a bit crowded once you pile all your stuff in. However, a villa gives you and everyone else who’s going space to move as well as privacy, which can turn a good vacation into a great one!
You May Have a Kitchen or Laundry Area.
Depending on the villa you select, you may have a kitchen and possibly even laundry, so you can have all the luxuries of home, conveniently within reach. Ultimately, you can save money in the process when you can purchase food and cook in your villa. You won’t have to worry about your bathing suit or towel still being wet the next day, when you can easily dry it in your own dryer. And when you don’t have to worry about other guests using the facilities, you can use them whenever you want.
You May Have Private Amenities.
Visiting a hotel means sharing the pool with everyone else staying at the same time as you. If you’re a couple without any kids, that means little ones squirting their squirt guns and splashing around, and making noise. And if you’re a family, that means you’re worried your children are going to annoy the other guests.
While every now and again you might hit the jackpot and have nobody else in the pool with you, those moments are usually few and far between.
And let’s say you and your sweetheart can’t help but rent the hot tub for a short period of time to relax, unwind, and enjoy some quality time together every time you go on a trip. You can only rent it at certain times when it’s not already in use, and you have time limits before you have to re-rent it and shell out more money. That is, if the hotel even has a hot tub or one that’s available for all.
However, if you rent a villa, you may have a private pool, hot tub, or other amenities just for your villa — no sharing with others.
You Can Avoid All the Chaos of Other Guests.
How many times have you been in a hotel and had to wait to get in and check out? You won’t have to worry about that with a villa. You book online, show up at or after you’re check-in time, and leave before checkout without the fuss. You also don’t have to deal with loud hotel neighbors.
You Can Opt for Specialty Amenities for Weddings
If you’re getting married, you should check out the amenities the place offers for weddings. There might be special villas to accommodate your wedding party, needs, and desires. And the staff of the villas may be willing to work closely with your caterer, musician, or wedding planner to ensure your big day is the biggest it can be.
Compare Your Options Carefully
While you may look at any St. John’s villa for rent as part of a luxury vacation, comparing your options carefully allows you to create your truly dream vacation, complete with the view you want and amenities. For instance, you first must consider the location of the villa to the beach.
Do you want one on the beach or raised and overlooking the water? Do you want to be able to walk out the door, take a few steps, and be on the beach? Or, are you fine with it being a short walk?
How many rooms do you need to fit your entire crew? Some villas have two bedrooms, while you can find ones with eight.
You also want to take into account the season you want to travel. The peak season is known for cooler, drier weather — from December to April — and the rest of the year (non-peak season) is known for hotter, wetter weather. While you may automatically want to select the nicer weather, it’s cheaper during the non-peak months.
Since the off-season, in particular, can be hot and humid, you’ll want to check to see which villas have air conditioning to keep you and your guests comfortable.
If you’re staying in a villa, you’ll want to make your choice carefully to find the one that will make your vacation the best possible. It needs to meet your needs, and you should even consider the season, which can affect your price (and comfort, at that). Above all, you should make your decision based on how close your St. John’s villa is to the water, based on your personal preferences.