Vacation Rentals by Owner

Florian Villa-Affordable, Sunset View, Huge Pool, Easy Access [#147730] | View Property

Gift Hill
Villa, 3 Bedrooms + Loft, 3 Baths (Sleeps 6-8)
$415 - $650/nt US Dollars
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Traveler Reviews (32)

• The best kept secret of the Caribbean !

  The best kept secret of the Caribbean !

  • Guest Véronique W.
  • Date of stay 12/19/11
  • Review Submitted 01/02/12
  My stay at the Florian Villa was exceptional ! Wow....what a great home ! Amazing hosts and great hospitality. Beautiful spacious house with a caribbean feel, very comfy & all you need is there. The location of the villa is perfect, located in a quiet countryside area, very peaceful and close to all services which are within a 3-minute drive and Cruz Bay (5 minutes). The views from the villa are fabulous. Surrounded by birds singning all day long. St John is a lovely island to explore. Gorgeous beaches, my favorite was Trunk Bay where you have good snorkeling. St John also offers a nice selection of good restaurants. The drive to Coral bay is very enjoyable with a stop at Bordeaux Mountain for lunch where you can savor the view of the bay at an altitude of approx. 1,200'. Highly recommend Florian Villa !. Certainly be back in a near future.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• The best kept secret of the Caribbean !

  The best kept secret of the Caribbean !

  • Guest Véronique W.
  • Date of stay 12/19/11
  • Review Submitted 01/02/12
  My stay at the Florian Villa was exceptional ! Wow....what a great home ! Amazing hosts and great hospitality. Beautiful spacious house with a caribbean feel, very comfy & all you need is there. The location of the villa is perfect, located in a quiet countryside area, very peaceful and close to all services wich are within a 3-minute drive and Cruz Bay (5 minutes). The views from the villa are fabulous. Surrounded by birds singning all day long. St John is a lovely island to explore. Gorgeous beaches, my favorite was Trunk Bay where you have good snorkeling. St John also offers a nice selection of good restaurants. The drive to Coral bay is very enjoyable with a stop at Bordeaux Mountain for lunch where you can savor the view of the bay at an altitude of approx. 1,200'. Highly recommend Florian Villa !. Certainly be back in a near future.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Sun and "friends"

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Sun and "friends"

  • Guest Timmy from Boston
  • Date of stay 08/08/11
  • Review Submitted 12/07/11
  Posted by owners, from an email sent from the guest (posted with the renter's permission): The vacation was absolutely awesome. Thank you very much. Probably the best vacation both my girlfriend and I ever had. The villa was beautiful and more than we expected. We loved the family of iguanas, and the anoles and hermit crabs that were everywhere. The only things missing were the snakes. Though, we were told that one of the uninhabited islands, Stephen I think, had them. I'm a big snake and animal lover. I have a pet snake at home too. Anyways, it was funny too because just about every morning a chicken would be waiting at the kitchen door for food I guess and in the afternoon, after a day at the beach or something, the iguanas would meet us as they were sunbathing on the rocks. One even went for a swim in the pool with my girlfriend as she was laying on one of the floats. We did everything we wanted to do and became certified scuba divers while we were there too. We did all the beaches, hiked Ram Head, rented jet skis, snorkeled, etc... Got a little nervous though at first and thought we were cursed for vacations this year. First while we were landing it rained a little but stopped real quick. And then when we went to pick up our luggage, it wasn't there. It didn't make the flight because our flight out of Logan was an hour late. It ended up getting to St. John around 6 PM. Other than that our trip was amazing and we both had a great time. We hope to go every year. I would love to retire there and buy property there as well. It was much better than Bermuda. Thanks again for everything and letting us stay at the Villa.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Breathtaking and soooooo relaxing!!!

  Breathtaking and soooooo relaxing!!!

  • Guest Melissa and Sean
  • Date of stay 03/09/11
  • Review Submitted 03/22/11
  We are usually happy to come back to San Diego after a great vacation but we were actually very sad to leave this peaceful little haven. It was just perfect! Every morning we had the luxury of sitting on the deck enjoying our coffee and looking at beautiful views of cruz bay, the only noises were from the wild goats, chickens and birds that live in the surrounding forest, amazing! This is a very comfortable, beautiful home and we really enjoyed the outdoor showers. Deb was just wonderful to us and even had our rental crib waiting at the villa upon our arrival. We were greeted at the ferry landing with keys to our rental car, a quick trip to the market and even a few snacks waiting at the home. We also loved the location, the town was about 10 minutes away and all the good beaches 15-20...perfect! at the end of each day in the sun, we looked forward to going home to our relaxing retreat, Thanks Deb for a wonderful vacation, we will be back!!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Family Vacation in St John

  Family Vacation in St John

  • Guest Cathy
  • Date of stay 07/22/10
  • Review Submitted 08/03/10
  Really there are few words to describe our vacation on St John...It was absolutley amazing! My husband and I had vacationed on the Island 7 years ago and it was then that we decided we were going to return but with our children! (and now their 2 families) There was something about Florian Villa and Deb, the owner that caught our eye and tugged at our hearts. We were not dissappointed. Not long after we walked through the front door we began to feel comfortable and "cozy". Everyone was relaxed. We enjoyed the different areas of the villa where we could find a quiet spot, we loved the mornings with our coffee in the pool, the evening sunsets were amazing and the sounds of the tree frogs at night were like music to our ears. The furniture was comfortable, and the beds were excellent! We slept better than ever...the hardest part of the vacation was leaving Florian Villa..but the memories will live forever! We hope to return!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Best Vacation!

  Best Vacation!

  • Guest Snorkel Guy
  • Date of stay 05/25/10
  • Review Submitted 06/03/10
  Florian Villa had everything you could possibly want in a vacation. Snorkeling, hiking, beautiful beaches, scuba diving, night life, and great tranquility at Florian Villa. If you want, you can spend your entire vacation at the villa, and never look back. For the price, you can't beat Florian Villa. Other Villa's and hotels charge you much more in St. John and don't care for you nearly as much. Deb and Scott went out of their way to make my vacation perfect!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• The perfect vacation!

  The perfect vacation!

  • Guest Snorkel Guy
  • Date of stay 05/25/10
  • Review Submitted 06/03/10
  Florian Villa has everything all rolled up into one. It's my first vacation where I had 3 options. If i wanted to go into Cruz Bay and enjoy the night life it had it, if i wanted to challenge myself with adventure ( snorkeling, hiking, scuba diving etc...) it had it, and if i wanted the tranquility and peace (Florian Villa), it had it. Oh.. don't let me forget. 85 degrees every day. I just wish i booked a longer stay than one week. The price was very affordable! It was almost a steal!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• In love with St John and Florian Villa

  In love with St John and Florian Villa

  • Guest Mary K. S.
  • Date of stay 03/20/10
  • Review Submitted 06/02/10
  My friends and I had the absolute pleasure of spending a week at Florian Villa. The house was very accomodating, and comfortable. (There were 3 couples, all with our own bedroom and bath.)Nestled into a rugged hillside, the view is just spectacular to enjoy after a long day exploring the island. Great location as well! ( 5 minute ride to town/bars/restaurants/beaches) The fully equipped kitchen was great to have when we were too tired from the beach to go out. A late swim in the pool, drinks and dinner watching the sunset from the fabulous deck is a great way to end a day in St John. I look forward to returning to Florian Villa!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Paradise

  Paradise

  • Guest Mary K. S.
  • Date of stay 03/20/10
  • Review Submitted 06/02/10
  My friends and I had the absolute pleasure of spending a week at Florian Villa. The house was very accommodating, and comfortable. (There were 3 couples, all with our own bedroom and bath.)Nestled into a rugged hillside, the view is just spectacular to enjoy after a long day exploring the island. Great location as well! ( 5 minute ride to town/bars/restaurants/beaches) The fully equipped kitchen was great to have when we were too tired from the beach to go out. A late swim in the pool, drinks and dinner watching the sunset from the fabulous deck is a great way to end a day in St John. I look forward to returning to Florian Villa!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• 10 out of 5 stars

  10 out of 5 stars

  • Guest ctam
  • Date of stay 09/26/09
  • Review Submitted 10/06/09
  This was by far the best vacation I have ever gone on, largely due to the Florian Villa and helpful advice from Scott & Deb. The weather was hot and humid, but it didn't matter as we just jumped into the pool below to cool off (we also started off our day at 8am by doing this). The villa's best feature was by far the screens which were raised during the day to create the open air atmosphere connecting the living room with outdoors (lower at night to keep out bugs). When needed, we could escape to the chilly bedrooms courtesy of powerful a/c units. The kitchen/outdoor grill and stocked kitchen meant we cooked all of our meals, saving us substantial amount of money. Quick note on food = try the local restaurant fare and soups sold by local women at Cruz Bay. Our favorite was Morgan's Mango, specifically the Voodoo Snapper. Also be sure to check out St. John's Brewery in Mongoose Junction, home of the best mango beer ever. There are myriad beaches to visit, but you could in theory keep going back to Trunk Bay, which is by far the most beautiful beach ever. Crystal clear, blue waters, white sand, an amazing snorkeling trail and warm waters made us feel like we were in heaven. Deb/Scott recommended "Nate the Mate" for deep sea fishing and snorkeling excursions and we were not disappointed (in fact we extended our trip on the last day b/c it was so much fun). Great way to do some fishing (many unique fish were caught), while exploring beaches/snorkeling you can only get to via boat. All in all, a great time was had by all with zero complaints. This trip and the Florian Villa are highly recommended for all...of course that is until my next trip down there! Thanks Scott and Deb!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• • Guest Robyn10
  • Date of stay 08/07/09
  • Review Submitted 08/07/09
  I stayed at Florian Villa at the end of June 2009 for a week that was way too short. Everything was perfect -- from the booking process, to the location to the villa itself. This was my second trip to Florian Villa and I can't wait to go back again. It's clear that Deborah, the owner, takes pride in this home and as such, the house is a prized jewel in St. John for anyone lucky enough to rent it to enjoy. Thanks for a wonderful week!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• • Guest Family Milano
  • Date of stay 07/01/09
  • Review Submitted 07/01/09
  Renting a house in the Caribbean for the first time can seem to be a risky undertaking. I must say without reservation that booking the Florian Villa with owner Deborah was an easy and de-stressing experience. The villa was everything shown in the photos and more. St. John is a most pleasant place with friendly people and sensational scenery. Staying at the villa with my family allowed us to have a terrific shared experience in a place near to paradise. It was our week and we felt like we were regulars instead of tourists. We are looking forward to returning to Florian Villa as soon as possible.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Everything we hoped for and more!

  Everything we hoped for and more!

  • Guest Kristin & Cannon
  • Date of stay 10/11/08
  • Review Submitted 10/17/08
  Florian Villa is paradise! The villa has stunning views of the ocean and surrounding islands and is minutes to all of St. John's unspoiled beaches. St. Thomas lights up at night and the water sparkles by day. From conveniences like beverages and boxed lunches on the beach and provided beach towels to relaxing morning and evening yoga practice that gave us many stress busting techniques to take home, owners Deborah and Scott had every detail covered. It was a true mental AND physical vacation that has something for everyone...singles, couples and groups. Deborah and Scott make you feel like old friends and know all of the "local" beaches so you can truly get a taste of St. John. You can't go wrong with this villa!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest jlhagie
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/19/08
  We stayed at the Florian from 5/24-6/1 of this year. It was an AMAZING villa and week. We were married on the island, had a total of 13 of us there (7 of which stayed at the FLorian), and had Deb and Scott as our hosts for the week. Everything about the villa and the personal service that Deb and Scott provided was OUTSTANDING! I worked with Deb for months on the phone coordinating all the activites, meals, and accomodations, and her input, expertise on the island, and local connections were invaluable! Deb and Scott picked us up at the airport, and it was great to finally meet the exceptional woman who had been SO instrumental in planning my wedding week! I had stumbled upon their website, while looking for some form of an all-inclusive on the island. As it turned out, it was very beneficial to have them there to help guide us to the best beaches, best restraunts, best snorkel spots, best scuba excursions. Then to top it all off, to have an incredible cooked meal (and drinks) waiting for us when we got back to the villa! The villa itself is even more beautiful than the pictures reflect. The view at sunset is breath-taking, the pool is awesome, and the overall atmosphere is just great. I CAN NOT say enough wonderful things about the villa and the owners. Although I realized Deb and Scott were charitably inclined, I didn't realize the magnitude of it until I returned home and read the article in the Boston Globe. My husband and I had decided on our trip that we would return to St. John regularily, but after reading the article, we knew we would stay at the Florian each time. How amazing to have a dream vacation, and to know that in doing so you are helping the family of a fallen firefighter, not just lining the pocket of the owner of the villa. To our dear friends Deb and Scott, thank you for making our wedding week such an amazing experience, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Dave A.
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/16/08
  I stayed at Florian Villa this summer (2008) and I have to say that it is amazing! There are three air conditioned rooms, an amazing pool, SPECTACULAR views, a great deck, and total privacy. What more could you possibly want in a Caribbean vacation? The beaches are all within an easy drive (everything in St. John is within an easy drive). I would definitely advise going early though. We would get to whatever beach we were going to that day at around 8:15AM and have the whole beach to ourselves until 10AM. Not until 11 did it get crowded! We would usually leave by 11:30. Really the way to do it. I can not recommend Florian Villa highly enough. It's not well known (but it will be, I'm sure), so now is the time to get great deals. Enjoy.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest cnapierb
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/15/08
  We took a boatload of kids and a mix of adults to Florian Villa, and we found the place perfect for both communal and independent living. We all appreciated the privacy of the bedrooms (as well as the AC!), and the view from the common areas was spectacular. As the resident cook for our vacation, I was pleased to find a fully-stocked kitchen, with tons of bowls/utensils/pots and SPICES! The kids (and adults) loved the pool, and we had some terrific walks around the area, exploring the plants and animals. The beaches and the town were a short drive away -- just the right mix of privacy and convenience.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest crlclgrv
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/10/08
  The Florian Villa has everything you could possibly want for a relaxing vacation, as relaxing as you want,or as active as you want. St. John is a laid back destination, people are friendly. Bedrooms were comfortable, outdoor showers fabulously luxurious! Pool wonderful (especially late at night) Wildlife (iguanas, goats, birds) cool to watch! Definitely recommend Florian Villa!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/06/08
  I just spent a wonderful and relaxing week at the Florian Villa. It was a great place to stay. It has an amazing pool and everything you could need. I was concerned about not having linens and everything was there for us. From beach towels to sheets. I enjoyed sitting and reading on the beautiful deck as the sunset. Everyone was very helpful and I only wish I could have stayed longer. Love the outside showers(covered of course) Would definitely recommend it. Hope to go back soon!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/05/08
  The Florian Villa is a beautiful and relaxing place to stay on the incredible island of St John. It has everything you need: nice kitchen full of utensils, a barbecue, a nice living room, dining room, beautiful outdoor showers off 2 BRs, nice deck with firepit, incredible pool, and beautiful views! The sunset each night is incredible!! Our stay was amazing and I would not have wanted to have stayed anywhere else on the island! Customer service was always there for us and over if we needed them ASAP! I would recommend this beautiful villa to all my friends and family! You will love it...

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 08/01/08
  • Review Submitted 08/04/08
  Fantastic experience! Artsy, funky and we loved it! The pool was wonderful for our kids. The guestbook was very informative. Amazing beaches and sunsets that painted a different picture each evening. We can't wait to go back!!!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Fantastic family vacation

  Fantastic family vacation

  • Guest Dave A.
  • Date of stay 07/26/08
  • Review Submitted 08/17/08
  I stayed at Florian Villa this summer (2008) and I have to say that it is amazing! There are three air conditioned rooms, an amazing pool, SPECTACULAR views, a great deck, and total privacy. What more could you possibly want in a Caribbean vacation? The beaches are all within an easy drive (everything in St. John is within an easy drive). I would definitely advise going early though. We would get to whatever beach we were going to that day at around 8:15AM and have the whole beach to ourselves until 10AM. Not until 11 did it get crowded! We would usually leave by 11:30. Really the way to do it. I can not recommend Florian Villa highly enough. It's not well known (but it will be, I'm sure), so now is the time to get great deals. Enjoy.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• great for families

  great for families

  • Guest cnapierb
  • Date of stay 07/26/08
  • Review Submitted 08/16/08
  We took a boatload of kids and a mix of adults to Florian Villa, and we found the place perfect for both communal and independent living. We all appreciated the privacy of the bedrooms (as well as the AC!), and the view from the common areas was spectacular. As the resident cook for our vacation, I was pleased to find a fully-stocked kitchen, with tons of bowls/utensils/pots and SPICES! The kids (and adults) loved the pool, and we had some terrific walks around the area, exploring the plants and animals. The beaches and the town were a short drive away -- just the right mix of privacy and convenience.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Amazing Views

  Amazing Views

  • Guest Christine G.
  • Date of stay 07/19/08
  • Review Submitted 08/01/08
  The Florian Villa was truly amazing. We were floored by the beautiful views of the Carribean and St. Thomas from the various sitting areas at the villa as well as the spacious accomodations for our group of 9. The bedrooms were very comfortable with both ceiling fans and air conditioning and the midweek maid service was really appreciated. We all enjoyed the pool in the late afternoon upon our return from the many beaches we visited each day. My favorite beach was Cinnamon Bay with its breathtaking views and spacious beach. We also recommend dinner at Shipwreck Landing in Coral Cove. It is a bit of a drive but well worth it . The food was fabulous! Hiking to Waterlemon Cay to snorkel was a fun adventure too. We appreciated that the owner was so available to answer questions before we arrived and the property was well maintained and clean. We had a great vacation here!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Spectacular Relaxation!

  Spectacular Relaxation!

  • Guest crlclgrv
  • Date of stay 07/05/08
  • Review Submitted 08/11/08
  Spent a week at Florian Villa! Could not have asked for a better vacation. We relaxed, went to the beach, Caneel Bay and Trunk Bay, as well as the Westin. We stayed by the pool one day! Cooked in most of the time, bring food if you are going to stay for a more prolonged visits as it can get pricey. The outdoor shower was the coolest! I would definitely recommend the Florian Villa. There's so much (or so little) to do, depending on what you are there for. Watch for the Florian Villa to be handicapped accessible in the future!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing Villa Experience

  Amazing Villa Experience

  • Guest JessL
  • Date of stay 07/05/08
  • Review Submitted 08/06/08
  The Villa is located up in the "country" which only adds to the wonderful experience you will have when you visit St John! It is beautiful, clean and everything you could dream of a Villa on this beautiful island being. It has everything you need: nice kitchen, big bedrooms, outdoor showers, ac, tv's, dvd/vcr players, barbecue and an incredible pool!! The view from the deck is incredible and watching the sunset is amazing! We had an amazing stay there and I would def. stay there again when I get myself back to St John! The customer service was fabulous! We were met right off the boat and taken to the Villa...If we needed anything we called and they were there for us! There is plenty to do on the island between all the incredible beaches and the shopping! Great place to visit and the Villa is the perfect place to stay!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing villa and owners!!!

  Amazing villa and owners!!!

  • Guest jlhagie
  • Date of stay 05/24/08
  • Review Submitted 08/20/08
  We stayed at the Florian from 5/24-6/1 of this year. It was an AMAZING villa and week. We were married on the island, had a total of 13 of us there (7 of which stayed at the FLorian), and had Deb and Scott as our hosts for the week. Everything about the villa and the personal service that Deb and Scott provided was OUTSTANDING! I worked with Deb for months on the phone coordinating all the activites, meals, and accomodations, and her input, expertise on the island, and local connections were invaluable! Deb and Scott picked us up at the airport, and it was great to finally meet the exceptional woman who had been SO instrumental in planning my wedding week! I had stumbled upon their website, while looking for some form of an all-inclusive on the island. As it turned out, it was very beneficial to have them there to help guide us to the best beaches, best restraunts, best snorkel spots, best scuba excursions. Then to top it all off, to have an incredible cooked meal (and drinks) waiting for us when we got back to the villa! The villa itself is even more beautiful than the pictures reflect. The view at sunset is breat-taking, the pool is awesome, and the overall atmosphere is just great. I CAN NOT say enough wonderful things about the villa and the owners. Although I realized Deb and Scott were charitably inclined, I didn't realize the magnitude of it until I returned home and read the article in the Boston Globe. My husband and I had decided on our trip that we would return to St. John regularily, but after reading the article, we knew we would stay at the Florian each time. How amazing to have a dream vacation, and to know that in doing so you are helping the family of a fallen firefighter, not just lining the pocket of the owner of the villa. To our dear friends Deb and Scott, thank you for making our wedding week such an amazing experience, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 05/01/08
  • Review Submitted 05/26/08
  I just spent an amazing week at a yoga retreat at Florian Villa. It was both restorative and invigorating. Our hosts, Deb and Scott, were gracious and generous, and the participants in the retreat could not have been more cooperative and fun. I deepened my yoga practice, learned a great deal about the magnificent ecosystem of the island, and didn't have to worry about getting around since the owners provide transportation for most activities. The healthy and delicious food and sunset views on the deck were added bonuses. If you plan your next vacation here you won't regret it.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Libby Young_HAC120484
  • Date of stay 01/01/08
  • Review Submitted 01/11/08
  From the minute we arrived at Florian Villa, we were greeted by big smiles and welcomes! Never in all our travels have we been made to feel more assured that our comfort and needs would be met. From the beaches and palm trees to the reefs and tidal pools, what an opportunity to exploe the Island life. The beach was everything we dreamed it would be, a piece of paradise! The days seemed endless, the sights were spectacular with amazing views of the bay. Take a dip in the pool, barbeque with some friends at sunset, or take a moonlight stroll along the beach. We have found no place more relaxing, no acomodations more comfortable and no destination more beguiling than this jewel of villa. We were able to choose from a wide range of water activities from surfing and snorkeling to scuba diving and deep sea fishing. Hiking trails and pathways were available to those of us who wanted to explore the island and wilderness on foot. We can't wait to go back!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/4

• first vacation to St. John US Virgin Islands

  first vacation to St. John US Virgin Islands

  • Guest City Girl
  • Date of stay 11/01/07
  • Review Submitted 02/07/08
  My first vacation to St. John USVI was an excellent one. I stayed at Florian Villa in Rendezvous Bay, St. John. I went on an Adventure Retreat that featured yoga and spa in the morning and outdoor activities in the afternoon mostly considered of hiking in the US National Forest and snorkeling in Trunk Bay. ( We also completed two days of Scuba Diving out of Maho Green Resort which covered ares from Jost Van Dyke to the East End bast Coral Bay to Yawtzi Point where there was wreck believed to be cause by General Electric ). The facility was in a great location right between Coral Bay and Cruz Bay. It was very clean, maintained, however it was not a brand spanking new house, A couple owns the villa so I was a little surprised at how quick and reactive they were to emails and phone calls. I would highly recommend either the retreats to a friend or the villa itself just to rent. There is a draw back to the retreats. There are not many of them in the year so it was very hard to coordinate my schedule with their retreat schedule. Customized retreats filled up quickly however renting the villa didn't seem as big a deal. ( just like very other villa ). The villa is located high in the mountains which means that is not on the Reef Bay Beech but it is on the Reef Bay Trail which is only about a 30 minute walked down to the Reef Bay. I loved the retreat especially snorkeling on the east side of the island and scuba diving by Great Lameshur Bay. Yoga over looking St. Thomas was spectular and although there is much more room at Maho Green Resort, it is usually blocked off for dinner and breakfeast. The food was either catered in or was cooked by the retreat leader. The few times we went out I would say that the restaurants were about 50/50. There were about three really good places to eat and the rest were OK. I also didn't appreciate the roosters, the Iquana, or the wild goats in the middle of the roads. It also takes a little use to the terrain in the jeeps. I do have to say that the best thing about Florian is that is located right in the middle of the North Beaches, Coral Bay, and Cruz Bay so everything is about the same drive. I also really like the villa. The living room, dining, room, and kitchen is wide open and there is a beautiful mountain breeze, not stagnant at all. The rooms are all enclosed and have brand new AC units. The coils managed the bugs just find as we heard that parts of Bordeaux Mountain were buggy.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

• yoga retreats not your typical

  yoga retreats not your typical

  • Guest adventuretraveler
  • Date of stay 11/01/07
  • Review Submitted 02/03/08
  I went on a yoga retreat at Florian Villa on St. John. I was a little skeptical because I was used to going to Canyon Ranch, Kripalu, and other destination yoga retreats such as mexico and costa rico. I was also a little skeptical because the villa isn't just used for villa retreats. It is used for weddings, adventure retreats, and family vacations and this isn't usually the norm for the yoga community. I was pleasantly surprised. The food was catered in and was excellent. We had to drive to get to yoga on the beach which was kind of the norm because there are very few villas on the island that are on the beach ( unless your Kenney Chesney or Maho Green Resorts ). But other than that yoga high ontop of Bordeaux Mountain was great, with a breeze and the villa was secluded. The retreat was well organized and the yoga was surprisingly very good. The high lights of the retreats was the island itself as snorkeling, scuba, hiking, and boating are the best in the Carribbean. Taking a trip to Jost Van Dyke was so much fun and very secluded for a couple of drinks at the Soggy Dollar Bar. Other islands right around Jost and Tortolla were totally secluded and so was the East End of the island of St. John. ( 2/3's US National Forest ). We did go out to eat twice and if there were any knocks on the island and the retreat it was Cruz Bay and the dining out and even though the Westin seemed like a great place to stay, they too didn't have the greatest food. So if you are looking for a small group of people for a retreat or rental I highly recommend Florian Villa. But there are just two of you then I would stay maybe at the Westin or at Caneel Bay or even a cheaper alternative would be Maho Bay. If you are looking for nightlife, St. Thomas would be a better bet. After looking below, it should be known that Florian Villa is also gives away the Villa to Families of Fallen Firefighters and also wounded veterans ( especially Marines ). It is good right now for people with disablilties but the owneers were saying that they were going to make it totally handicap accessible for not just wounded veterans but also for renters. You also absolutely have to rent a car without question and that was hardest thing about staying on St. John was to book the car far in advance. We were on a retreat but after talking with other people, if you are not on a retreat than you must book a car at least a month in advance during the high season. Just some FYI>

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Mike O
  • Date of stay 11/01/07
  • Review Submitted 11/28/07
  The Florian Villa is The Place to experience a tropical adventure. With privacy, luxury, a gorgeous pool, and breathtaking views of The Virgin Islands, you simply will not want to leave the property. But there is so much to do while you’re on the island, especially if you’re there during one of The Florian Villa Retreats, which are all-inclusive vacations. Several times a year Scott and Deb, the villa’s gracious and knowledgeable owners, host all inclusive vacations. They have two kinds- Yoga & Active Sport. I chose the latter, and got to snorkel in glass clear water with thousands of color fish, hike all around the island’s National Park (which is 2/3rds of St. John), and even cruised around the entire island in a power boat. Now you can do all of these activities if you stay in a hotel, but let me say that you’ll miss out on most of it. No matter how much web or book research you do, you’ll never be able to learn how to get around the island like Scott & Deb. They have two brand new SUVs, which are imperative for navigating the steep, narrow roads. And that’s another thing- you could rent a car but I would advise against it. In addition to the roads being steep and narrow, you must also drive on the left. I believe St. John is the only U.S. territory where you must drive on the left. Scott & Deb also take care of all the gear. You do not have to rent anything- they will provide you with snorkeling and hiking equipment and all the little details (such as water and sunblock). You just grab it and go have fun. Now let’s talk food. No matter where you go on the island (supermarket or restaurant), food is very, very expensive on St. John. I ate a few of the nicer restaurants there (such as The Balcony) and none of them even came close to Deb’s cooking. We had meals like marinated chicken and veggies, gourmet burgers, and the best Turkey dinner I’ve ever eaten. And all these meals are included in the retreat! As well as beer and wine! And let me tell you- a cold Corona never tasted better after hiking to the top of Mt. Bordeaux (the highest point on St. John). You could stay at the ultra expensive Westin and not get treated any better. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed The Florian Villa. I urge you to go to their website to find out

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 15/19

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 11/01/07
  • Review Submitted 11/09/07
  We loved the villa. It was great for our large group of people, very private yet close to town and extremely comfortable. The view was fantastic and the open air living room, showers kept nature close. The owners were extremely nice and helpful. I highly reocommend this villa!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 11/15