Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Perfect Family Vacation!

Guest: Steve (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/19/12

What a wonderful place for our family so celebrate the Christmas holiday! Our party of 10 consisted of 5 kids, 4 parents and a grandmother. We used both the main house and the beach house giving us plenty of space to spread out. The rooms are huge, the views are sensational, and the house and kitchen had all the ammenities we could ask for. There was a constant breeze blowing through the open windows making it very comfortable and relaxing. This property is very private, but also very convieniently located. It sits between two gorgeous beaches allowing a short walk to either the quiet Smith-Bay Beach on one side, or the more popular Sapphire Beach on the other side where we went para-sailing and jet skiing. It's also just a few minutes away from restaurants, groceries and the ferry in Red Hook. I couldn't imagine a better location. Our week went by way too fast and we'd love to come back for a longer stay at Villa Maitland! Thank you for a fantastic vacation!

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Unforgettable Stay at Villa Maitland!

Guest: Stacy (Arizona)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

Our group of 10 stayed at beautiful Villa Maitland from Sep 11-18, 2011. A bit delayed from TS Maria, we were so happy that we had the provisioning services of Susan and caretaker Johnny to meet us upon arrival! That started our stay perfectly, we had all we needed and didn’t have to do a thing after our long travel day. The pictures do not do the property justice, the house is so large and gorgeous! We had so much space for our group, it was so great to be able to spread out and enjoy ourselves. The pool is shallow enough for kids and adults to enjoy (our group was all adults). There were basically 2 bathrooms for every room! It was beautiful to sit on the pool deck and watch the boats go by and enjoy the day. Red Hook is nearby and so easy to catch the car ferry to go to St. John to explore. The drive from St. Thomas is relatively easy, even more so once you get a lay of the land. Staying at the Villa just made our trip so much easier - 100% better than any hotel/condo that you could book. The comfort of your own private home and pool with the most phenomenal view you could ask for, close to so many beaches and amenities. A huge thanks to Johnny and Susan for their hospitality, and THANK YOU so much Davies/Maitland family for sharing your home with us!

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

good times..come on in!

Guest: johnny (north carolina)
Date of Stay: 07/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/11/11

we had a great time at this house! we had stayed at hotels in the past and the house made this trip far better for our 8 person group(6 kids).a great deal for the money, the pool,game room,snorkling out front,views and location made this trip special.this house is very open and roomy inside.the decor takes you back in time and is relaxing to the mind.its not brand new..but just what we needed! the owners and the caretaker where very helpful to our needs..so like I said "come on in!"

Owner response:Thank you very much for the lovely review! We are glad to hear your group had a great time - it is a fantastic and relaxing house -- very open and comfortable. "come on in" is a wonderful way to put it! please think of us for your next St Thomas get away ... all best, The Maitland Family

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

SO Beautiful!

Guest: Jenna (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 03/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

Hoping to get a complete change of scenery from snowy Chicago, my husband, my sister and brother-in-law and our 6 kids booked a stay at Villa Maitland. We've been to St. Thomas many times before, but never have we seen it like this! The property's stunning beauty, location, and shear spaciousness totally transformed our vacation. Usually we stay at a condo or a couple of hotel rooms but Villa Maitland made our trip so much more memorable because we could all be together as little or as much as we wanted! Even within the property itself there are so many great lounge areas to talk or read or watch tv or just watch the waves and sailboats pass by. The kids stayed in the cottage and we grown-ups enjoyed the ability to have late night games of pool out by the ocean (and our privacy!). It was amazing to be able to watch the sunrise from our bedroom window and see the sun set from the pier. The house is well-appointed and had all the supplies we needed to feel at home. There are a lot of grocery options near-by in Red Hook so it was easy to get everything we needed for our trip. We had great weather and pretty calm waters which always helps! Being so close to Smith Bay beach was so nice! It is much less crowded than Megan's Bay and really beautiful. The kids could kayak there from the house and snorkel in the clear blue waters while we drove and brought a pic-nic. My sister forgot her sunglasses but since we were so close the boys ran back to get them and were back in 10 minutes. St. John is also really easy to get to from the house. Just a quick ride up the road and we were in Cruz bay within the hour. I am almost hesitant to post this review because I don't want this place to be discovered! We are already planning our next trip back to Villa Maitland! Thanks, Johnny and Maitland family! - The McKenney's & Kaplan Clan

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Thom V.
Date of Stay: 02/12/11 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

This was the perfect spot for a family vacation. We needed to escape the bad weather in the East Coast, so decided to book a last minute vacation in the Caribbean -- we're so glad that the property was available! It was a perfect way to spend quality time together without having to always go out to restaurants (we stayed in every night); we watched movies and played games in the evenings, after having explored the island or just spending the day exploring the property. Thank you for a wonderful vacation!

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Guest: Andrew S.
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

We stayed in villa maitland for a week with a bunch of friends. there were 14 of us and we thought it was the perfect amount of space, no one was on top of each other and we had plenty of bathrooms to go around. We had a great time- used the kayak to explore the surrounding waters and had a private chef come to the house one night for an amazing celebratory dinner. The privacy, space and views were our favorite features- we barely left the whole time except to go grocery shopping!! we hope to get a chance to come back!

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Guest: Leslie A.
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

From the first moment we walked into Villa Maitland, we felt at home --- warm, comfortable and relaxed. The owners left a lovely welcome basket for us with some snacks and drinks; we really appreciated that. There were some fresh flowers in the living room (that we replenished during our stay from the lovely flowering plants in the garden), that really set the mood for a tropical welcome. The home is not only decorated beautifully with some antiques and beautiful artwork, but also had ample space for a large group to gather. I'm an early riser, so my favorite time was sunrise, watching the sky turn from dark to deep oranges and pinks from behind St. John; our favorite spot was on the beach, with some of us in the tiki hut, some on loungers and one or two of us on the hammock in the shade of the beautiful palm trees. We had a great time and we'll be back!

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Guest: Jim C.
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

What a beautiful house! We have been to st thomas a few times, but this is the first time we discovered this part of the island. We love red hook and its cool shops, restaurants and fun bars- we went to st john for a day too, which was much quicker and easier than I expected- the ferry is literally 5 minutes from the house. We did have a plumbing issue in one of the bathrooms in the guest house, but the nice caretaker quickly came to our rescue and fixed the clog. There is only air conditioning in the bedrooms- so that was a draw back for some people who had to stay on sofa beds in the living areas but the breeze made it ok. Overall we had a really good time and we love the location!

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Great Times

Guest: Passin' Through (Butler, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 10/26/11

Wow, had a great time. Really enjoyed the stay, accomodations (14 of us from infant to 65), and hospitality of Johnny! We have stayed all over the island and this stay on the east end was the easiest and most convenient (everything you might need is right around the corner in Red Hook). we loved the house and its seclusion. Snorkling was easy and fabulous. The breeze coming down Drake's Passage and between St John and Cabe's Point was very pleasant. We enjoyed it so much that we are planning a total of three weeks naxt time.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Amanda M.
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

My girlfriends and I had an amazing time in St. Thomas and at Villa Maitland. We just wish we had more time to enjoy it (one week is not enough!). We spent a day shopping in downtown Charlotte Amalie, a day in St. John, we swam, snorkeled (one day we saw turtles and puffer fish!) and, kayaked to Smith Bay and Sapphire beach, ate (loved Duffy's Love Shack and Molly Malones in Red Hook), slept, read, watched TV, made really good meals on the grill and enjoyed some tropical drinks we concocted! The property was really large and had a lot of cool little features than even described in the listing. Even before we left, we began planning our next trip back and hope to stay at the same property.

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Guest: Lauren L.
Date of Stay: 05/20/10 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

We went to Villa Maitland over Easter.. Be prepared when you open the front door of the Villa and be stunned by the breathtaking views. If it wasn't too windy, we just slid back the sliders and it gave us limitless views of the water and the islands close by. It was also fun to watch the para-sailers (?) and other pleasure boats pass by. The house itself was perfect for us, the grown-ups stayed in the main house and the kids (teenagers) stayed in the cottage. The main house is more carribbean colonial/classical in decor and the cottage a bit younger and funkier -- all in all a perfect stay!

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Caution

Guest: worldtravel (USA)
Date of Stay: 12/19/09 Review Submitted: 05/10/10

There may have been a time when this property was like that in the description, but like many grande dams of yesteryear it has fallen in ill repair. Although, there have been some renovations on the cottage and a room or 2 in the main house, overall it is worn and weathered, with certainly safety concerns in some area's. The lack of upkeep and filthy, worn furniture made it impossible to feel relaxed or comfortable in the house. The pool deck, pier, and tiny sand area were ill-kept, and the exterior of the house in need of repair and paint. The kitchen in the main house, was poorly equipped for cooking meals, and the cottage kitchen impractical due to lack of dishes, cookware and basic appliances. Air conditioner's were in bedrooms only, and several worked intermittent. This property is better considered, if its renovated and upgraded for parties with 8 or fewer adults accommodated by the bedrooms, and 6-8 children accommodated on the various pullout couches. But be cautioned this property description isn't accurate. . . The owner/manager were very helpful with answering questions and concerns, which made me quite surprised when we arrived and found such an ill-suited house. The water nearby is gorgeous, but in my opinion is a relied upon asset to soften the disappointment of the many issues of the grounds and property itself. I cannot recommend this property to a friend or relative.

Owner response:We are sorry that the guests were disappointed, but we worked with them during their stay and our caretaker reported that they had a good time, and that despite some of their issues, they were pleased overall and promised not write a negative review. Nevertheless, the group posted the review 5 months after their stay (during which time, most of their comments were addressed). It was a very large group of 22 (we have since decided not to rent it to such large groups, even though the house can accommodate that number). For instance, they complained that the kitchen did not have enough matching china, though the caterer found plenty of dishware by using both the main kitchen and the cottage kitchen supplies. Nevertheless, we subsequently purchased 3 sets of matching dinnerware for 8, and a microwave for the cottage, so there should be no further issues there. There are air conditioners only in the bedrooms (as the website indicates). During the group's stay, they also complained about mosquitoes and hermit crabs outside. It's the tropics, and perhaps St. Thomas was just not for them! Incidentally, since their stay, we have purchased new bedding and furniture for bedrooms in the cottage and main house. There is nothing inaccurate in the description on the website -- no staged photos; as a matter of fact we took all of the photos ourselves with a simple automatic digital camera. Even the flowers in some of the pictures are from the garden-- no professional photographers, lenses, or stagers were involved! The pool deck and beach are in good shape. We had the whole pool redone 3 years ago. There is a long concrete pier out into the ocean that has some cracks from the last hurricane, but as long as people are careful, as they would need to be walking on any pier, there should be no safety issues . The entire exterior is being painted and completely refinished in March, 2011. If guests are looking for a brand new villa with granite counters, infinity pools and cookie-cutter amenities, Villa Maitland is probably not the best choice, but the reviewer is right about one thing: Villa Maitland it is a grande dame with all that entails – some wrinkles and creaks (any building directly on the ocean suffers aging!) but also a spacious, one-of-a-kind, gracious home, full of special touches and undeniable charm with sweeping ocean views, beautiful mature gardens, and a lovely, private beach.

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