Vacation Rentals by Owner

A wonderful week in our favorite place.

Guest: Born in Brooklyn (West Hartford, CT)
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/15/12

St. John is among our favorite places in the world. Palm Vista exceeded expectations. The photos are beautiful; the reality is even better. The view is amazing. The villa is beautifully designed and decorated with wonderful details and comfortable, quality furnishings. There was plenty of room for everyone (6 of us) and the place was spotless. The owner was very welcoming and helpful and gave us some good new tips, including information on Francis Bay which was great for swimming and snorkeling. Our favorite restaurant is the Lime Inn and for shopping we love Bamboula in town. We also love Uncle Joe's Barbecue and no trip to St. John is complete for us without at least one giant Margarita at Margarita Phil's. The food there makes an excellent accompaniment to the Margaritas. We're looking forward to a return visit.

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

Perfect in Every Way

Guest: Love to travel (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/05/12 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

What a wonderful vacation we had and in large part the villa was so important to our ability to relax and have the kind of vacation that works for us. Heat and hot sun do not mix will with me but the location of this villa offers beautiful breezes and the views cannot be accurately depicted by a photo. To wake up every morning and sit on the patio with coffeee is pure bliss. To eat dinner on the patio and watch the stars and the moon rise is magical. The villa was exactly as described from the wonderfully comfortable beds, all the media equipment you could wish for, and well stocked kitchen for cooking. Finally, we never used the AC and that is unheard of for us. We only ate out 2 nights as we just loved returning to the villa in the late afternoon, enjoying a drink and watching the sunset. We topped off the night with watching Season 2 of 24. MIke is a wonderful host. He was walways ontop of emails at the front end and stopped by to make sure we were happy but never too intrusive. Can't wait to come back next year!

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

Sunrise and Sunset Views From Beautiful Villa (Family With Small Children)

Guest: JodyM (Falls Church, VA)
Date of Stay: 02/25/12 Review Submitted: 03/04/12

What can I say that hasn't already been said in the previous reviews about the wonderful Palm Vista? We rented both the Palm Vista and the Little Palm Vista. We had 5 adults and 3 children (4, 5.5, and 7.5). My review is of the Palm Vista. - The Rooms: The rooms were beautifully furnished and they look like they could be in Coastal Living Magazine. They were also immaculate; I couldn't get over how clean they were. The breezes in the room are wonderful and the AC and the ceiling fans were perfect. The bedrooms were spacious and the beds were so incredibly comfortable (on the soft side but that is what we like). - Bugs: My friends warned me there were a lot of bugs in STJ, but I saw VERY few bugs and was not bit once. I think we have more bugs here in VA. - The Drive: I was worried about the drive to the villa, but really it was fine. Yes, there are twists and turns, but you see this all over STJ. - Dining/Kitchen: We ate on the terrace most nights and also enjoyed eating breakfast at the indoor bar on the new bar stools. We cooked a lot of meals at the villa and had all the kitchen items and tools we needed. - For Children: I was worried about the safety of the pool and the terrace with my young children, but it was not a problem at all. From the photo it looks like the pool drops off into a cliff, but there are actually flower beds behind the pool and while there is a *small* hill, it was nothing I was concerned about with my children. My husband and I slept in separate bedrooms with our children (which we always do on vacation) and that worked well. The kids swam in the pool everyday. - The Views: As you can tell from the photos, the views are amazing. We had sunrise and sunset views. The water is the most beautiful shade of turquoise blue and the sailboats in the bay were so charming. It's the view that I will miss most. My husband and I were married in the Amalfi Coast and the view reminded of us of our villa views there. - Location: We loved the location of the villa. It was a short drive to Cruz Bay (10 min?) and we found it nice to be a little farther out but we didn't feel too isolated. - Owner: Michael, the owner, was very helpful and friendly. He stopped by several times to check-in on us and was always willing to give us suggestions. We also loved his sweet little dog. All in all, we loved our stay at the Palm Vista and would definitely stay there again on another visit.

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

Great house with amazing views

Guest: DE (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 01/28/12 Review Submitted: 02/05/12

Stayed at the villa for a week in January 2012. Wonderful house, great decor and amazing views. Great location - far enough out of town for privacy and quiet, but close enough to get to beaches and town in a few minutes. Michael, the owner, is terrific and very helpful with restaurant and beach recommendations. Highly recommend.

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

St John

Guest: Colleen (Burlington, CT )
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 08/13/11

We rented this lovely villa during the month of June 2011. We couldn't have been any happier! The setting was beyond beautiful with a gorgeous view and just the right amount of privacy. The owner could not have been more accommodating. He checked up on us a few times to make sure everything met our expectations. The location of the villa was perfect, just far enough away from the city but an easy drive if you want to go out and explore Cruz Bay for dinner or just to have a few drinks. The property abuts the National Park for easy access by car. I would definitely recommend that anyone who rents this villa also rent a 4 wheel drive jeep due to the very windy roads on the island. I would come back to this very spot in a heartbeat!!

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

Ten Days in Paradise

Guest: jim and amy (massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

St. John and Palm Vista were everything we dreamed of..... and more! The villa is impeccably maintained and designed. It was a perfect hideaway for 3 couples with the dream of escaping, beaching, hiking, boating, shopping and dining. To wake to the sun rising over the Virgin Island National Park, dine with the most amazing display of stars off of our verandah, then fall asleep to the distant crash of waves on Fish Bay, was pure heaven. Michael met us immediately off the ferry, escorted us to the villa and provided us with all the information and advice we needed to make it a perfectly relaxing stay. After exploring the island by day, we couldn't wait to climb the hills back to paradise. Sharing cocktails poolside while overlooking the entire southern shoreline is a memory i will hold forever! Can't wait to return!

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

Dream Vacation

Guest: Patrice (MA)
Date of Stay: 05/23/11 Review Submitted: 06/15/11

Palm Vista was everything described on the webpage and more....Most beautiful and relaxing vacation I have every been on. The views from the "dining room" were phenomenal!!! We chose to eat at "home" most nights due to the ease of cooking and the spectacular views. Thanks Michael for the wonderful accommodations!!!

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

A little piece of paradise…

Guest: MissRhea (Colorado Springs, CO)
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 06/15/11

We stayed at Palm Vista early in May and it was a wonderful experience. The home is located outside of the main drag of Cruz Bay (10 min drive.) The location is really nice because you are just far enough away to be outside of hustle and bustle yet still close enough to drive down to all of the main restaurants and bars. Palm Vista is a beautifully decorated, modern home with all the amenities you need. Our group actually cooked breakfast every morning at the home. It has all the dishes and utensils you’ll ever need and Island Mike even provided a small welcome basket with essentials such as coffee, fruit, etc. The rooms are very comfortable and have AC which is very appreciated during hot days. If you rent the whole house as we did the rooms are separated in a way that provides adequate privacy so if you are traveling with friends you’re not getting into each other’s hair which is really nice! The views from the porch are ridiculously beautiful and there’s a shallow pool close by to take a dip in the day to cool down from the heat. Bottom line: if you are looking for a place to relax and unwind and don’t mind renting a car to take out when you need a little adventure, Palm Vista is the place for you!

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

Paradise...

Guest: Marian (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/02/11

Our week at Palm Vista was perfect. The home is beautifully appointed, spotlessly clean, and it's location provides such breathtaking views, it's impossible not to relax and enjoy. But even better than Palm Vista are the beaches, the water, the sunshine. Already looking forward to our next visit....

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

Guest: Jill D. Clarendon Hills
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

From Guest Book: We had a great time! Palm Vista was the pefect place for us. Star gazing at night was one of our highlights. Thanks MIchael, we hope to return one day.

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Close to Heaven

Guest: Doc (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 02/06/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

This was a remarkable vacation house. The view is fantastic. There always seemed to be a warm tropical breeze and at night there were a million stars that seemed to be within reach. The house had a wonderful full kitchen, a relaxing pool and plenty of room to move around. Great for a family or 3 couples. the facilities were clean and comfortable. Highest recommendations!

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

Breath taking views!

Guest: barb r. (cincinnati ohio)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

We stayed at this incredible property with friends in Feb. and were blown away by the breath taking views! The property is at the very top of a mountain that overlooks the ocean and bays. We watched the sunset and rise every day from our balcony, magnificent. The accomadations were excellent, not only very comfortable but spacious and well equipped. Our villa allowed us privacy but had incredible patios to gather with our friends, all with a view of the water. We will definately return to this property in the future. The owner was very easy to work with and helpful!!!!

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

Perfect Place

Guest: Toni (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

This is our second year staying at Palm Vista and it's hard to believe that it was even better than the first. The villa is stylish and comfortable. The kitchen and baths are immaculate and well-equipted. We really enjoyed lounging by the private pool and relaxing on the perfectly situated veranda above Fish Bay. There is plenty of space for a group to gather comfortably. The property is well maintained, including the landscape. Flowers were blooming all around which added to the beauty. I have recommended Palm Vista to couples and families for its great views, casual elegance, location, size and comfort. We plan to return next year.

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

Highly Recommended

Guest: John C. (Cincinnati)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

This is an amazing place! The views are spectacular, the rooms well appointed and the location great for evenings in town. The owner was there during our stay and he is not only very nice but was extremely helpful in recommending fun on the island. There is a great hiking trail from the villa to a secluded beach in the national park. My wife always wants to go new places on our vacations but now she wants to come back here next time because it is so incredible.

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Amazing villa!!

Guest: Georgia Peach (Gainesville, GA)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

What a fantastic vacation! The view from our villa was breathtaking and the villa itself is perfect!! Absolutely gorgeous! I would recommend this villa to anyone. I can't wait to go back!

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

Indescribable

Guest: Reg Harnish
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

(That's all they wrote in the guest book...kind of says it all.)

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Guest: Lori & Justin - Chicago
Date of Stay: 04/08/10 Review Submitted: 04/13/11

From Guest Book: "The view...breathtaking!!! This place is simply "amazing". Absolute serenity. We will be back - St John tops our list. Fabulous Michael. Thank You.

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Your house is just amazing

Guest: William & Amanda Powers
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

"Your house is just amazing! The rooms are so big. We all loved the pool. It was so nice and cool. But the best part was the view! We had the best time in St John and your villa; we hope top come back soon."

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Wonderful time at your villa

Guest: Mark & Colleen Lisch
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

“We had a wonderful time staying at your villa. We really liked the bedroom furniture, where did you buy it? Thank you again”

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Everything was just perfect.

Guest: Mike & Susan Auriemma
Date of Stay: 02/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

Thank you, Mike for sharing your beautiful home with our family! Everything was just perfect. We hope to return another year."

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Villa Exceeds all Expectations

Guest: John Earling, Minnesota
Date of Stay: 02/06/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

“We thoroughly enjoyed Palm Vista. Your villa exceeds all expectations. Property Manager extremely personable and helpful. Thanks again for everything.”

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Loved our week at Palm Vista

Guest: Jean Burke
Date of Stay: 01/22/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

“We loved our week at Palm Vista, and Tyson and Ali are just wonderful. Thanks.

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What an Incredible Place!

Guest: Sheila Bray
Date of Stay: 01/09/10 Review Submitted: 06/08/10

“I wanted to let you know we had a great stay at your home in St. John in January. Your house is beautiful and the view is breathtaking. What an incredible place! Again, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and thank you for everything.”

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Great Views....,

Guest: Doug and Renee (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 11/07/09 Review Submitted: 03/29/10

The location is in a very nice part of St John, great views of the sea facing south, high up on a hill in the breeze. Nighttime views of thunderstorms out on the sea was spectacular. The property itself was setup more like a bed and breakfast than a home with the two bedrooms on the lower level completely separate from the the upper level of the house. While the upper level was very nice with a beautiful porch, the lower level bedrooms had a bit of a musty smell to them as the rooms were cut into the hill and were very damp. To control the moisture, the owner had dehumidifers running which were very noisy. Running the AC was a bit of a help, but then you missed out on the ocean breezes. With the higher price of this rental, that was disappointing. Also disappointing was the way the owner handled the return of the security deposit, waiting almost 3 weeks before contacting us that a portion of the security deposit was not to be returned to cover damage to a window lock. There was no check out procedure and the house was just left open upon our departure as instructed. The whole process felt a bit shady, which is too bad. For the price, we would recommend other properties in the area.

Owner response:This was my first guest back in 2009. Unfortunately, I discovered that a few pieces of furniture acquired mold in shipment and have since been replaced; eliminating the "bit of a musty smell". The dehimidifiers have been removed as they are no longer needed. The villa now has a formal check out procedure and the property manager notifies of any damage immediately after a guest's stay. FYI the guest was charged a very nominal fee out of the deposit to obtain parts and repair what he broke. The Villa design is very typical on St John as it affords each bedroom the same wonderful views. I am happy to report that I have had no complaints (or damage) since this first guest and everyone has been very positive in their comments in the guest book. I would be happy to provide guest references for anyone. I am interested in assuring that guests have a 100% enjoyable stay and am proud that everyone since the first guest has had a wonderful experience art Palm Vista and invite you to experience this wonderful paradise for yourself.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway