Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1681
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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Last March we rented a villa for two weeks for our most recent trip. It was located in the hills of St. Jean. When we arrived, we were very pleasantly surprised by the entrance, the size of the villa, and the furnishings. The view was spectacular! As with all of the villas we have rented, the pics didn't do it justice. In the following days, were also very happy to learn that everything in the villa was in working order and as advertised......villa was clean and comfortable, water so hot it could scald if we weren't careful, AC worked perfectly, internet would come and go but with a little patience it mostly worked fine. But that first day as we walked down the steps to the very unsightly pool deck , we could see major construction going on below us next door (thinking back this was most likely the reason that the pool deck had been let go to the dogs entirely...not a flower or flower pot in site, broken furniture and umbrella, mildew stained chair pads that didn't match, just extremely uninviting). So, next door we noticed there was a large, expansive villa being constructed and it was so close we could almost reach out and touch it. Since we arrived late on a Friday afternoon, I do not remember there being much noise that first day and it stayed the same throughout the weekend, only a little bit of hammering on Saturday. However Monday morning we awoke at 7:00 am to bulldozers, saws, hammering, drilling and it was this way for the entire two weeks (except for Sunday). It didn't seem these construction workers were on island time.....they really made some progress in the time we were there! We could barely carry on a conversation in the living room it was so loud. And forget about sittting out on the pool deck and listening to music or relaxing while reading. One of the few days we did try to sit by the pool, my husband looked up to see a construction worker standing on the roof of the villa catching a peek. Larry made a loud comment and the gawker quickly disappeared (we actually laughed about his later as we tried to keep our sense of humor about us). Anyway, we visited the rental company 3 times and requested to be moved. The agent even came and visited and agreed that the noise was unbearable. However, this being high season, all they had to offer us was a villa over twice the price and when we asked about a discount for our troubles, the agent just shook her head and said non. The agent did tell us she was going to contact our villa owner and request a discount on our villa, but we never heard back and we decided we weren't going to invest any further time in dilly dallying around with it. We don't feel it was handled properly at all but we decided we weren't going to ruin our vacation over it. Instead we visited friends' villas and the beaches way more (as we had in the past when we stayed at hotels). So, this is just a word of warning.......ALWAYS ASK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION WHEN RENTING A VILLA. We will be sure to next time! (If anyone wants the name of the villa and/or villa rental company, pm me)
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rob
Reged: 05/07/03
Posts: 354
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What a nightmare!
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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and for that you paid how much????
there is a lot to be said for staying with the tried and true be it a villa, hotel, or whatever....especially given the enormous amount of construction transpiring on an island which is seemingly in a significant growth spurt of late where investors are trying to quickly get their slice of the pie......
sorry to hear that Cheri.....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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GayleR
Reged: 11/18/02
Posts: 1200
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Very wise words of warning. Our December experience was much the same and a whole lot more. Don't even get me started.
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Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1681
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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Quote:
and for that you paid how much????
there is a lot to be said for staying with the tried and true be it a villa, hotel, or whatever....especially given the enormous amount of construction transpiring on an island which is seemingly in a significant growth spurt of late where investors are trying to quickly get their slice of the pie......
sorry to hear that Cheri.....
We're still looking for that "tried and true" villa.
Gayle, that's a shame, believe me I know!
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GayleR
Reged: 11/18/02
Posts: 1200
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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"Tried and true" is irrelevant. The villa may be the best and meet or even exceed all of one's requirements, but the surrounding environment may change with the onset of construction. It's about due diligence whether with an owner or an agency, before you book every trip.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Quote:
"Tried and true" is irrelevant. The villa may be the best and meet or even exceed all of one's requirements, but the surrounding environment may change with the onset of construction. It's about due diligence whether with an owner or an agency, before you book every trip.
to a point that is true...but as demand for villas ramp up and construction tries to keep up.....to expect perfect honesty from the majority of people who are paid to book villas.....well.......I'll believe that when I see it...the age of innocence for St Barts is slowly evolving in a yet to be determined environment in regards to this sort of thing......I know if I had a couple of mil invested in a villa for rental purposes and suddenly there was construction all around it....I would not go out of my way to give full disclosure
but yes due diligence will certainly maximize your chances for a satisfying experience
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Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1681
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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But if you ask about it in advance and they outright lie to you......the course of action may be a little bit different.
Another thing that was laughable....the first day we arrived and saw the construction, we remarked about it to the agent that showed us to the villa. She assured us the agency would contact the next door owner and have the construction stopped. Another agent told us this as well. What a joke...we knew that wasn't going to happen. It was just lip service.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Cheri: That is a total bummer.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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yeah Cheri...lip service for sure....I can tell you this....having lived in resorts for most of my life what you are complaining about is the number one complaint everywhere else....
we see it and hear about it here and in New England all the time
" ski in and ski out lodging "....uh....yup....in Feb/March when the base finally gets deep enough to facilitate that...its true...but it aint happening in December....or Chrstmas week.....
"magnificent views to the west to enjoy those Rocky Mountain sunsets"....uh.....yup......from the only two windows which happen to face west...one being in the bathroom and one in the secondary bedroom.....so technically it is not a lie.
"spectatcular view of Provincetown Harbor from your unit"......yup....again.....if you happen to be a guy, who is in the bathroom and standing up to pee looking at that window....there you go....enjoy the view!
and on and on.......we hear about it all the time in our shops...St Barts is just catching up to its peers perhaps....a by product of its Americanization that it appears to want
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DAL
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Easton, Ct
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I feel your pain! We had a similar situation 2 years ago
including the workers gwaking down on us and the agent telling us the work will stop until we leave, which it did not. I blame the rental agency for not telling you in advance and changing your villa. You should post the name of the villa and the agency so anyone else planning to stay there will be aware and may be able to change their villa in advance, or atleast embarrass the agency/agent into being more honest in the future.
Just my opinion!
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Diane
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Maureenm
Reged: 03/19/03
Posts: 185
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I also think you should post the name of the villa and agency. When this happened to us a few years back, SIBARTh showed us a few different villas and moved us to a much more expensive one for the same price.. and that's what your agency should have done also.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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exposing them is the only way you will see the change you are looking to see
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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MichaelYYZ
Reged: 12/04/04
Posts: 7
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Exact same thing happened to me in high-season February a few years back, and I was moved to a much larger and spectacular place at no extra charge. Plus, the original villa owner offered me a steep discount for my next stay. The trick is to try to resolve with the island agency office first and if not satisfied call the agency head office in the US. They all know you are spending a lot of money to be there and expect to hear if things are not to your liking. Many people complain over a lot less; you're complaint was and is totally valid.
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Larry
Reged: 11/19/02
Posts: 107
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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I'm Cheri's better half. We're torn on whether to post the names of the rental agency, on-island rep and villa because they all advertise on this site. We have great respect for Bob and Kara and everything they have done for this community. Out of deference to them, we are not naming names here. We are pursuing the matter with the rental agency and we will be pleased to disclose the names to anyone interested via a pm.
Hope you understand. (Notwithstanding all of this, we had an absolutely fabulous trip!)
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12063
Loc: Philadelphia
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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GayleR
Reged: 11/18/02
Posts: 1200
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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I think this board is a great place to share info and help each other. I totally respect Larry and Cheri's position. Circumstances and conditions change, agency attitudes change, villa owners change. I am always happy to provide a very detailed, and what I believe to be balanced account of any villa or restaurant experience. But I have learned it's better to be careful what's made public. Ater all, no one wants to get into a public pissing contest, except maybe...ok, never mind...you know who you are...;-). Want details? PM me.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
Memo to Da Boys:
We love you guys. We really do.
But put CHERI in front for pictures.
Merci.
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WishIWereThere
Reged: 11/04/04
Posts: 267
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We had a similar experience our last trip 11/05... Fortunately we were moved after much insistence on our part and at no cost to us, except for the hassle.
This is exactly why we chose to pay by CC for our trip in May and virtually interrogated the rental agency about noise and construction. At least there is a little bit more recourse if necessary.
You were good people to be able to get past the issue. I don't know if I could have.
These are links to our dawn to dusk noise if anyone's interested. Please forgive the video, we were just interested in the audio.
Villa Noise 1
More Villa Noise
Edited by WishIWereThere (02/21/07 02:35 PM)
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Two thoughts here:
1. Settle down and get married: Find a great villa like La Baleine and never go anywhere else. If I ever grow up (dont laugh, it COULD happen), and La Baleine will still have me, that is exactly what I will do.
or
2. If you are Villa Promiscuous then DONT GO ON BLIND DATES. If you are going to speculate on the rental market and be a Villa Slut like me, practice Safe Specs. Find a matchmaker at one of the agencies, whichever agency you prefer, and spend some time with them on the phone and by email. Tell them upfront you are a Repeat Offender who goes to St Barths at least once a year. Tell them what your preferences are and that you want to deal with exclusively one rep EVERY time so long as things go well. Reps are going to try hard to make you happy in the first place. But if you are a Repeat Offender, you are money in the bank so long as you are happy.
Bonne chance.
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Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1681
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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Quote:
Villa Noise 1
More Villa Noise
Thanks for the memories!!
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SELES
Reged: 03/15/03
Posts: 1826
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Cheri ( and all ),
I would pursue this diligently through the Rental Company or Property Manager with haste, and if no satisfaction within 21 days, I would then obtain the Owners Name/Addres, etc. and pursue them directly. There is strength in this website, or at least in the numbers here on this website. I own Property Mgt. Companies & have owned property on SBH...this needs specific and timely attention now. Action not reaction. Please pursue diligently, and if necessary PM me and I can point you in some On Island Legal direction...none of us who love SBH can afford to 'let this go'.
Thanks.
ric
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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I too respect anyones wishes to handle this as they see fit...however..at the risk of repeating myself again...
30 years living in a resort community has taught me that only people who make public noise, and a lot of public noise at that, get the bad restauant, bad villa, bad retail shop...bad whatever...to change for the better - or go out of business.....
there is a forum out there which reviews the resort(s) I do business in and it includes retail shops, restaurants....everything......knock wood, most of what I read about my shops is very good.....but I do appreciate it very much when I occassionally read a bad review, particulaly if it is in regards to customer service....I can't fix it if I dont know about it and I certainly am not going to hear it from the employee.....so I see public reviews, good or bad, as a way of not only keeping a resort on its toes and in tune with guests feelings and perceptions, but also as a way of culling out the incompetent
and would someone please tell BillK to button up his shirt...he isnt 18 anymore....LOL
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
and would someone please tell BillK to button up his shirt...he isnt 18 anymore....LOL
Philistine. When you look that mahvelous in white pants, and doesn't he though, then, bien sur, you dont button your shirt.
You're just jealous.
I know I am.
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Cheri
Reged: 10/13/02
Posts: 1681
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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[quote
and would someone please tell BillK to button up his shirt...he isnt 18 anymore....LOL
Speak for yourself...I think all the ladies will agree that Bill was looking mighty fine! Hey, he even gave my husband a few fashion tips ....more power to him! ;-))
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Cheri: You have to cut Curmudgeonmiker a little slack. We're all here working like rented mules and BillK is probably popping his second bottle in the gazebo at La Baleine or on his way to the resto. So Miker is just jealous.
Aren't we all?
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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If I can't be Tim in my next life, I want to be BillK.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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oh come on now..Im only poking fun at the ol man ..... its all good......he can Miami Vice out all he wants...it fits him well
and speaking of speaking for yourself....speak for yourself being jealous...there is no place in the world I would rather be then in all this powder this week....LOL
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
and speaking of speaking for yourself....speak for yourself being jealous...there is no place in the world I would rather be then in all this powder this week....LOL
That might have sounded appealing to me before my Alaska Days.
I can't go toe to toe with you fellows on conversations about growing up overseas or living in the inner city or walking seven miles up hill both ways in a hundred degree heat and blowing snow.
But if you boys want to talk Winter, I can take you out.
LOL.
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GayleR
Reged: 11/18/02
Posts: 1200
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Quote:
Cheri ( and all ),
I would pursue this diligently through the Rental Company or Property Manager with haste, and if no satisfaction within 21 days, I would then obtain the Owners Name/Addres, etc. and pursue them directly. There is strength in this website, or at least in the numbers here on this website. I own Property Mgt. Companies & have owned property on SBH...this needs specific and timely attention now. Action not reaction. Please pursue diligently, and if necessary PM me and I can point you in some On Island Legal direction...none of us who love SBH can afford to 'let this go'.
Thanks.
ric
In our most recent case we did locate the owners and despite our 17 day visit in prime December, they made it clear they couldn't have cared less about any of our complaints, which went beyond the adjacent jackhammering from 7:00 a.m. until dusk. I won't hesitate to share with anyone privately so they can make their own decision about who to deal with and what villas to consider renting. Some owners don't care about their reputations or repeat guests or goodwill. And in some cases circumstances are beyond the agency's control, especially if the owner doesn't care.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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screw Alaska..thats just for crazies...although I woudnt mind the salmon fishing...here we get powder AND warm temps with blue skies....heaven on earth mon ami
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
screw Alaska..thats just for crazies...although I woudnt mind the salmon fishing...here we get powder AND warm temps with blue skies....heaven on earth mon ami
If you cant shoot bassetball in your driveway in shorts in february, it aint heaven on earth, mon ami.
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BillK
Reged: 10/02/02
Posts: 1376
Loc: Aurora (Toronto) Canada
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A no from MikeR a yes from Cheri, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that's a hard one.
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BillK
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
A no from MikeR a yes from Cheri, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that's a hard one.
No doubt about it. In all things, it pays to know your Target Audience.
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12063
Loc: Philadelphia
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Post deleted by andynap
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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