wickhamlane
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 1377
Loc: pittsburgh
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Villa Canopee says no children because it is multi -level ,many stairs, dangerous for children and adults with impaired balance.I've seen it.It's lovely, private, uniquely furnshed and chic.The big problem is that there is no sun on the pool.Villa Caribbean Breeze has a lovely sunny pool and tha area is really not windy.(Anse de Cayes/Lezards).If you can do without a pool, there are reasonable villas available on St. Jean Beach.We stayed in SIB EGR in December and were very comfortable.Walking distance to shops and restaurants,too.
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Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
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Just speaking for my own travels...SBH is unique in that the villas are managed by just a few companies or individuals and they have a high degree of efficiency and renter expectation, as well as a reputation to uphold. The island depends these days on visitors.
When I travel to the Metropole or other countries and look for a place to stay, it usually is a hotel in a quiet area outside of the city, or a quiet area in Paris...whereas in SBH these days, a villa really gives me the island feeling...I have thought about "why the difference?" between SBH and other places, and the only reason I keep coming back to is the quality and rep of the villas in SBH...and the management that provides good housekeeping and upkeep, as well as other "hotel" style accomodations or benefits in some "cases"....
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Indeed Lauren. Having conducted The Great Villa Versus Hotel Debate in days gone by, I agree that the reason we so like villas on St Barts is that they have many of the advantages of hotels while still being villas. Look at what you get in a St Barts villa that is not universal in villas elsewhere:
1. Maid service 5 - 6 days a week
2. 24 Hour emergency and maintainance services
3. All the "Room Service" you could possibly ever want in the way of chefs, masseuses, etc.
Villas on St Barts are like detached hotel suites. All the space and privacy without sacrificing much in the way of service.
Suite!
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TPunch42
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 174
Loc: San Diego, CA
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Quote:
there is sommething to be said for knowing where you are staying, loving where you are staying, and not having to streess about where you are staying......its all good...its all very predictable ( in a good way )....
My problem with this one is my deal usually disappears each year. We have loved 2 places we have stayed enough to return year after year. One place went off the market for renting. The other put in a pool which is right outside the living room and not safe for our non swimming little one. When they both can swim I hope to find a place with that level of predictablity.
I will say though. There is part of me that loves the hunt so much I hope to never give it up. It is fun to see what you will get each time for the $$. Like it has already been said the best part of the villa life is the hotel like service with the privacy of your own pad.
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Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
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Yes, change is the only constant, but when one finally discovers Nirvana...nothing is better...there is a very comfortable feeling in returning to a place that one loves or cherishes very much...and the familiarity does not breed contempt as in certain human endeavors...I love knowing that the hotel I stay in is still there, no change, providing me with quiet enjoyment of the premises...and also knowing the places to eat, shop, the location of the car rental, the marché, the airport concerns, the twists and turns...it is the same anywhere I travel...once I have visited a certain number of times AND found what I needed, it becomes enjoyable in a way that accumulates all the positivity in one big ball and plops it down...ahhhhh, the long stretch of ocean beach with high dunes, almost no one on the beach for miles, the pine trees backing the sand for several blocks, the local restos and bakeries, the little place that serves as a wine cave, media outlet and art store, the place that sells the best almond Financiers...the winner of the boulangerie quest with the best bread for the morning...the best route to take to the beach, the choice of the beaches that were whittled down to three from thirty...ahhhh yes, should we go toward that little resto in Cadillac next to the Château or stop after the beach in that little town with the terrassed resto....which glacier should we frequent? Is that really a truck with a wood oven for pizza right inside? Which place of all of these has the best oysters? Are there only two seatings for that cute place overlooking the bay?.....ahhh yes.....
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JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10983
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Lauren,
I shall quote you word-for-word, when the next troll asks me "Why do you always go back to that island every year?"
--------------------
Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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TJMatt
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 34
Loc: Troy, NY
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Quote:
Perhaps St Barths, which was not known originally as a Family Budget Island, is now in the process of conversion to a Family/Children's Island...kind of like what Vegas tried to do recently...but without the gambling and high rises...most people visiting in the past from the U.S. used to go to St Barths for honeymoons/get away from the job/kids/house for a week, relax in the quietude of the island beaches or restaurants....from the multiple postings and many new people on this site, it indicates a change in my eyes, many families bringing the children to the island.... Quote:
I am coming to this thread somewhat late I realize but do not think that there is a risk of SBH being overrun with families visiting with smaller kids. As the father of three of them myself I certainly hope not! While I love them unconditionally, and sometimes that is the only way to love them, that is not to say that my wife and I do not need a break from them and the opportunity to gain back our perspective as to how lucky we are to have them. Also, I think that Vegas has clearly given up on the idea that it is a family place as evidenced by their "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" campaign. I think that they realized just because you say it doesn't necessarily make it so! While I would love for the kids to see SBH let them do it on their dime so I don't have to run the risk of "I'm bored" "What are we doing today" etc. That is why SBH in March, Disney in November!
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x2bate
Reged: 02/15/06
Posts: 26
Loc: middle tn
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OK, I've been lurking on this board long enough. Gotta get in on this one. This is one of the better threads I've seen since the "where to buy swimsuits" line last month.
Agree with TJ. A little time away from the kids is good for both. Therefore, when the kids go to camp in June, mom and I will try SBH for the first time. Like TPunch, I go nuts trying to figure out where is the best place to stay. The planning is almost as fun as the trip itself (I said almost!!) I've been through a million sites on SBH trying to get a feel for each area of the island. Having never been there, I'm almost to the point of paralysis. Something IV said caught my eye.
Quote:
Some of us Villa Snobs have certain areas we prefer over others. And the market reflects that
I think we've decided on Royal Palm. Up high, gotta view, private(?), internet (only way to keep in touch with camp critters), pool. However, I've noticed that many of the places in Vitet, while nice, seem priced a little lower than others. Is this the market reflection you speak of? If so, is Vitet considered hard to access? (I read about the steep hill) Is it too far away from everything for most to tolerate? Am I halucinating??
Go ahead, if you know of something better, make my day! I promise to buy drinks at the Hideaway (if I can find it!!)
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