JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10983
Loc: Northern Virginia
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The strange this is that such a map exists in most municipalities in the form of a tax assessment data base. Put in the address of a house, get the owner's name and sales price, click another link for the satellite view. The only way to avoid is to ask for a redaction, which most people don't do. No such thing on SBH, at least that I've been able to find.
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Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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KevinS
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 3460
Loc: Boston
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Quote:
No such thing on SBH, at least that I've been able to find.
That's because there are no street addresses. Give it time...
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JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10983
Loc: Northern Virginia
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I think all the construction projects have GPS coordinates, so that probably how the database is maintained.
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Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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And, to paraphrase KevinS' wonderful phrase (Villa Promiscuous), I am a Villa Slut, sleeping around the island and rarely laying my head twice in the same place.
While I, like anyone, would love to be able to Googlemap my next villa and know EXACTLY where it is, I must admit that The Surprise Factor of stepping into a new villa is kind of nice. Furthermore, too much info can be misleading. Case in point: We booked DOR for last November. Some folks were put off by the location (across the street from Le Ti) but we bit the bullet (merci to nnoska and others for the recommendation) and stayed there.
The Bomb.
And the location was PERFECT. Indeed, we LOVE that villa.
Our Gut Feeling and some pretty strong recommendations overcame "objective data". Some people recommended passing DOR by as a rental because of the location. That would have been a big mistake.
So, while I would also love the Villa Map Project, I have to admit that there is still a little bit of fun left in The Mystery - "Oh, I didn't know that THIS was the villa from the pix. Way cool".
That's how a Villa Slut sees it.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15952
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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I am not a Villa person as I am not nearly worthy of such extravagances.....but indulge this low rent district pauper for one minute..
what about the people who work their butts off all year and get limited vacation time and their "surprise" when they walk into their villa is nearby construction noise, lack of privacy etc etc......so now its a case of dropping your bags and looking around....knowing you just got a raw deal and the best thing you can say is " oh well, maybe next year we will get what we want and need", while enduring the vacation rather then embellishing it..
there is A LOT to be said for finding a place, via the promiscuous route perhaps, which is exactly what you want, need, and like and sticking with it and knowing EXACTLY how your experience is going to be, at least in terms of your lodging, and knowing for sure beforehand you are going to love it, and not having that apprehension traveling with you.
Your Truly
Mr Monogamous
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Andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12360
Loc: Philadelphia
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BTW- the Google Earth view that everyone is fond of is from 1999.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
BTW- the Google Earth view that everyone is fond of is from 1999.
No wonder you look so young "hanging out" on that pooldeck.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Quote:
there is A LOT to be said for finding a place, via the promiscuous route perhaps, which is exactly what you want, need, and like and sticking with it and knowing EXACTLY how your experience is going to be, at least in terms of your lodging, and knowing for sure beforehand you are going to love it, and not having that apprehension traveling with you.
Your Truly
Mr Monogamous
Well, I dont go on Blind Dates. Get a buddy to fix you up. I use Ellie at Wimco. She hasn't led me wrong yet - a perfect matchmaker so far. As such, I get the benefit of Someone Who Knows as well as the enjoyment of The Mystery.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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(For the record: If I ever do settle down, it will be with BAL if she'll still have me - her dance card is filling fast).
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Petri
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 1350
Loc: Helsinki, Finland
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How about just making simple instructions for villa owners to make their own .kml file for their own villa that can be made available on their own web page and the villa rental agencies web pages?
I checked the location for our last villa using the pictures from the villa's web page, knowledge of the island (view from the villa) and Google Earth.
I think the whole thing is more about security through obscurity, I'm pretty certain every paparazzi or anyone else looking for a specific villa has no trouble getting the information from somewhere.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Petri: You can never stop The Determined Pest. Fortunately, they are not TOO big a problem on St Barths - at least (Oh God, this is Miker bait) not during the off-season.
What you can stop is The Accidental Touristas.
"Wow honey, look at this neato map they handed out on the ferry from St Martin. It shows where all the stars' houses are. You want to take the guided bus tour with the guy shouting over a loudspeaker or just rent a car and go snooping around on our own?"
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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One more point Petri. It is one thing to file "appropriate papers" that list "Maison Dumpyfrump" as a "modest little house with no beach access on a quiet carribean island".
It is quite another if Maison Dumpyfrump is shown in pictures to be a five bedroom beauty with spectacular decking and a view to die for.
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