Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
I wasn't 22 five years ago. Nor have I ever visitted Fire Island.
|
islander
Reged: 05/13/05
Posts: 198
Loc: St.Barths & St.Tropez
|
|
So it is true, Big Brother is watching...
As long as you don't display the name of the owner on the roof of each house, it's a great idea! (especially interesting for the IRS when you know that half of the rental villas belong to North Americans)
The question is about privacy: not so sure that people want the whole world to know where they're staying...
It's certainly usefull to plan a trip!
--------------------
Only happy at 41,000 feet
|
AandM
Reged: 01/31/05
Posts: 70
Loc: Channel Isles (near France)
|
|
We agree - a great idea and very helpfull for choosing your next villa !!
|
Andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12360
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
Quote:
We agree - a great idea and very helpfull for choosing your next villa !!
Many objections from villa owners about privacy, squelched this project.
--------------------
Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
|
Skeeter
Reged: 12/20/06
Posts: 1198
Loc: Chicago, IL
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
We agree - a great idea and very helpfull for choosing your next villa !!
Many objections from villa owners about privacy, squelched this project.
Can somebody explain the privacy argument to me?
These people are marketing villas. How can you market property and not be upfront on where exactly that property is?
Moreover, this whole idea of "Hey, looks like Mike is going to be there Thursday due to his posts. Let's not rob it now. Let's rob it THEN" seems ridiculous.
As somebody looking to rent a villa, I might be inclined to rule out any property where the owner refuses to participate in this. Won't tell me exactly where the property is that I am spending $5,000 a week for? Fine, I will find another owner who is proud of the location of the property.
The entire discussion here makes me more inclined to forget the idea of renting a villa and instead just to stay at IDF or Guanahani. With those places, I may pay a few dollars more, but I know what I am getting.
--------------------
Will Travel For Food (But not to Chicago's suburbs -- we do have limits)
|
Andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12360
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
We agree - a great idea and very helpfull for choosing your next villa !!
Many objections from villa owners about privacy, squelched this project.
Can somebody explain the privacy argument to me?
These people are marketing villas. How can you market property and not be upfront on where exactly that property is?
Moreover, this whole idea of "Hey, looks like Mike is going to be there Thursday due to his posts. Let's not rob it now. Let's rob it THEN" seems ridiculous.
As somebody looking to rent a villa, I might be inclined to rule out any property where the owner refuses to participate in this. Won't tell me exactly where the property is that I am spending $5,000 a week for? Fine, I will find another owner who is proud of the location of the property.
The entire discussion here makes me more inclined to forget the idea of renting a villa and instead just to stay at IDF or Guanahani. With those places, I may pay a few dollars more, but I know what I am getting.
It wasn't the normal villa owners- it was the very expensive villa owners who didn't want the press photogs bothering the "stars" if they found out what villa they were staying at. It only took a few to stop the project.
--------------------
Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
|
marybeth
Reged: 05/22/04
Posts: 275
|
|
We are currently staying at our third villa. Each time we have come to SBH we have know pretty much were the villa is located. The agencies are very forthcoming about this (St Barth Properties and French Caribbean). Also on the SBP website, many villas have a map that show exactly were it is and detail the range of view.
Since I understand you have stayed at IDF it may be better since as you say, you know exactly what you are getting. I walked past it yesterday along Flammands and I know it is nice, but those 100s of beach lounges in front were a turn off. From where I am sitting there are only 4 lounges around my private pool, with a view from SXM to GCd (including the Gunahani)!! We prefer the privacy.
|
Skeeter
Reged: 12/20/06
Posts: 1198
Loc: Chicago, IL
|
|
Quote:
We are currently staying at our third villa. Each time we have come to SBH we have know pretty much were the villa is located. The agencies are very forthcoming about this (St Barth Properties and French Caribbean). Also on the SBP website, many villas have a map that show exactly were it is and detail the range of view.
Since I understand you have stayed at IDF it may be better since as you say, you know exactly what you are getting. I walked past it yesterday along Flammands and I know it is nice, but those 100s of beach lounges in front were a turn off. From where I am sitting there are only 4 lounges around my private pool, with a view from SXM to GCd (including the Gunahani)!! We prefer the privacy.
Hundreds at IDF?
There were about 20 when we were there. About half were actually occupied. It may have expanded since I was last there.
How about this compromise: If the place rents for over $20,000 a week, let's not put it on the list. Otherwise, it shouldn't matter.
As I said, if an owner is concerned that people will find out where the villa is, I think the only reasonable conclusion is that the location is pretty bad.
--------------------
Will Travel For Food (But not to Chicago's suburbs -- we do have limits)
|
marybeth
Reged: 05/22/04
Posts: 275
|
|
Quote:
Hundreds at IDF?
Ok, more like 40...this time I am not exagerating...And it was pretty crowded, as it is high season.
As I said, if an owner is concerned that people will find out where the villa is, I think the only reasonable conclusion is that the location is pretty bad.
The villas are in St. Barth...where is there a bad location?!?! LOL
Really, if you are concerned about location, just ask the agency. Its really not a big deal. If you are familiar with the island (its only 8 sq mi) its easy to figure out where things are.
|
Skeeter
Reged: 12/20/06
Posts: 1198
Loc: Chicago, IL
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Hundreds at IDF?
Ok, more like 40...this time I am not exagerating...And it was pretty crowded, as it is high season.
As I said, if an owner is concerned that people will find out where the villa is, I think the only reasonable conclusion is that the location is pretty bad.
The villas are in St. Barth...where is there a bad location?!?! LOL
Really, if you are concerned about location, just ask the agency. Its really not a big deal. If you are familiar with the island (its only 8 sq mi) its easy to figure out where things are.
Apparently the villa owners think that there are differences in location, such that they want to prevent people from making comparisons.
They are raising the secrecy issue. I'm not. I am just concerned because they apparently want to conceal their locations.
If it is as open and obvious to everyone as you claim, then the owners should be pleased to mark their locations.
--------------------
Will Travel For Food (But not to Chicago's suburbs -- we do have limits)
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
The privacy issue refers to the fact that there are some Heavy Hitters who really dont want the Snapperazzi to know for sure where their place is as well as the fact that there are some owners who would prefer that "certain organizations" didn't know they had places there.
While it seems innocuous enough to just tag everything with a SIB code, eventually our map would jump the shark (Miker!) and start having tags like "Tim's house" or "Hollywood Star X's House".
One of the reasons people go to St Barth is to avoid too much public focus. This seems like a trifling matter but if an owner wants privacy, I respect that wish.
|
marybeth
Reged: 05/22/04
Posts: 275
|
|
And in that same vein, I certainly would not appreciate a website with a map of my neighborhood will my house clearly labeled!
When villa owners or managers list with agencies, they rely on them to make sure their villa is accurately described. It is also to the agencies advantage to know all the facts about the villa to ensure clients satisfaction. Agencies will show you villas in person on the island if they are unoccupied. But I would not appreciate someone driving by to scope my place out now, while I am here!
People making legitimate inquiries regarding villas, including their locations, will have their questions answered. I respect the right on the property owners to limit specific info to those who are likely clients. A conspiracy theory? Doubtful.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Re: Villa Map Project
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
