Corrossol in Question?

[TravelBunny]

Hi, I am planning a trip to St. Barts next year (or maybe the year after) and I started to talk to people I know who have been there. I was interested in staying in Corrossol because it is described as "authentic St. Bart's", but then I heard from a friend who recently stayed in the town. He said he had things taken out of his car two times over night. And also said that the town is nothing but active construction sites. Jack hammering and dust and construction vehicles traveling on teh roads all the time. He said he was told that it was going to be like this for the next 3+ years and it was best to avoid it entirely. Just wanted your thoughts.

Bunny

 

[bkeats]

Welcome travelbunny!

Construction is a fact of life on island. No matter where you are. We have rented houses in St Jean, Lurin, Marigot and other areas and have had construction close by. We are on the island now and there are active construction sites in many locations. Trying to predict where there may be construction going on in a year or two is impossible. Best choice is to work with a good agent or owner who can tell you what is going on in the area.

Some of the larger agencies can move you if the house you rent is right by construction.

We have never stayed in Corossol but it's a nice area. Old St Barts as you said. It's unfortunate your friend had things taken out of his car but that is something that has happened over the years we have been coming. Petty crime does happen. Not been a victim yet on SBH as we have been on SXM but I think you should never leave anything of value in the car.

 

[smartmoose]

I live in Corossol, and yes there is certainly a lot of construction. At least 10 houses in various stages of completion, and many more permits that are posted but inactive as of now. The dust is the biggest challenge. My husband and I still have respiratory issues. The "valley" nature of the town seems to bounce sound around, whether it is the jackhammering, drilling, or the rumble of the rubble trucks, it certainly makes you appreciate sundays! My advice is to make the decision closer to when you are traveling. And like BKEATS says, go with a big agency that will be honest about the environment.

You can't beat the views, though. But as a friend of mine once said, everyone in St. Bart's thinks their view is the best, and they might be right

 

[didier]

my suggestion is not to go with any of the agencies for rental property. go with someone that owns property for rent here that does not use agencies, rosita is one and she will be honest about the construction, also stbartslover is another that does not use agencies either. purplejeep is another owner that you can trust. you can contact them all on this forum. I am sure there are more on this site. I would not stay in town because of the construction, but most of the other areas around the island are not bad.

 

[dadto6]

Welcome to the forum TravelBunny! Compared to others, I am relatively new to St. Barts. I completed 5-trips in past two years and have always dealt with Villa Owners directly as Didier suggested. Every experience with 5-separate Owners has been great, honest and transparent. Sorry to hear about your friends petty theft. We have not experienced any problems but take normal precautionary measures.

 

[cassidain]

doesn't rosita rent directly and ​thru agencies ?

 

[JEK]

I thought Jeff uses agencies too?

 

[GramChop]

Yes and yes. :thinking1:

 

[didier]

Yes and yes. :thinking1:

rosita may use agencies also, she will have to respond to know for sure. you will get a better deal going directly through her I would think. jeff stbartslover does not use agencies.

 

[didier]

if you use an agency the owner has to give a percentage of the rental to the agency, so why use them, most of the owners use vrbo or have their own sites such as www.stbartsvilla.com which would be jeff's site.

 

[cassidain]

must be easier for rosita since jeff doesn't live there

 

[cec1]

if you use an agency the owner has to give a percentage of the rental to the agency, so why use them, most of the owners use vrbo or have their own sites . . ..

I get rentals for our Villa through our own site as well as from several agencies. (To date, I haven't used VRBO . . . just haven't gotten around to doing so.)

Why use agencies? For a couple of reasons: Among them, they often bring clients to rent the Villa at times when I don't otherwise have someone there -- in which case, I'm happy to pay a commission for the value provided. In addition, the rental agencies provide value as they relieve me of various rental-related matters . . . rental agreements, payment collection, airport & ferry "meet-&-greet" service, payments to the Collectivite of applicable "occupancy" taxes, and resolution of situations where clients cause property damage. I also like the additional advertising that is provided by agencies. Finally, I would add that agencies also have provided me with valuable market data, sorted in numerous ways (e.g., where renters are coming from, what renters are saying, what they're paying (negotiated rates vs. published rates), & market trends).

In my opinion, agencies have established high standards for accommodations on the island, benefitting renters & owners, and, generally, are meaningful contributors to the island's favorable reputation for tourism.

 

[stbartshopper]

We concur with didier and dadto6- rent directly from Villa owners- no mark ups and they will talk to you directly about any issues in the area.

 

[didier]

dennis cec1 has a beautiful villa in marigot, the name is villa case et cuisine. check it out on this site www.st-barths.com/villa-rental-case-et-cuisine/en/home.html

 

[cec1]

Thanks, Diana . . . I appreciate the "PR!"

 

[Rosita]

Thanks :blush-smile:
to answer to your question yes i do rent thru agencie ( Wimco ) and Also Have direct guest
I am sometime the " eye" for many of my friends from this forum
I am happy to help eace-sign1:

 

[amyb]

And she does help so many so often. Rosita is an island treasure-I have said this repeatedly!

 

[tim]

Thanks :blush-smile:
to answer to your question yes i do rent thru agencie ( Wimco ) and Also Have direct guest
I am sometime the " eye" for many of my friends from this forum
I am happy to help eace-sign1:

And a big help you have been to me in many ways:up:

 

[LMAC]

Rosita is indeed a "gem" - one of a kind, most helpful on many occasions! AND greatly appreciated.

Several members of the forum have wonderful properties for rent and are reliable owners. If I were totally unfamiliar with the island, I would definitely rent through an agency - some owners (again, not those on this forum) may not be as responsive to issues or as honest about potential problems / construction as they should be. Many a sad tale has been told.