We
know you have questions - hopefully someone else may have had
the same question. If you have a question about Vida de Mar
that you do not see here, please do not hesitate to email us.
1.
Why should I vacation on St. John?
2. How do I get to St. John?
3. Why should I choose Vida de Mar instead
of another villa?
4. What do I need to bring with me to the villa?
5. What documents do I need to enter/leave the US
Virgin Islands?
6. Do you offer maid or chef service?
7. Does Vida de Mar have air conditioning?
8. What activities are close to the Vida de Mar?
9. Are there any groceries at the villa?
10. Is there someone we can contact if there is
a problem?
11. What's the weather like?
12. Are there phones in all the rooms?
13. Can I access the internet from the villa?
14. Do we need to rent a car?
15. What are the payment options for villa rental?
16. Who are the owners?
1.
Why should I vacation on St. John?
St. John is considered the most beautiful of the three US Virgin
Islands because it is unspoiled by the massive growth and congestion
that have plagued other islands. Since over three-quarters of
the island is protected National Park, the island still holds
the much of the charm and natural beauty that it has always had.
The population of St. John is still small and laid-back - only
4,000 people call St. John home. Known as the Emerald Jewel, this
is where other Virgin Islanders go to get away from it all. Many
visitors discover they can totally relax and enjoy themselves
here - something that is hard to do these days.
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2.
How do I get to St. John?
Most people come to the Virgin Islands through Cyril E King Airport
in St. Thomas. From there, you must take a ferry over to St. John.
There are two ferry lines that go to St. John — each running
hourly. One leaves from Charlotte Amalie, which
is only about a 10 minute taxi ride from the airport and costs $11.00 plus $3.00 for each large bag. This scenic
ferry ride takes about 45 minutes from Charlotte Amailie to Cruz
Bay. The other ferry leaves from Red Hook, about a 40 minute taxi
ride from the airport and costs $5.00 plus $3.00 for each large bag. This ferry is only a 20 minute ride across
Pillsbury Sound to Cruz Bay. Either way, getting to St. John is
no problem. Private water taxis are also available, but they are
much more expensive.
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3.
Why should I choose Vida de Mar instead of another villa?
In a word - location, location, location! Vida de Mar
gives you the best of both worlds: The privacy and seclusion of
quiet Dever's Bay, yet close to town and shops, restaurants and
sand beaches. Many villas are far from town, hard to get to, away
from the water, or in crowded Great Cruz Bay - something they
don't advertise. Vida de Mar is a quick and easy 5-10
minute drive from town, 5 minutes from the market, and 10-20 minutes
from white sandy beaches, yet still feels a million miles from
anywhere when you get there. Vida de Mar has it all -
spectacular views, gorgeous sunsets, private, secluded sand and pebble
beach, oversized pool, tiled jacuzzi, the best diving and snorkeling
on the island, and even a resident iguana family! Not that you
would want to leave once you arrive, but if you do wish to venture
out for a hike, shopping, dining, or a day at one of St. John's
famous white-sand beaches - it's not a hassle like at some other
villa locations.
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4.
What do I need to bring with me to the villa?
The villa is equipped with everything you would have in your own
home and then some. Beach towels, hair dryers, pots & pans,
table settings, coffee maker, blender, fax machine & printer, TVs,
DVD players, CD player, serving platters, wine glasses, beach toys, books,
videos, games, cards, telescope, binoculars, shampoo, conditioner,
laundry soap, dishwashing detergent, cleaning supplies and other
basics are all included. All you need to bring is sunscreen, a
bathing suit, casual clothing and you'll be all set! Also, St. Johnians are modest people and it is not polite
and against the law to wear bathing suits while in town, so if
you do plan on spending the day at the beach and also go to town,
be sure and bring a cover-up or other proper clothing. (Back to Top)
5.
What documents do I need to enter/leave the US Virgin Islands?
Due to new security procedures implemented in 2005, the Virgin Islands now requires passports from US citizens, whereas before this was not a requirement. Citizens of countries other than the
U.S. should follow U.S. travel regulations. To travel outside
the U.S. Virgin Islands (including the British Virgin Islands) also
requires a valid Passport. This includes Day Sail trips leaving
St. John to Foxy's, the Baths, or Totola in the nearby BVIs. So,
if you are planning any Day Sail trips, you will need to bring your passport along with you. Entering any point of the BVIs is just
like leaving the country and coming back in - you will be checked
in and out and need proof of citizenship each time. Health certificates
are not required if you're entering from the U.S. or Puerto Rico;
citizens entering from other countries should follow the same
guidelines as for the mainland U.S.
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6.
Do you offer maid or chef service?
The villa will be immaculate upon your arrival and cleaned again
after your departure. There is also a mid-week cleaning that is included in your booking price. If you require daily or more frequent maid service, this can be arranged for an extra fee. We also have many fine
chefs available for special meals, daily cooking, catering or
both depending on what you would like. Please let us know what your requirments will be when booking, and we will be happy to assist you.
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7.
Does Vida de Mar have air conditioning?
Yes - all rooms in Vida de Mar have both ceiling fans
and individual air conditioning units. You may find, however,
that you do not need them with the cool island trade winds that
are a trademark of St. John. Each room in Vida de Mar
has many windows just for this purpose, so don't be afraid to
open them all up and enjoy nature's air conditioning! It is one
of the special pleasures of St. John to be lulled to sleep with
all the windows open, feeling the breezes and listening to the
surf lap the shore. Don't miss it if you don't have to.
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8. What activities are close to the Vida de Mar?
Well, considering that the best diving and snorkeling on the island
are right off-shore at Dever's Reef, that's about as close as
you can get! But, other great activities are just a short drive
away - the sandy white beaches of the North Shore are only a 10-20
minute drive depending on what beach you'd like to visit. World-famous
Trunk Bay (voted the Most Beautiful Beach in the World and also where they shoot many of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues), for example, is only 15 minutes away. Cruz Bay,
the main town on the island, is only a 10 minute drive, which
has shopping, nightlife, dining, SCUBA and snorkel rental and
trips. Or, stop off at Great Cruz Bay (where the Westin Hotel
is located), which is only 5 minutes from Vida de Mar, and sign up for a sunset cruise or rent a power boat for the day.
Check out our Activities Page for
a list of all the things there are to do on St. John. The possibilities
are endless!
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9.
Are there any groceries at the villa?
The villa is stocked with a assortment of spices and basic items
including, garlic powder, salt and pepper, assorted seasonings, sugar etc. The villa is also stocked
with cooking oil, coffee filters, toothpicks, garbage bags, cleaning
supplies, trash bags, kleenex, toilet paper and paper towels.
There will also be a Welcome Basket waiting for you when you arrive
with some special goodies. Vida de Mar is also stocked with an ample
supply of emergency supplies such as batteries, flashlights, tape, rope, light bulbs and other necessities for your
convenience should you need them You can also arrange for a a personal shopper to pick up and stock your villa before you arrive. Please feel free to ask us about this new service.
There
are three main markets on St. John - all on the way from town
to Vida de Mar. The largest of these, The Starfish Market,
is located in The Marketplace shopping center and is only a five
minute drive from the villa. The Starfish Market has just about
anything you could need, including a fabulous fresh fish and meats,
baked goods and pastries from the famous St. John Bakery, fresh
salads and produce, ice, beer, liquor and an impressive wine section.
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10.
Is there someone we can contact if there is a problem?
Yes. We have a property management company, Catered To, a local company that you should contact for any problems you may encounter with
the villa. Catered To's contact information are located in our St.
John information book that is located right next to the phone
in the Great Room. Also, feel free to contact us (the owners)
at any time regarding questions or issues regarding your experience
at Vida de Mar. Our contact information is located on
the Contact page.
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11.
What's the weather like?
It isn't called Paradise for nothing! The temperature averages
82 degrees year round on St. John. You will find daytime highs
to be around 80 in winter months and 88 in the summer. Nighttime
lows will be around 74 in the winter months and 78 in the summer.
The trade winds are stronger in the winter months, and therefore
it may feel cooler then than the numbers indicate.
Rainfall
varies with the time of year but there really is no "rainy"
season where it will rain all the time. The real difference between
a "dry" season and a "rainy" season on St.
John is that you will get a daily 10 minute shower in the dry
season and a daily 20 minute shower in the rainy season. Most
of the time the showers happen at night. Obviously, we can't guarantee
that you will have perfect weather, but you are more than likely
to have spectacular weather anytime of the year. Just
be sure and pack some light raingear or an umbrella for those
unexpected showers should you be out on a hike or at the beach.
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12.
Are there phones in all the rooms?
Yes - all rooms have either a land phone or a cordless phone.
The main phone in the Great Room also has an answering machine
in case you miss calls. The phone number will provided to you
at check-in. All calls are free, including to the mainland. Many nationwide cell phone systems (such as Cingular, Verizon and T-Mobile) do
work in St. John now, and the quality is better than you
might think. Check with your local cell phone carrier before your
trip to see if your cell phone will cover the USVI and the BVI. If yours does not cover the BVI, you must
make arrangements using your cell phone while in the BVI to receive
or place phone calls using your current cell phone. This process
is simple - when you try and make a call while in the BVI territory-
the temporary carrier will leave you a recording with the number
to call to receive your temporary service. It only takes a few
minutes on the phone to set up, and it works great.
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13.
Can I access the internet from the villa?
Yes! We now offer a high speed WiFi connection at Vida de Mar. The password to the wirelss connection will be given to you upon check in. There is also an HP all-in-one printer, fax and scanner on premises should you need it.
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14.
Do we need to rent a car?
Although is not a necessity - we highly recommend it. There is
a lot to see and do on the island and you will have a great time
exploring, seeing it's attractions or just beach hopping! There
is taxi service available on the island, but it can take quite
awhile for pick-up from the villa and is not too convenient outside
of town. There is also a bus system on St. John called VI Tran,
but it only goes from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay and back and isn't
the most convenient schedule. Yes, it is true that St. Johnians
drive on the left in a regular American car, but once you get
used to it, it's not so bad! St. John is small - there are only
two main roads and no stoplights, so there isn't too much other
traffic to worry about, or any way to get lost. Check out our
Activities section for some recommended
car rental companies.
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15.
What are the payment options for villa rental?
A deposit of 50% of the total rent is required to confirm your
reservation. The balance is due 60 days prior to arrival. The
deposit is refunded if re-rented, less 20% administrative costs.
Not included in the rental rates is a $500.00 refundable security
deposit and a Virgin Islands Hotel Tax of 8%. To make reservations,
or for more information on rental, please contact us at (847)
277-1697 or email us.
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16.
Who are the owners?
We are Scot & Tiffany - we live just outside of Chicago. Scot
has been an avid sailor for years and has spent time in the Virgin
Islands for the past 20 years sailing through the islands on his
54' Hylas, Laughing Pelican, based in St. Thomas.
On
a week-long vacation a few years ago, we decided to stay at Caneel
Bay on St. John. Although we had both been to St. John on day
trips many times, this was the first time we actually stayed on
the island. After a great week getting into the rhythm of the
resort, we had to go back to the hustle and bustle of life in
Chicago. We had a few hours to kill before hopping the ferry back
to St. Thomas and decided to take a taxi tour of the island. Outside
of going into Cruz Bay a few times to eat or shop, we had never
really left the Caneel Bay compound the whole week. Seeing the
absolute beauty of the island on the taxi tour, we both realized
how much we had missed by not exploring the island more. Looking
back, I realize that the very first time that I stood on the top
of Bordeaux Mountain overlooking Coral Bay - I fell in love with
St. John.
We
made a pact to come back and experience the island the way it
should be experienced. We came back many times, renting a different
villa in a different area of the island each time. Every time
we came down, it got harder and harder to go back. Finally, in
2002, we stayed at Vida de Mar, which also happened to
be for sale at the time. We knew right away that Vida de Mar
was the perfect location - not too far, not too close, beautiful
views and right on the water. Well, long story short - we bought
Vida de Mar and hope to make it our full-time home someday.
Although this isn't possible now due to jobs, pets, etc - we have
taken that first step and are committed helping others share the
experience of St. John and hopefully enjoy it as much as we do.
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