Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[DavidnRobin]

Hi Gina -

Thanks for the update. It is hot this time of year - June is hottest, but with less rain. The skeeters are relative to the amount of rain. It rained a lot before you arrived. Worst part of StJ as compared to HI is the skeeters and noseeums - IMO.

Kayak that fits in checked bag? - that sounds great! Can you post the brand you are using? If I could get one in the next day or 2, I would bring it. We are flying 1st class this year - so we can bring more luggage.

We like having 2 weeks back-2-back in the same villa - glad I was able to buy adjacent week from original owners. If you could find out who they are (info may be in tax records using clever searches) - you could contact and ask. This is what I did, but paid a premium.

Love the comment to your husband about coming back w/o you - LOL.
We enjoyed the Buck Island trip last year - and would do it again.

 

[SandyPGravel]

No problem, https://www.seaeagle.com/SportKayaks/SE370.

I put it in a

https://smile.amazon.com/Eagle-Cree...k+No+Matter+What+Rolling+Duffel+-+extra+Large

because the bag is large enough and weighs very little. The entire kayak, including break down paddles and two seats, with this bag are under 50 lbs. We had to put the foot pump in a separate bag with the PFD's. (You can rent PFD's from Beach Bum.)

My only issue with the kayak is the skegs are very tiny, but it is a solid boat. Inflating it takes about 10 minutes with the foot pump.

It rained almost every night while we were there too, but only some sprinkles during the day a couple times.

Yeah I think they didn't like that I kept saying no and Cliff wasn't commenting. Cliff just looked at the guy and said she is the one that knows how all of this works, so he defers to me.

Have fun!

 

[Helios]

We like having 2 weeks back-2-back in the same villa - glad I was able to buy adjacent week from original owners. If you could find out who they are (info may be in tax records using clever searches) - you could contact and ask. This is what I did, but paid a premium.

B2B weeks is the best. I agree with the tax record searches, they can be very useful to get owner info.

 

[SandyPGravel]

One more thing I forgot to mention. When we did our trip on the Bad Kitty we did NOT have to individually go through BVI customs like they announced was changing last year. A member of the boat crew took all of the passports into the Customs office in Tortolla.

 

[SandyPGravel]

VGV tax bill arrived today.

Good news, taxes didn't go up. Bad news, due earlier. Last year due Aug 1, late after Sep 30. This year due June 30 late after Aug 30.

 

[Helios]

VGV tax bill arrived today.

Good news, taxes didn't go up. Bad news, due earlier. Last year due Aug 1, late after Sep 30. This year due June 30 late after Aug 30.

Just got mine too.

 

[okwiater]

Uh, did anyone else get a Bay Vista tax bill claiming that 2016 taxes hadn't been paid and are now past due? I thought the HOA aka Vistana was supposed to pay this.

 

[Helios]

Uh, did anyone else get a Bay Vista tax bill claiming that 2016 taxes hadn't been paid and are now past due? I thought the HOA aka Vistana was supposed to pay this.

I thought so too, although I don't own BV.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Uh, did anyone else get a Bay Vista tax bill claiming that 2016 taxes hadn't been paid and are now past due? I thought the HOA aka Vistana was supposed to pay this.

Have you called OS yet? What did they say? I skimmed through this document when it was first published http://newsofstjohn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Outstanding-Property-Tax-in-USVI.pdf and don't remember seeing Vistana, Starwood, or Westin mentioned. Hopefully this letter was an error.

 

[bobpark56]

Uh, did anyone else get a Bay Vista tax bill claiming that 2016 taxes hadn't been paid and are now past due? I thought the HOA aka Vistana was supposed to pay this.

I don't know about Bay Vista, but at Virgin Grand we have to pay our own tax bills. The HOA does not pay them for us.

 

[applekor]

I don't know about Bay Vista, but at Virgin Grand we have to pay our own tax bills. The HOA does not pay them for us.

We own at both and bay vista taxes are included in your maintenance fees. This must have been sent in error. Don't worry about it

 

[dioxide45]

May want to contact the Vistana HOA department to confirm 800-729-8246.

 

[sachia007]

Uh, did anyone else get a Bay Vista tax bill claiming that 2016 taxes hadn't been paid and are now past due? I thought the HOA aka Vistana was supposed to pay this.

Hi,

Just wondering/being nosey.... what does it list the property taxes for your Bay Vista unit? What is the size of your unit (I'm in the hillside group and wondering how those lower units compare to us)?

 

[ekinggill]

Disregard.

 

[Dawnwrey]

Question moved to new thread

 

[okwiater]

Just wondering/being nosey.... what does it list the property taxes for your Bay Vista unit? What is the size of your unit (I'm in the hillside group and wondering how those lower units compare to us)?

My 3BR Bay Vista is being taxed at about $400, whereas my 3BR Pool Villa is being taxed at about $300.

 

[okwiater]

Uh, did anyone else get a Bay Vista tax bill claiming that 2016 taxes hadn't been paid and are now past due? I thought the HOA aka Vistana was supposed to pay this.

FWIW, I just called Vistana and spoke with HOA services. The rep informed me that the bill was "safe to disregard" because they take care of paying the taxes for Bay Vista.

Hopefully this is just due to the USVI finally catching up on the property tax billings and won't be an issue in future years. It's a bit scary to ignore a delinquent property tax bill.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Photos of Sunset Bay (B14, 2Bd)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SandyPGravel]

I loved the finishes in the Sunset Bay model(really like the flooring), still can't get over the two burner cook top though-deal breaker!!

 

[DavidnRobin]

Never seen this...
Maho Bay

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SMHarman]

I loved the finishes in the Sunset Bay model(really like the flooring), still can't get over the two burner cook top though-deal breaker!!

And windowless second bedroom.

Come relax in the Caribbean, wake up and look out of the window at the lush plantings, the golden Sands, the blue waters, oh nevermind.

 

[SandyPGravel]

And windowless second bedroom.

Come relax in the Caribbean, wake up and look out of the window at the lush plantings, the golden Sands, the blue waters, oh nevermind.

I also disliked the lack of a screen door on the patio door. I like opening the sliding door to listen to the tropical orchestra, but not when you can't keep the bugs out.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Turtle/Sharksucker

 

[bobpark56]

My 3BR Bay Vista is being taxed at about $400, whereas my 3BR Pool Villa is being taxed at about $300.

Strange. I just paid our 3BR pool villa tax: $73.16...same as last year. We are EOY owners.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Strange. I just paid our 3BR pool villa tax: $73.16...same as last year. We are EOY owners.

Wow, my EY 2BR townhouse taxes are $280. USVI not exactly consistent in their taxing formulas.