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

[DavidnRobin]

Has anyone posted CV photos? I have a bunch on my iPhone - I will try and upload to PhotoBucket and post? Photos didn't come out well - seems to be darker than BV.

It would drive me crazy to have to go from CV/BV to parking, or Taxi... walking or by shuttle. But, can see appeal. On resort, CV is nicer location wise, but I did not like the layouts compared to BV. Both can be assessed via Iguana shuttles - the walk is pretty, but can take a while - especially for all the stops to look at iguanas, etc.

There are certainly Resort people and Hill people - location can really impact the vacation experience if you are mismatched.
Adapt...

 

[DavidnRobin]

Photos of CV.

CV Studio Kitchenette

CV Studio Bathroom

CV Studio Bedroom

CV Building Map: B21 - Level 1

 

[LisaH]

So, only kitchenette in CV even for 2BR?

 

[DavidnRobin]

CV 2Bd - B21, 1st floor

Bath2a

Bath2b

Bedroom-2

Kitchenette

Bath1a

Bath1b

Bedroom-1

 

[DavidnRobin]

So, only kitchenette in CV even for 2BR?

These are in reverse. Studio then 2Bd.
separated by room map

 

[YYJMSP]

So, only kitchenette in CV even for 2BR?

Looking at the fire map it appears David had the same room layout in the building next to us but on the first floor.

Our third floor 2BR unit in 22 is the same. I haven't taken any pictures off the camera yet, but will post them when I do...

I'm wondering if the much larger 2BR loft layout has the full kitchen with a better layout and more counters, etc?

 

[okwiater]

Those showers look like similar low flow units to the ones used in Element hotels... I can't stand them. I'll stick to the units equipped with "Heavenly Showers", thank you

 

[okwiater]

So, only kitchenette in CV even for 2BR?

Yes. CV only has kitchenettes.

 

[LisaH]

Yes. CV only has kitchenettes.

That will be a no for me...

 

[GrayFal]

Anyone knows that, other than Hillside section, where else 1BR premium villa can be located? Also, is there window in the bedroom to look out if it's in the Hillside? Can't tell from the 1BR unit layout...
As it turns out, kids are not able to make it for our Aug trip so I downsized from 2BR to 1BR today.

Lisa. Please take some pictures of the unit for me. I have not been in mine yet and am curious to see the set up.

 

[okwiater]

That will be a no for me...

Us too -- the full kitchen is the main reason we love staying in timeshares. I'm sure at some point we'll end up in a CV unit using StarOptions, but the CV floorplans are the #1 reason we bought BV instead.

 

[LisaH]

Lisa. Please take some pictures of the unit for me. I have not been in mine yet and am curious to see the set up.

For CV? Ok. I'll see what I can do!

 

[DavidnRobin]

View from space...

 

[GrayFal]

For CV? Ok. I'll see what I can do!

Nope, I have a 1BR and a studio up on the Hill. Since you will be staying in the 1BR soon, I was hoping you could get photos for me. I have been in the 2BR townhouse and the studio up there but not the one bedroom.

I know I confused you with my email. I will follow up later this evening.

 

[DavidnRobin]

That will be a no for me...

I was surprised as well to see only kitchenette in 2Bd CV villa (bad design, IMO)

 

[LisaH]

Hi Pat, will do!

 

[YYJMSP]

I was surprised as well to see only kitchenette in 2Bd CV villa (bad design, IMO)

Looked online at the floor plan for the loft, which is 30% larger than the standard 2BR, and it looks like it has a kitchenette only as well, but the counter seems to be bigger due to a 2-person breakfast bar...

I almost would be ok with the kitchenette if there was some actual counter space, but what they did just doesn't make any sense...

 

[bobpark56]

Studios, Virgin Grand vs. Coral Vista

Has anyone stayed yet in both the Virgin Grand studios and the Coral Vista studios? If so, which did you enjoy the most, and why?

 

[polly0014]

We are here now in a hillside studio, building 33. It's awesome! Love being hillside! I was shocked to get a full kitchen! 4 burner stovetop AND oven!!! Full size fridge and dishwasher too. We went to cinnamon and maho today. Absolutely no sea lice jellyfish problems! Perfect day although very cloudy.

Rented the jeep from Amalie on st Thomas. Piece of cake! Thank you David for that advice! Found free cycle last night too and got a small beach chair.

Second time here and still find this to be the jem of our SVN!

-Polly

 

[lizap]

Where do you park if you are staying in CV or BV, and how far is that from the units?

CV buildings are closer than BV - with pool as point.
Neither have parking.

 

[LisaRex]

Where do you park if you are staying in CV or BV, and how far is that from the units?

http://www.westinresortstjohn.com/site-map

St. John is a volcanic island, so there are lots of elevation changes. If you're looking at the map, imagine that it's perfectly flat at sea level (the sea is on right on the map), and then raises in elevation as you move left.

In the bottom center of this map, you'll see where the parking lot is. It's to the left of the Car Rental shack, as the rental place shares the lot with parking guests. This is the only parking lot for the entire lower campus.

Looking again at the map, both Coral and Bay Vista phases are at the very top, so a hike. Building 28 and 23 are on the complete opposite end of the resort. Buildings 21 and 24 and the closest to the parking lot, but 24 is up a hill. Building 21 is as good as it gets if you're disabled.

I, personally, prefer the Bay Vista layout and its proximity to the main resort best of all three phases. But I'll admit that it's a minor PITA to haul up the hill to the Bay Vista units, especially if you're carrying groceries, coolers, and/or snorkeling equipment. There is an iguana stop in the front of the parking lot, but service is spotty. We hoofed it most days, but if you don't have that option, you'll have no choice but to use an iguana to get to the BV phase.

The CV phase is still a walk, but it's much flatter as it's closer to the sea.

The Virgin Grand phase, across the street, Buildings 31-34 and 41-44, have much more convenient parking, however you'll have to either catch an iguana (stops are at all the resorts) or drive to the main resort parking lot if you want to enjoy the main facility. Buildings 31 and 32 are up quite a steep hill (that's where we stayed in January) and buildings 33 and 34 are even further up.

To give you an indication of how far it is, I'd estimate it took us 7-10 minutes to hike up to Building 24 from the parking lot. From LemonGrass restaurant to Building 31, I'd say it was a 15-20 minute walk, depending on how motivated we were.

 

[lizap]

Thanks Lisa.

http://www.westinresortstjohn.com/site-map

St. John is a volcanic island, so there are lots of elevation changes. If you're looking at the map, imagine that it's perfectly flat at sea level (the sea is on right on the map), and then raises in elevation as you move left.

In the bottom center of this map, you'll see where the parking lot is. It's to the left of the Car Rental shack, as the rental place shares the lot with parking guests. This is the only parking lot for the entire lower campus.

Looking again at the map, both Coral and Bay Vista phases are at the very top, so a hike. Building 28 and 23 are on the complete opposite end of the resort. Buildings 21 and 24 and the closest to the parking lot, but 24 is up a hill. Building 21 is as good as it gets if you're disabled.

I, personally, prefer the Bay Vista layout and its proximity to the main resort best of all three phases. But I'll admit that it's a minor PITA to haul up the hill to the Bay Vista units, especially if you're carrying groceries, coolers, and/or snorkeling equipment. There is an iguana stop in the front of the parking lot, but service is spotty. We hoofed it most days, but if you don't have that option, you'll have no choice but to use an iguana to get to the BV phase.

The CV phase is still a walk, but it's much flatter as it's closer to the sea.

The Virgin Grand phase, across the street, Buildings 31-34 and 41-44, have much more convenient parking, however you'll have to either catch an iguana (stops are at all the resorts) or drive to the main resort parking lot if you want to enjoy the main facility. Buildings 31 and 32 are up quite a steep hill (that's where we stayed in January) and buildings 33 and 34 are even further up.

To give you an indication of how far it is, I'd estimate it took us 7-10 minutes to hike up to Building 24 from the parking lot. From LemonGrass restaurant to Building 31, I'd say it was a 15-20 minute walk, depending on how motivated we were.

 

[DavidnRobin]

7 min walk from Westin Workout Room to B34 (uphill at a relatively brisk pace for 57-58yo)...
5 min downhill direction

 

[ksqdomer]

We are here now in a hillside studio, building 33. It's awesome! Love being hillside! I was shocked to get a full kitchen! 4 burner stovetop AND oven!!! Full size fridge and dishwasher too. We went to cinnamon and maho today. Absolutely no sea lice jellyfish problems! Perfect day although very cloudy.

Rented the jeep from Amalie on st Thomas. Piece of cake! Thank you David for that advice! Found free cycle last night too and got a small beach chair.

Second time here and still find this to be the jem of our SVN!

-Polly

Hey Polly, if you are in 17 don't break anything!

 

[polly0014]

Haha!! We are in 3312, so no worries!!! We absolutely LOVE hillside!!!! We did our owners update today and they totally gathered our appreciation for hillside...so much they offered us a 2br hillside (summer) EOY for around 13k...95700 SO. gosh that was hard to walk away from....if they would have swapped our SVV, hmmm. Anyways, having a blast!

Polly