Hi all. I will be asking lots of questions and relying on the experts here... be patient with me.

So, pool or no pool in Jan? Seems like a wonderful thing to have at the beginning and end of each day, but if it will be too cold to get into it then totally not an expense we need to have.

Date of arrival is Jan 11. thx!

It depends on weather at the time of your visit, the location of the house and your tolerance. Aside from staying at Caneel (where I never visited the pool) we always rented houses with pools.

In late January, the pool at one house was absolutely frigid and I dipped only a toe in. At the same house, one year later, we used the pool every day and took our baby in as well (it was that much warmer). Nothing changed except the weather was consistently warmer for the second week so the water was water and we were warmer.

Location on the island matters as well. We rented a house during the last week of January/first week of February in the Maria Bluff neighborhood that got full sun all day and the pool was delightful.

Our other winter visits were hit and miss pool-wise when it came to water temps but in general, we used the pools more often than not.

My family is more willing to use the pool because it is a novelty. If the water is close to 80 degrees, we get in. My close friend that travels with us needs it to be at least 85 degrees before she considers swimming.

My close friend that travels with us needs it to be at least 85 degrees before she considers swimming.


so she never goes in the water? Peak July water temp rarely exceeds 85

She views pools and beaches differently but yes, there have been trips (2 or 3 that I remember for certain) where she didn't enter the water - pool or beach.

Maybe she gets hotter on the beach at noon than the deck at 5pm? She keeps her home pool in the high 80s (we live in the Northeast.)

Sounds good to me. The only water I got in when I lived in Colorado were hot springs!!!

It's "cool" in January - we never have woken up first thing and wanted to jump in the water right away. I'd say it would all depend on how close your are to the ocean though - that's just as good as a pool if close enough.

I don't know if I qualify as an expert, but it is too darn cold to get in a pool or the ocean in January IMHO. There are a couple of weeks this time of year when it is okay, but other than that.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Nutmeg--a person after my own heart! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I would no sooner go in the ocean between January and March than take a cold shower outside in February! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

For STJ, the villas on the west end are sheltered from the wind out of the east and get that warm afternoon sun. We always use the pool on that side. South shore or Coral Bay, the water is always too cold for us, especially with the breeze.

Cheers, RickG

Your right, it's not worth vacationing in the Caribbean in January you might catch a cold.
I suggest you you go to Japan where they have the hotsprings and you can swim with the Monkeys.
Seriously you'll probrably never consider the Caribbean again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I thought at first this had to be a put on. We always travel in Jan. and have always used the pools and the ocean. We snorkel without wet suits and use shorties on dives.

You probably also think Lake Powell and Pineview are warm enough for swimming too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Rick: I watched some visitors in shorts walking by some kids in coats waiting for the bus one winter. They just looked amazed. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Kimber, both are too warm in the summer. Prefer Bear Lake, sometimes gets up to 72 degrees. (on the surface):}

Two things will factor into whether you'll use a pool in January:
1. if the pool itself is in the sun for most of the day, it'll usually be warm enough. For example, we have stayed at 3 homes in Coral Bay and being on the west side of the harbor means the mountain keeps the sun from hitting the pool all day; it is gone by 2-ish. So if your plan to to be at the beach, then have a dip later, it'll be cooler.
2. where you are coming from determines what you consider warm...us US Northerners can handle colder waters, so the pool doesn't have to be that warm. Those who are used to warm ocean water will not be as comfortable.