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Westin St John #109188
10/04/2016 10:46 AM
10/04/2016 10:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 72
FrenchLaundry Offline OP
Traveler
FrenchLaundry  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 72
All -

I know this is the BVI forum but the USVI forum does not seem to have the traffic. I have a month sabbatical from work that I am excited about - we are spending one week on a CAT. We are also looking at renting a Villa at the Westin St. John I was told they were updated recently. We are traveling down from Nov. 7th through Dec. 2nd. Does anyone know if the construction is still going on at the Westin - Coral Vistas? Any feedback regarding the Westin construction would be helpful.

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Re: Westin St John [Re: FrenchLaundry] #109189
10/04/2016 01:18 PM
10/04/2016 01:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
W
windward2c Offline
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windward2c  Offline
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W
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
I would rather spend the month on the Cat than a Westin Villa. Great if you have kids under 5 but otherwise, it is a mangrove w no beach. JMHO

Re: Westin St John [Re: windward2c] #109190
10/04/2016 02:02 PM
10/04/2016 02:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
Traveler
maytrix  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
I'd rather spend the time on a cat too smile But if you want to just have time on land, the Westin is nice. I don't know what villas they have, but we stayed in a 3 bedroom condo like unit and it was nice - friends have a time share there. But we didn't spend too much time at the resort. We rented a jeep and went to a different beach each most of the days we were there.


Matt
Re: Westin St John [Re: maytrix] #109191
10/04/2016 02:56 PM
10/04/2016 02:56 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 850
C
Cleobeach Offline
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Cleobeach  Offline
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C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 850
There is a beach at the Westin. Its man-made and that bay is home to many boats. The water quality (or lack of) makes the news from time to time.

I think the condo units Maytrix mentions are the "villas" I am fairly certain they are not feed-standing units.

St. John has villa rental options for all tastes and budgets. Is there something in particular drawing you to the Westin? It probably the most vanilla of STJ options. (no to knock it, I know people are huge fans)

Re: Westin St John [Re: Cleobeach] #109192
10/04/2016 03:11 PM
10/04/2016 03:11 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
Traveler
maytrix  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
We did swim at the beach there once. It's my understanding they have their own desalination plant and it pumps right back in there which is the only explanation I could see for the incredibly salty water - far more so then normal.

They do have a nice pool though and its easy enough to drive to other much better beaches.


Matt
Re: Westin St John [Re: maytrix] #109193
10/04/2016 09:02 PM
10/04/2016 09:02 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 850
C
Cleobeach Offline
Traveler
Cleobeach  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 850
The water issues are of the bacteria counts from the discharge of human waste in the bay, not from the desalination plant. We don't stay there so I am not super in tune to the reports but on a regular basis, I see people post (a different forum) about the findings as they are released.

Re: Westin St John [Re: FrenchLaundry] #109194
10/04/2016 09:22 PM
10/04/2016 09:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 251
North Oregon Coast
SoggyDollarScott Offline
Traveler
SoggyDollarScott  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 251
North Oregon Coast
We were there in May 2015, and the Villas were under renovation. We returned again in May 2016, and the Villas were completed. It's my understanding that the Gardenside/Poolside buildings were next on the renovation list. With that being said..... I'd flip-flop and do a week in the Villas and spend the rest of the time on a Cat.

Re: Westin St John [Re: FrenchLaundry] #109195
10/05/2016 12:18 PM
10/05/2016 12:18 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,447
Virginia wishing STJ
TomB Offline
Traveler
TomB  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,447
Virginia wishing STJ
My wife and I love STJ, and like mentioned above we tend to head towards private villas vice the resorts. Why... because that is what we like, and we realize many like the resort environment.

However, I think the Westin gets some unfair knocks over their “Beach”. I just looked at what they say on their website about the beach. “Our St. John beach hotel is situated along the shores of Great Cruz Bay, just steps from the Caribbean. Great Cruz Bay is a calm, tranquil bay with a pristinely landscaped white sand beach. Spend the day relaxing and taking in the view, or wade in the bay's smooth waters.” All of which is true. A very scenic man made beach just steps away from many of the rooms. BUT - I think the keyword in that sentence is - wade.

One just has to look at all the boats in Great Cruz Bay, and they will know it is not the place to swim. Neither is Cruz Bay, Frank Bay, or Coral Bay. Chocolate Hole is pushing it also. They are lovely bays and are also homes for many boats and/or ferry traffic. I am pretty sure that the only regulations about pumping waste water off boats is one of: Please be a good steward and dump while underway not in the harbor. As in any marina in the USA, even with dump laws, I personally do not swim in harbors/marinas.

There are some beautiful beaches and VERY few resorts on STJ - So it would be my recommendation to anyone if staying at the Westin get a car, taxi, or walk/hitch hike to STJ’s wonderful beaches. Then come back to the Westin, enjoy the pool, the view of boats, and WADE out to listen to the clanging of the sailboats with a rum punch in hand. Once again the "keyword" - Wade. You will not be in paradise, but you can see it from there.


“Every time I open a bottle of wine, it is an amazing trip somewhere!” José Andrés
Re: Westin St John [Re: TomB] #109196
10/06/2016 09:59 AM
10/06/2016 09:59 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
Traveler
RickG  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
Great Cruz Bay has liveaboards, but the much bigger problem is runoff from Guinea Ghut into Great Cruz Bay. There is water running much of the year, there is a dump at the top of the hill that leaches into the Ghut and septic tanks routinely overflow into the Ghut. When there is a heavy rain all of that washes into Great Cruz Bay.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada

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