Suggestions of How to Get the Most Out of A Villa Rental on St Barts

Welcome to St. Barts! The island's off-season, starting April 16th, offers a sweet deal with rental rates slashed by 30-40% compared to high season. Picture this: fewer crowds, ample parking, easier restaurant reservations, and stable temperatures year-round, varying by only about six degrees.

Now, when you're browsing through villa options, it's crucial to partner up with a Seasoned Villa Rental St. Barts Specialist who's deeply connected to the island. Ask them about their recent visits, their firsthand experiences in the recommended villas, their relationships with the owners, and how long they've been immersed in St. Barts' villa rental scene.

St. Barts is made up of many unique neighborhoods. They have their own personalities. Make sure you fully understand the differences between neighborhoods. Proximity to Gustavia, congestion, proximity to beaches, and airport. Even though St. Barts is only 9 square miles in size it can take quite a while to get around the island. The roads are narrow. If you plan on going out to dinner a lot, the last thing you want to be doing is to be driving far late at night.

Beaches are incredible, but beware most beaches do not have food and restrooms. Some villa owners have beach chairs and coolers that guests can use. Suggest finding out if the villa you might select has beach chairs and coolers available.

Pools - all guests love pools. Believe it or not during the months of Dec-Feb the weather can get cooler than you might expect so the pool water can get cooler. Many guests like their pool water to be in the 80’s. If the temperature drops or it rains the pool water temperature can drop. If this important then inquire if the pool is heated. Keep in mind however, it takes a long time to heat up water.

View - this is one of the most sought after requirements. Guests love incredible views. The question is what do you want to look at - sunset, sunrise, open ocean, or flicker lights of civilization during the night?

Peek at villa photographs, but don't stop there! Inquire about the photo dates to ensure they accurately represent the current state of the villa. Many villa owners fail to keep their villa photographs up-to-date and make changes without making it known. Nothing worse than a mismatch between expectation and reality. Aerial photographs speak volumes.

Construction nearby can quickly turn a dreamy escape into a noisy nightmare. Be sure to check for ongoing projects that might disrupt your peace. St. Barts continues to be an island that is under construction. Often the neighborhoods have no idea when the construction will start or at what level. However, it should be brought to your attention of the possibility. This can be tremendously annoying. Some owners might offer discounts, but don’t count on it.

Privacy matters! Confirm if neighboring villas can peek into your activities, ensuring your getaway remains exclusively yours. Potential renters all seem to want to know the privacy level of the villa. What we have discovered is privacy is defined is can the guest nude sunbath in private.

Everyone loves to soak up the sun and be outside. The sunshine on St. Bart can be brutal. In no time at all you can get a severe sunburn. Best take extreme caution at all times. You do not want to ruin your stay because you’re in pain because of a sunburn. A high quality villa will have plenty of available sunshine, but also have outside space that is covered from the sun. This allows you to still be outside in the fresh air, but not getting fried in the sunshine. The villa below has a fabulous extended roof over the outside deck to protect you from the elements including sun and rain. In addition it has comfortable outdoor seating.

Grill enthusiasts, take note! Check for spare propane tanks to avoid any BBQ interruptions due to low fuel. This is a nightmare. You’ve bought expensive meat or fish and gone out to cook on the grill and it will not start or even worse it is partially cooked and the propane gas tank goes empty. Before the check-in process is completed check to see if there are extra propane tanks available.

A clean grill is a happy grill! Ensure your outdoor cooking station is spick and span for a seamless grilling experience. Housekeeping often overlooks cleaning the gas grills before your arrival. Going out to a dirty grill is not a good way to start your villa rental experience. Before the check-in process is complete..check to see if the grill is clean.

Illuminate your nights! Verify that outdoor and pool lights are in working order before the sun sets. When you’re staying in an unfamiliar property it is tricking to find your way around especially at night. The pre-check staff often overlook checking to make sure the lights around the driveway, stairs, pools, and interior rooms all are in working order. In addition it helps if the light switches are labeled. Some owners have the lights on automatic switches that will turn on and off based on how the switches are programed. Make sure you fully understand the situation. Plus know where there might be extra lightbulbs.

Gate glitches? Be briefed on manual overrides for security gates to navigate power outages smoothly. Power outages are more frequent than you might realize. Trying to get in or out of a driveway and there is no electricity will be a challenge unless you know how to use the manual override.

Power outage? No problem! Familiarize yourself with the circuit breaker box for quick fixes. Power outages can often be quickly dealt with by simply re-setting the circuit. Make sure you know where the circuit breaker box is located and how to re-set it before the initial check-in is completed.

Safety first! Inquire about essentials like flashlights, batteries, candles, and fire extinguishers. If there is a power outage it is imperative to have these back-ups. Make sure you know where they’re located. Don’t wait until it is dark to find them. Your iPhone can also be used as a flashlight.

Water worries? Ensure the cistern tank is brimming before settling in, and test all faucets for hot water. Rental guests take lots of showers and long ones at that. Far too often the previous guests have consumed all or a large percentage of the water in a cistern tank. The villas on St. Barts collect their rain water and it is stored in cistern tanks. If it runs out it will not be good as the owner will need to have water trucks come and deliver fresh water.

Embrace the breeze but don't freeze! Remember to switch off the AC when opening doors and windows to avoid system overload and soggy surprises. If you leave the doors and windows open while running the a/c unit it will freeze up and stop working. Fresh breezes are great, but if you intend on opening the doors etc make sure you turn off the a/c first.

Fair shares for all! Couples, seek parity in villa accommodations to sidestep any pillow talk squabbles over room fairness. Couples that share equally in expenses want equality in features and amenities with the bedrooms.

When reviewing the costs of a weekly villa rental as couples don’t focus so much on the total costs of the villa for the week, but rather the cost per bedroom for the week.

Touching down in paradise? Prearrange your car rental and villa provisions for a seamless transition to relaxation. Have rental cars delivered to villa prior to arrival. This way you don’t wait in car rental lines and know for sure you have a car.

Don't let grocery runs spoil the fun! Have provisions delivered to your villa to skip the supermarket shuffle. If you do buy groceries do not buy so much that the refrigerator is stuffed. If the refrigerator is overloaded it will not work properly and food will not stay cold.

Arriving weary? Dive into the pool and savor a pre-prepared dinner for an effortless start to your island escape. Have it delivered to the villa prior to your arrival. Getting up early, waiting at airports, connecting flights, and being anxious is exhausting. Relax by the pool and enjoy a pre-pared dinner.

Stressed from travel? Indulge in a villa massage for ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation. Life is filled with stress from every day life and travel. It takes a while to unwind. A massage on the second day after arrival will help take the edge off.

Lights, camera, action! Ensure all TVs are operational and guests are briefed on their usage upon check-in. There should be detailed written instructions as to how to use each television. Last thing you want to be doing is struggling how to operate the televisions.

Internet can be a challenge. Make sure you know the password if the villa owner has pass protected the internet. Write it down!

Sleep soundly! Inquire about mattress age for a week of uninterrupted comfort. When was the last time it was replaced. If the mattress is uncomfortable it will be a long week. Also quality of linens and pillows. Are there plenty of different types of bed pillows from soft to firm? Everyone has different requirements in terms of pillows.

Just to make sure you understand about housekeeping. The general rule for villas is housekeepers work Monday - Saturday only not Sundays or holidays. At check-in discuss exactly what time the house keeper will come to the villa, for how long, and what will be done. It is rare for the majority of the villas to offer laundry service. Housekeepers depend on tips.

Bugs begone! Keep countertops clear to ward off unwanted critters and maintain villa bliss. Do not leave any food out on countertops the ants will come “marching in”.

Stale air? Confirm that the villa has been properly aired out and the AC is running to welcome you with a fresh breeze. Owners often stop running the a/c when villas are not being used. Make sure the villa has been open and a/c running prior to arrival. Nothing worse than walking in to stale air.

Crime has never been a major problem on the island of St. Barts. As a matter of fact, it is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. As a precaution, place your valuables in the safes at all times. Why take the chance.

Food is very expensive on St. Barts…especially fruits and vegetables. When preparing meals it is always great to have sharp knives….validate there are sharp knives at the villa if you’re planning on preparing meals.

Flexibility pays off! Consider breakdown rates for discounted stays in larger villas or partial occupancy.

Fill in the gaps! Propose extending your stay to bridge calendar openings, often leading to sweet deals from villa owners eager to maximize occupancy. Based on the calendar below you can see there are the 3rd - 8th days open. The owner will most likely not be able to rent those days. If you happen to be the guests leaving on the 2nd or arriving on the 9th, it would be worthing of exploring if the owner would make it attractive for you to leave a few days later or arrive a few days early. Does not hurt to ask!

And remember, loyalty pays! Repeat guests often enjoy exclusive discounts as a token of appreciation from villa owners.