Frequently Asked Questions

(Click on any question for a detailed answer)

1. Why should I choose St. Croix for my vacation?
2. Why should I choose Villa Dawn or Caribbean Breeze over other St. Croix properties?
3. What do I need to bring with me?
4. What documents do I need to enter/leave the US Virgin Islands?
5. Is there a page on your website where we can see your availability?
6. Do you offer help with Airfare discounts, car rentals and other travel arrangements?
7. How far are the villas and condo from the water and where are they located on the island?
8. Do you offer maid service?
9. Do you offer a cook?
10. Are the properties air-conditioned?
11. Can you recommend services such as a masseuse, chauffer, SCUBA shop, etc?
12. What activities are there close to the villas and condo?
13. Are there any groceries nearby, how far is it to a grocery store, do they carry a large selection?
14. How far are the villa and condo from the airport?
15. How far is the villa/condo from town?
16. Are there nice beaches close to the villa and condo?
17. Where is there good snorkeling and SCUBA diving close to the villa and condo?
18. Where can I get snorkeling gear?
19. Is there someone we should contact if we have a problem?
20. What will the weather be like while we are there?
21. Will there be a lot of cruise ship passengers crowding the island?
22. Should we consider travel insurance?
23. Is there a crib and highchair available?
24. Is there a phone at the villa and condo and will my cell phone work?
25. Can I access the Internet from the villa and condo?
26. Are there games and videos in the villa and condo?
27. What airport do we fly into?
28. Are pets allowed?
29. Can we smoke in the villa and condo?
30. Will we have trouble finding the villa and condo from the airport?
31. Is the water safe to drink?
32. Do we need to conserve water while at the villa and condo?
33. Do we need to rent a car?
34. What forms of payment do you accept?
35. What are our reservation requirements?
36. Can we make an online reservation?
37. What is the electric voltage on St. Croix?
38.What time zone is St. Croix in?

1. Why should I choose St. Croix for my vacation?

St. Croix is a wonderful Caribbean destination that offers everything you would expect from a Caribbean Island...the charm of the Caribbean culture, the powder white sand beaches, the soft warm breezes, the lush green hills, swaying Palms and water so brilliantly aquamarine that you can't believe it's real! The island has lots of wonderful restaurants and plenty of duty free shopping. It has the only casino located in the Virgin Islands. It has a varied terrain, from a dry and arid East end to a lush and green West end that even includes a small rainforest! There is an endless array of activities on the island and a slow pace not found in many other Caribbean destinations. St. Croix is an ideal choice for your Caribbean holiday and you will be supporting a US territory while you relax!

2. Why should I choose Villa Dawn and Caribbean Breeze over other St. Croix villas and condos?

Villa Dawn and Caribbean Breeze are exceptional properties. Villa Dawn is located in what we think is the best location on St. Croix...or anywhere for that matter! Villa Dawn's location offers you peace and quite and the ability to walk to several restaurants and activities in less than 5 minutes. The views are world class and you'll get a spectacular sunset over the water each night!

Caribbean Breeze is located beachfront within steps of the beach, the pool and the poolside bar & grill. It is walking distance to a marina with a good restaurant, a dive shop and Kayaking tour company. It is less than 15 minutes from town and just 8 minutes from Cane Bay.

Because we own, manage and market our properties ourselves, our rental rates are also very reasonable especially for the luxury, amenities and locations. We pride ourselves on the level with which we maintain and outfit our properties. No details have been overlooked and the villa and condo are always meticulously maintained. My wife Dawn and I operate Villa Dawn and Caribbean Breeze with idea of having repeat guests, again and again. Many other owners rent their properties part time to help pay expenses and they don't really care if you come back...we do! Our properties are a great alternative to a St Croix Hotel or Resort.

3. What do I need to bring with me to the villa and condo?

The villa and condo are equipped with everything you would have in your own home and then some. All you need to bring is casual clothes and of course your bathing suit and sun block! You will find St. Croix to be a very casual island. Casual, comfortable dress is the norm. Even at fine restaurants, nice casual clothes are fine! The island has two Kmarts so if you forget something you can always find it on the island.

4. What documents do I need to enter/leave the US Virgin Islands?

Travel Document Requirements

***** U.S. Citizens DO NOT need a passport to travel to St. Croix!!! *****
Click here for more info.

U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You will need a valid drivers license or other government issued photo ID when leaving the island.

At the airport...

When you leave St. Croix by air, give yourself at least an hour and a half at the airport to go through customs and immigration checkpoints (two hours for direct flights to the mainland due to the number of passengers boarding). At the airline counter you will be required to show photo identification for security purposes and check your bags.

Before passing through Customs you have the opportunity to shop in the airport's gift shop and/or get a bite to eat at the small local restaurant located in the lobby. This is your last chance to try some local food before you return home!

After visiting the airport lobby, proceed to Customs. Present your boarding pass, passport or other valid ID, to a Customs Inspector. You then collect your bags from the luggage carousel and pass through Immigration where you present your identification and boarding pass. Be prepared to have all your bags checked thoroughly, inside and out.

Once past Customs and the airport screening area there are new gates with comfortable chairs. There is also a small snack bar, which serves light snacks, soft drinks, beer and cocktails and a gift shop.

5. Is there a page on your website where we can see your availability?

Yes! On each of our home pages you will find a link to our availability calendars. These are updated immediately upon each reservation. Click here to see our availability for both of our St. Croix rental properties.

We are happy to assist you with all of your travel arrangements. We can help save you money on your airfare, suggest the best routings to St. Croix and help you with Ferry and Sea Plane service to St. Thomas for a day trip or additional airline connections.

We work with three local car rental agencies on St. Croix, Centerline Car Rentals, Judi of Croix Car Rentals and Skyline Car Rentals. While most of the major companies are represented on the island you won't get the customer service or competitive rates that you will with our recommended agencies. They will meet you right at baggage claim with a sign with your name on it and take care of the rental paperwork right there. No waiting on long lines at a car rental counter! Click here for more information.

7. How far is the villa and condo from the water and where are they located on the island?

Villa Dawn is exactly 166 yards from the water! Our property, which extends all the way to the small coast road, is 1.3 acres, in a pie shape. The villa sits on the back (wide) portion of the property. The villa is about 50 feet above sea level which offers spectacular views of Cane Bay but also lets you hear the gentle waves roll in. It will take you just 3 minutes to stroll down our driveway to the beach! Some villa owners describe their location as "walking distance" to the beach but in reality they are more like a "hike" to the beach. In addition, Cane Bay beach is a beautiful white sandy beach with areas where the sand extends out into the water. Be sure to ask if a so called "sandy beach", within walking distance, is a good swimming beach and not just a strip of sand on a rocky beach with surf!

Caribbean Breeze is located beachfront. You'll have to walk about 75 feet to be on the sand!

Here is a page showing the location of both Villa Dawn and Caribbean Breeze on the island. Click here.

8. Do you offer maid service?

The villa and condo will be immaculate upon your arrival and cleaned again after your departure. Should your stay last longer than a single week you can have additional maid service for each week reserved at no additional cost. Our housekeeper, Jennifer, offers additional maid service at approximately $65 per visit for up to 8 guests and $85 per visit for up to 12 guests. The price can vary based on how much you want done and the condition of the property.

9. Do you offer a cook?

While we do not offer a full-time cook at the villa or condo, we can recommend a vacation planning service that can arrange to have a chef for you.

10. Are the villas and condo air-conditioned?

Villa Dawn has central air-conditioning on the main level and a separate mini-split unit for the lower level suite. Each room on the main level has a ceiling fan and there is a large pedestal fan in the lower level.

Caribbean Breeze has central air conditioning. There are also ceiling fans in the bedrooms and a portable fan in the living room.

11. Can you recommend services such as a masseuse, chauffer, SCUBA shop, etc?

Yes! We have had many a wonderful massage right on the deck of Villa Dawn and Caribbean Breeze. You can even arrange to have a massage right on the beach. Chauffer and limousine service is available on the island and we would be happy to refer you to this service.

Dawn and I are both experienced SCUBA divers and just love the diving around St. Croix. The Cane Bay Wall is one of the best dive spots in the Caribbean and is located within swimming distance of Cane Bay Beach. For shore dives we recommend Cane Bay Dive Shop. If you want to explore all the sites accessible only by boat, we recommend Dive Experience, located in downtown Christiansted. They have a great boat and a great staff! Click here for more SCUBA information.

12. What activities are there close to the villas and the condo?

St. Croix is only 27 mile long by 7 miles wide at its widest point...you are never far from something to do. At Villa Dawn you can walk to the beach, Kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA diving and horseback riding...all within a 3-5 minute walk of Villa Dawn!

Caribbean Breeze has a beautiful beach right in front of it, a large pool, tennis courts, basketball court, a clubhouse with books, games and a ping pong table. You can walk to a dive shop at the marina and rent a Kayak there as well.

If you feel like taking a drive you can see a historic sugar plantation, visit a Rum factory, walk through a botanical garden, sail to beautiful Buck Island, go on a shopping spree, hike through a rainforest, ride a wet-bike or just go beach hopping. I could go on and on but you get the idea!

13. Are there any groceries at the villa and condo, how far is a grocery store, what about selection?

The villa and condo are stocked with a assortment of spices including, garlic powder, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, Caribbean seasoning, Basil, sugar, etc. They are also generally stocked with cooking oil, coffee filters, toothpicks and Ziploc bags. A roll of paper towels and a fresh roll of toilet paper in each bathroom is supplied to get you going...no pun on words intended!

If you arrive early enough and prefer to shop before arriving at the villa or condo we supply you with directions to excellent grocery stores, one that rivals any in the U.S., and is on the way from the airport to Villa Dawn. There are several large grocery stores, along with many small markets on the island, which you can stop at while you are out exploring the island as well. Click here to see some photos of The Market STX.

The closest grocery store to Villa Dawn, The Market STX, is on the way from the airport. It will take you about 20 minutes (5.3 miles) to drive to from the villa, depending on how comfortable you are driving on the island.

The closest grocery store to Caribbean Breeze (condo) is Foodtown, about 10 minutes away.

14. How far are the properties from the airport?

Villa Dawn is about 8.5 miles from the airport. It will probably take you 25 minutes to get to the villa on your first visit to the island. You have to go up and over the mountains to the other side of the island from the airport. Your return to the airport will probably take you about 20 minutes...you will have more experience driving on the island!

Caribbean Breeze is about 9 miles from the airport and will take you about 20 minutes to get there.

Remember to drive on the left!

15. How far are the villas and condo from town?

Villa Dawn is about midway between both Christiansted and Frederiksted. It will take you 20-25 minutes to drive to either town.

Caribbean Breeze is about 10-15 minutes from Christiansted and about 25 minutes to Frederiksted.

Christiansted is the larger of the two towns and has many shops and restaurants. Frederiksted is where most cruise ships dock and is very quiet when there are no ships in port. Both towns are wonderful to visit and have their own character.

16. Are there nice beaches close to the villas and condo?

YES!!!!

Cane Bay Beach, a three minute walk from Villa Dawn is one of the most beautiful beaches on St. Croix. It is a Palm lined, white sandy beach with areas where the sand extends out into the water for some distance.

Caribbean Breeze is located beachfront and is only an 8 minute drive from Cane Bay Beach!

There are many beautiful beaches on St. Croix. Click here for more information on St. Croix's beaches.

17. Where is there good snorkeling close to the villas and condo?

At Villa Dawn there is fantastic snorkeling in the waters just off of Cane Bay Beach. You will find large coral gardens and many species of colorful tropical fish. We have seen sea turtles several times and have even seen a pod of Dolphins swim by!

At Caribbean Breeze there is some good snorkeling on the reef right in front of the condo.

There are many other places to snorkel on St. Croix as well. Click here for more information.

18. Where can I get snorkeling gear?

If you don't have your own snorkel gear to bring with you, you can buy some on the island at one of two Kmarts or or Cost-u-Less (an island version of Costco minus the membership) and you can rent gear at several dive shops on the island. At Villa Dawn you can rent gear right at Cane Bay Dive shop which is right across the road from Cane Bay beach.

19. Is there someone that we can contact should we have a problem?

Yes. You can call us directly on our cell phones any day of the week, 24 hrs a day. We will supply you with our contact information in our rental packages. We will in turn immediately contact the appropriate person on the island to resolve any issue you may have.

20. What will the weather be like while we are there?

The temperature averages 82 degrees year round on St. Croix. You will find daytime highs to be around 85 in winter months and 88 in the summer. Nighttime lows will be around 74 in the winter months and 78 in the summer. It doesn't get any better than that!

Rainfall varies with the time of year but there really is no season where it just rains all the time. The real difference between a "dry" season and a "rainy" season on St. Croix is that you will get a daily 10 minute shower in the dry season and a daily 15 minute shower in the rainy season. Most of the time the showers happen at night. Obviously, we can't guarantee that you will have perfect weather, but you are more than likely to have spectacular weather anytime of the year!

21. Will there be a lot of cruise ship passengers crowding the island?

No! Unlike some other Caribbean destinations, St. Croix is not overrun with cruise ship passengers. St. Croix gets at most, only a couple, of cruise ship visits per week. St. Thomas, on the other hand, gets 4-6 ships in port each day! That can add up to 12,000 passengers getting off of cruise ships each morning and flocking to town and the beaches! Ouch!

22. Should we consider travel insurance?

Travel Insurance can be a trip saver. There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or even worse, force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. Here are some common examples of what could go wrong.

It's 10 p.m. and your family arrives at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. How do you get your family home?
Your traveling companion's bag was lost with his insulin inside. He needs help to locate his bag as soon as possible and his emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?
Your first visit to the Caribbean, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?
Your spouse is involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?
If your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you choose to cancel your trip, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?
You arrive in St. Croix and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?
Your airline or accommodations operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?
You're walking down a street in Christiansted and twist your ankle. Who can help you find a physician?
Three weeks before your scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?
You are at a beach resort in St. Croix, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation?

Purchasing travel insurance it is something to consider. When selecting a company be sure to ask plenty of questions, especially concerning a particular area of concern for you. Click here for TravelGuard.com.

23. Is there a crib and highchair available?

Yes. We have highchairs and up to two portable cribs available for your use at each property, at no extra charge!

24. Are there phones at the villa and condo and will my cell phone work?

Yes, there are several "land line" phones at each property. Feel free to take them outside with you, just don't go swimming with them or leave them in a rain shower! Local calls are free. Long distance calls are charged to you after your stay at a rate of $.07 per minute. We will contact you when we receive our phone bill with any long distance charges due.

Your cell phone will work depending on your provider. Make sure your plan includes the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Croix in the coverage so you will not be charged outrageous roaming fees. Currently, you should have cellular service if you use Sprint or AT&T. We do not have local service with Verizon except in town and you will be roaming. You can also purchase a pre-paid phone at Radio Shack and Kmart with a set amount of minutes.

The is some cell service at Villa Dawn. In the corner of the kitchen by the window you may get service inside the villa. We call it the cell phone corner...just put you phone on the window ledge. Service is better outside.

There is no cell service at the condo. Strangely enough, near the beginning of the long driveway, next to the Tennis courts, there is a small area where your cell will work. The Gentle Winds community calls it the "phone booth"! :)

If your phone is capable of "Wifi calling" we recommend using that while in the villa or condo. Just connect your phone to our Wifi and you are good to go!

25. Can I access the Internet from the villa and condo?

Yes! We offer a Wi-Fi Internet connection at both of our properties. At Villa Dawn you can connect wirelessly or connect directly to the router using a standard Ethernet cable. At Caribbean Breeze you will look for the GW Broadband network and connect using the instructions that we will send to you.

There are also several businesses offering internet service (hot spots) on the island.

26. Are there games and videos in the villas and condo?

Yes. We have several board games and decks of cards at the villa. There is also a collection of videos at the villa including many children's titles.

27. What airport do we fly into?

You will fly into Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (airport code: STX). The airport was expanded and renovated with very modern facilities. It's extended runway can safely accommodate very large aircraft.

28. Are pets allowed?

No. We are sorry, but pets are not allowed at Villa Dawn or Caribbean Breeze.

29. Can we smoke inside the villa and condo?

No. Smoking of any kind inside the villa and condo is strictly prohibited and may result in additional cleaning fees. You are free to smoke anywhere outside the villas and condo. Please use one of the ashtrays supplied and please don't put your cigarette butts anywhere but in an ashtray!

30. Will we have trouble finding the villa or condo from the airport?

No. We have never had a guest have any trouble finding the villa or condo. We supply you with extremely detailed directions to the villa and condo from the airport.

31. Is the water safe to drink?

All of the water at Villa Dawn is collected rain water that is stored in cisterns below the villas. We recommend buying bottled water for drinking purposes. Bottled water is available in gallon jugs everywhere on the island for about $1.50 per gallon. Anytime you go out of the country, you run the risk of getting a bug that your body is not used to from the local water supply. The same would apply to someone coming to the U.S. from out of the country!

The water at Caribbean Breeze is safe to drink. It is filtered and chlorinated right at the complex. We still use bottled water for drinking because it tastes better.

32. Do we need to conserve water while at the villas and condo?

We do ask that you try to conserve water as much as is reasonably possible. All of the water for the villa comes from rainwater or costly water deliveries by truck and is stored in cisterns under the house (this is very common in the Caribbean). Although St Croix is an island surrounded by water, fresh water is very scarce.

33. Do we need to rent a car?

It is not entirely necessary, but we highly recommend it. There is a lot to see and do on the island and you will have a great time exploring the island, seeing it's attractions or just beach hopping! If you use a GPS like a Garmin or similar, it will have St Croix maps in it. Once you are at Villa Dawn or Caribbean Breeze, following the detailed directions from the airport that we will send you, you can set the villa or condo as a favorite. That way, no matter where you are on the island you can always get back home easily! We ourselves never go to the island without renting a vehicle. Click here for some recommended car rental agencies.

34. What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept VISA, MasterCard and Discover, as well as personal/business checks. Rates are in U.S. Dollars ($). We can also accept Paypal with a 2.5% transaction fee.

35. What are our reservation requirements?

To confirm a reservation we require 50% of the rental amount as a deposit. The balance and 12.5% tax will be due 60 days prior to your stay. We accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover and checks as payment. If you choose to use a check as payment for the deposit, we require that it reach us within 3 business days of your verbal confirmation. A credit card as payment confirms the reservation immediately.

After receiving your deposit we will send you a rental package that will include two copies of our rental agreement, one for your records and one to sign and return to us. We will also send you St. Croix information and brochures. About two weeks before your stay we will send you the keys to the villa, along with detailed directions from the airport.

We also require a $500 security deposit. You can use a credit card (the number will be kept on file and not charged) or a separate check for the security deposit. If you use a check for the security, it should be sent when the balance is due. It will not be deposited in our bank unless there has been a problem at the villa, which will be discussed with you before we do anything with your security deposit.

36. Can we make an online reservation? Yes you can! Should you want to confirm a reservation online, just check the availability calendar for the property you are interested in, (click here for our calendars) and if your dates are available go to our secure online booking form. Online bookings are limited to Saturday to Saturday stays (7, 14, 21 nights etc.). Now, if you want to be sure that you get the week you are looking for, you don't have to wait to talk to us...just book it yourself!

37. What is the electric voltage on St. Croix?

The voltage on St./ Croix is 110 volts, the same as on the U.S. mainland.

38. What time zone is St. Croix in?

St. Croix lies in the Atlantic Time zone. We do not follow Daylight Savings Time here on the island. During the spring and summer we are on the same time as the East Coast of the U.S. When the the clocks are set back for daylight savings, in the fall and winter, we are one hour ahead of east coast time.