Gift Hill Vacation Rental villa

The Florian Villa is The Place to experience a tropical adventure. With privacy, luxury, a gorgeous pool, and breathtaking views of The Virgin Islands, you simply will not want to leave the property. But there is so much to do while you’re on the island, especially if you’re there during one of The Florian Villa Retreats, which are all-inclusive vacations.

Several times a year Scott and Deb, the villa’s gracious and knowledgeable owners, host all inclusive vacations. They have two kinds- Yoga & Active Sport. I chose the latter, and got to snorkel in glass clear water with thousands of color fish, hike all around the island’s National Park (which is 2/3rds of St. John), and even cruised around the entire island in a power boat.

Now you can do all of these activities if you stay in a hotel, but let me say that you’ll miss out on most of it. No matter how much web or book research you do, you’ll never be able to learn how to get around the island like Scott & Deb. They have two brand new SUVs, which are imperative for navigating the steep, narrow roads. And that’s another thing- you could rent a car but I would advise against it. In addition to the roads being steep and narrow, you must also drive on the left. I believe St. John is the only U.S. territory where you must drive on the left.

Scott & Deb also take care of all the gear. You do not have to rent anything- they will provide you with snorkeling and hiking equipment and all the little details (such as water and sunblock). You just grab it and go have fun.

Now let’s talk food. No matter where you go on the island (supermarket or restaurant), food is very, very expensive on St. John. I ate a few of the nicer restaurants there (such as The Balcony) and none of them even came close to Deb’s cooking. We had meals like marinated chicken and veggies, gourmet burgers, and the best Turkey dinner I’ve ever eaten. And all these meals are included in the retreat! As well as beer and wine! And let me tell you- a cold Corona never tasted better after hiking to the top of Mt. Bordeaux (the highest point on St. John).

You could stay at the ultra expensive Westin and not get treated any better.

I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed The Florian Villa. I urge you to go to their website to find out