Posted by Nancy on June 11, 1999 at 10:45:12:
In Reply to: Beware Of Hawknest posted by Paul on May 27, 1999 at 15:15:48:
We had a similar experience with rats two years ago when we stayed at Villa Maria in the Great Cruz Bay area.
At first, we tried to overlook the problem, chalking it up to island life, but it was unnerving. Finally, we contacted the rental property company and they immediately sent out an exterminator. We wish we had reported the problem sooner.
After that experience, we decided to only stay at newer villas that can be more "enclosed" at night. The indoor/outdoor arrangement of the villas is something that mainlanders are not accustomed to.
Even in new villas, the ants are ever present. We always bring zip-lock bags for food storage and never leave any food or pina colada drippings out that would attract the ants.
The ants we can live with. The rats are something else. My advice is to communicate your concern to the property manager when you book your villa. If after you arrive, you realize that the villa is infested, report it immediately to the property manager. I am sure that an exterminator will be dispatched immediately.
Rats are disgusting, but unfortunately they can find their way into the best of villas and can be a problem even on the mainland.
A vacation on St. John is certainly worth the risk.