Everything good that the agencies say about Mar de Amores is true. It is very private and secluded and yet conveniently located to town. If I'd known in advance that it was 15 minutes to the beach, I might have balked. But, you know, vacation time isn't like real life time, and to be honest, it just didn't matter. Fifteen minutes to the closest beach or 30 to the furthest just doesn't make any difference when you have a week to do nothing but snorkel and swim. The view, is truly amazing, I felt like I was in a dream as a sat at the kitchen table and watched the sun come up each morning. There are sliding glass doors across the entire south side of the house and one on the opposite side for a wonderful cross breeze. The property was equipped with everything we needed for cooking and grilling (it does need a pitcher for juice, though). All in all it was a very nice place to stay, except......

there is a real plumbing problem at the house. I realize that they do not advertise the Jacuzzi tub, but it is in the pictures. And if the only problem were that the tub didn't work, it might have been okay. However, the shower attached to the tub also doesn't really work, unless you count the sprinkle that you get out of it for 2-3 minutes at a time until the water pressure drops and you sit there freezing waiting to be able to turn it back on. The other shower isn't much better. It doesn't go off entirely when the water pressure drops but it goes down to a literal trickle. And, I hate to say it, but there is a definite sewer smell in the front hall bath as well.

And now I'm done being negative. We really had a fabulous time on St. John and look forward to doing it again some day. We might even want to stay at Mar de Amores if we can be assured a decent shower.