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I posted a few weeks ago, and this is a follow up.
We arrive on St. Thomas on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 4, and our friends arrive on Saturday. We're renting a house (Perelandra) on St. John, starting on that Saturday. My husband and I were planning to stay on St. Thomas Thursday night, take the ferry to Jost Van Dyke Friday morning, stay on JVD Friday night and take the ferry to St. John on Saturday to meet our friends and go to the villa.
Sounded like a workable plan, and we were very much looking forward to staying on JVD and seeing more of the island after a couple of day trips to White Bay. But, alas, nobody will let us stay for only one night. Every place has a minimum stay of two or three nights.
So we're regrouping. Now our plan is to stay on St. John at the Inn at Tamarind Court Thursday and Friday nights. (Arriving on the 10:00 p.m. ferry from Red Hook.) Which leads to my questions:
1. Has anyone stayed at the Inn at Tamarind Court? If so, what did you think of it? We had dinner there about six years ago, and from that experience and looking at its Web site, it seems adequate -- comfortable, AC, clean, not too expensive, which would suit us fine.
2. Would it be worth the effort to take the ferry to JVD on Friday morning, then turn around and come back on the 2 p.m. ferry? Would there be time to see much of JVD? My husband's main goal is to get Cuban cigars in the BVI, and I've read that Foxy's sells them. But I think Foxy's might be closed for the slow season. Any thoughts?
3. Would Tortola be a good alternative for a day trip (by ferry) on that Friday? I've only been to the little town there where you go through customs, never to any beaches. I think I also was briefly at another spiffy little town with a marina. Can you take taxis to fabulous beaches and shops (for the cigars)? The ferry schedule would allow us to return from Tortola later in the day than the JVD ferry would.
Thanks for any help you can provide. And if you're going to be on St. John Oct. 6-12, let me know!
Did you call Ivan's? I 'll be on Jost the following Friday and was told that I could stay there for just one night, going back to STJ Saturday morning.
Can't imagine they'd have a two, three night minimum stay when the ferries only run Friday-Sunday. That'd be difficult!
And I'll be there 10/7 - 10/14. All this talk about bushwackers has made me thirsty. Want to catch up for a drink at some point? I'm going to be very flexible with my schedule, but perhaps we can meet up while we're there.
DId you try this place? Looks like they have nightly rates...
http://www.bviwelcome.com/seacrestinn/seacrestinn.html
Or even the campgrounds near Ivan's (primitive, I know)?
The Sea Crest also has a minimum stay, but the receptionist I spoke to (since I was trying to do the exact same thing as cg) said that she could only sell a one-night stay "last minute". So - you might be able to stay there, just won't know until the last minute (meaning you may have to pay for 2 overnights on different islands for the same night).
Otherwise, the only real choice is Ivan's. We stayed there last year for a single overnight and it was fine. Yes - shared restrooms and private, but shared shower facility and really just concrete shacks as the rooms, but it was safe and comfortable. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again for a single night stay (now - my wife has a differing opinion - she'll only stay in a hotel - high maintenance and all).
Yes - it is worth going over for a day stay. You get there fairly early. I recommend taking a taxi to Ivan's to start the day, relax have a banana wacker or two then take the hike over the hill to Soggy Dollar Bar for the afternoon. Taxi back to the dock or to Foxy's for your cigars (which by the way you cannot bring back to the USVI) and walk back to the dock. Be on time as even though the ferry might be late, once they arrive, they "load and go" and won't wait for you.
Good Luck! Have Fun!
See, that was exactly going to be my plan for a day trip, but then I was told that I had to stay overnight and to call Ivan's.
I just don't feel like there's 24 hours of entertainment on Jost in the low-season. Half the island will be closed in October anyhow...
Most likely what will happen is that I'll start talking to Ivan, lose track of time, miss the ferry and then HAVE to go back in the morning, I suspect.
Thanks for your advice. We tried Seacrest, and they said three-night minimum. Ivan's phone numbers both have been busy, so I figured they're closed. We wouldn't want to pay to stay at two places, and we're ok with staying on St. John. It'll make it easier to meet up with our friends on Saturday anyway - we can get the house and car and stock up before they get there.
So now our big decision is what to do on that Friday - JVD or Tortola?
Lulu - It would be great to meet up with you. But now that I actually stop to think about it, I hate to make any commitments. One never knows what their friends will want to do! Generally when we're there, we figure out each day's (and night's) plans on the fly. Where are you staying? And you're coming in a big group, right?
I know Ivan's is open. I think another family member is holding down the fort right now, though. It might not hurt to keep trying. I don't think telephone service is the most reliable over there.
Like I said, I'm planning to do a day trip to Jost even if I don't get to stay overnight. So that's what I'd recommend.
I am just the same way. I don't want to say "let's meet at Beach Bar Tuesday at 4 p.m." because I don't want to have any plans while I'm on this trip. I don't want to have to rush to be at Beach Bar at 4 because I told you I would be. We could exchange cell numbers and then if we feel like meeting up while were down there, we can.
Yes, I think I'll do the day trip too. And I like your suggestion about cell phones, but I have Verizon, and it often switches to international roaming, and I so hate getting screwed on phone charges that I don't even turn it on when I'm there. It would be fun to meet up with other people though. Are you staying near Cruz Bay?
I'm staying on Maria Bluff, which my sources tell me very near Cruz Bay. Apparently you turn right to go up the hill after the Westin. I've never been there before, so I'm taking their word on it.
Allegedly there is a way to set your phone so it doesn't automatically select the best network so you don't end up on BVI towers. I haven't figured it out yet.
Maybe it IS best to say "4 p.m. at the Beach Bar..." (That's random; it can be anywhere, really.) I just totally want to take my watch off and get where I'm going whenever I get there, but it'd be cool to meet up while we're there.
I know what you mean. I'll check and see if my husband has any ideas.
CG, did Tamarid Inn require a minimum stay in season, as we have a villa in late Jan 08 for 9 days but need a place for night of arrival, we were planning on staying at Holiday Inn in St Thomas as we have done in the past but would much rather have the extra night on St John!
Kevin F
Kevin - Nobody said anything about a minimum stay, but I reserved two nights. And I didn't see a minimum mentioned on the web site, http://innattamarindcourt.com
