Something that I use at home but have not used taken with us to the islands yet is 5% tar oil dandruff shampoo. I use it for my Psoriasis.
We have had good luck with it warding off mosquitos here and my sister-in-law had a flea infestation problem thanks to their dogs and she tried it. She went flea free after using the TGel shampoo.

Skin So Soft is also very good at repelling mosquitoes.
You'll have to check different companies for child friendly boating environments and be sure to let them know of the allergies, in advance.

Can I ask, what is Skin so Soft? Is it a lotion that I can get at Target or Walmart..I am located in NJ..

Thanks.

Yes, It's skin lotion. You can try Target or Walmart or see if you can find it online.

Skin So Soft is a moisturizing bath product manufactured by Avon but, although some people swear by it as a mosquito repellant, Avon itself has continuously said that it's not and is solely a beauty product.

Deet-containing repellants work the best and you might find this article helpful:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/question/general/repellent.html

As far as the boat trips are concerned I'd suggest you look into the 6-packs (boats which carry max 6 passengers), I recommend S/V Independence, S/V High Pockets and S/V Fantasy which all run out of Red Hook which is a 5 minute drive from Sapphire. Enjoy a great vacation!

It will be unusual if you have a mosquitoes problem at Sapphire. There is most always a nice breeze that blows them away. Once in a great while when there is no breeze some of the beach level units can have some but it is not the norm.
There will be sand fleas at dawn and dusk though so just keep the kids off the sand for a half hour at dusk. Do take something with you when you go out if you are eating at a beach restaurant but again there is usuall a breeze by the water.

Regarding a snorkel trip ask when you book who else they have booked on a particular day. Sometimes it is couples, and familys others young party people. They will try to help you.

Ask if any families with young kids scheduled for their trips. Maybe you'll meet new friends with kids who they will end up playing with.

Personally, I would not want to share a day with kids on a boat trip, especially if they get tired and cranky. No offense.

On a 6-pack you'll likely be the only family aboard. Most of the boats are on a per person rate and don't mandate that the boat be full to go out. Just check their websites and give them a call.

Thank you..I checked into the recommended "6 pack"..guess I will email them direcly...perhaps they will go to BVI as well..

Yes..I totally understand not wanting to be on board with kids..we don't mind being the only family..but its so hard to book far ahead with kids..if you don't know weather conditions, etc on boats cause they can get sea sick and then be really cranky! I will have to ask the boat people..

I have a very dumb question...what is considered dusk when the mosquitoes, sand flies come in? IS that 6 pm..when it starts to get dark? I thought in evening the tide is high and you can't really be on beach anyway so I thought we would go to the swimming pool at Sapphire around 7/7:30 pm nightly (I think my condo owners said it was on the beach)..hopefully 1. the pool is warm waters and 2. there are no sandflies on the walk from our condo to the beach..

I am one of those that get eaten alive in the summers months in NJ...and so my young daughter..

The sand fleas start coming out around 4:30PM which is why you'll see most residents leaving the beaches around that time! High tide has nothing to do with it - the difference here between high tide and low tide is minimal. There's very minimal "dusk" here - the sun sets very quickly and doesn't linger. Don't worry too much about the mosquitoes. Just protect yourself with a good repellant and, as was mentioned earlier, the nice breezes at Sapphire generally keep then at bay. Have fun!

In regards to boats -- any one reco a "private" charter..this way guarantee only just us family on boat....we kind of need the personal attention..i'd love to snorkel but not really a great swimmer at all..always will use life jackets...I was looking at costs..for us a family of 4, its like 500 for those boats with 6 people...

Also..we were thinking of one day touring st. johnourselves and is it too much to one day go to tortola or virgin gordes? There is barge car to St john but doesn't seem like car barge to tortola and definitely not virn gordes..probably because of distance to these bvi islands?

If so I would need to taxi once I arrive at one of the BVI islands.

Thanks.

Not sure what you mean by "private" charters. The boats I recommended earlier are all privately owned and operated.

As far as ferries go, if you go top right this page you'll see a link to the ferry schedules both for St Thomas/St John and to the BVI. There are regular ferries to the BVI. Note that you MUST have valid passports to travel between the USVI and the BVI, whether on a ferry or a private charter.

Hope that helps.

yes I just realized I probably didn't make sense...I meant renting a boat, hiring a captain, to go to BVI directly..instead of going thru the regular ferries....so more flexible schedule..but I don't know of any trustworthy captain...I will ask around..

then, I am just wondering I am only staying a week..just spending 1 day going to st john and then spending one day coral ocean park and linquist beach, then one day drake point/magens bay, and then one day havensight paradise point..or maybe I should combine drakes/paradise point in one day and enjoy magens for one day...so that's 4 of my 7 days..

probably the rest I should just spend relaxing at the condo so maybe a trip to bvi is too much at this time with 2 very young kids..

On this I agree - a trip to the BVI is too much to pack into just one week when you'll only have enough time to get a little taste of what there's to do and see on STT and STJ. The worst thing you can do is over-think and over-plan!

Here's a llnk to the Sapphire webcam - think relaxation!

http://www.sapphireinthesun.com/

The point of a vacation is to relax. If you plan on going on any full day trips, you need to consider yours and your very young children's stamina and endurance levels. You can't tell what kind of weather you'll encounter on any given day, in advance so you may want to plan a 1/2 day trip if kids get worn out easily or need naps, prone to seasickness, etc. We often have rough seas and blustery winds during the winter that may make it uncomfortable for a full day on a boat so you may want to take that into account.

There really is plenty to do and see in STT for your family and you can always take your rental car (make sure you can when you make reservation for your rental car) over to St. John and spend the day there on your own, exploring that island. You want to have an enjoyable and relaxing time and gong up to the BVI on a full day trip might not be in the cards until your kids are a bit older and can handle a full day and what all it entails.

Thank you for the valuable feedback!

STT Resident wrote:

As far as the boat trips are concerned I'd suggest you look into the 6-packs (boats which carry max 6 passengers), I recommend S/V Independence, S/V High Pockets and S/V Fantasy which all run out of Red Hook which is a 5 minute drive from Sapphire. Enjoy a great vacation!

I tried to google S/V Independence, etc. and didn't come up with them. Does S/V stand for something I should know to look for them? Anyone have the website?

S/V is "Sailing Vessel". Here's the website:

http://www.sailingvirginislands.net/

A google of "S/V Independence st thomas" brings up a bunch of links including many reviews.

Thanks!