I don't know of any cottages that you can take from St Thomas to St John... 😉 Do you know how to drive a boat? You can probably rent something from American Yacht Harbor to circumnavigate St John. Otherwise, one of the dinghy rental companies in Cruz Bay to see the north side beaches as far as Leinster...

In reading your post a second time...Do you have NO housing reservations?

I would make housing plans ahead of time, especially traveling with a teen.

YES - make reservations for your stay

Pia

Very funny, EE!

love2snorkel: Have you checked into staying on STJ at either Cinammon Bay campgrounds or Maho? There's next to nothing similar on STT. Coming without reservations would be a big mistake, even in slow season - and camping out on a beach isn't legal or advisable. Cheers!

You must check out Cocki Beach. the snokeling is great and the reef has lots of fish and coral.
Cocki Beach is located next to Coral World.

I thought the snorkeling was decent at sapphire as well ( great beach day too ! )

It is different than the way I travel the states. Yes dear. I do know how to operate a boat. I've had a few. ;~) I've always made res. when I travel to Jamaica or Costa Rica when I went for the first time but seen places that I would of loved to of stayed but couldn't because I had res. I will take your advice tho. I'll let you know what I find. I would like to go to STJ but Hertz said I couldn't take the jeep there so maybe I will just keep it a week and go anyway on foot. Doing alot of web searching. Half the fun is research huh? Thanks, Dala

I make reservations because of the deals I get with searching and advanced decisions. However, if money was no object, I'd be ok with going without reservations. I have met peope who have done this in the VI and they've had no trouble. There are plenty of people who travel without reservations.

IMO, reservations also work well for the HOTELS when hotels are forcing advanced reservation guests to stay for a number of nights...but walk-ups take whatever is left and no minimum. I put on my friednly face and always get a discount from the manager.

If you want to do it, do it! Everything will NOT be sold out at the time you are going. Just take a list of places, phone numbers and addresses. I wouldn't bother calling to check for availability when you are on island - just go to the place where you want to stay and ask for a room with all of your charm. If they don't offer you a discount on any available space, politely beg for one. If you are standing a the desk, in person, you are much more lieky to get a room than you would over the phone. I have walked up to the most popular "sold out" resorts on holiday weekends, no reservation, and gotten a room WITH a discount.

I have made res. for all nights but the last. If I wasn't taking my grandson I would probably just go but since money is a issue when paying for 2 of everything I better play it safe. I got in at Maho Bay camp for 4 of the nights. Will check in at Bluebeards and Sapphire village for the rest. Can't wait to get in the water and share my love of travel and snorkeling with my grandson. Thanks

If you cancel your Hertz reservation, most all others will let you take the car to St John.

RL

Sounds like Maho is the right choice for you! Hope you have a wonderful time with your Grandson, he is lucky to have a Gram like yourself!!!
Enjoy!

Thank you Sherri. I have 5 grandkids, so I'm the lucky one. So much easier when I don't have to get passports for them. Made all the reservations and glad I did. Just a few more days and I will be there!