Hi there!
I understand your concern; we moved our original plans from St. Thomas to St. John for the same reasons. The more I learn about St John, its beauty, it's character, etc the more glad I am that we changed our plans whether it was related to the crime rate or not.

That being said, I think you have to ask yourself if you really think you would be in any more danger on the island than you would be in your own hometown. Crime is crime and it happens everywhere.

I now feel silly for being worried about the crime to begin with but am ecstatic that I changed my plan from St. Thomas to St. John just for it's character.

Although I am very critical of what is the response by the forces that be, I wouldn't cancel my trip. We head down every end of June for the carnival. We will once again make that trip. You will go and have lots of fun. Chances are you won't even notice anything different from trips past.

Hi, I read your post & just wanted to let you know that my husband & I were in st. john for 7 days this past week (Nov. 4th-11th) & we felt very safe there. Like you, I read some of the stuff about the recent violence/robbery & I had some concerns about going, but once I got there it wasn't an issue. We stayed in a villa that was in a remote area & never saw anybody besides the other tourists staying in neighboring villas. We went to Cruz Bay daily & all the locals that we passed while walking in town were friendly, not threatening at all. I think that as long as people are nice to them, they will be nice back (words to live by!). There were a few blocks of cruz bay that I wouldn't have felt comfortable walking on after dark, but you can easily avoid these areas...as with anywhere else, just use common sense & you will be fine. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the responses so far, we will probably leave our plans as they are. The only thing I was considering changing was cancelling our villa reservations for St John and staying on Virgin Gorda instead. It seems to be a lot safer on Virgin Gorda at least for the time being. I didnt know if it would be legally okay for me to put a stop payment on the check. After it is all said and done we will probably keep our reservations on St John....we are hashing this back and forth, by Monday we will need to decide if we are going to place a stop payment or not worry about it. We have really been looking forward to our honeymoon.

Thanks again!

Stopping payment on a check for a villa is not the appropriate way to handle a desire to caqncel, which you have already admitted. You would be held liable.

It is always best to contact the rental agent and try to work something out - like switching destinations, but still renting with the agent at the alternate destination. You'll almost certainly incur some penalty though...because the agent is accountable to the owner of the villa you've already secured.

That being said, I honestly don't feel that the issues on STJ will impact tourists. Virgin Gorda's villa scene is very limited. Nothing like STJ. Tortola would be a better option than VG. The BVIs don't tolerate crime the way the USVIs do. In either event, don't fret about STJ's situation. I bet you won't notice anything out of the ordinary.

like my own small town hometown in georgia, and almost every place i've ever vacationed, there are places i wouldn't want to go alone at night. that said, i've been to stj 4 times in past 13 months and plan to go back this monday if looks like weather will break, I HAVE NEVER FELT THREATENED BUT JUST LIKE ANY PLACE I GO THAT I'M NOT FULLY COMFORTABLE WITH, I DON'T DO STUPID!

seems like i recall rmn919 was planning to go to cancun till wilma hit there. been there done that and i feel far safer on stj than i did at any place in cancun (except inside Feista americana). nuff said.

papbou

I completely agree that stopping payment is not the right way to go about cancelling a reservation. All of this going on on such a small island is just freaking me out. I know crime is everywhere. I am from a small town in the country, about 4,000 residents, very little crime, nothing like what is going on currently in St John. It is really sad, I hope the government can get things under control soon. Thanks for all of the input.

DO NOT cancel your plans...you will miss out on a beautiful island and wonderful people. Keep your ears and eyes open as you would in any new place...or I will be your personal tour guide during Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am there during both holidays for 2 weeks. I only charge 1 margarita per hour. See the beauty without the hastle and as many others feel, you won't want to go home.

well...i certainly know how you feel since as most people on this board know my family was robbed at gunpoint in st thomas back in april....(muggings search on this board)
THAT BEING SAID.....even after all of that and hearing several other horror stories on this board, we are GOING AGAIN TO THE SAME PLACE in december!
we live in nyc and know people who have been victims of crime here and even in small towns you just never know even in europe on vacation we had a problem

st john is wonderful .....don't miss it!
but if you feel worried still talk to the rental agent maybe they will cancel for you or let you have a credit to the next vacation
and you can stay at a hotel on st john you might feel safer in that environment instead
or tortola is a great choice we loved the villas at long beach

you will be fine....how long are you going for?

i am just going to be extra careful and insist on a room near the office etc to no tempt fate!

Cricket, I think one margarita per hour is very reasonable for a personal guide on STJ, LOL, we may have to take you up on that. You will probably be there after we are heading home though. Ginger, we will be there from December 10 - 19. We will be bringing our Kenny Chesney music with us!

I have been unable to offer my 2 cents for some time, due to technical difficulties beyond my control, on this subject.I don't want to minimize what has happened recently, and the locals know which side of this issue their bread is buttered on. But I have to echo Ginger's comments. Because crime is SO RARE on STJ, that when something above the level of petty theft, does occur, it's a really big deal! Especially to the media (and yes message boards can become big media in a nanosecond!) (Yet message boards can be a traveler's best info) If someone offered me or other posters a free trip to STT, STJ or STX...you'd really see a hoppin' board! Go...have fun...use the same common sense you would use at home ...and post a trip report!

thanks wes!
RMB...we will be there starting the 15th so if you want to meet up for one of those margaritas we are up for it! there are 7 of us....
we will be there til the 21

Apparently I have missed something. I live on STX which is about 45 miles from STJ. Now I admit I don't read the paper everyday, but I do stay fairly well informed. I really don't recall a big crime problem on STJ. There have been a couple of race related incidents, but I wouldn't call that a crime wave (although for STJ, it might be). Come down, have a rum punch, use common sense, relax and enjoy yourself. A bad day here is always much better than a good day back in the world.

Ric

Okay...I must make this meeting up more concrete! I am arriving on Sunday November 20th. I stay at Lavender Hill, drink Margaritas with Patron tequila, and hang out at night at The Beach Bar or Woody's. My college roommate is coming in the next night. We are both staying until November 28th. How is it that we can connect. I always have my gold hook bracelet on my left hand. How can I find you guys???

Cricket,
My husband and I are coming to STJ for the first time , we are leaving Nov.20th and returning on the 27th. Would love to meet you and get together to talk about the Island , and get some information from someone who knows and has been there. Really enjoy reading all of your posts. Let's pick a time and date?

Opps, one more thing, what do people usually do for Thanksgiving, any suggestions?

We are eating at a restaurant called TAGE. It is up the road from Woody's. It is a bit fancy (ST. John's standards), but the food is wonderful! If you are at Wood's or The Beach Bar, ask either of the girls at W if I am there or if Ali or Michele is at the BB, ask them if I am there. We are two blonde girls, one small, one larger(me:() and say: are you from the message board.Lisa and Jennifer.......see you guys soon. I will be out about the first night for sure catching up with everyone. Off to Kansas City to judge a horse show and then we will see you guys there!!!!!

I called to make reservations at Tage and was told they would be closed Thanksgiving Day. Maybe they have changed their minds but just thought I would give you a heads up 🙂

Crime on St John is very low compared to almost anywhere, miniscule compared to any of it's neighbors. Many don't even lock their doors. One murder in 5 years and the police ID'd the killer today, though he has fled the territory. The arson was excessive vandalism based on a very petty fued between 2 tenants squabbling over petty stupidness.