You will love it there...I live up the hill and the beach there is the best on the island... you have a great resturant next door at Sandcastles..they also have two pools you can use for 5 dollars a day...but why would you when the ocean is right there full of clorful fish to look at make sure you pack snorkles....have fun and make sure you take a sunset swim....if you like it there i rent my house weekly if you want....

no local markets in the area, you will want to rent a car and drive to the markets and anywhere you feel like going,it's cheaper and more practical than using taxis.

We love staying at Cottages. Very relaxing, literally roll out of bed and on to the beach. We like to eat next door at Beachside Cafe, Blue Moon in F'sted, and Sunset Grill just north of town for dinners where I'll put on long pants and a collared shirt. For less formal dining, I like piazza from Lost Dog and light fare from Rainbow beach grill (formerly?) I want to try Coconut's that has taken over Changes in Latitude. Make sure you rent a car. There are so many good restaurants on STX that it would be a shame to miss all of them. This is our 5th visit and we still haven't gotten to all of them.
Don't forget to stop into the Mt. Pelier(sp?) Domino Club and sample Norma's mamajuana (MAMA-WANA). It's a brew from the DR (I think) made from herbs aged in some form of alcohol and anything else the maker wants. I think Norma uses rum and honey.
The best place to go to stock your refrigerator is Plaza Extra on Centerline Rd. It's only a few miles from Cottages and IMO it has the best selection and best prices on the island. You'll pass K-Mart along the way which is OK in a pinch but it doesn't have the selection or better prices than Plaza Extra.
We'll be down before you in May but we're staying at Sandcastles this time. We got a deal on a flight and hotel package that we couldn't refuse.

Wow,Thanks to all for your advise on the island.Yes,we have a car reserved with Judy of Stx. We are going to tour Buck island for a full day. Any suggestions on who we should book that with? Gina

You will love it there...I live up the hill and the beach there is the best on the island... you have a great resturant next door at Sandcastles..they also have two pools you can use for 5 dollars a day...but why would you when the ocean is right there full of clorful fish to look at make sure you pack snorkles....have fun and make sure you take a sunset swim....if you like it there i rent my house weekly if you want....

Thanks for your advise.Would love some more information on your rental.Gina

My husband and I just returned from STX and Cottages.It was our second time there. Paul is the best and Lynn (I think) is great. The kitchens are great and you will want to cook some in them especially for breakfast and lunch. Do go to Cheeseburger in Paradise. Judi of Croix is good and is who we have rented from both times. I have to ditto everything the other responders have said. The island is so laid back and not tourist oriented as is STT. Have fun!!!

Big Beards is the best for going to Buck Island, hands down. However each trip he provides is quite pricy. The full day sail is a great experience so if you are going to go, do it up right. It leaves around 8-9 in the a.m. and comes back at 3:30 in the p.m. On this trip they stop at a private beach and the captain makes you food! You get grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and mahi mahi and as much rum punch as you can put down! The time flies by, as it always does in the islands, so don't cut yourself short by going with Milemark. Milemark will just ferry your butt out there, let you snorkel in thier immediate area for about 40 min. then motors you right back. With Big Beards you will be on a catamaran on either the half or the full day and you can leisurly sail back while checking out great scenery of the North shore. You are 300% more likely to see dolphins or whales (depending what time of year) this way then on a motor boat. Now I've also heard Capt. Heinz who has the Terro and the Dragonfly catamarans is also a good trip but he usually like to do private parties of about six people, still worth checking into.

Have a blast, don't forget to ask how Buck Island became the first underwater national park....here is a hint: JFK and Jackie.

Don't forget to go kayaking in Columbus Cove, its alot of fun drifting through the mangroves and seeing the hurrican wrecked boats.

I always prefer Milemark for Buck Island tours. My experiences with them where great. Not as crowded, very laid back. On one trip we followed some dolphin (or they followed us) for as long as the dolphin wanted to hang around. We always snorkel as long as we want. Then we "hang" on the beach or catamaran and drink rum punch, listen to music, tour the island, party with fellow boaters, and have a very nice lunch prepared by Avocado Pit.