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Hi I will be heading down to St. Thomas the end of June with my boyfriend and another couple. None of them have ever been there and this will be my 3rd time so I am kind of the "tour" director. The past couple times I have been down we have done a day trip to the BVI's. Each time going with a different company. As much as I loved the day sail our only complaint was that we weren't at Soggy Dollar long enough!!! That is by far my favorite place and I could spend alot longer than the 2 hours the day trip companys tend to be there for.
So my question is. Does anyone know of any day trips that would still stop at Foxy's but spend a little bit longer at White Bay? I've emailed Daydreamer which looks very nice but they estimate we arrive Foxy's at 11:15, eat lunch, AND then head over to white bay and leave white bay at 215. So it doesn't seem like we would be there all that long.
Has anyone had any experience taking the ferry over? Is customs a pain since the day trip crew isn't taking care of it for you? Where does it dock?
Since it is everyone elses first time being down there I think it would be more fun to do a day sail trip....I am just trying to figure out the best one. Any help would be very appreciated!
Thanks!!!
You would have a much more affordable trip plus able to create your own itinerary chartering a captained boat for the day. You can look at Nauti Nymph or See N Ski, to name just two, at Red Hook. A captained boat will run about $500 total with gas/oil/tip etc. They have New Horizons Breakaway, but it's around $125/pp with a set itinerary. So if all things equal, you might as well do your own thing!
Me and my family will also be there at the end of June. I would say we could share a boat, but most only allow 6 people minimum unless you want to rent a much larger (and more $$) boat. Plus we have our two kids this go-round...
Maybe see you around town though!
We've done the ferry service a couple of times. It definitely gives you more time on JVD, arriving around 10 am and leaving at 3pm. Customs is easy because the ferry captain wants everyone moving so he can continue his business day. Our customs check-in has always been on Tortola and takes 15 minutes or so. Then it's off to JVD (6-7 minute trip). Taxis will be waiting for you at Great Harbour. Just tell them to take you to Soggy Dollar or Ivan's and you'll be set!
At around $50 per person round trip for the JVD ferry, you could still enjoy a daysail on a different day. Maybe go to another area for snorkeling and not feel stressed over your time on JVD. There is much to explore. I agree with you that JVD deserves a little more time than the day sail will provide.
Good Luck - Have Fun!
Depending on what day you are going to go to Jost you may want to check on the ferry. If you go Friday, Saturday or Sunday you can get the 10a.m. ferry........it's $50.00 round trip per person, you leave Red Hook, switch ferry's in St. John and head to Jost, while on the ferry to Jost you fill out the customs paperwork and by the time the ferry docks you are done with paperwork, you check in with customs (takes about 5 minutes, depending on how many passengers) and then you have the rest of the day until 3pm to hang out. There are a taxis waiting to take you to Ivan's, Soggy Dollar, Foxy's wherever you want. The taxi ride takes less than 5 minutes to White Bay, you can walk back and forth on the beach from Soggy, One Love, Ivan's etc. and enjoy the amazing island. That's my opinion and I think you'll find it's the best option especially if you just want to get there and hang out! Enjoy regardless of what you do!
I'm so confused about where to go. Was I at White Bay last year when we went to the Soggy Dollar Bar on New Horizons??? If not, would this be a place to go. Snorkeling there?
We are planning a trip now with Born to Rhumb and 7 in our party havne't even been out of the country. I would like them to see the Soggy Dollar Bar...should I forget the Baths and add the Indians or something like that?
Yes, Soggy Dollar is on White Bay (as is Ivan's Stress Free Bar - just over the bridge between beaches). I don't know much about snorkeling on JVD because we tend to just relax on the beach and enjoy the amazing "above water" views! Maybe someone else can give you some snorkeling advice.
We chartered a boat from Ocean Runner in Cruz Bay last week. It was by far the highlight of the trip! We went everywhere - caves, Indians, WestEnd, Willy T's, Maho, Waterlemon, Sandy Cay. We brought along our own lunch so we would have more time to island hop. We were going to go to Jost but there was a north swell that day and the sea was rough over there, we got as close as Sandy Cay and snapped a few pics but then headed out because the water was too rough to even go swimming. The Caves and Indians were fantastic!! I definitely recommend Ocean Runner, we had a group of 6, and it was a blast!
We just got back from STJ and went for a day trip with Born to Rhumb. It was fantastic. We did the Baths, Norman Island, JVD Foxy's, Sandy Cay and White Bay at the Soggy Dollar. Captian Kevin is great! He really knows his stuff and will take you literally any place you want for any amount of time you want. It was a very full day of fun and sun and well worth it. We have done other boats in the past and this was our favorite. I would do the Baths. It is definitely worth it and a unique experience you should do at least once.
We have stayed at the Jolly Roger (above the bar) and just took the ferry over. Very easy. Fun. Of course, you gotta love the ferries which we do. Check out Morningstar.
