Sapphire Beach is on STT. Sorry I can't help with your other questions.

I don't know of anything that is cheaper on STJ

You can get a pretty good deal at Sapphire Beach. Check out vrbo.com and look at privately owned units.

"Without the tourist part of it." On such small islands, it's almost impossible to avoid tourists, and most of the places here are frequented by both locals and tourists.

However, many of the weekend and evening cultural activities are patronized mostly by locals, so if there are any activities scheduled during your visit (get the local paper - The Virgin Islands Daily News), that's where you should go.

Most of the popular local restaurants aren't near Sapphire - they're closer to town.

There's plenty of local flavor all day long at Coki Beach.

There's also a new Reggae Lounge across from Havensight. You might want to check there.

If you're here on the last Sunday of the month, you'd probably enjoy the Rastafarian farmers market in Bordeaux. Lots of good vegetarian, local food.

Hopefully you'll get other suggestions.

It is better to rent your Jeep at a location closer to the airport! You would have to take a taxi to Sapphire Beach to be able to rent a Jeep there and this can be very costly if you use a private Taxi!
I would suggest Amalie Car Rental, they are AT the airport when you arrive, NO WAITING and NO airport taxes to pay!
Where are you staying?
Local restaurants on the Northside are North Drop and Dino's. Also Hull Bay Hideaway, tho I am not sure what they are offering in the food category. Indigo's at Magen's Point Resort is also a LOCAL favorite! Please make reservations as they are very busy! We all frequent the same restaurants as the tourists for the most part!
Another one of my favorites is Tickles in Crown Bay Marina, way casual, breakfast, lunch and dinner!
I too, have heard wonderful things about the Eco tour and someday I would like to try it out for myself!

sherri said: "Also Hull Bay Hideaway"

Arthur has been the bartender at Hull for more than a couple of decades. Be sure to ask for the "Arthur Burger!"

Thank you for all this information. It is helpful. We're staying in a villa on Mandahl Bay. I can't wait to get away from all this snow here.

We are renting a jeep from avis in the air port but I had read on the board that a place at Sapphire Beach was cheaper, but I guess I would not be saving any money if I had to take a taxi to get there.

I will be sure to ask for the Arthur Burger!! : )

Thank you

Sha Sha,
If you are looking for vacation activities of the less touristy variety, then I suggest that St Thomas may not be the place to find such activities. The British Virgin islands and other more down island destinations are more natural, less crowded and less developed.

jenlee: Do you believe that everything on St Thomas is tourist driven? We actually do have activities and events that are not directly intended for tourists, although they are certainly invited to share!

...yes I'm sure that there are many activities, all sorts, all of time, being that nearly each and every square foot of the island is developed.

Wow I always love that BVI tude...
I have been going to the BVI since 1978 (maybe 20 times)
I have been going to the USVI since 1978 a bunch more ( I had a son that lived there)

The two are becoming a blur

You cannot tell me White Beach at JVD with water trampolines for the kids, while mom and dad get drunk at Seddy's is laid back. I remember when Gertrude was the only one on the beach it was an honor bar and she braid passing bareboat sailors hair for a living. The Baths - May 1979 my wife and I laid on the beach for 6 hours saw one other couple who sailed into the bay. Now there are Friggin Hand Rails on the rocks and T Shirt Stands where you use to be able to do some very adult things in the shade the geology provided, and OMG the fights over mooring balls in search of tranquility. Let us not forget Tortola and how the taxi lobby got their wish for cruise ship dock and now Elizabeth beach is full of blue towels.

Yes STT is over developed but so is the BVI, but we still love it and keep coming back. Tortola is still my favorite island in the Caribbean - but I am real sorry the BVI is no longer Nature's Little Secret

If you are truly looking for what the Caribbean looked like 30 years ago when it was quiet and three cruise ships in a week was a big deal - go to St John - take an hour hike and walk out on a beach that is lacking something you will find everywhere else - A beach bar!

1979 - I assume this is the BVI you are speaking off

It ain't that way now - but I will be there in 12 days and a wake up on my Nauti Nymph rental looking for a GD mooring ball.

I do not know how one, using GOOD logic, can compare JVD with STT...c'mon!!!

Jennifer,

I am not looking to get into a debate which is better or which is not. The islands are what they are. If you read the original post - St John is much more what she is looking for and she has a much better chance to achieve her goal.

JVD is a beautiful island with some of the prettiest water in the Caribbean - and everyone on the island beside the few that live there our tourist. You cannot escape tourist on JVD. I remember chatting with Greturde in our first visit - A much younger woman at the time, and she had only left JVD once in her life and that was Tortola. Why go anywhere when you live in paradise she said. I think there were 50 something residents of JVD then. JVD is a beautiful party island for tourist and sailors but there is little history or culture past the beach bars. Ok there is Foxy's joke about Just One Dyke.

In fact in you wanted to get historical and went back to the 1700s - STT has probably experience the least change than any of the islands. Many folks today want to come down and live the Kenny C or Jimmy B dream and party with the locals - it St Happin' - the folks of the USVI and BVI are friendly and accepting folks, but there not going to pull you in and buy you a bushwacker because you are from Texas - in fact they drink dark and coke, beer, or shots and then they get up in the morning and go to work - In STT and in JVD mostly entertaining the tourist.

In fact a few years back we were in STT in March - Spring Break - The paper said it was the most tourist that had ever been on the island. Yet this was the beach we were hanging at on STT

Next day we went to JVD and this is what we had to look out

So no I am not comparing them - What I am saying is the USVI and BVI have a lot to offer and each are unique. East Ender was trying to give the poster some insight where they may have to go to find what they are looking for. I will stay again STJ IMHO describes what she is looking for.

The poster stated that they are staying on St Thomas. IMHO, in that case, you give advice about St Thomas.

And Sha Sha: Try Hull Bay, John Brewer's Bay, Cuzzin's, Red Hook, Frenchtown, Sib's, CaRiGas, Magens Bay on Sunday, Tickles, Molly Molone's, Latitude 18... When you get here, get a hold of the Island Trader (comes out on Thursday for the week) for local events, concerts, etc.

Try some of the restaurants that serve local dishes. Cuzzins is a good choice, its downtown. Could plan to visit some of the historical sites downtown and have lunch at Cuzzins. You could stop at the Native Arts Cooperative and strike up a conversation with the ladies that are usually in there; have them tell you about the locally made arts and crafts. It's located by Emancipation Park.

Also, Victor's Hideout for local food.

Check out Frenchtown, it originally was a fishing village and there still are fishermen continuing the tradition. Some small boats line the area close to the fish market, sometimes you can see fishermen cleaning their catch and selling it. There is a very small museum in Frenchtown that shows the history of its residents. I think its open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm. Its run by volunteers so you'd want to double check the times.

Sapphire on Sunday afternoons has a live band for a beach party. Its popular with tourists and with residents. The bands that play are local bands; they play Soca, Zouk and other Caribbean sounds.

Stop by one of the road side markets that sell local fruit. There will likely be some you aren't familiar with, have the vendor tell you about them and get a few.

Look into the National Park guided hike of Reef Bay Trail, on St. John. You'd want to make reservations - its only once or twice a week. Nice trail, interesting.

--Islander

Now there is a fun place - Latitude 18 on Open Mic night

Maybe one of the best places for locals and visitors to blend.
I forget what night open mic night happens, but we were at Lattitude and two young ladies (tourist) got a blew the crowd away. I would have sworn it was the indigo sisters. And it is always fun when some of the local bands merge for a jam session.

I always enjoyed the Sopchoppy's at Happy Hour - the marina is a buzz at that hour and it is fun to have a drink and watch to ongoings.

East Ender - you are correct they are going to STT and you and islander have given them great advice to get a lot out of STT.

Bottom line - you are not in Paradise in the USVI or the BVI, but you will swear you can see paradise from there. 🙂

Sha Sha, you may consider Water Island for a day. It's a wonderful place to do a little walking, very quiet, local residents hang out on Honeymoon Beach on Saturday and Sunday (along with residents from Hassel Island and St. Thomas), Joe's (Joe's Beach Bar) puts together a nice jam session inviting local musicians and singers from the area to share their musical abilities. Ft. Segarro is an interesting site to visit with spectacular views of STT. Heidi (local resident) grills burgers, chicken, vege burgers, etc. down on Honeymoon Beach each day for lunch - local residents and workers stop for lunch and hang out for an hour or so each day. There's also the Botanical Garden that's cared for lovingly by volunteers/local residents on the island that's just up the hill from Honeymoon Beach (the walk up may be a bit strenuous but the views are gorgeous, gardens are lovely, and the walk down will be a breeze). To get there, go to Crown Bay Marina/Subbase, Water Island ferry has a regular schedule (posted on this site under Water Island/Transportation) and local residents, workers, school kids ride and depend on it to get to/from work & school.

You mentioned Sib's Restaurant---I had heard that they had closed. I was so sad, since this was the first place went on our first trip to STT in 1983. Have they re-opened? ( I hope!)

On Friday nights in town at Emancipation Gardens, they offer free island cultural quelbe dance lessons starting at 8 p.m. It's a kind of square dance, so it's different from what people usually associate with the Caribbean.

There's also a new Reggae Lounge at Al Cohen's Mall in Havensight.

Some of the hotels have West Indian nights with local food buffets, live music, local arts and crafts, and a show. Iggie's on Wed night at Bolongo Bay Resort is probably the most popular. Thur nights there's one at Wyndham Sugar Bay.