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Hey everyone,
We just got back 2/20 from 3 amazing weeks in the islands. Our trip started in STT where we used Dolphin Water Taxi to get us to Jost. Once in Jost we checked into our villa in White Bay and started our 8 day trip there. I realize this isn't a British Virgin Island forum so if anyone has any questions please ask away, I dont' want to waste others time with BVI talk. After that we headed back to St. John for our third year in a row for the remainder of our trip. It's still an amazing place.
This year St. John was much more vibrant than ever. I'm assuming that was because there was considerably more rain this trip then previous ones. It pretty much rained every day, mostly in the morning around 9am and then in the overnight. Some days it was a quick shower that lasted maybe 2 minutes, other days it was several small showers thru the morning until about 11:30 or so. We had one complete wash out of a day where it rained off and on all day but we didn't care we were on vacation. We could definately see the difference from previous trips where it rained very little if ever, the trees were much bigger and brighter, the flowers were so vibrant, roads that in previous trips were bone dry where muddy and wet. Although nobody wants a wet vacation the island welcomes it to keep the cisterns full and the island vibrant and beautiful.
We enjoyed going back to our regular places. Shipwreck Landing for dinner, Miss Lucy's for dinner, Island Blues for lunch, Donkey Diner for breakfast, and Skinny Legs for their out of this world burgers.
We frequented Cinnamon Bay, Jumbie, Hawksnest and made one trip to Trunk for the Valentine's Day vow renewal ceremony. Bill and Cathy Dove (who started the renewal years ago) did a great job along with AnnMarie Porter (if you've never met AnnMarie you must at some point in your life, she's an amazing woman!)
We rented a villa in Coral Bay up on U.S. Route 107 (I think that was the number), it's high up on the hills above Island Blues. The name of the villa is Livin' and it's quite amazing. The Dove family who own it went above and beyond in furnishing this villa. It's fantastic. We had the luxury of a hot tub and dipping pool and a deck overlooking Coral Bay. Although the wind never stopped blowing up there we spent many late afternoons and late nights enjoying the sounds of Coral Bay from the hot tub.
It still amazes me everytime we go there the amount of goats we see. There seemed to be fewer donkeys this year and we never saw the cows. We did however get to see two white tale deer, one while hiking the reef bay trail, and once again when we went hiking out to Europa Bay.
My favorite part about being back in St. John was seeing all the locals we'd met in previous years and being able to catch up with them. It was also nice to meet some new friends that I'm sure we'll see again next year.
After 3 glorious weeks in the Caribbean we headed home and unfortunately that wasn't a pleasant trip. We were delayed out of STT to San Juan, missed our connecting flight to Boston, got rerouted to Miami, arrived Miami at 1am in the morning, were given hotel and food vouchers only to find out that all the restaurants and stands in the Miami airport were closed, checked into the hotel, got 3 hours of sleep, boarded the plane for Boston, arrived in Boston at noontime only to have to chase down lost luggage (which we expected). Left Boston around 12:30pm with no luggage, completely exhausted, and after a long drive home we finally made it back to our house after 24 hours of traveling. It still amazes me that in the three trips down to the islands we've never had a good trip home the airlines ALWAYS loose our luggage and it's a hassle to find it. Someone with $$$$ could make a lot of money if they were able to get us to and from the islands without any hassles or delays and with our luggage in tow. But I guess if that's the least of our trip problems (and it happens coming home) then I can deal!
Thanks again to everyone on the forum who helped plan another success trip. We'll start our countdown for next year in a few months.
Jill
Wow! 3 Weeks in paradise. You are quite lucky - I get one week per year and spend the next 51 weeks longing for the return trip! Thanks for taking the time to post your report. Sorry about the trip home - I agree that getting home always seems to have the most complications.
Jill,
Sounds great! Hope you don't mind a specific question about the villa location. We're renting Pink Horses in June. IIRC, PH, Livin', and another (Island Dreams?) are all close together, maybe on the same stretch of road. Any idea if that is correct? Is there any construction in the area, anything noisy? Too late to change now, but just curious as to what we might expect.
thx!
irbgolfin
If I'm not mistaken all of these villas are right next door to each other. Livin' and Island Dreams are definately right next door to each other. I think from what I heard from the owners, Livin and Island Dreams are a one bedroom and the other is a two bedroom. You can look down from Livin' and see the patio of Island Dreams. There is no construction going on as the hill is pretty much all developed. Island Dreams is owned by the same people. Did you go thru bookitvi.com? As I mentioned in my post Livin' is a spectacular place, it's cozy, full of everything you can possibly want, blenders, coffee maker, convention/microwave oven, wine glasses, iron, washer/dryer, satellite TV, A/C (although we never used because of the ocean breeze). The hot tub is out of this world and the dipping pool amazing. I hope this is the same villas you are talking about because you won't be disappointed! Let me know if you have other questions regarding this place.
Jill
Jill,
Thx for the info. Yes, we booked through bookitvi, several months ago. Yes, PH is a 2 BR. We considered Livin', but PH was only slightly more, we liked the outdoor kitchen, and it left open the option of someone else joining us (last 2 trips we have ended up adding a couple a few months before - I booked almost a year out to get FF plane tix, the others don't plan more than 3 months ahead for anything). I don't recall for sure where I got the idea, but I'm pretty sure that those 3 are all close to each other,maybe on the same stretch of road, perhaps from e-mails with Christy when booking, which I didn't keep. She was very helpful and promptly answered numerous picky questions I had.
We're inside of 4 months to our trip and I'm getting back into reading the forums. Haven't seen many posts on those vlilas and since I was pretty sure it was close, was hoping for any insight about the location, that sort of thing.
Thx for your response!
irbgolfin
Jill,
My finance and I (well, by then he will be my husband!) will be spending our week long honey moon on St. John and we have booked Livin'.....so I was very happy to read some of the details you provided.
What can you tell me about how private it is, I mean are the neighbors very close?
Also, what's it like getting to the Villa...is it one of those scary really steep ones?! Eeek, I hope not! I love St. John, but those hills make me nervous!
Thanks!
Megan,
Getting to Livin' is actually relatively easy compared to some of the roads we've traveled in St. John. If you are familiar with Coral Bay then you may know where Livin' is. Once you make the right hand turn where are the signs are for Donkey Diner, Skinny Legs, Miss Lucy's etc., near the bus stop, go past the gas station, past the dumpsters, over the Dip (I forget which one I think "Little Crab Dip"), there's a white fence on the right with Black writing, right after that on the right is the road that leads up to Livin'. We were told that it is actually a U.S. Route, if you get to Island Blues you've missed it. The road is paved (cemented) all the way up, once you almost reach the peak you take a right and this road is dirt, then paved, dirt, then paved, you go in a little ways and then go thru a gate, up to the top of the ridge and when it looks like you are going to fall off the face of the earth you are there. It's not a scary road at all.
Privacy: The villa itself is nestled into the hillside along with several other villas, you are pretty much surrounded by other villas. Memory Daze is the biggest villa next to you and they can look down onto your front deck. Then there are two other villas on the other side of you. Depending on where you are on the deck you can look right down on the immediate neighbor. If you are in the pool they can't see you but if you swim up to the edge they could. Sitting on the lounge chairs between the hot tub and pool they can see you and you them but depending on how you situate them you can be very private. Livin' is built up higher than your neighbors. The Dove family did a great job with putting up privacy fences so those above you can't see you but could of put more foliage or fencing for the lower villa but we never seemed like we were being viewed upon. We spent many a nights and afternoons sun bathing on the deck, wading in the pool and relaxing in the hot tub (in our birthday suits) and never once felt like we were on display.
The villa itself is beautiful, you don't need to bring towels of any sort they provide plush towels for the bath (4) and large nice towels for the beach (6). They have satellite TV, DVD players and lots of movies, coffee maker, microwave/convention oven, toaster, blender, and all the kitchen supplies you'll need to make drinks, cook, whatever.
If you have any other questions please let me know. I'd be happy to answer. When are you going?
Jill
Thanks Jill,
Well, you have certainly eased my mind about the road, sounds like i don't have too much to worry about at all. And as far as privacy, it sounds like the other villas are close but not obnoxiously close anyway.
We will be going at the end of May...not too far away now! I'm so excited. So there is a washer/dryer there, do we need to pick up some detergent in Cruz Bay or is that provided? What about things like shampoo and soap? Also, sounds like the kitchen will have what I need as far as equipment, but what about spices and such? Is there a cooler we could use to pack a lunch for the beach?
Oh I can't wait to enjoy that hot tub!
Megan
Megan,
The villa has pretty much everything. There is a washer and dryer and detergents were provided. There is a cooler for taking to the beach, there's even beach chairs if you want. The kitchen is fully stocked including coffee (nice touch!). There were some spices including S&P. The bathroom was fully stocked with everything you need and even some things you may have forgot to pack. The shower has shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The vanity had things like shaving cream, rubbing alcohol, nailpolish remover, tums, extra disposable razors, hairdryer, curling iron, nail files, they even had a supply of "aunt flo" supplies in case you forgot or didn't expect the added guest on your trip!. I left behind two brand new bottles of sunscreen as I couldn't fit anymore in my suitcase. The Dove family who own it (and hopefully you'll have the opportunity to meet them as they are wonderful people), didn't miss a thing when they started renting out this villa. You really feel at home there and if you need anything while there directions, suggestions, recommendations, more coffee, etc. they are willing to help you out!
May will come soon enough. Happy trails.
Jill
I just read this and wanted to confirm all of the great comments regarding "Livin'". We stayed at this wonderful villa last May and I can't recommend it enough. You will love it!
I certainly am impressed so far. Christy has responded to all my questions and this morning I sent her a note explaining our flight would arrive late...we won't make it to St. John before 9pm, and Starfish Market will be closed by then. She offered to pick up some basics for us just so we could get through the first night and be able to get up and make some breakfast. I'll review the villa after our trip, but so far they have been very helpful, friendly and I'm anticipating a wonderful stay!
amtw - How was the island in May? I've only visited St. John in November and I would sometimes feel a little cold in the water (now, I'm a pretty small girl and I get cold easily), I'm hoping for a little bit more warmth this time around and maybe slightly warmer waters?
-Megan
