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All of you have helped my hubby and I a ton! We took your advice and here are a few of the things we have planned so far. This is from what I learned from researching on VINOW. I have a few loose ends and would love any comments or last minute advice:
-arrive 3-27-leave 4-1 (flying over from PR where hubby is in a wedding-we're leaving our baby at home!)
-rented a manual shift Vitara from Cool Breeze
-staying in a mid-priced villa/condo in Cruz Bay (check-in time is 3pm)
-Got my reference books
-We don't want to spend a lot on food (although we know it's not cheap there)
-Shop for groceries at Star Market-we have a full kitchen and grill
Restaurants to eat at:
-Coral Bay:
Skinny Legs
Uncle Joe's Barbecue
Miss Lucy's, Shipwreck Landing, Island Blues, Sweet Plantains, Columbo Cafe.
-Cruz Bay:
Morgan's Mango,Sogos, Sosas, Lime Inn, Fish Trap
-East End:
Vie's Snack Shack
-Best Snorkeling Spots:
Waterlemon Cay
Francis Bay
Salt Pond
Trunk Bay (I still see mixed though)-as long as it's early or there arent'too many cruise ships in-and I found the list of what ships were in what days.
I still have to purchase the airfare from PR to STT. I am embarassed to say that I will be paying a little more to fly on the larger 30-40 seat AA planes. I just can't fly on a Cessna. It's a phobia I inherited from my retired commercial airline mechanic father. Growing up we were never allowed to fly on small commuters. I still haven't picked a time though. I am just not sure about how long we will need to get through the airport, ferry, and get our rental car.
That's one thing that I keep seeing mixed reviews about. Whether or not to drive 30 minutes to RH and take a 15 minute ferry...or to go 10 minutes to CA and take a 45 minute ferry. The RH ferry is $5 pp. The CA ferry is $11 pp. They both charge $3 per bag. I guess the CA ferry goes out every 2 hours, whereas the RH ferry leaves every 1 hour. Otherwise its 6...1/2 dozen the other. It all depends on if we plan and can get to the CA dock on time.
Check-in time at the villa/condo isn't until 3pm. We thought we could pick up our rental car and go to Star Market and get some groceries first.
What would be a good time to get a flight to get through all that?
The other thing we're going to play by ear when we get there is Virgin Gorda/ the Baths. I know that they're a "must see". But because we are only on STJ until 4/1 (our flight flies directly out of STT at 1500) I don't want to be running around too much. If we see it we see it. If we don't we can always go when we come back. We're cut short because of the 3 days we'll be in PR. We can't leave our son with my family forever.
Honestly though I think another reason my husband may want to go to the BVI is to see if he can find someplace that sells Cubans (if the BVI has places that sell real ones). I'm sure we'll be out of our Swiss imports by the time we get to STJ.
We're going to take as much information as possible with us and just relax and not get our panties in a bunch if we don't get to do something. We'll probably also bring our GPS and do a little Geocaching as well. I am sure there are some spots in STJ with travel bugs.
It's snowing here in Indy. It's always fun to go on vacation when it's snowing back home! Please add any suggestions or advice. Thanks again for the great forum! It's been a real lifesaver!
Leslie
just enjoy yourself, i'm so jealous!!!!!!!!!!
Fly in as soon as you can, take whatever ferry tickles your fancy (I prefer the CA ferry) and get to STJ.
If your car or villa aren't ready yet, drag your luggage to one of the open bar/restaurants right off the dock, have a drink and a snack and relax!
Hubby and I got to STJ @ 11am and our villa didn't open til 4pm. We got our car, got some groceries, a styrofoam cooler and some ice to keep things cool, headed over to Skinny Legs and hung out til our villa was ready.
I'd skip any off-island trips this time. There's so much on the island you are staying on! You won't see it all in 4 days! And you'll be back....trust me.
leslie,
enjoy, and remember you will be on island time.
We just got back. As you did, I read the message boards prior to leaving...put together a list of everything...places to eat...things to do...and then we got to "the island".
Enjoy each moment...don't plan anything...be spontaneous and take in the beauty...It's breathtaking and paradise.
Trip advice:
Don't plan a thing and just go with what feels right. With such a short stay on St. John you will be fascinated by all there is to do on St. John. Don't rush a thing, kick back relax and just go with the flow. You can always go back and do the things you didn't do the first time. When we were headed there this past Feb. we had all these ideas of things we had to do (BVI trips) and every day we got up and just went with our feelings for the day. Needless to say we never made it to the BVI's because we were having so much fun exploring St. John. We'll possibly do the BVI's this upcoming Feb.
Just relax and enjoy the vacation and the fact that it isn't snowing there.!
Leslie,
Looks like you've got everything covered. I agree, get there as early as you can and just hang out if your villa's not ready. My wife, daughter and I are heading back this June for the 3rd time in the last 14 months and my 7th time overall. Every time we plan everything out to the nines, and then as soon as we're there, the island takes over. We've planned a V. Gorda trip every time, and we'll make it there someday. Have a wonderful trip.
Thanks guys!
Yeah, I highly doubt we'll make it to VG. I think we'll just be chilling in STJ which is perfectly fine with me. I just want to snorkel and relax rather than run back and forth anyhow.
Keep your fingers crossed for good weather!
Les
Leslie, have a great time and,...KEEP LEFT!
FYI Uncle Joes BBQ is in Cruz Bay not Coral Bay. Wouldn't want you to miss out, it's great for take out and you can't beat the price either. Have a great trip!!
That's even better so we can eat there more than once! I'm all about not spending a lot eating out in the Caribbean!
