Buy a guidebook---"Feet, Fins & 4WD" or "STJ Off the Beaten Track" are good. Snorkel at different beaches, do a couple of hikes. Since you're staying at Maho, you can get around ok without a vehicle, but do rent one for at least a day or two to explore the island. The further I am from Cruz Bay, the more I like it. Several good beaches are easy walk from Maho and there is a regular shuttle into Cruz Bay, which also can drop you at any north shore beach.

We never got to the BVI until probably the third time we went to STJ. There's so much on STJ that we just didn't get around to leaving the island.

Take plenty of time to do very little. Put your watch away. Sit, float, nap. Look at the night sky and listen to the tree frogs, waves, donkeys. Anything's pretty good when you're in paradise.

You will love Maho Bay with a couple of caveats! We've stayed there three times and are heading down exactly when you are (!) from Boston but will stay on the concordia ecotent side this trip- why? Because our last couple of Maho Bay tent trips found the resort to be a bit noisy all night long, alot of school groups with poor chaparoning and I didn't like being awake all night. That being said, the scenery is spectacular, the food in the open air restaurant is excellent, the store is well stocked, amazingly so, the beach is quiet, the snorkling is excellent over to Francis Bay, there are lots of activities to chose from, windsurfers to rent, etc. You MUST accept a trememdous amount of stair climbing, everything is accessible by many, many ,long stairs and its hot as he-- most of the time, some breezes but the tents are very hot mid day.
We're taking the Limnos Charter on our trip to the Baths, reasonable prices, we like what we read about them and we can't wait. We rented a powerboat last time and went to Jost Van dyke (extremely low key and Foxy's was terrific) but we think the Baths were too far to just power over by ourselves so we're doing the charter thing.We aren't too touristy either- you sound like us about 20 years ago! We are sailers on Buzzards Bay and the sailing in USVI is much lighter, not very big winds so every time we tried to go on a sailing charter we ended up motoring, oh well!
You MUST join us at the get-together, see the top of the page for the thread titles STJ get together Nov 7th I think it says. We're meeting at the Beach Bar in Cruz Bay. Other questions, let me know!

My husband and I are going to be at Maho Nov 4 - 11. It will be our first trip to St. John too, we also don't like very touristy things which is why we are going to Maho.
We picked up both of the above mentioned guidebooks and they both have tons of suggestions for hikes and beaches, info on history and plant life, it is not the touristy type guidebooks that you see so many places. The books have been my nightly reading for the past week. I am getting worried I won't have time to do everything I want to do, guess I may have to come to St. John again!
We are planning to go to the get-together, so if we don't run into you at Maho, maybe we'll see you at the get-together.
Lisa

Great, just look for a final update maybe close to our leaving date. Don't worry about doing everything you want to do. Once you're on island time, you won't care believe me and it gives you an excuse to come back. It's too hot to rush around, everyone moves slowly so just have a short list of must-dos (snorkling should be at the top of the list) and you'll probably throw the list away anyway. Maho offers excursions but I don't know how many there will be that week as its off season. Rent a car, slowly explore, and you will find time will melt away. See you at the get together!

I am going to St John at the end of November. It will be my 5th time. I have a lot of things I want to do but know that once I get on island time...well I'll be lucky to do half of those things. I do not do touristy things either. If you are a little adventurous you could do a one day guided kayak paddle out to some local keys and fabulous snorkeling. Arawak kayaking on St John can turn you on to this. As for the Baths...if you do a charter pay attention to how much time is spent at the baths. Some are only there for about an hour, and to me that is not enough time in this gorgeous place. This time I will take a public ferry and spend the entire day there, just to allow for a little more gauking. Many tours stop for lunch and this is usually extra...probably around $15-$20 bucks a person at a local restaurant. Just so you know, I have seen some people get caught without cash. Then it is customary to tip the crew as well. And one more thing, you have to stop at customs and this requires cash. I think Limnos is about the best public charter that I have been with. Most of all, unwind to island time and order a bushwacker frozen drink.

For others who are reading this, there are several great threads that compare the different charters and we used these to pick Limnos- they serve lunch and seem to spend a fair amount of time at the Baths so we're content with this. Hubbie thought it would be fun to meet some other people and they also go to Norman Islands for a second snorkle which sounded good to us too. Overall they are less expensive and seem to provide the most snorkling opps. We did an all day catamaran charter from St Martin a couple of years ago to Anguilla and it was well worth the trip, way more fun than I thought it would be and it gave us a chance to go places we probably wouldn't find on our own.

Thank you all for your posts. I am getting realy excited as we get closer to our departing date. We did meet a bartender here in MA that spent a year on the island and she gave us alot of info. We spent all night at the bar she works in ( had a few to many!!) we did write down alot of info and she gave us a number of one of her friends that owns a boat so I am thinking of hooking up with him and letting him show us around for a couple of days. I am a bartender also so I would definetly like to hit some little bars and hang out with the local people. Maybe shake a couple cocktails for them. So for any of you that will be there when we are and you see a girl from Boston behind the bar give me a shout. You realy cant miss me!! ha ha ( have a big ol' tattoo on my back) Thanks again. Sue~

You definately want to hit Shipwreck Landing when Donna is tending bar. she is a character. We eat at the bar with the kids and chat with her while she deals with her "blender hell."

We have a friend, Ralph, volunteering at Maho this month (October). He is doing handy man work for room and a food discount. October is a big maintenance month for Maho so things should be in good shape when you get there.

I have a trip report for Maho Bay from April 2004. If you send your email address to [email protected] I will send it to you. It's too long to post here. Pictures are at http://community.webshots.com/album/225371030yBSEud.

We'll be on St. John in Caribe Villa (the Peter Max house) the week of 10/22.

Cheers, Rick

Wow, another Bostonian! sounds like it'll be easy to spot you if you make it to the get-together- will you have your Patriots or Sox hat on? We live just south of Boston so we'll sound familiar too!

We visited Maho Bay twice last week, be ready for mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes!!!!

We were swarmed from the time we pulled up, we were spraying some good catus stuff we got from Skinny Legs but we still got eaten up.

Are the bugs that bad?? I keep having visions in my mind of the commercial about the couple that wakes up in the morning with bugs all over there bed netting. LOL Where abouts in Ma are you guys from? We are from the Norton/Taunton Area.

Has anyone ever stayed here?? Are they nice? Worth the money? Private? Comfortable?

We've stayed at Maho and visited Concordia. The setting is beautiful, but a bit remote. The biggest upside over Maho Campground is having your own toilet.

I like the Maho Campground experience and would stay at Concordia.

So - in everyone's opinion - which is the better campsite - Maho or Cinnamon? Are the bugs just as bad at Cinnamon? Also, what is the safety of the campsites like? I have 2 friends who are going and I want to make sure they are safe!!

thanks for any input you all can offer!!

I didn't nitice as many bugs at Cinnamon on the beach, but the area near the restrooms we were covered while cleaning our feet off. Keep in miond there had been alot of rain prior to our arrival.

I would be prepaired.

We stayed in the Concordia studios twice. The first time we had the small studio w/sleeper sofa and efficiency kitchen (just two of us). It was nice; had a HUGE bathroom and a large deck with a wonderful view. The sleeper sofa was very comfortable - so much so, I jotted down manufacturer for future reference. The second time there were 5 of us, so we stayed in the large unit with loft bedroom. It was wonderful! The kitchen was fully equipped - even had a dishwasher. We had the same gorgeous view over Salt Pond Bay. It was very quiet and private both times; we always seemed to have the pool to ourselves. The only drawback (if you could call it that) I can recall was the long drive to Cruz Bay. There's quite a bit in Coral Bay now, so that would cut down the need to make the trek. I'd definitely stay there again.

hey karrieb, what threads did you find to compare the charters? just wondering if i missed some good sites. can you give me a web site? thanks, scooby

I'd pick Maho easily, quieter, much nicer camping experience

We're from Foxboro- I think my other message got last a minute ago, but that's where we are, good luck with the whole dam thing, how scary is that???