Where are you staying on STT???

There is soooo much info on this board.

Do you snorkel?? Dive? Looking for some dining recommendations? How about day trips to the BVI's??

Connie...we are looking for ANY advice. Yes, we do snorkel..Dive, no 🙂 And of course we eat, so we'd love suggestions. We're up for day trips to BVI. We're staying a week and going with another couple so we just want some ideas. We're staying at a timeshare that my in-law's have. I think it's the Elysian? It doesn't have the greatest reviews, but it's free so I figure worst case scenario...all we have to do is sleep there!
Only plans we have is to rent a car...take a trip to St John one day and we want to do a snorkel trip...we're up for anything. Would LOVE suggestions! THANKS so much!

Have you gone through all the info on this site? At the top of this page there are a ton of links you can click onto to get all sorts of information. When you "short list" all that sounds interesting, the search engine can lead you to posts from fellow travelers and their opinions. Congratulations on your anniversary and enjoy a wonderful visit here!

If you can rent a car for the day go to Waterlemon Cay on St John, best snorkeling. You can also rent dinghies (visit www.bookitvi.com.nla.htm). By renting the dinghies you can be on the water all day and visit a number of beaches, did this for the first time in May it is was by far the best day I've had on the island!

Visit Duffy's on STT for drinks, great atmosphere!

My favorite restaurants for a nice evening out:

Romanos-Smith Bay-on the way to Coki Beach
Excellent Italian food-probably one of the most expensive restaurants on the island, but the food and service makes it well worth it. Reservations a must 340.775.6350

Blue Moon Cafe-at Secret Harbor Resort. (I actually had my wedding reception there) Excellent Continental cuisine and view right on the beach – open air
http://www.virginislandsparadise.com/restaurants-bars/bluemooncafe/

Room with a View- at Blue Beards Castle. Beautiful view of downtown Charlotte Amalie -wonderful food and service-Continental cuisine (my favorite)

Havana Blue-at the Frenchman’s Reef. Excellent Cuban food-a little pricy, the atmosphere is spectacular, right on the ocean-open air with white candles everywhere. Try a Mohito!

Craig & Sally's- French Town,Varied menu that changes daily. Great food

My favorite restaurants for a more casual nite out:

Burrito Bay Deli-Red Hook, Excellent breakfast burittos

Molly Malones-Red Hook, Irish pub style food. Awesome grilled Reuben's (better than any sandwich around here)

Duffy’s Love shack- Red Hook,fun place for drinks! We always hit this place a couple nights and have a blast.

Disappointing restaurants:

The Aggave Terrace-Point Pleasant Resort-this use to be my all time favorite. Tried it twice in the last year and it was awful. I heard the head chief left.
Caribbean Saloon-Red Hook, not very good tried twice. Food and service lacking

This and that:

Windows on the Harbour-at Frenchmans Reef, Excellent Sunday Brunch

Utter Delight-By Magens Bay-awesome ice cream and shakes. A must if your in the area

Coki Beach. Nice beach they also have an underwater observatory.

Magens Bay not to be missed. Beautiful beach-busy on the weekends because of the locals. National Geographic named this one of the top 10 beaches in the world.

Secret Harbor Beach is also very nice....very peaceful (Blue moon cafe is there for food-I recommend dinner here)

Great website to look at for things to do is http://www.st-thomas.com/

When you arrive at the airport be sure to pick up the free magazine St Thomas This Week. It has so much information as to what is happening when. You can find it on your way out of the airport. Another way I use this book is -it lists all the ships in port each day, I see which day the least amount of ships are in and that's that day I go into town shopping.

Fun evening out:

Lattitude 18-near Red Hook—
Greenhouse-in Charlotte Amalie-
Paradise Point-by the Ships-
Duffys-Red Hook-

St John is a nice place to visit for the day. I have also spent a day on Tortolla and Virgin Gorda-both beautiful islands, you do need a passport if you decide to go.

I usually rent a car from Budget-they are located right at the airport.

ST JOHN:

Lime Inn-Casual Excellent food- Cruz Bay-Continental Cuisine

Skinny Leggs-Coral Bay-best burgers in the Caribbean

J .J . Texas Café-Mexican food - **Bloody Marys

Hello Jmwoots,

Congrats on your anniversary... and on your 1st trip to the Virgin Islands! 😉

Elysian is at Cowpet Bay. The beach is nice, lots of coconut trees, nice view of the boats anchored in the distance (the Yacht Club is just next door). There is good snorkeling there on the left side when facing the water, have to swim out a bit toward the point. The water is usually clear but can get a little murky - depends on the weather, sea - also there is some sea-grass there. Based at Elysian you are close to other East End beaches: Secret Harbor is nice - nice snorkeling there, also Sapphire Beach. Smith Bay Park (also known as Lindquist or Lindqvist Beach) is another nice option for some beach time.

You can head out to beaches like Magens Bay or more off the beaten path beaches like Hull Bay and combine these with doing an island drive. Both these beaches are on the Northside of the island; there you will also find some scenic look out points like Drakes Seat (overlooks Magens Bay - nice photo stop), also the lookout on Skyline Drive (about 5 minute drive from Drakes Seat but the view is of downtown Charlotte Amalie the harbor). If you have folks in the your group that enjoy flowers and plants you could stop at the St. Peter Botanical Gardens also on the Northside. So make a day of doing an island drive in that area, a couple stops and then beach time. When heading to Magens Bay stop by the Dairy stand (Udder Delight, on the corner, right side of the road about 2-3 minutes before you get to Magens) and get some milkshakes - excellent - with or without alcohol.

St. John, there is a car barge so taking a rental car over is possible - do double check with the company you are renting from as some car rental companies don't allow their cars to go over. There you can drive along the Northshore, stopping at some of the look out points. You could head out to Annaberg to explore the ruins - there are signs to help you understand the sugar plantation's history and function, also a nice view from here of Leinster Bay. Maybe continue the drive into Coral Bay and then pick a beach or two for some beach time.

Do a snorkel/boat charter - these can be full day or half day. Also there are sunset sails too. Maybe a charter to the BVI, full day and they often include a few stops like Virgin Gorda for a visit to the Baths, a stop for snorkeling and then Jost. There are variations, generally with a couple stops.

If you want to do some shopping for souvenirs you can spend a couple hours to a whole day doing that, depends on your interest level in shopping! There is good shopping downtown and you can combine that with visiting some of the historical buildings in town.

And there other activities you could look into: parasailing, introductory dive, snuba, wind surfing, kiteboarding, horseback (none on St. Thomas but available on St. John), kayaking - just renting one at a beach or you can do a eco-tour, night snorkel, aerial tour, fishing... just to name a few. 😀

Hope that helps.

---Islander

Robert's at the Elysian is a great place- wonderful piano bar, excellent food. Arrange to have your table on the beach- I think they only do one at a time. The she-crab soup, the fish specials, the flan. Yum. (tu) Also Ainsley's on the beach for more casual fare like delicious pizza.

If you snorkel you might enjoy trying SCUBA. Most dive shops have a Discover SCUBA class to check it out. The Virgin Islands is a great place to learn to dive.