We're back home. It stopped raining on day #3 and the bays started clearing up. They never cleared completely while we were there, but we still snorkeled and really enjoyed lying around listening to the waves wash against the shore. We decided if we had been able to snorkel our first two days, the rest of the trip would have been spent in the shade someplace because we burned despite spf 48! Our best snorkeling experiences were Trunk and Honeymoon. The water was still a little too murky at Waterlemon, which was really disappointing since I'd heard so many wonderful things about it. We did see a lot of stingray and one large turtle, plus a pretty good-sized (5 ft or better) white tip shark while there. We also encountered a beautiful huge tarantula on a sign post at Hawksnest. We really liked Hawksnest for lying around on the beach. It was never crowded while we were there. We got to eat at the Beach Bar in Cruz Bay and it was a neat spot - great hamburger. We hit Chateau Bordeaux for our anniversary dinner - fantastic views, food, and service! I'm so glad I cruised this message board before our trip! We liked the Westin. Our room, #1521, was a second floor balcony room overlooking the pool. We had no problems except for a persistent very small puddle of water on the bathroom floor right beside the sink. A hand towel placed over it took care of it, although I'm sure the housekeeper wondered why we kept putting our towel down there. We overheard other guests complaining of problems though. I guess it doesn't rain so much so quickly and for two days straight very often there and some rooms had leaking problems - one with water coming in under their door and another with a leaking ceiling. Management moved them quickly though. Everyone was friendly and our requests were responded to in a very timely fashion. There were many honeymooning young couples and lots of young families. We enjoyed sitting on the balcony and people-watching at the end of the afternoon. We ordered pizza at the Mango Deli one night and it was quite good. We actually made two meals out of it. We also had their $14.00 burgers at the grill by the pool and they were great! 1/2 pound of hamburger meat and plenty of fries. A bit pricey, but we enjoyed them nonetheless. We were glad we used the Westin ferry service. It was packed going back across on the 12:00 ferry, but everything proceeded smoothly and we were wisked to the airport without any time wasted. Getting checked in, going through customs, and getting into the waiting area took about 15-20 minutes tops, but it got crowded later, so I can see how it could back up. St. John was a very interesting, very beautiful place. You just lose your worries while there. Everyone was friendly. I can see how there will be major changes in the near future with so many wealthy people building huge multimillion dollar homes on the island. My hope is that those who have called St. John their home for many, many years can hang on to what makes it such a special place. The beaches and park are great, but the friendly and easygoing atmosphere really make the island enjoyable. Thanks to all for your advice and helpful posts.

Great info.

We will be arriving at the Westin on Tuesday - Sunday, so any suggestions please do share!..lol

Just had an off-beat question about the Westin. Do you know if you have to be a register quest to use the wi-fi network there?

Andrew

Hi
It sounded as if you all had fun despite the rain. Sometimes you see more when snorkeling when it is raining or so I am told. Thanks for a great report. I guess you would go back to the Westin? Is the beach nice? Thanks
Barb

Get a really good sunscreen!! We used Coppertone Sport SPF 48 or whatever that is called in the dark blue tube and we still burned. By our last day snorkeling, we were both wearing t-shirts and I was wearing swim shorts and we still burned a little. Renting a jeep the entire week worked out great for us, but we talked to another couple who rented a power boat a couple of days to visit beaches and then just used taxis to go into town. That seemed to work out better for them. It depends on what you like. We just appreciated having the freedom and independence to go where we wanted when we wanted. Driving on the left was a pretty hilarious challenge, and we got some laughs out of it and, fortunately, no mishaps. We had a refrigerator in our room (besides their little bar which we never opened) and we bought some breakfast supplies to keep in it. That worked out well and saved us money. We also bought sandwiches every day at either the Simple Feast up the road from the Westin or at the Mango Deli, and they were big enough that we had them cut in half and we shared one for lunch along with chips and drinks. We carried a small collapsible cooler with us to use all week. On our last day, we suddenly realized we had never utilized any of the beach toys at the Westin - sea kayaks, two different kinds of water bikes (don't really know what they are called), water trampoline, and we wish that we had done that, but the two days of rain limited us a little. Anyway, it is my understanding that anything not motorized is free for guests to use. Mainly, just have a great time and relax! I don't know what your ages are, but we met several younger married couples without kids who had met while at the pool or hot tub and were forming friendships and making plans to keep in touch. I thought that was pretty neat. Anyway, if you have specific questions, let me know. By the way, every time you use their phone to call out such as with a calling card, they charge $2.00. We didn't take our cell phones and used an AT&T card with minutes to call home. We did that maybe 5 or 6 times. It's the little things that can add up!

Andrew, I'm sorry, but I have no idea about the Wi-Fi. Maybe someone else will read this and know....

Barb, we would use the Westin again, but I would like to try a villa or someplace with a small kitchen. When we've visited Pensacola Beach in the past, we always rented a condo and we loved having the ability to cook if we liked. It's especially nice for mornings. Plus, it would just be fun to try other place. We wouldn't stay on the Coral Bay side I don't think. We just didn't like it as much over there - don't really know why. The Westin beach is okay. It isn't disgusting like I've read in some reviews and they keep it very nice, plus they have water toys to use. We sat out one night on their beach chairs and looked at stars and that was enjoyable. It would be handy with small kids because there is no surf and it's close to the pool and some rooms.

sgp: Nice report, but I'm gonna call you on the "white tip shark" at Waterlemon. First, white tip sharks are pelagic (open water), and don't frequent reefs and second they are very uncommon in this area. Did someone knowledgable identify this for you or are you just guessing? I gather this is what got Scooby all in a knot about sharks?? I would believe that it was a nurse shark (most common in that area- wide head? two dorsal fins?) or possibly a reef shark. I once id'd a "shark" while snorkeling, only to be told by my companion that it was a "tarpon-shark." Oops!

I don't want to sound curmudgeonly, but I think people see something big and think it has to be a shark. Then people like Scooby get freaked out for (maybe) no reason... Possible? Friends?? 🙂

I just found this interesting article: http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=Community:Environment&p=1105688207 in The Source. She gives some good references about sharks...

Thanks
barb

sgp: and elongating on East Ender's response to your "shark" story, you probably saw a "wolf Spider" versus a tarantula. Not a whole lot of difference between the two except that wolf spiders are very dark brown in colour versus the tarantula which is black.

The wolf spiders live in holes in the ground and they build elaborate underground cells in which they house themselves and breed, popping out of their exits - usually at night - to forage for food. It's surprising that you saw one during the day but not totally unusual as in fact they do sometimes pop out to get some rays!

Large spiders (tarantulas in particular) have had a very bum deal via horror movies...Their bite is toxic to humans and other animals but they ONLY bite as a last resort. Their first instinct is to stand up on their hind legs in a retaliatory warning position when faced with a large warm-blooded creature who appears threatening to them (viz humans, dogs, large cats, etc!} They only bite as a last resort and their bite doesn't kill a human or any other large animal unless such has some kind of an allergy to the toxin they excrete along with the bite.

Having told you more than you probably ever needed to know about wolf spiders and tarantulas, I shall now cease and desist!!!

I wander if you could tell me about night life at the westin.
Someone told me they show movies on the beach at night--is this true? Any bands? What about happy hour?

Hey, no offense taken. I honestly didn't get a good look at the shark. It was just a blur for me. My husband was in front of me and he stopped me and turned us around when he saw it. He grew up in south Florida and his family cruised the Bahamas every summer for a month at a time. They snorkeled and did a lot of diving and he identified it. However, the water wasn't very clear, so he could have been mistaken. He was positive it wasn't a nurse shark though. Thanks for the link. I'll give it a look... Didn't mean to scare people half to death!!

Interesting info on the spiders! thanx for that. I have a picture of it if I can figure out how to attach it or maybe I can e-mail it to you? It was either dark, dark brown or black and had tan stripes? on its legs at each of the joints. It was a beauty! I wasn't really scared of it, although I used to be petrified of spiders PK (pre-kids). We have wolf spiders here, but I've never seen one that looked like this. I guess it would probably have been a different variety. If it was indeed a wolf spider, it could have been chased out of its hole in the ground because it was very, very wet and swampy after all the rain. I was very impressed with not seeing any ticks or flies and no poison ivy - all things I detest where I live!

I'm sorry I can't really tell you about the nightlife. Most people went into Cruz Bay for it I believe. There were usually groups in the hot tub and pool socializing, but the poolside bar closed early and the only movies I heard about were kids' movies shown in a room someplace. I think it is off-season right now, so a lot of the activities are curtailed until season starts back. Somebody else might have more info. We were so worn out with playing at the beaches all day followed by rum punches that we were asleep by 8 p.m.!

Has it been on and off or continually raining?

I believe, if I remember correctly, you use your credit card to get the WiFi service.

RL

hi all, thanks for the great info, i really do think this board is awesome! some people [like me] didn't get to grow up with the wild ocean, were finding out as we go! and yes east ender, i did see jaws at least 50 times! my favorite movie lol i've been snorkling in the dom. republic,costa rica, jamaica, and other various places, but the usvi's sound like its going to be really an adventure! the best by far, and i haven't even been there yet. can't wait,the info on the spiders was great to ty[ stt.] thanks all for bearing with us worry warts. and my millon ?'s. i always face my fears though! at least most of them anyway. i'll be fine unless a scorpion comes calling! then they'll hear me in china! lol take care, scooby

While we were in the VI ST John May 2005 we saw a small black tip shark feeding in the shallow of Maho Bay. Yes it was a shark, we saw its head and fin and it demonstrated behavior of a black tip shark while feeding, the jumping and splashing in the water. It was exciting to see. Crazy us, after it ate and swam away, we snorkeled!!

I wholeheartedly agree. It's a slim possibility that it was a white tip shark. Furthermore, it was most likely a Tarpon. They are big, look very menacing in the water, and have a split tail like a shark.

Mis-identifying a tarpon is a common mistake on St. John. While I was there in August, at Cinnamon and Waterlemon, on the beach there were rumors of sharks being in the water. My son and I snorkeled out to find tarpon. But hey, tarpon are cool! There's nothing like seeing a tarpon rip into a ball of minnows - that's an absolute must do in St. John.

So if you afraid of snorkling into a shark in St. John - don't be.

On the other hand, I did see a nurse shark off the shore at Trunk Bay. But like almost all marine life, don't bother a nurse shark and they won't bother you.