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I am travelling to STT this Christmas with my husband and two teenage sons. It's my first time back after 25 years -- used to travel with my family in the 70s and stayed at Miller Manor in C.A. for 3 weeks each year.
B&Bs in town are my favorite and we've already booked our stay at Green Iguana and renting a car thru Avis.
Couple Qs:
I'm familiar with Magens Bay and Coki Beach, but way back we used to also go to Morningstar. I understand that all beaches are public, is anyone familiar with how to gain access to Morningstar beach if you're a non-guest? How about parking?
We intend to take the rental car to STJ via the Red Hook ferry. I'm a bit confused on the pricing. Does the round trip ferry cost for the car include passengers or do you pay for the car and then separately for the passengers?
We intend to buy some supplies in town (breakfast food & drinks) before checking into the hotel (arriving x-mas eve) -- what's the nearest grocery store to east side of C.A.? (I'm guessing Pueblo or K-Mart in Havensite, but not sure).
We are traveling from Rochester, NY -- pretty bad connections and the best airfare was to book Roc to SJU and then SJU to STT. I'm not worried about going down, but I'm concerned on our departure date we are taking AA from STT to SJU arriving in SJU at 12:50pm. Our DL flight to Rochester leaves at 4:30pm that day. Will we have enough time to make the connection? Many posts indicate that these inter-island flights are notorious for being late and/or cancelled and wondered if anyone has advice or done something like this before. (very concerned now w/ using different carriers.)
Finally, back in the 70s there was a restaurant in Frenchtown -- I think it was called "Jimmy's" -- it was our favorite. But I don't think it's there anymore. Anyone know about this restaurant?
Thanks for all your help. These posts are great sources of information.
That should be more than enough time. If the STT-SJU and SJU-Rochester legs are on the same ticket, you should be able to check your luggage all the way through from STT to Rochester. Why didn't you book a later flight from STT, so you didn't have to wait 3 hrs and 40 minutes in SJU? Delays are not rampant most of the time, but it definitely is a problem worth mentioning. Also, if your legs are on the same ticket, you only need about an hour of connection time. If they are not on the same ticket, then, I would suggest two hours of connection time due to having to exit and re-enter security. I would not worry about your AA flight being late. If it is late - even two hours late - you would still make your Delta flight.
Thanks for the info DL.
Actually flights are on different carriers and AA changed my flight a few months ago to arrive in SJU w/in 20 minutes of my departure on other airline, so I was stuck with the next earlier flight -- or pay large fees on nonrefundable tixs. AA changed tix to earlier flight with no charge and I think you're right. We'll have more than enough time.
Hello Susan,
You can visit Morningstar Beach, you just drive down the road and there is a parking lot. There is a short flight of wood steps from the parking lot onto the beach.
The roundtrip rates on the car barge includes the car and the passengers of the car who ride with the car on the barge. 😉
Enjoy.
--Islander
Dear Susan,
Just want to forewarn you that Morningstar is nothing like it used to be! "Back in the day" it was very simple and "rustic" but that all changed when the Morningstar villa project was built, including a restaurant, right on the beach. That was about 20 years ago, as I recall. The tidal pattern changed quite drastically and the far left side of the beach became very rocky, making getting into the water in that area difficult.
I don't recall "Jimmy's" in Frenchtown. All in all you're going to see many, many changes both on STT and STJ so be prepared. But you'll have a great time - enjoy!
I don't remember "Jimmy's". In Frenchtown back in the 70's all I can recall is "Quarterdeck" and "Normandie's".
Richard N. Kurpiers
Thanks for all of the information and advice. This forum is great!
I think the restaurant might have been called "Danny's" and it was definitely in Frenchtown. But I could be wrong about the name. Probably not there anymore.
The only other establishment I can think of during that time was called the "Side Pocket", owned by Frankie Quetel.
Richard N. Kurpiers
HI. I lived on STT back in the 70s with my parents. We lived at several different locations on the island, but our longest stay was just over Charlotte Amalie. I think you should know that it has changed significatnly....and it won't be as you recall. Just an FYI since you are planning to stay in this area without having been back in so long.
None of the island much resembles what used to be....those good ole' days 😉
You will, however, be glad to know that the Bomba Charger is still in operation to the BVI. It's not a pretty sight - but she still gets the job done. The scene at Coki will make you want to cry.
Bluewater, thanks for the heads-up.
From reading all of the messages on this board, I'm definitely getting the feeling that C.A. has changed. That's one of the reasons I chose The Green Iguana over Miller Manor -- hopefully a better area of town. Miller Manor's location toward the end of the 70's was definitely an area that was changing even back then (western part of C.A.)
Having lived in NYC and Boston, I know that we have to be smart and not wander around at night. I just hate to pay such a premium for "beach front" properties (especially since you can be a great beach in 10 minutes or so) and I used to love exploring the island with my family. And, you gotta luv the views overlooking the harbor!
I'll make sure and post a trip report when we return -- especially since it's been so many years since I've been back. Should be interesting.
