I just wanted to share some of the details of our trip with some comments that I didn't really find in other trip reports.
We arrived in STT on 6/13. It was hot and humid, in the 90s, which was hotter than the posted avg. highs for June. We hired a private taxi service, Samuel Hodge, the "Lollipop Man". I found him through a web search. He charged $75.00 each way for the three of us. His web site allowed me to prepay by credit card through PayPal. Another Taxi service that came recommended, I think Freddie? did not accept cc. Sam was there on time and waiting for us upon our arrival. I had him stop for groceries on the way to the Marriott as I did not want to pay for separate taxi back to town to shop and preferred having supplies right away. I had read reviews that suggested getting groceries at kmart or pueblo, but Sam took us to the gourmet grocery at Havensight. Limited selection and pricey.Looked like nice deli area, but I did not buy anything from there. Lots of wines to choose from though. I stocked up on soda, beer,milk, yogurt,fruit, bought two bottles of wine in addition to the duty free Grey Goose we bought at Newark airport, and wine that I had already prepurchased in states. I also traveled with my own cheeses and fennel crusted salamis,olives etc. that I purchased from home. One several afternoons I made up my own appetizer platters for consumption on our lovely garden patio or on the lounge chairs at the beach. We were staying at the Morningstar Portion of the Marriott. I can't imagine staying at the Main hotel. We could hear the ocean from our room and were litterly less than 20' to the beachfront. We were in a Garden View room as the ocean views were all sold out. However, after seeing the rooms I think I would prefer garden view to ocean view. Most of the ocean views appeared to be blocked with trees, or other view obstructions-that I would have been upset to pay for. Our garden view room 5211 had lovely flowers & palms, morning birds and butterflies, first floor, and If I leaned to the right I could in fact see the beach from the patio. Morningstar is a lovely beach with waves. The waves are lovely to sit in front of to watch. I prefer swimming in the beaches such as Trunk or White Bay on Jost with no waves more conducive to floating on rafts ($2/each also brought from home and then given to our favorite beach waitress along with our cooler and left over wine upon departure). Some things I didn't know before I left- they do have waitresses that run up and down the beach taking drink orders--and the service is wonderful. They can not serve food to you on the beach, but did suggest going to the Star market on property to pick up something. So I just brought out my own incredible salami and cheese and fruit platter-
better than anything I could have ordered to snack on. There is automatically a 15% gratuity added on to every drink ordered on the beach. I actually gave our waitress a rather large tip ($20.00)
but failed to see the $5.19 added by Marriott- so I might have just added another 15.00, just something to be aware of. We had dining reservations at Havana Blue on Wed. at 7pm- requested months in advance to get specific time and table at rail. However, I had choosen 7 to get to see the sunset, which does not really set over the ocean at Havana Blue. Also, the day was in the 90s and at 7 it was still hot.This restaurant is not a/c and my husband was absolutely miserable in his dress slacks and was actually starting to feel ill from heat.
It put a damper on the evening. Another couple we ran into mentioned they also were miserable with heat. I would suggest if you go--pick a much later and therefore cooler time. The prettiest view of the evening was when a late departing Cruise ship left the harbour at night with all its lights on---it was a really beautiful site. My husband had the Sea Bass which was actually recommended to him by one of the staff at the Sand bar as "the best". It was very delicious, although he would have liked a larger portion size. I think the portion sizes are fairly comparable to a more gourmet type restaurant that concerns itself with presentation. I had the angus filet (the only red meat on menu). The server was very knowledgeable about all the entrees and correctly explained to me that the "angou chili rub" and "expresso rub" would not taste, but
actually carmelize the meat making it more tender and slightly sweet. I heard the tender part, but didn't get the sweet. The filet was actually a good size for a fillet and tender, but to my taste very sweet. I don't like sweet taste with meat and prefer spicy-
thinking angou chili might be spicy. So it wasn't my favorite.
The fillet was also the most expensive dish on the menu at $42, the Sea bass I believe was either 31 or 32. My daughter had the prauns which were huge, and she enjoyed her food. We also ordered the calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was lightly hand breaded and tender, really wonderful--but again they serve it with a sweet vinegrette dressing instead of a tradional red. Loved the idea of the vinegrette, just again too sweet for me, but not for my daughter who usually doesn't like calamari. My husband is not much of a wine drinker, prefering martinis or beer- I love wine and really like it if the restaurant has a large selection of wines by the glass (as don't generally order a bottle unless my husband will have some wine with me). There is only about one wine per class offered by the glass. Glass of Conudrum I think was 15.00 They have only one merlot offered by the glass (14.00), I don't think there are any chardonnays by the glass - just sell by the 1/2 bottles of some very expensive wines. The only wines they choose to sell in half bottles are these more expensive wines. They do offer 1/2 bottle of the duckhorn merlot which I love-but it sells for $52.00 for half bottle.About the typical 100%bottle markup as I can buy it here for around $50/bottle at the wine store. I had the Havana Banana for desert. I enjoyed this light tasting desert accompanied by homemade sherbet.
They say it's a "spring roll type of wrap" but it is more accurately a canoli shell filled with this banana puree and a raspberry dipping sauce. This was the only fine dining we did while we were on our 7 night vacation. Our least favorite day was the boat trip on the Breakway. I wrote a lengthy separate review for those interested in more info on this trip. Suffice to say here, we did not care for this trip. Our favorite day was spent at St. John. We got up early and headed to Red Hook to catch the ferry. We had planned to go to the Grateful deli for Breakfast, now closed. We ate instead at the Burrito Deli (just down from entrance to ferry on same side of street). We all had the breakfast burito w/eggs and cheese for $4.50. THis was good. Might want to order some extra onions or potatoes that can be put inside burrito as well--but my husband didn't really get the ordering until after. We had already packed a foldable cooler that I also had in my suitcase from home with fruit, yogurts, soda, water, chips, and red wine and beer. I also had my own picnic set from home, yes I know we packed a lot of stuff--just not many clothes. We also ordered some Italian subs to go from the deli and were on our way. The ferries run every hour- so it pays to plan your dining etc. to coincide with ferry departure. We weren't successful at this and ended waiting in line with all these bags/coolers for 30 minutes at the ferry dock. The ferry had advertised new revised student pricing of 1.25/each way starting June 1st. When asked- the ferry personnel looked at me like I was an idiot for suggesting this- and said that's wrong. Don't know when if ever there will be this "posted student pricing". So it cost us $30/for three round trip to St. John. They did not charge us for our bags and someone told us how the $2/bag price works, if you hold it on your lap its free. As soon as we entered the ferry one of the crew took our rather large duffel holding snorkel gear, beach mats & towels, and floating rafts- said we didn't have to hold it as it wouldn't be comfortable. We tried to take the local huge Viatron bus waiting at the ferry dock for $1pp. I had read that the bus would let you off anywhere on the island for $1. The driver insisted that yes he went everywhere, just not to Trunk.
So we rambled over to not air conditioned cab that we had to wait to fill- for $6pp to Trunk bay (one way). We also picked a day that there were no cruise ships in port and it was remarkably not crowded. For those not interested in shleping all these bags they do rent snorkel gear and sell hot dogs etc. at the snack shack. I think I heard someone say the hot dogs were around 10 (but I don't know for sure). They do rent chairs but not the nice lounge chairs like at the Marriott Morningstar beach (by the way if your not staying at this beach- it is very picturesque and 2 chairs/ 1 umbrella rent for $25.00-day and it is well worth sitting under an umbrella watching the waves and having drinks. They have a driver that runs up and down the beach making sure everyone is either a guest or pays the chair fee-chairs/umbrellas are free to guests. The chair rental at trunk is 7.00 with a 25.00 deposit. The beach at Trunk is incredible, even if you don't want to snorkel and prefer to float. I loved the snorkeling trail and we saw tons of fish-including a barracuda, squid, and a sting ray right near the edge of the beach after the short afternoon thunderstorm that scared away some more of the beach visitors. We just waited it out- and were blessed with a beautiful sunny afternoon. Most of the showers we experienced during the week were like this, heavy rains storms that looked like they would last all day only to die after an hour or less. The current was not strong and just about all levels of snorkelers could find enjoyment. We left about 5pm. All of the facilities including the restrooms and showers are locked promptly at 4:30...something else we really didn't think about but should have. The attendant was kind enough to wash the sand off our feet with garden hose. Still a whole rinse under a shower would have been better. We Caught a cab back to town and hit happy hour at Woody's. I heard about this happy hour from another poster and can't thank them enough for this tip. It was a blast. Try the "Blue Motorcycle" drink. I had three!! We also had dinner here. My husband loved his steamed mussels.And when they say the hot wings are really, really hot--believe them....but oh, so good. Even the regular flavored wings were delicious. We left in time to catch the 7pm ferry just as the sun was setting over the ocean and we had the most incredible views & breezes from the windows of the ferry back to St. Thomas. Just a note about Woody's so you can decide if it will also become your favorite spot--the music is LOUD and Rowdy...this is also a very very little spot and the crowded environment lends itself to the party atmoshere. Don't go- if you want to converse your way through the afternoon/dinner or don't feel like being around other rowdy partiers. Some of the other couples were dancing around singing, etc... just plain fun. I think the $1 beers during the 3 hour happy hour also help. I think my daughter now wants to move to the islands and become a Woody's waitress. Overall the staff at the Marriott was wonderful to us.
We truly became friends with some of the staff. They accomodated every special request such as finding an extra deck chair for our daughter- nightly turn down service has to be requested and you should because every night they would bring something different, rum balls, little bottles of Kaluha, special Belgian chocolates, etc. We tipped the maids daily and they were happy to leave us some extra packets of regular coffee- as we love our morning coffee and would bring some to the beach early every morning. We also hated our initial pillows- they were not part of the Marriott's revive program. But a call to housekeeping brought us down pillows in exchange for the rocks. Again, all we had to do was ask. The bed was the worst part of the room- we had two doubles and it was like sleeping (or attempting to sleep) on a small rock. Marriott is set to remodel these rooms in August and install flat screen tvs, and hopefully new beds. I usually love the beds at the Marriott, so this is NOT a Marriott bed. The refrigerator in the room is not your typical hardly cools hotel frig. This thing literally iced my lettuce and froze my bottled water, we had to keep during the tepm us. It is also very large sized and held all of the aforementioned groceries. No microwave, so don't bring or buy microwave popcorn. Local phone calls are $2.50 a piece (which I did not see posted anywhere), even if no one answers. We did not get cell phone service at the beach but did up top at the main resort. The iguanas are in fact everywhere. We were told of one guest who tried hand feeding an iguana and had to have his fingered removed from the iguana, who swallowed it...so obviously, don't try to feed the iguanas. The hotel has a daily iguana feeding at 2:30, and if you look over the side of the pool where they gather for feeding it stinks unbelievably. I dont' know what genius thought the hotel should feed these creatures, but I think it's a bad policy. Here you are looking at incredibly great views of the St. Thomas Harbour and then this smell accosts you, you look down and there are these hoards (vs. one or two friendlies on the beach) of iguanas. The upstairs pool with the swim up pool bar was not clean and my husband refused to get into this pool. We did not spend any time here even though the views from this pool are lovely. The other pool is very nice, but no bar service at all. My daughter really enjoyed the jet ski rental. They take you on a guided tour (you get your own ski) and she felt more comfortable with them showing her around. It is $55/half hour for one person $110.00 for an hour. She was lucky in that when I rented her the ski she ended up the only one with the guide. He apparently gave her quite a ride as she rides jet skis all the time at the lake at home- so she said it was really a blast. She described jet skiing on the ocean as "really cool..on a lake your always following boats around trying to catch waves- but on the oceans there waves everywhere you go so you are constantly crashing up over waves..." Even she was tired after using all her muscles to steer the ski for an hour over this type of terrain. I mention this- as this would not have been something I would have enjoyed- and it would have killed my husbands back for the entire week. Lots of people have also asked about the prices etc. at Coco Joes. A cup of coffee is 3.00. The least expensive is the fruit and yogurt plate for $13.00. Eggs Benedict $15.00 w/crab $17.00
Omelets $14.00(very good). So- yes its a little expensive but the restarant sits right on the beach and you can't beat the view. The food is also pretty good and the service attentive. Also- with the cost of cab at 10pp or 6pp to Havensight- it's not really worth venturing out somewhere else for breakfast i.m.h.o. One aside worth noting, my husband is from NY/CT and loves NY pizza. We live in TX and can't really get it. Pizza Amore in Havensight has a great
pie- the 18" is huge for 18.00 and they told us they would also deliver to the Marriott for an 11.00 delivery fee. We actually had Sam our taxi stop on the way to the airport and picked up a preordered pie to have for lunch while we waited to board the plane. We liked it that much. It was also very reasonable. They also have chef salads and hoagies, but we did not try these. Sam our taxi is also a well known muscian-(the Lollipops)- on the island and plays (with a 10 piece band) at all the Carnivals. He and his keyboard player Francis also play at the Marriott at the pool bar on Thursday afternoons and on Monday nights at the Rum Bar. We went up and saw them perform on our last night in the islands. We also bought one of his CDs to play at our pool cabana back home. It's kinda funny sitting home swimming in the pool thinking that this was the guy who drove us to and from the airport!
We also can't rave enough about Yani, the bartender at the Rum Bar and occasionally at the Sand Bar who helped make our trip even better. All in all we all had an incredible trip. I think if we go back we will stay on St. Johns as I loved this Island with all its beaches and would rather not have to ferry over with all our gear. I'm already missing the moonlight over the ocean...Hope everyone else enjoys there time away as much as we did.