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Let from BWI on AA on Friday 11/17/06, flight on time, arrived in San Juan and switched to Cape Air. Did not realize this was a small plane holding only 10 people including pilot, but it ended up being a great flight, no problems. Would recommend them over AA Eagle. Got our luggage and proceeded to Budget who did not have a car for us. We had to wait over an hour for a car to be returned. They gave us the option to check with others but we decided they would not match the price $206 for a Echo for a week and decided to wait. Finally got the car and was on our way. Stopped at Pueblos in town for grocery and headed to Bluebeard Beach Club for one night. Really nice place and wished we would have stayed there for the week but not available through our timeshare so we ended up at Bluebeard Castle. This place is really going down the tubes. Where does all the money go they get on the maintenance fees? They are not spending on the place. Weeds growing everywhere, room need to be redone, front desk clerks have an attitude, never have beach towels, etc. Bluebeard Castle would not let us check in early (they were not busy all week) advised to come back after 3:00, so we walked down the hill for lunch and shopping. Ended up having meals at Glady's, Green House, Cuzzins, Geicko and Pickles. Our big find for the week was happy hour every day at the Green House. 2 for 1 drinks from 4:30 - 6:30. Needless to say we were there most nights for our daily Bushwackers and had several meals with them, it was just as easy since we were already there. Took the ferry on Sunday to St John. You now pay $3 fee to get to the car ferry and on Sunday's its only $40 round trip to cross with the car. All other days its $50. We took the big grey car ferry which is new from last year. It was quick only 20 mins. Spent the day visiting all the beaches, seeing all the building going on things really changed in one years time. Wished we had stayed on St John instead of STT. Was able to stand in front the of web cam and call my daughter. She got on line and was able to see us as we were talking. Isn't the Internet great. Thursday, took the ferry over to the Baths. $60 per person. This is a great trip which allows you to spend several hours at the Baths instead of the short amount of time you have on the day sails. The taxi took us directly to the Baths $6 per person round trip, and $3 per person entrance fee to get into the Baths. We were able to take pictures of the Baths without people in the pictures. We left the Baths at 2:30 to return to the ferry which left at 3:00. This is definitely a place we are considering to spend a week. The major drawback to getting there. But the beauty of the place makes it worthwhile. All to soon our week was up and we were heading home. We traveled on Friday Nov 24th expecting crowds and problems. We had no problem at the airport since we were one of the last flights out of STT. Plane was not oversold, plenty of seats available which surprised us for being Thanksgiving weekend. Only six more months until our next trip..............
"Bluebeard Castle would not let us check in early (they were not busy all week) advised to come back after 3:00, so we walked down the hill for lunch and shopping. Ended up having meals at Glady's, Green House, Cuzzins, Geicko and Pickles"
Whoa, you must have been REALLY hungry Vacation Lady (just kidding).
Love your screen name.
Glady ou had a nice time. Sorry about your timeshare spot. I wonder if others feel the same way about Bluebeard's Castle- probably so. I haven't eaten at Geicko. Where is that?
I know a few people who have time shares with Blue Beards Castle,got to spend this last summer visiting them there. Yes, the place has gone WAY down hill. Kim and Rusty, also guests of our at Rockworks, stayed with us first and then went on to their timeshare. They somehow managed to get a up grade to one of the new suites built on the hill. This was very nice, but Kim talked of having black feet from walking around the suite bare-foot! Other friends that I visited there, also had problems. The room they usually get had no a/c and a leak so they were moved to another room with no kitchenette in it, which she likes to have so she can do a little cooking while there. They talked of alot of politics going on there. Two companies owning it and having battles over it.
Don't know much about it all, but feel sorry for the people who get sucked in. People pay far too much for what they get that is for sure! I would think getting a villa or even staying at a hotel would be more cost effective than having to be committed to the yearly expenses of time-share, but who am I!
So happy to hear you haven't given up Vacation Lady! Hope you got the chance to do more, beaches etc. Your info about your trip to Virgin Gorda was insightful to me as I was under the impression that is was better to do a day-sail and you just taut me otherwise! I will pass your info on to me guests and to other villa guests!
Nice hearing your report!
ps- tried to fix error above between Castle and got, but my computer is omitting the letters as I type! I don't understand why this sometimes happens!
Sherri, you probably have to hit the "insert" key once to allow your text to be inserted without deleting what was already typed. Just hit it once and you should be fine from there on. Look for it in the top right-hand side of your keyboard.
We were hungry with all the walking up and down the hill, but I just listed some of the places we visited that week. The Geicko is in Drake passage I think. They have a bar and seating in the middle as you walk through from the front street to the back street.
We got to spend time on several beaches, checking new hotels out. Be sure to stop by the Ritz as they are doing major renovation to build more rooms, never went to that side of the island, but a little to pricey for our budget and very isolated. They do have a public beach that you can use. Also stopped by for milkshakes after visiting Magens Bay. That is a must on our trips. Tried to go to the top where the trams go but both times they were closed even though the sign said they should have been open.
The day trip on the ferry to the Baths is not to be missed if you want to spend quality time there. We arrived about 10:30 and did not leave until 2:30. It is much nicer when the crowds are gone. There are lockers to rent for $2.50 to put your things in while you go through the caves and spend time in the water, so you do not have to worry about your things.
Didn't go into everything we did, but we were busy all week. Also tried to take the seaplane over to St Croix for the day, but that is something you should reserve ahead of time instead of that week. All the cheaper fares were taken and did not want to spend $170+ per person round trip for 3 hours. So that is on the agenda for the next time. You can go on line and make reservations before you leave to get the best $. Also wanted to go over to water island but ran out of time. Not really sure if there is enough to do all day, and how you get around once you get there. Most people in STT we talked to had never been over there.
the Geicko is in the International Plaza my wife and I eat there quite often
We also stayed at Bluebeards Castle in late Oct. (exchanged our week that we own in Vegas) and have to agree 100% with your comments. I feel horrible for the people that own a week there. Our feet were black that first night from the hotel room floor and we ended up walking around in our sandals the rest of the time. The best thing was the size of the hotel room and the incredible view. Other than that, we did not care for it at all.
Thanx Blue for your insight, I knew it should be a simple fix, but didn't know what to do! I am not all that knowledgeable on computers! 🙂
