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This is my first time posting a trip report ever so here it goes...
June 11th I arrived at the St. Thomas airport and took a shuttle to thrifty where we had reservations to rent a car. We got a free upgrade for a sports car which happened to be a mustang so we took it. On the trip was only myself age 21 and my boyfriend, 22. This was our first time to the islands. After finally getting our car we headed to check in @ blackbeards hotel and then checked out our room. Since we had done so much research and printed out all information about beaches we had many resources to look over and decide what we were going to do that night. After settling in at the hotel we took a drive to find MAgens Bay. It was sunset when we got to Magens so the water was darker but from what we could see it was absolutely beautiful. Later that night we went to Shipwreck Tavern for dinner which was a very nice bar and restaurant that was also great because it was not really a touristy place but a place where the locas went for burgers etc.
June 12th
Today we decided to use as a day of exploring and relaxing at the least. We woke up early and headed down to Pueblos Market for some grocerys for the week. Prices were shockingly much more expensive than in the states. Everthing except alcohol was atleast a dollar or more each compared to the states which adds up quick! After dropping grocerys off we headed out to find Sapphire Beach, but first we made a stop at Secret Harbor. Secret Harbor was nice but was nothing too special and after a short time we headed out to look for Saphire. Sapphire Beach is located over by RedHook and was amazing, we loved how the beach was wavy and clear. A decently popular beach but very beautiful. After the beach we went downtown to charlottle ameille and did some shopping and explored downtown.
June 13th
Today we decided to head to Coral World & Coki Beach. Coral World was very fun! We saw the turtles, shark pool, sting ray pool, and underwater observatory. We also signed up for Sea trek. Sea Trek was fun but we thought a little overpriced. The price was 50.00 /person. It was nice to be underwater and walk on the surface but before we did sea trek we snorkeled at Coki Beach. After doing Sea Trek we realized that we had more fun snorkeling on our own that paying to be with an instructor for sea trek. The water at Coki was the clearest water we had been in in our lives. It was like being in a huge pool with sting rays, barracutas, and hundreds of different fish. The visability underwater was amazing!!
June 14th
We had originally planned on taking the car ferry to St.John today but it was pretty cloudy out so we decided to explore a little more of St.Thomas. We headed to John Brewers Bay which is located right next to The Univ. of virgin Islands. Brewers was beautiful and we got to watch some planes land over the water since it is located near the airport. Brewers was especially great because we had it to ourselves all day! Although the water is not the best for snorkeling it was awesome to have a beach to ourselves!! After Brewers we headed to lunch and then went to Bluebeards' Beach Club resort. Bluebeards Beach Resort was very nice but there were rocks in the water so we had to be careful not to stab our feet. What made the beach also nice was the fact that it had Hammocks along the beach which couldn't have been more relaxing. We also built a sandcastle on the beach and while we were doing that we worked up a nice sun burn! After getting a lot of sun we headed back to the hotel. Later on we went to Havensight and did some souviner shopping and actually went to Havensight for all our shopping through out the week.
June 15th
Today we finally went to St. John!! We took Capt. Vic's car barge over and although we had to wait a little while in line once we were boarded it was a nice ride from STT to STJ. Once we arrived at st. john we had no idea how to get around but we planned on visiting Trunk & Cinnamon Bay. I asked a local how to get to Cinnamon and they pretty much said "up the hill" so with those not so detailed directions we headed up the hill to see where it would take us. As we were driving we passed Trunk Bay then eventually hit Cinnamon a few minutes later. Cinnamon was by far one of our favorite beaches! the water was crystal clear amazing blue and the sand was extremely white. The beach could not have been more pretty & what was also cool was the fact that we are huge kenny chesney fans and we were able to see the place he talks about in his song "Old Blue Chair" and we also saw his vacation home on the clift!
Next was Trunk Bay on the way back.Trunk was very beautiful and as many people know has the underwater snorkeling trail. The Trail was a log of fun but also scary cuz you never know what could be out there! We then headed back to the ferry because by this time it was after 5 and the latest ferry left at 6ish.
June 16th
Today we went to Coki Beach again because we loved the snorkeling there more than any other place. Coki was nice because they have waiters to offer drinks and food while relaxing on the beach. If you go to St.Thomas you need to snorkel at Coki!! Oh by the way we actually bought snorkel gear at Walmart before we went to the islands and I highly suggest bringing your own with you because the price for gear is basicilly doubled @ KMART down there. After Coki we made a stop at Blue Beards Beach Resort to hang out on the Hammocks before it got dark.
June 17th
Sadly today was our actual last day to enjoy the island because our flight was @ 8am the next day. We went to MAgens in the morning to see it during the day time which we had not done yet. Magens was very nice and quite large so everyone pretty much had their own little part of the island to themselves. After Magens we saw signs to go to Mountain Top so since we had a map with us we headed on to find Moutntain Top. Wow what a way to end our last day! Mountain Top gave one of the most beautiful views of the islands we had ever seen. it over looked Magens and also the british virgin islands in the distance. Mountain Top is also home to the world famous banana daquiris so we decided we couldn't leave without trying one. The drinks were 7.50 and not very big but the bartender couldn't have put more rum in them! They were very strong and at every glimpse when the drinks were in the blender the bartender was just pouring in the banana rum and even when he poured the drinks in the cup he topped them off with more rum. So my boyfriend and I were actually feeling a little buzzed, almost drunk off one drink each! We went shopping around the little gift stores and sadly left to head out for dinner.
When we got back to the hotel to shower & change for dinner we stood out on the balcony to hold in the beautifulculwe saw the most amazing thing we could have seen the night before we were leaving.....a HUGE arc to arc over the mountain & water Rainbow!! I had only seen these kind of rainbows on tv and in cartoons and did not think they really existed. The rainbow certainly made out vacation. Later that night we did some gambling in the hotel and won 40.00 so continued to play and lost 60.00 but we didn't care because we had such a great time.
Overall one of the best places i could have ever imagined. I have been to mexico twice and neither trip compared to the beauty,culture, atmosphere, beaches,and scenery of The Virgin Islands. Definetely the trip of a lifetime where i hope to return many many more times!
Your report is very nice and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for taking the time to post it and congrats on seeing the awesome rainbow!!
Nice trip report. So glad that you had a good time.
Save up for the next trip! :o)
Jenn...great trip report!!
What made you decide on St. Thomas for your vacation. (You are both young, so makes me think you've not traveled much.)
Just think of what fun it's gonna be now to plan your next vacation!!
So...what was your favorite beach?
Where was the best place to eat....in your opinion?
If you go back....what will be the MUST do things?
I was told the old blue chair in the kenney chesney song refers to Ivan's campground in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke. There is actually an old blue chair sitting there on the sand...my tent was right next to it about three weeks ago. Anybody know? I'm not a chesney fan and don't know the song...
From what I understand the old blue chair goes a lot of places with him (including on tour), but the line Jenn is refering to is "I watched boats sail in and out of Cinnamon Bay". So the old blue chair would be planted at his home in Peter Bay at that point.
Hey Jenn, too bad you didn't get a chance "Hang at the locals at the Quiet Mon, where you can be a tourist, a beach bum, or a star..."
Jenn...great trip report!!
What made you decide on St. Thomas for your vacation. (You are both young, so makes me think you've not traveled much.)
Just think of what fun it's gonna be now to plan your next vacation!!
So...what was your favorite beach?
Where was the best place to eat....in your opinion?
If you go back....what will be the MUST do things?
Awww thank you! The idea of goign to st. thomas was actually just simply from listening to a couple of kenny chesneys songs about the islands and hearing him talk about them on tour. We used my boyfriends mothers timeshare and there happened to be almost nothing in the carribean available except on st.t. We took a chance and figured since it was in the carribean it had to be great. We then researched often almost every night about the island so that we would not feel lost when we got there. Everything just sort of fell into place when we got there.
Yes we absolutely can not wait to go back!
I would say both my boyfriend and mines favorite beach was Cinnamon and Coki coming in at a close second. Coki water was one of the best but overall cinnamon was more breathtaking above water.
The Greenhouse located downtown charlotte amelile ( can't spell it) was my favorite because it was open air and a nice place to be loud or just relax and have a good dinner and some drinks.
when we go back we will probably stay on st.john only because we are less into the partying seen that stt has more readily available and stay where it is less city-like and more reserved. Although i would definetly go over to st.thomas a couple times.
Thanks for the reply...this is a great site to talk about such a great place! "Americas Paradise"
OMG next time i wil hang with those locals! You must be a kenny fan!?? hes by far my favorite artist. I will actually be seeing him for the 4th time on july 16. ahhh he never gets old. Anyway thanks for the reply it definetly put a smile on my face!
thank you 🙂
