Hi Guys!
We had a fabulous time! My husband, Infant daughter, and I had-> The best 3 days of fun in the sun we've had in forever....and I've been to many of the world's beaches! Cinnamon bay is my number 2 beach - (panhandle of florida being # 1). Anyway. Here's what we did- learned, saw, etc!

- Started in Birmingham AL - Drove to ATL airport - hopped our $150 flight to San Juan (We lucked out, gave up our original iteneary and got a direct flight in to san juan!). Spent the night in the cheapest hotel we could find... Hotel San Jorge - more on them later! Got up the next morning caught the cheapest hop from San Juan to STT. (Carrribean Star/Carribean Sun- which were very NICE and very accomidating to us!($129 RT))

- Got to STT. Met family in STT. Took a Taxi to red hook to catch the ferry to ST. John. That cost us $8 a head! Then the ferry cost!

- got to ST. John.... Taxi to Cinnamon bay was like $5 a head. http://www.cinnamonbay.com

- Our camp site wasn't ready so we left our things at the front desk and enjoyed family and beach time.

- when our camp site was ready we went back. We got a group camp site. In hindsite, i prefere the more private ones, but we were the closest to the beach and bath house, works for us!

- The camp sites come litterally with a propane lanter/grill, rubbermaid kit with some kitchen utensils, and a cooler. (Ice is $3 a bag!)

- the cabins weren't at all what i thought they would be, but for the price, and if you ask ahead you might get one that's beach front! They do book early! and 2006 cabins for xmas are already SOLD OUT!

- We had more beach time. We ate at the restaurant at cinnamon bay. They say they open at whatever time and an hour later they might be serving food. At least the food was overpriced, but tasty and the relaxing entertainment was very nice. (they do take visa!)

- Traveller cheques aren't liked by the cab drivers. ugh what a waste of time. But at least the merchants were nice about em

- We got up on Tuesday morning and went to Trunk bay! It was beautiful! But man it got crowded about 10am!

- When renting snorkling gear - they have a $25 deposit per set! And they right your CC number on their papers, so don't just throw it away! yes- they take visa, MC... But i think the park only takes cash - which by the way - opens at 9am.

- We spent some time in town. and found this little restaurant that had salt fish pate's that were cheap and tasty! (find subway, walk down the road towards the car ferry and you'll find an open air restaurant that was pleasent)

- Cinnamon bay does get full of people, but it's not packed. And there's plenty of beach to share!

- oh there are lockers at cinnamon bay.... but it's 50cents every time you open them! Plus a deposit, plus when you leave, another 50cents because you can't leave the key in the locker to get your deposit back! That was annoying!

- as far as what other folks might need... we suggest avon skin so soft! It worked really well.. and when we didn't have it on, or these bites are from san juan? anyway... we've still got whelps from the bug bites!

- we SAW a HUGE iguana! and a mongoose! No donkeys! Rumors have it that the state park folks have herded them to other parts of the island!

- we read in the newspaper how dog and cock fighting was still legal in ST. J. Ruined some folks vacations! Sucks for them, we didn't see anything!

- Oh yeah.... the bathhouses - really do have COLD showers. Makes it hard to hold the handle and an infant to wash too....

- the toilets don't flush so great... HOLD the friggin handle till it flushes! And yes the water is Yello! but it's cus it's not filtered water! And the lady who cleans the bath houses - exclaimed she didn't deal with poo poo and then left.... THANKS!

- there are plent of places to get fresh water through out the campground!

- Oh yeah! and in San juan there are notices posting that no on will be allowed to have lighters on planes period - no carryone, no packed, nothing after APRIL 15, 2005... Is this for real?!

- The Vitran... is not very reliable. And the cab drivers are pushy on st. J. So beware!

- The ferry from Charlotte Amalie is cheaper, and more fun to ride than the one from red hook.... it docks just before the cruise ships but just down and accross the street from the hard rock in STT. it has a weird schedule so take one before you leave. it was great for us!

- Carribean SUn/Star airlines is very nice, they serve drinks and snacks on their 20 min hoppers!

- We hope to get our pics back today to show off just how beautiful it is in ST. J, STT and San Juan

- the ruins accross the street from Cinnamon bay are very nice, very woodsy.... and if you take the loopy trail it's just enough to get exercise, and not very far from the campgrounds! (Accross the street!)

We ended our trip with a day trip to san juan... we ate at a beautiful and romantic restraunt recommended by frommer's carrribean travel guide! We also walked the wall by the old san juan gate very very nice walking! We saw huge parrots? (big colorful birds- you know like the ones we see in pet stores selling for thousands of dollars!)

San juan was definetly worth the day trip... but i dunno if i'd go their for a week of vacation... i hear they have a "fountain of youth" and a beautiful tropical rain forest in puerto rico, but i don't know much about it, and this is not the san juan board! But if you need a cheap room hotel san jorge is $49 a night, it has a warm shower, clean toilet and sink and a bed - our room also had an air conditioner, and fridge- compared to camping it was just fine... but if your into luxioury... don't go here! Also there aren't any screens on the windows so we had more bugs there than on st. john!

Overall- Cinnamon bay was wonderful. We had a pack n play, and xtra nice service because we were travelling with a small child! They were so nice! We even met a couple who've been coming to the campground for 32 years.... They knew like everyone on the island... and we got to thinking... you know... we really did get a fabulous vacation for a really good price.... yearly trips wouldn't be so bad!

PS. we looked at island real estate mags.... anyone want to split a $10 mil island? 😉