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We are back home in snowy, freezing cold Vermont without luggage and after an 18 hour travel day from heck!
Vacation however makes me not even care about the above, at least not yet!
Our vacation started in St. Thomas on Saturday at the Secret Harbour, great place for a layover don't think I'd stay much longer!
Sunday we took the ferry from Red Hook to St. John, switched boats and then onto Great Harbour on Jost.
I realize this is not a B. V. I. message board so I'll be quick on the Jost trip if anyone wants more info I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Checked into White Bay Villas. Amazing! Awesome Views, exceptional people running this property!
Must does while in Jost: Meet Ivan and Foxy we spent many hours with both and learned so much about the two different families on the island. Eat at Foxy's on Friday or Saturday night when they have the bar-b-q, it's fantastic and you won't go home hungry. Rent a dingy and go out to Sandy Spit and Sandy Cay! Eat dinner at least once with Vinny (who's a biker from Colorado and owns his own shop there) at Corsair's, he and his wife run this place and the food is out of this world and they are great people. And the #1 must do on Jost is RELAX, put away the watch, computer and cell phone. Shoes are always an option, I never wore them once. Jost is by far the most layed back, I think I've slipped into a coma vacation we've ever had. We were so on island time and we will definately be going back. Apparently Anna Nicole Smith died during our time there and we never heard about it until we got home, either nobody talked about it or we weren't listening and by the time we got to St. John it was old news so we never knew!
On to St. John:
Sunday the 11th we took the ferry from Jost to St. John, checked through customs, stopped at Courtesy to get our jeep, over to Starfish for supplies and then off to Coral Bay to check into our villa up on Calabash Boom called Astral Ridge (same one as last year). Still took my breath away......I forgot how absolutely incredible and tranquil this villa is.
For the rest of the week we just did whatever whenever! Last year we tried to cram everything in and see everything because it was our first time. This year we knew what we liked and didn't like so we just went with the flow.
Some of our feelings (likes and dislikes):
*Very dissapointed in Salt Pond this year, way too many sea urchins and therefore I was a bit hesitant to snorkel much and last year we had a great experience. But I'm a wimp so it's really not an issue!
* I think the bartenders (with the exception of birthday girl) at Skinny's took an advanced course over the past year in how to be rude! Some of them went out of their way to be rude. We stopped 3 times over the week on our way back from our adventures and where happy to have a painkiller but not thrilled with their attitudes!
*Shipwreck Landing: The food was as good if not better than I remembered. We had some absolutely fantastic meals there. One of my favorites was Valentine's Day/our anniversary dinner we had oysters on the half shell and they were fantastic. Their pasta specials with assorted seafoods and sauces were oh so yummy!
*Did the goat population double in the past year or did I just have too many painkillers! Loved comming up on them on the sides (or middle of road) of the road and watching the little ones scurry!
*Jumbie Beach better than I recalled. The water was even more blue and warm then our previous visit. We saw a nurse shark and some sting ray there. The sting ray was right up on the water's edge and we got a great photo of it. I also experienced seeing live squid for the first time!
What a fantastic extended vacation both on Jost and St. John. We can't wait to return next Feb but that's a long ways away and I can't start the countdown yet or I'll drive myself crazy. So for now I'll get by looking at my pictures and reading the board. And if my luggage every arrives I'll have laundry to do and it will remind me of how much fun we had, and the added sand in stuff which will land on my floors will make me think I'm still at the villa basking in the sun! Until next year! Jill
Thanks for the report! Glad you had such a great time. Sorry we missed you at Foxy's on Friday night - you are right that the buffet is great and JVD is for nothing but relaxing!
We were at Foxy's Friday night, I looked for you based on your photo but apparently my painkillers blurred my vision. We danced and danced at Foxy's and then took a leisure stroll to Corsair's for a nightcap. Maybe next time I'll find you guys. Loved your trip reports from this time! Jill
Jill,
Just wondering if Foxy's continues their buffet on into the slower tourism season. We are going to be there June 3, for 9 days. When we visit Jost we can plan to stay and eat at Foxy's if things are the same. Thanks any other dining info would be great.
Mricco
I don't know for a fact weather the restaurants on Jost run at the same level during the "off" season. I did hear some people mention that they rearranged their travel plans so that they could experience Foxy's while on vacation as it was minimal food options while there their previous trip. Vinny from Corsair's I believe told us he shuts down completely starting in June. Like I said I'm not positive but I will e-mail this couple we met that lives on Jost year round and ask them and I'll get back to you as soon as they reply to me. Jill
Where on Jost do you rent a dingy? We are going this weekend - staying at Ivan's of course! And is there a way to get to the Willy T without renting a big boat?
The dingy was rented from K.C. watersports in Jost. He's a fantastic guy and he and his son were most helpful with everything. I believe it was $70.00 a day. I don't believe you could safely take the dingy to Willy's it's too far and I wouldn't suggest it. The only way to get there would be to rent something larger. Hope that helps!
We FINALLY got our luggage. It showed up 4 days after we returned home and although frustrating to know it was lost it was great to receive it, open it up and see all the things I forgot was in there. Leftover island rum, some road maps for St. John, and of course all our remaining clothes with some St. John sand on them.
Seems the airlines are all in a bit of a pickle with lost luggage due to the Valentine's Day storm. I've heard more people in the past few days talking about trips taken and luggage lost and in some cases trips planned but never happened due to the storm.
Anybody know of any great carry on bags that will hold a weeks worth of island clothes and that isn't a pain to carry? I'd be interested to hear comments and suggestions on good carry-on items. I'm thinking next year we won't check a thing as the past two years has been unlucky in luggage.
Still on island time even though it's zero degrees here and more snow in the forcast.
Jill
Jill, love reading the report-ya know we all have to live vicariously! Fortunately, we are returning in May and while we are pretty familiar with St John, have never been to Jost and intend to go this trip.. I became enthralled with Sandy Spit and posted a message on another board. The response was that it was not advisable or could not be reached by dinghy. Please tell me your experience and also how the snorkeling was! Thanks in advance, Kim
Kim,
We had no problems taking the dingy over to Sandy Spit. We drove the dingy from White Bay the first day and all the way out to Sandy Cay no problem. We docked the dingy at Foxy's Taboo each day after our adventures and drove our rental vehicle back to White Bay (saved on gas for the dingy rather than riding all the way around the island each day). Each day we traveled back to Foxy's Taboo via jeep, parked it there for the day, loaded up the dingy and headed out to our island for the day. We went from Foxy's Taboo to Sandy Spit, Sandy Cay or Little Jost every day and never once had a problem with getting there on the dingy. The snorkeling isn't great at Sandy Spit, it's o.k. but the Atlantic side of the island is quite rough and the reefs very very shallow. There was virtually nothing to see on the Caribbean Sea side of Sandy Spit, the waters very very blue and the bottom is like walking on powder with no reefs to adventure too. Sandy Cay was pretty much the same in that there really was no good snorkeling spots. We did however find this really great tiny private beach on Little Jost, if you are traveling from Foxy's Taboo out towards Sandy Spit just after you get out of where the boats tie up you'll see a small beach on the left. Head over there, it's absolutely amazing, we were the only ones on the beach all day long with the exception of a few that stopped in just for a few minutes. The snorkeling there was good, not great, but it's a neat spot. We saw sting rays, tons of tropical fish, my husband spied a nurse shark and hung out with it for a bit.
I don't see why you'd have a problem taking a dingy to either Sandy Spit or Sandy Cay. Both are great little islands all by themselves and we had some great times on both. Very few people on either when we were there. We had so much privacy we actually left without tan lines 🙂
If you have other questions regarding Jost please just let me know. I now have to rely on other people's travels to get me through until our next trip which won't be for another 344 days, yes I've started the countdown all ready until our next glorious trip to paradise!
Jill
Jill, Thanks for your great report. We try to get down to STJ every year and always stay on the Coral Bay side. I have seen a noticeable decline in the snorkeling at Salt Pond over the past several years. As to Skinny's, I have a good relationship with the bartenders, yet I do often see a crappy, "full of themselves" attitude. It's sometimes a snotty, self important persona regarding their "local" status. I also agree with you regarding Shipwreck Landing. The food off of the regular menu is always "o.k." but the daily specials were great, at a resonable price by STJ standards. Also, Donna, who works the bar several shifts a week makes great drinks and was unquestionably the most generous pour on the Coral Bay side of the island.
J.T.
Donna at Shiwreck definately rocks! She has such a beautiful personality and she goes out of her way to make sure you are taken care of. She makes the best Grey Goose Dirty Martini's and you are more than correct in saying she has the biggest pour on the Coral Bay side of the island. She took great care of us on Valentine's Day, reserved us two seats at the bar, made sure our Martini's where ice cold and was very attentive.
I'm a bit concerned with Salt Pond as we had such a great experience there in previous trips and this year I was actaully a bit nervous snorkeling so I cut my time there very short. It seams the sea urchins have taken over the shallow waters and therefore making it harder to get near the reef to see the beautiful sea life. Maybe next year will be better.
Where do you stay on the Coral Bay side? We are thinking of taking a larger group next year and unfortunately our villa doesn't accomodate for a larger group. Any thoughts on a villa that could hold 8 adults and 4 kids (under 4 years)?
Jill
Forgive me but I forgot who it was but someone asked me about summer hours on Jost and what restaurants would be open in the "summer" time. I checked with a local on Jost who we met while on vacation and who actually lives there year round and this is what they had to say:
"I have checked around a little bit and each restaurant is different. Foxy's is closed September and October. Corsairs is closed a few months but they won't know exactly until closer to the summer. Sydney's is always open as well as Abes. I believe Ivan's stays open all year too."
I hope this helps. Keep in mind that there are also several other places to check out on Jost for dining but the larger ones seem to close down during the summer months.
Jill
Awwww- soo cool! Thanks Jill. with all of the new interest in BVIs, I'm sure this board is enhanced with your BVI info. I've been wanting to get to Jumbie Bay - thanks for the vote of confidence on that beach.
Luggage, we use Victorinox Werks 22" Deluxe (swiss army symbol). You pack it, close it, and then zip an extra zipper on the outside to make it smalller - forcing everything down. Comes in various colors - easy to identify - and the handle is state of the art that swivels and is the easiest thing I have ever pulled. My daughter pulls her own (she's 8) and she has nooooo problem with a fully stuffed suitcase - even on stairs! Gout ours at Macy's - on 50% sale - in Sapphire Blue.
I think I can get away with carry-on only if I don't take towels and daughter's books for school in her backpack. This time, we left our towels with a friend and won't need books this summer.....so carry on will be easy.
The site: http://www.swissarmy.com/travelgear/Category.htm?category=werkstraveler2.0&
Bluwater,
Jumbie is beautiful you should definately check it out. The only problem with Jumbie is there is very limited parking. If everyone squeezes in properly you can fit 4-5 cars in the the little parking space, we've been there sometimes when people just pull in taking up too much room and you can't fit more than 3 cars in. So if you plan a trip there try and do it early so you can get a spot. Definately worth it as it's a very quiet beach. We loved it.
As for the BVI's I'm hoping with all the new interest in it that it doesn't change that much. It's such a quiet, tranquil, slice of paradise I'd hate to see it get over run by to much commercialization. It's perfect now and we are definately going back next year (if not sooner).
Thanks for sharing the suitcase info I'm going to check it out at our local Macy's.
Jill
Thanks for the great trip report!!
