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The place has sure changed in 15 years.
You do need a rental car or jeep if you thought you could just walk from point A to point B. No problem driving on the left just a little bit of narrow roads which kept freaking out the wife. The kids love the roller coster roads, and I got a workout steering. Watch were you park there are people watching to boot your car if you walk to another area that your not parked for. We followed the advice from others.
We stayed at Secret Harbor Resort which fit our needs. The pools was clean and warm the hot tub was colder, I guess they call it a cold tub now. The beach out front was nice and clean with about 15 people only which means plenty of space. Plenty of coral snorkling right off of the beach with marine life. The prices were spendy everywhere for lunch and dinner. Next time I will be one of the cooler people and paying for the extra weight. We got bit up by Noseemes the first day. OFF sprayed on after that day still got attacted but not as bad. Used Vodka to stop the itching which worked great. The beaches we went to in St. John found no Noseeums. We went to Duffy's Love shack, Caribbean Saloon, Hull Bay beach bar, Shipwrecks, and St. John at Skinny Legs. Duffy's was just ok and got bit up outside the shack. Caribbean Saloon was good service and the food was good but a tad bit higher price. Hull Bay the hamburgers were taste and the beer was cold hard to find without a map and still found it after making right turns all the time. Shipwrecks was good deal with the 3/4lb hamburger which the wife and I split. Service was friendly. I have to say Skinny Legs was the most friendly bunch of people with good food. Skinny Legs in Coral Bay top place for laid back and fun people.
Shopped at the Food Mart and what a sticker shock. People were not too friendly but we got what we needed at least. Service is a big "F" there. St. Thomas is too busy for us so the next time it St. John where we will head to. We took the car ferry over on Wednesday and Friday and always be early on the way back. We took the bigger ferry over on Wednesday for $50 and used the smaller one on Friday $40.
The area has built up around people ferry which use to be just a few shops 15 years ago. At least JJ's Texas Toast is still there. We drove to Annaberg Ruins which is a nice bit of history. Below the ruins we took our snorkle gear and the small cooler for a walk down the edge of the water for over a mile to small beach area with a small island off of Leinster bay. Turtles and star fish off of the beach. North side of the island is a nice reef to snorkle which I think is better the other ones. It's just a bit of a walk. The next place we hit was Coral bay on Friday and snorkled Elk bay and Lime Tree Cove. The reefs were deeper by Elk bay but shallow at Lime tree. Nice snorkling in all the locations. We averaged 4 to 6 hours a day snorkling with the kids who are 12 and 8 without floats and they still wanted more.
St. John will be our location of choice next time. 86 degrees one day 15min rain sun the rest.
No Passport needed
Sounds like you had a real nice time. Did you get any pix? Secret Harbour is our favorite place to stay on St. Thomas. Only thing that could make it better would be the ability to cook out on a Bar-B-Q. grill.
Thanks for sharing your report.!
-Bert
I still have to download the Pic's. A grill would be a bonus. All in All it was a nice time even if we did spend it all in the water. LOL
If you come back you might want to do food shopping either at K Mart or at Plaza Extra. These places are far, far cheaper than the food mart. But the food center does have good quality.
As far as the noseeums they come out generally around dusk and last about two hours. On Sapphire beach there is a wind that blows most of the time so they are a real problem.
So come back and enjoy!!!!!
billd
Here is the link to the pictures of the trip.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BcNXLJm3cvTg&emid=sharview&linkid=link5
Thank for sharing your pictures! I always love to see the Islands through the eyes of some one else! You ahve a great looking family! Looks like you all really enjoyed Annaberg...great place, full of history!
Thanks again, and I hope to return the favor in July!
-Bert8-)
Thanks Bert.
I wish I had more time to check out St.John a little more with the different beaches and reefs. I might try to get 2 couples together and get a boat from the Mooring and anchor out near some of the other locations. It would cost about the same minus the jeep. Who knows I do know the kids said they had a better time in the islands then in Disney so that's a plus. I guess it's time to start saving for the next trip.
They should have a picture board in the menu with peoples trips.
Rich
VTX1300, not sure you're aware (or maybe you are) that there are other charter companies who offer bareboat charters. We generally use VIP Yachts out of Compass Point Marina (East End of STT). You can fly into STT and overnite at Christmas Cove that first day. CYOA Charters is based in Frenchtown/STT. The Moorings does have a nice product/service and I'm not disparaging them. We like to charter out of STT (versus the BVI) because, for us, costs are lower (airline, no BVI bed tax until we're actually IN the bvi, etc.) and a lot less hassle.
Thanks Islander I just checked them out and the prices are what I was looking at for another 2 couples and us. I would love to bring the kids but I think this will be a adult vacation next.
Rich
What is a noseeum?
It's an annoying, biting insect that is so small you can't see them. They come out a couple hours each morning and evening.
And itch for weeks and weeks! Put bug spray on! lol
Have you thought about renting a villa and Jeeps on St. John next trip with friends?
Nice trip report! Thanks for sharing! There are pros and cons to both STT and STJ, will be interesting to compare! I also find that where you stay on STT makes a huge difference! The East End of STT is very populated, the north side much quieter. I like to call our area, little STJ. Peace and quiet, not many people around. Regardless, we will be happy to have you back in the islands! 🙂
I like to do a Mooring sailboat next time around with a another couple or even 2 other couples. I think it would be fun checking all the parts of the different islands around there. I have been pre-approved for a 47' mono-haul.
Villa on StJ is the other option which I started looking at for next time. Not sure if the kids will go next time. I gave them a taste and a lasting memory. I guess we will have to see how much i can save up to next year.
Sherri, yes either way it still was a blast and I hope it wont be another 15 years before I get back. I did like the north side by Hull Bay area. I will just have to wait and see how things are with the economy in the US next year.
All Take Care and remember to enjoy yourself no matter where your at.
Rich
Hi: Did you mean to say the "noseeums" on Sapphire Beach ARE a problem because of the breeze? I would think it would be the opposite. We are vacationing on Sapphire Beach July 30. My husband has a problem with bugs and getting bit all the time. Any other susgestions?
Thanks!
kerri: The noseeums are sand fleas and they're around from when the sun starts to set and for a couple of hours afterwards until the basic relative chill of the night sets in. They are very annoying to say the least. If you plan on taking a romantic walk along the beach at Sapphire or anywhere else in the tropics during those certain hours, just spray yourself well with repellent and they'll leave you alone.
Mosquitoes can also be a problem here (as elsewhere in the tropics) and especially after rainfall, After a quarter century here I'm pretty immune to their bites but if I go out to dinner at either a beachside venue or anywhere in close proximity to any water, I wear long pants and closed-toe shoes because they love to congregate under tables and do their nibbles on bare skin, including toes. It's really no big deal and it's not as if you have to be swathed in evil-smelling repellent. Most of them now (and "OFF" is my choice) come in various floral-smelling bases which repel the biters but don't repel the humans surrounding you.
If worse comes to worst and you're somewhere at a waterfront bar or restaurant which DOESN'T have any repellent on hand for customers, ask them for a cheap gin-soaked napkin. You'll smell like a cheap drunk but the bugs hate it. Hope this helps. Cheers!
Kerri "noseeums" on Sapphire Beach from your post??? We never made it to Sapphire beach it was Secret Harbor beach and Duffy's that we got munched on. Not so much on the beach but more at the tables around the bar areas. Just spray your legs and don't worry about it. If you do get bit Vodka works great even on the bites to stop the itching.
