Hi, I am back!

The trip was nice, great weather, and sea conditions for the whole time. I was thinking of writing a trip report like a travelogue or a whole story from the first day till the end, but I changed my mind. I am not good at telling a story. It could be very boring. So, instead, I will give you guys some tips from my own experience. OK, let’s start.

1. Planning Materials:

At least buy 2 books; “Explore the Virgin Islands Guidebook” by Harry S. Pariser, and “St. John Off the Beaten Track” by Gerald Singer. If you want better maps, the maps in “Basic Vacation Planning Kit”
http://www.vitraders.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=V&Product_Code=Vac-kit&Category_Code=Conch
are pretty good. “St. John Beach Guide” by Gerald Singer is not necessary because most of the details are already in the beach section of “St. John Off the Beaten Track”. By reading the 2 books I just recommend, and using the maps from the Planning Kit, you should have enough basic knowledge to plan your own trip. Last but not least, reading and checking this website will give you the most update info, and some tips that are not mentioned in the book.

2. Aqua Socks and buying snorkeling gears:

Although it’s not needed, a pair of dive boot or aqua sock would be nice in the area where sand is not soft, or to walk out to the rocky beach when snorkeling in some locations like Waterlemon Cay. I also used it to protect my feet from getting blister from using my strap-on-type fins. If you know the gears you want to buy, “leisurepro.com” is cheap and fast shipping.

3. Water Temperature:

It’s colder than you think. It was the first time to me in the Caribbean. So, I talked to many people who came with the cruise ships and they told me that the water here is relatively the coldest comparing to other islands in their trips.

4. Cinnamon Bay Campground:

Good campsites with friendly staffs, highly recommended. However, the good campground comes a very over-priced restaurant. A lunch box costs about $15 if you want a sandwich in it. I had a dinner their once. It was a $17 BBQ plate. While it doesn’t taste good, the amount of food is even less than what you can get from $8 BBQ from Uncle Joe’s. Relatively poor service for the price range. Don’t go to eat there.

5. The car-ferry is always late.

6. Driving and Parking:

The roads are steeper than you think. If you have driven only in the cities, driving in the islands could be…,well, very difficult. If the local drivers want to go faster, you can just simply slow down so they can pass you. The only places you should pull off you car from the road to let someone pass you are all the view-point-overlooks. Otherwise, just slowing down should be enough for some fast driving locals to pass you because coming back to the road from the side might be difficult if you don’t have high-clearance 4x4. Parking in Cruz Bay (St. John) was difficult but never be a problem for me. There are signs saying the maximum parking time, like 45 mins. The locals told me not to care about it. Just simply find a spot to park and that’s all we need to care. Parking in downtown CA (STT) during the day was very difficult and was the problem! Be prepared to drive around for 30-45 min to find a spot to park. Or you can just go to park at Havensight and take a cap to CA. Or, you can just shop there(Havensight) instead. Oh, forget to say that some parts of Cruz Bay and CA(STT) are hilly, which makes it difficult to park on the side of the narrow 2-way roads.

7. The most stupid thing I did and Kayaking Day Trip with Arawak Expeditions ( http://www.arawakexp.com/):

It was the most stupid thing I did in my trip. The website looks good. They were nice to me when I called and made a reservation. I expected to spend most of the time around the cays that are close to St John, like Lovango Cay, Congo Cay where I cannot drive or hike to get there. And that’s what they told me on the phone that the normal route for a day trip is usually honeymoon bay and around the cays areas whereas the actual route is adjusted day-by-day depending the sea and weather condition. Anyway, my experience with them started with their crappy tour guide. All he cared the whole day was talking to 2 college girls in the group. After honeymoon bay, he led us to a beach in Henley Cay where he said that it’s a very good snorkeling spot. That beach was indeed very impressive…, not with the fish, but with a lot of sea urchins. Actually, it’s the place where I found the most sea urchins in my whole trip. He told us that the current could be strong, he will look at us the whole time, and be careful. After that, he just turned his back on us, walked to the other end of the beach, prepared lunch and talked to a collage girl. I don’t think, besides talking to a girl, he care about us at all. After having lunch, he told us that the next stop is a more swimming-type beach, but didn’t tell the name of the beach. I was surprised a little bit because the information about a good swimming beach around Lovango Cay area just doesn’t exist in my head. I thought to myself that maybe he knew a secret beach that I didn’t know. I was, however, excited for about 15 mins because after paddling out from Henley Cay, he was actually leading us back to St John, and we ended up landing at Gibney Beach. All he talked about Gibney Beach was that another name for the beach is Oppenheimer beach, and enjoy swimming and snorkeling. He did not talk very much throughout the trip (except to the girls). I don’t know how could he become a kayak tour guide. It seemed to me that he didn’t have enough knowledge and ability to lead a guided trip at all. Actually, I think he was also lazy because he just took us to Henley Cay (the nearest one to STJ) and back to STJ instead of going out to the Lovango Cay area on that day when the sea was sooooo calm. And by the way, although he is not fat, he is relatively the most chubby adventure tour guide I have ever seen. I just thought to myself that why did I just spend $90 and the whole day paddling from Cruz Bay to Honeymoon Bay, Gibney Beach and a not-so-good spot in Henley Cay, and paddling the whole way back while I could have done the beaches by myself using the book “St. John Off the Beaten Track”, and would have more relaxing time. Well, there are more bad things about the trip but I think I spend too much time talking about this already. Summary: Maybe Arawak is known for a kayak week-trip, but I think their kayak day-trip is so OVER-PRICED, and BAD QUALITY. Highly NOT recommended. Don’t go there, Don’t buy a day trip from them, and please also tell you friends NOT to go on a day trip with them.

8. Parking in Magens Bay is not a problem at all, a lot of parking spots. Anyway the parking lot in Trunk Bay is not enough. Arrive early (like around 9:30am) if you want to park there.

9. The view from “Mountain Top” (STT) is just too high for me. I like the view from the “Great House” much better.

10. My Favorite Spots:

This is just only my opinion. You may have a different list because it’s all depending on the weather, water conditions, sunlight, your mood, etc.

Best place to be during sunrise:
The highest point of route 10 facing Coral Bay. Wonderful View! (Cinnamon bay is the second place)

Best place to be during sunset:
Cinnamon Bay. Not a super pretty sunset spot, but everything is just the right amount, the people and the surrounding… just give me the right feeling. (Paradise Point is the second place, Lind Point Overlook is the third place)

Best Beach Overall: Solomon
Best Water Color: Magens Bay
Best Snorkel: Coki Beach
Best Beach to spend the whole day: Trunk Bay
Over-rated: The Baths

In summary, I have a great, wonderful, fabulous time over there. I don’t know how to describe how I much happy I had during the trip. A picture is worth a thousand words. So, follow the link to actually see how much happy I was. http://128.138.44.39:8080/gallery/album27?page=1

Thank you so much for all the great info when I was planning my trip.

And if anyone wants to ask any more specific questions about any info that’s not included in the books, please reply to this message.

ColoBoy