Tim,
I hope you have a great vacation!!! There are lots of restaurants to check out in Cruz Bay and in all price ranges. I'm not sure why you think it's "dangerous". Perhaps reading too many messages like the above nonsense.
Enjoy, the Westin is a lovely property but be sure to get out and take in the rest of the island. Hope you're renting a vehicle so you can get around easily.
Have a great trip!!!

If you are renting a car, my first suggestion is to get one of the cartoon-type maps of the island and drive the entire island so you can get a feel for what it is like. You will find Cruz Bay and Coral Bay to be totally different.

As for restaurants, our favorite were actually in Coral Bay. We drove there the last few days of our trip for every meal. We liked Island Blues, Shipwreck Landing and Skinny Legs (best painkillers). In Cruz Bay, we enjoyed Rhumb Lines and the Beach Bar (really good bushwhackers).

I could go on and on, but I always tell everyone, if you do nothing else...drive the island your first full day.

Definitely visit Hawksnest Beach for beauty and fairly good snorkeling. Waterlemon Cay and Cinnamon Bay for better snorkeling. Salt Pond Bay, Frances Bay and Waterlemon Cay for turtles.

Feel free to email me off the board for more info.

nothintolose

Tim, a big hearty CONGRATULATIONS for a 20 year wait! You'll thoroughly enjoy your stay on St. John. We have a place on St. Croix but always visit St. John, for at least a week, each time we're down there. We have stayed at the Westin several times and I'm sure you and your wife will also enjoy your stay. Have a fantastic trip....and please do NOT rip up your return ticket! We have too many "3-for-$10" shops already [;-)) !

I have never found st j dangerous -- nor will you. You must explore and get out of the Westin -- rent a car/jeep and amble.
really, the restuarnats are not too expensive and most are quite good -- the "good ones" are expensive and usually worth it (if you've got it)
but Uncle Joes BBQ and the tiny asian shop (mentioned in another post) are also very yummy and satisfying.
I think you'll find the diversity of food options a challenge -- how to eat at all the ones you want to try!
Relax and enjoy -- it's all good.

I don't think the original poster was saying he thinks St. John is dangerous. I think he was saying that it is dangerous asking for everyones opinion on places to go, things to do and places to eat. Correct me if I am wrong. I recommed Island Blues and Skinny Legs for lunch (cannot beat either's view). I recommend Pastory Gardens and The Beach Bar for sunset and Woody's for happy hour. Check out as many beaches as you can. They are all very different, but all are beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

BB

You don't have to be rich to go to St. John and enjoy all it has to offer. Check the concierge desk to see if they have a binder compiled with different restaurant menus. Then you can choose which restaurant to go to based on price and food. I have found this very informative when I have gone away--have stayed in St. Thomas and the resort had a huge binder.

Tim.

PLEASE e-mail me when you return. We have reservations at the Westin 10/12 and would really like to get a report on the hotel and the restaurants you try.

We were there for part of a day (cruise stop) in '92 and have been wanting to go back ever since. Be sure to spend some time at Hawksnest - great reef near to shore, few people, shade trees near the water, facilities, calm clear water.

Have a great trip! You WILL enjoy it.

Fred

PS - To e-mail, just click on the author's name at the head of the message

we will be spending two days in st john in sept will email you...

Tim, you'll love it!! We stayed a week at Cinnamon Bay at the camp grounds. You must rent a car and try to see all of the island. Even drive all the way out to the east end. The road is wild and the sunset is beautiful. Stop at Skinny Legs in Coral Bay for the burgers and the night life with the local white folk. 🙂

My husband and I just returned from St. John last Sunday. It was our 3rd trip there and it just keeps getting better.
We aslo have a good friend that lives there and she's given us a lot of pointers.
Restaurants:
The most reasonable, but still very good are: Joe's BBQ, Rumb Lines & Sun Dog Cafe (lunch only, but very good!)
Also check out Chili Billys for breakfast and the Beach Bar for drinks and good bar food.
Also, you should spend a day or two over in Coral Bay (will need to rent a car, but worth it.) Not nearly as crowded as Cruz Bay. Skinny Legs there is a popular place for burgers.
Ask about Vi's private beach when you're at Skinny Legs - you'll be amazed.
I think the bozo that suggested you take a cab everywhere may be a cabbie down there!
Within Cruz Bay you can pretty much walk anywhere you need to go. To get to the beaches you'll need a cab - unless the Westin provides shuttles.
St. John is NOT dangerous! St. Thomas in certain areas is a little sketchy, however.

Have a great trip!!

Hope this trip review helps you out. We just returned from STT & STJ - nice pictures of all of STJ beaches on the link at the bottom of this post.

We just got back from 9 days in St. Thomas and St. John. After reading this message board for almost 8 months - I thought I'd try and set some things straight. I have come to the conclusion that the negative reviews about the island are form NEGATIVE people. My family and I had an incredible time and the locals were all very friendly - even at "Island time" pace. If you come to the islands be prepared to RELAX and ENJOY the freedom from work and everyday life. Things move at a slower pace on the islands but isn't that why we all come there??? To RELAX???

OK, with that said, let me put my two cents in about certain things. First off, places to stay. I highly recommend the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort. It's great for kids and couples. Food was good, not great but 7.5 out of 10 isn't bad. All drinks are included with the A.I. plan and I drank my share of premium liquor and beers. The beach is nice, a little rocky but that means pretty good snorkeling. There were plenty of fish in our little cove and you didn't have to go out far to see big and small colorful fish. the rooms were very nice and clean - not one bug was ever seen by my eyes. The staff was friendly and yes, sometimes slow, but if you have an ounce of patience, you will be able to live with it. Overall, I give the Wyndham Sugar Bay an "A" for a great place to stay on St. Thomas.

I'm not going to type all 9 days activities out for you - but in a nut shell.... You must go to St. John!!! The best snorkeling was there. In fact go to a place called, Watermelon Cay. It's right beside the old sugar mill on St. John. You have to walk a trail that is beside the beach for about 3/4 of a mile but it is worth it. We swam with thousands of fish, we saw rays, turtles and the coral life was fantastic. It's a must stop if you go over. You can park in the lot for the sugar mill tour or if you have a Jeep like us, you can drive down closer to the walking part of the trail saving you time. Again - it's a must stop for snorkeling on St. John.

Personally - don't waste you time at Megens Bay. You have to pay to get in and there are plenty of more beautiful beaches on St. Thomas in my opinion. Snorkeling sucks there anyway. Same goes for Trunk bay on St. John. Don't waste you money. Cinnamon Bay and Hawksnest Bay are on both sides and are FREE. Do like we did, take your scenic overlook pictures and move on to a free beach!!

Overall - the weather was great and the two showers we did get lasted about 10 minutes. Enough time to go to the bar and get another drink 🙂 30% chance of rain means 70% chance of SUN!!!!

I've posted just some of my many pictures that I took at the following site. I hope you enjoy them.

http://community.webshots.com/user/rtsunset

Now that I am back home, I have to work on my early retirement so I can move to St. John and live out my life in paradise!!! 🙂

Randy

tim, good luck with the hurricanes! i hope you have fun. i would love a reply as well 🙂 my daughter is getting married in october on st. john and our family is making a vacation out of it, staying at the westin. we're looking for a fun place to go after the sunset ceremony on the beach for fun, casual outside dining and dancing to steel drums. any ideas? i would also love to know if the cable tv in the rooms has access to the music channels so we can play calypso in our rooms 24/7.

i heard there was horseback riding. anyone know about this? also, where's the best place to get the snorkle gear?
we were going to rent a jeep for at least one day. sounds like this needs to be the exploring, snorkling day. it's $65 a day to rent a jeep from the westin. perhaps it would be more economical to take taxis all day?

i am printing out this entire page to take with me. what a wealth of information. thank you!

Just back from one week in St. John. 2 nights at Harmony Studios and 5 nights at the Westin. Ignore any negative comments you may have read, the Westin is a beautiful property. Just venture out and visit some of the other beaches.
The best meal we had on the island was at Tage. A little on the pricey side but honestly some of the tastiest food I've ever had. Try the dessert with the carmalized banana's - it is to die for!
Hawksnest was my favorite beach, very good snorkeling and easy access.
Although it pains me to say this, pass on Trunk Bay. Ten years ago I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Now the beach is dirty and the snorkeling was so disappointing. Too many cruise ship visitors!!
By the way, it only rained twice while we were there. Two 15 minute late afternoon downpours.
Have a wonderful time!

My boyfriend and I are making a "5 year plan" we would like to mone to St. John. any suggestions or comments about jobs or apartments would be appreciated.

Carol
Best sites for what you need are 'Moving Guide' in the upper Menu bar and 'USVI Moving Message Board' link located in the right hand corner of this message board site. These are dedicated to questions on relocation.
I envy your initiative and wish you all the best in achieving your goal.

wow, that's disappointing to hear about trunk bay. that's where my daughter is getting married inoctober! what are some other beautiful beaches we should ask the wedding coordinator about? she recommended trunk bay.
thanks!
cary

Am thinking about going to st thomas/ st. John. I would love a copy of your 9 days of activities. Thanks Linda

rtsunset

Not a big deal but for sake of clarity and for those who might ask directions, it's Waterlemon Cay

"Local white folk" as opposed to local black folk ? whats that mean?