Nice place, so-so beach because the harbor doesn't get much fresh seawater circulation...nice sand, though. Great pool, good watersports, good rooms. The rooms in the timeshare section across the strret and up the hill are fantastic!

Marty - you seem to be so helpful - several questions....what is good charter for party of 16 in St. Thomas - there for only day? we are on the Mariner Cruise in March then fly to St. Johns for a week afterwards. also, in St. John we will be at the Westin, have one of the villas - any particulars we should ask about ahead of time? day charters? which ones nad to where? (any villas to avoid...) good restaurants with teens?

what about St. maarten - there for a day as well......where to eat? what to do (will have 6 kids ages 12-18 with us) worth going to Marigot then to Orient beach to hang out?

thanks!

"Marty - you seem to be so helpful - "
-Aww!

"several questions....what is good charter for party of 16 in St. Thomas - there for only day? "
-Do you want to snorkel, relax, party, drive an underwater motorscooter, sail, eat...so many options! Haha! Lemme know, and I can better direct you.

"we are on the Mariner Cruise in March "
-Nice boat. You will enjoy it.

"afterwards. also, in St. John we will be at the Westin, have one of the villas - any particulars we should ask about ahead of time? "
-You use your timeshare to get it? You will be across the street and up a hill, but there is free shuttle service down to the beach. You will have a semi-private pool and a really nice room.

"day charters?"
-Tons of 'em! What kind do you want to do?

" which ones nad to where? "
-Depends on whatcha want to do. Drink, eat, snorkel, sail, power, BVI or stay in U.S...what are ya looking for?

"(any villas to avoid...)"
-At the Westin? Nope.

" good restaurants with teens? "
-Try places like Duffy's Love Shack, Woody's, Skinny Legs, Uncle Joe's, Shipwreck, Miss Lucy's...phew! There are so many!!

"what about St. maarten"
-Dunno, that's over 100 miles fom here! Haha!

"there for a day as well......where to eat? what to do (will have 6 kids ages 12-18 with us) worth going to Marigot then to Orient beach to hang out? "
-I think Orient is the nude beach,isn't it? Do you really want the kids to go there? And God bless ya for taking 6 kids on vacation!! You're gonna need a vacation fromthe vacation!! Haha!

"thanks!"
-Very welcome!

~Marty

The Westin is a beautiful resort. You may find that you'll want to spend more time by the unbelievably awesome pool than on the beach. The water is not crystal clear and turquoise as it is on some islands due to all of the cruise traffic, but with the kids there are many fun water activities going on there. The villas are up the hill but are an easy walk to the beach and pool. You should have a small pool right at your villa, too!
I was quite impressed with all of the staff. EXTREMELY friendly and attentive.
Please try to get a night without the kids to hit Chloe & Bernard's. It's quite expensive, yet so romantic. And the food is "to die for" if you enjoy fancy cuisine. Trust me...you won't regret it. Skinny Legs would be fun the kids....also The Lime Inn.

thanks Marty! on the charter we would like to snorkle and spend sometime on a beach and explore aother smaller out of the way areas with no crowds. Have heard Jost Van Dyke is god (FOxy's??) - is the boat the Westin charters a good one? most of the time we will probaly drive to CInnamon Bay and other beaches. thanks for the restuarant ideas - is Chatteau Bordeaux worth the drive? how early do we need to get reservations for a late March visit for the restaurants?

Would love to go to the Skinny legs place for lunch or dinner - what beach is near there that you'd rec. with kids for snorkling and hanging out.....

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JS

I visited Orient Beach last year for just the afternoon. It appeared to have several beaches that made up Orient Beach. The nude beach is basically at one end even though the nudists walk up and down the beach. I was there in June, but only saw one or two of them. The people who were actually nude were the very people who needed to be covered from head to toe! Other than that, it was a very pleasant afternoon. I had my teenage daughters with me and they had a blast!

"thanks Marty! "
-Certainly!

"on the charter we would like to snorkle and spend sometime on a beach and explore aother smaller out of the way areas with no crowds. Have heard Jost Van Dyke is god (FOxy's??)
-The New Horizons II will be prefect for you. Check it out at www.newhorizonscharters.com

"- is the boat the Westin charters a good one?"
-I have ner been on it, soany adviceI could give would be heresay. Anyone?

" most of the time we will probaly drive to CInnamon Bay and other beaches. thanks for the restuarant ideas - is Chatteau Bordeaux worth the drive?"
-Yep.

" how early do we need to get reservations for a late March visit for the restaurants? "
-2 or 3 hours.

"Would love to go to the Skinny legs place for lunch or dinner"
-Lunch would be better, IMHO....you get to see more! Oh, and in your drive around the island, you will see a little place on the side of the road called Vie's Snack Shack...definitely stop there! It's very local, and tasty too!

You might want to try the South Shore Villa. It's to be completed by April and has a great website www.stjohnrental.com It has everything one could imagine including a large infinity edge pool. The villa sits 700ft in the air along the coast of the South Shore. One of the nice looking places I've seen in years.