Congrats, LAXCat! Enjoy the villa search. What's on your short list? My December trip is pretty much totally planned except for booking some excursions. We usually do a dinghy day and a BVI trip.

Thanks, LAXcat. Good to know. Now it's the long wait. Are you planning a trip?

My recommendation would be Kauai, though you did indicate that the flight time makes Hawaii less desirable. I've been to a lot of islands and tropical resort areas, and Kauai comes closest for me to the STJ "feel." It has beautiful beaches, and lots of places to explore, both land and sea....

Suziekue, Thanks for chiming in. I have a feeling there are a lot of us on this board. As to planning, I took a several-year break from STJ...checked out Kauai twice (LOVED it,), Maui, Tulum and Puerto Vallarta. It is very fun to research and explore new spots. That said, there is no place like our ...

Hi, Sue, Isn't the research a big part of the fun? I always feel compelled to see what else is out there. For me, checking out the other villas is a blast, as is the trip research, in general. (Confession: I just read several years of VIOL trip reports over the weekend to see what has changed, etc. ...

So, I gather not many--if any--of you have stayed at Exotic View. 8) No worries, I think we made the right choice: we just booked Bongo Bongo for 10 days in December. Traveling from Calif., we are doing something new this trip. Instead of flying all day and landing at 9pm ET in STT...we are taking t...

Has anyone stayed at this villa? We are deciding between it and Bongo Bongo. We have stayed at Bongo Bongo a couple of times, and love the expansive outdoor space, but are considering trying something new. Our concern is that the pool and deck are on the bottom floor, and everything else (LR/kitchen...

I like that Spice shirt; might have to get me one. But the one I covet most is the Beach Bar tank!

On island now, and stocked up on my fave: Cruz Bay Grill Rub. Got a couple of jars for me, as well as to bring back for friends/stocking stuffers. Also bought some nutmeg (to grate on our Painkillers in the villa) and Steve Simonsen calendars. The cute Texas gal behind the counter slipped a package ...

I am in MIA en route to STT, with Rachel picking us up late tonight to drive us to Frenchman's Reef. And she will take us tomorrow to Ferry. I will help her with her iPhone...maybe tomorrow I can offer a 30-minute tutorial?? XIslandGirl I will still poke around re that form.

Thanks for all of these tips. I may attempt to share some pics from my new iPad, which flies to STJ with me tomorrow!

The sunset in December is early (Christmas Day, for example, is 5:48) so the sooner the better. (Do a Google search for "sunset December Virgin Islands" to see. We have a reservation at ZoZo's for 5:30 next week with the goal of being there at sunset. But the bar opens at 5pm, so we intend...

Xislandgirl...If I see it, I will figure out a way to take a pic of it and send it to you.

Hmm. I must have previously filled out the paperwork. How can I elegantly get a copy of it, without her thinking I am some kind of weirdo?

That is sooo sweet! Do you think she needs anything that I could bring for her? (BTW, I told her that I heard she "finally made it to STJ" when I booked with Rachel, and she still claims she's never set foot on the island..."I never left the ferry dock," she said.) Rachel is quit...