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Betty's Trip Review Part One
Betty's Trip Review Part One
Background information, have vacationed on St John many times but have always stayed in hotels. This was our first stay in a villa and only the second time we have ever rented a private home on vacation. This is also my first trip review, so I will try my best 
Traveling with us was my husband’s sister and brother in law and they had not been to St John in 17 years. When they were in their early 20's they had stayed in the East End at Vies beach shack for $35 a night. For people looking for a bargain, almost like camping, Vie still has a beach shack and from what I understand it is still $35 a night. The shack, a one room building, is on a partly sandy, pebbly beach with an outhouse and outdoor shower, a little front deck big enough for 2 beach chairs. If your young and in love it would be a nice place to hang. As a 48 year old that has been there done that, I have gotten too comfortable with having fresh water pools and comfy beds, running water and electricity
.
I/Betty arrived January 18th, my husband, Jim arrived January 19th and the sis and bro arrived on the 20th. I stayed 2 nights at the Westin using Starwood points and on Saturday the 20th we moved to Ebb Tide Villa in Chocolate Hole.
My direct flight on USAIR from Philly arrived early at 2:40, I had planned on taking the Westin ferry but it was not leaving till 4:45 – 5:00, 2 couples that I had met at the Philly airport had booked Dohms water taxi and asked me if I would like to split the fare with them 5 ways, so for $20 I was thrilled to get to St John earlier. Our taxi to the ferry was $15 each. Dohms leaves from Red Hook at the National Park dock and it will take you right to the Westin dock. I brought all of our luggage with me, so my husband wouldn’t have to wait for his luggage the next day. Arrived at the Westin, checked in to the dock reception desk, was offered a wonderful complimentary rum punch and was taken to my pool view room. A suggestion to people staying at the Westin, request a second floor room, the first floor rooms are musty smelling and have more of a problem with ants. I had requested building 11 or 12 as it was the farthest away from the construction. The rooms are basic Westin; my room 1123 was clean and up to date with a nice balcony overlooking the pool and part of the harbor in the distance. The room has a mini bar fridge and a separate fridge to keep your own personal food and drinks cold in. Don’t mess with the mini bar as it is computerized and automatically charges by computer anything that is lifted up or moved. Arriving by water taxi, my luggage came with me, but if you take the Westin ferry you have to wait at least an hour or more for you luggage to get delivered to your room, so pack a bathing suit and cover up in your carry on so you can enjoy their pool right away. I went to the pool for a swim and then hit the bar for an early dinner and drinks. Went to bed early and slept like a baby in the Westin Heavenly Bed. Next morning went to the takeout deli at the Westin and grabbed a tea and a muffin for breakfast. I was not up to the big Westin breakfast $22. for full buffet or $18 for Continental breakfast. My tea and muffin came to $4.00 and it was all I needed. I then went to the pool to enjoy my breakfast, at 9:00 they had a free water exercise class that I joined and was fun. By the pool desk where you get your towels, they have an activity board listing 3 days of activities for adults and kids, lot’s to do! Iguana feedings, bobbing for beers in the pool, Pilates, yoga, crafts, tennis matches, etc etc. I also noticed that there were more young children then I have ever seen before in January. The grumbling newlyweds next to me counted 40 kids under the age of 6 screaming and yelling in the pool. If this is something that would ruin your vacation I suggest going to Gallows or Caneel. I think this couple did switch to another hotel because of it. I didn’t really mind, the kids were cute and most well behaved. I found a nice corner chair, dug into my book, enjoyed a few rum punches and a delicious Mahi Caesar salad for lunch. Around 2:00 I went to shower and get ready to meet my hubby down by the ferry. I felt like a school girl getting ready for a date, the butterflies in the tummy, the rum punch and island sun do something to intensify that loving feeling. Went into town, did a little shopping. I went to St John Spice to get my natural bug spray and patches, Kiss of the Jumbie Coffee, Blind Betty pineapple hot sauce, a travel mug and a deck of fun drinking cards. I met 2 other people in the store from the Westin that I referred for bug spray. They were staying in the timeshare villas and their kids were eaten alive by bugs. I did not notice any bugs at the main hotel of the Westin. Ruth is a sweetheart and she has some of the nicest gifts to bring back for relatives and friends. Went to the bar next to the ferry station to wait for Jim, had another rum punch and got one for him when I saw his ferry pulling in. The rest was magic, we were in paradise and nothing else mattered in the world.
Saturday morning we woke up and went to the big Westin breakfast, the buffet is huge with almost everything you could imagine with the exception of eggs benedict. It was good and we enjoyed sitting at a table outside in the sun overlooking the harbor. After breakfast I checked out, while Jim went to the O”Connor Car rental desk at the Tennis shop to pick up our Jeep Liberty. It was a brand new Jeep with only 500 miles. At 10:00 we met Lisa from Vacation Vistas in the lobby to follow her to our new home for the week, Ebb Tide Villa in Chocolate Hole. Lisa is nice and very professional. She showed us the workings of the house, made some suggestions for restaurants and beaches and then showed my husband a walking trail to the Westin. It is an 8 minute walk on back roads from the house. We had only rented one jeep for 4 of us so it was very convenient if someone wanted to grab a cab into town. Lisa had left fruit, chocolate, crackers, cookies, cheese, beers, and soda in the fridge for us. Under the microwave was the liquor cabinet, it was stocked with past renters leftovers and we made our donation of Bailey’s, Banana Liquor, Cruzan Dark and Pineapple rum. The house is stocked with spices, foil wrap, baggies, paper towels and all soap products for dishes and clothes. The house is a short walk down a path to Chocolate Hole, with a small but nice infinity edge pool. The pool is not heated but gets sun all day and I found it comfortable, my husband and bro found it chilly; my sis said it was refreshing. The house is very comfortable for 2 couples, I would hesitate bringing a 3rd couple as the bedrooms are not equal and the living room/kitchen/dining room space is small, it felt more like a condo. The master is very large and nice with big closet and bathroom all tastefully done. The second bedroom isn’t as nice or large and it is 2 twins put together for a king. The 3rd bedroom is in the walk out basement level, the bed is a queen and the room is small. There is only one small TV with cable in a den in the basement level. The house has septic issues and you can smell it when you are outside down stairs, no throwing of toilet paper down the toilet and only flush when brown. They have wonderful water pressure but we were conservative and never left it running according to the signs in the house. The linens and towels are all excellent quality from the Company Store Catalog. The parking is easy as is getting to the house. The owners have put a lot of love in the house/grounds and it shows. The house is on the market for 2.75 million but it was not shown while we were there.
Jim and I went to town after Lisa left, to stock up on provisions, first stop, the drugstore in the Marketplace for a few things we forgot. The store is very nice and has everything you would get at CVS at home. Then we went down to the Starfish Market, closest to our villa and did our big shopping for ice, beer, liquor, soda, breakfast and snack foods. The one thing I have found going to all 3 markets at some time during the week, is to check expiration dates, many items in all 3 stores were way past the date purchased. I know we could have saved money at Dolphin or Pine Peace, but I figured I would rather do a close one stop shop and get back to the pool/sun fun. We hung at the Ebb Tide Pool and snorkeled in Chocolate Hole that afternoon, lots of fish, sting rays, and a turtle woohooooo
! Chocolate Hole is mostly sandy turtle grass.
Our sis/bro arrived on the ferry at 6:15 and we headed to ZoZo’s for dinner at the bar.
I have to tell you we were very disappointed with the food, I will write more in a restaurant review, but let’s just say it was our least favorite restaurant of the week.
Sunday morning we decided to head over to Coral Bay and Miss Lucy’s brunch. This is a great way to start a vacation, and I think it will become a tradition for us. We got a table next to the bay, excellent food, drinks and jazz in a drop dead gorgeous setting. I had the eggs benedict Florentine which was very good and my husband and bro had the crab cake benedict, which they declared a best benedict! The fruit salad served with the meals was perfectly ripe. I had a Dirty Banana drink and it was excellent. We shared a banana cake for desert and it was delish! After brunch the sis and bro wanted to head over to Vie’s and check out where they spent there first vacation together. Vie’s was closed as was her beach, about 200 yards beyond Vie’s, we found a nice pebbly beach to sun and snorkel. Parking for about 5 cars on the either side of the road. The snorkeling was very good to the left in an outcropping of rocks. We snorkeled up to Vies beach so the sis could have a look at her beach/love shack and it all looked the same. After our snorkel we sat on the beach and listened to music coming from a big old wooden schooner moored in front of us. I thought it was a floating church as they started out singing hymns, then they progressed into James Taylor, C.S.N.&Y., Pure Prairie League, etc. It was really lovely. Later in the week I found out it was a Memorial/Spreading of the Ashes ceremony. We felt really lucky to witness such a special occasion filled with love. We headed back to the house in the late afternoon, Jim and I got ready for a sunset dinner at Asolare and bro and sis decided to nap and catch their beloved Patriots at the Westin bar. Asolare was fabulous, best meal of the week in the fine dining category. A separate dining review will be coming. Will mention here the Chocolate Tower desert, with a molten lava white and dark chocolate filling was unbelievable. Sis and bro headed to the Westin in search of football and burgers, but were disappointed with the selection of both so they went to Woody’s for the burger and settled into the Quiet Mon Pub to enjoy their first Virgin Isle Pale Ale, which they loved, and to watch their Patriots which they did not love!
Monday the 22nd to follow
Traveling with us was my husband’s sister and brother in law and they had not been to St John in 17 years. When they were in their early 20's they had stayed in the East End at Vies beach shack for $35 a night. For people looking for a bargain, almost like camping, Vie still has a beach shack and from what I understand it is still $35 a night. The shack, a one room building, is on a partly sandy, pebbly beach with an outhouse and outdoor shower, a little front deck big enough for 2 beach chairs. If your young and in love it would be a nice place to hang. As a 48 year old that has been there done that, I have gotten too comfortable with having fresh water pools and comfy beds, running water and electricity
.I/Betty arrived January 18th, my husband, Jim arrived January 19th and the sis and bro arrived on the 20th. I stayed 2 nights at the Westin using Starwood points and on Saturday the 20th we moved to Ebb Tide Villa in Chocolate Hole.
My direct flight on USAIR from Philly arrived early at 2:40, I had planned on taking the Westin ferry but it was not leaving till 4:45 – 5:00, 2 couples that I had met at the Philly airport had booked Dohms water taxi and asked me if I would like to split the fare with them 5 ways, so for $20 I was thrilled to get to St John earlier. Our taxi to the ferry was $15 each. Dohms leaves from Red Hook at the National Park dock and it will take you right to the Westin dock. I brought all of our luggage with me, so my husband wouldn’t have to wait for his luggage the next day. Arrived at the Westin, checked in to the dock reception desk, was offered a wonderful complimentary rum punch and was taken to my pool view room. A suggestion to people staying at the Westin, request a second floor room, the first floor rooms are musty smelling and have more of a problem with ants. I had requested building 11 or 12 as it was the farthest away from the construction. The rooms are basic Westin; my room 1123 was clean and up to date with a nice balcony overlooking the pool and part of the harbor in the distance. The room has a mini bar fridge and a separate fridge to keep your own personal food and drinks cold in. Don’t mess with the mini bar as it is computerized and automatically charges by computer anything that is lifted up or moved. Arriving by water taxi, my luggage came with me, but if you take the Westin ferry you have to wait at least an hour or more for you luggage to get delivered to your room, so pack a bathing suit and cover up in your carry on so you can enjoy their pool right away. I went to the pool for a swim and then hit the bar for an early dinner and drinks. Went to bed early and slept like a baby in the Westin Heavenly Bed. Next morning went to the takeout deli at the Westin and grabbed a tea and a muffin for breakfast. I was not up to the big Westin breakfast $22. for full buffet or $18 for Continental breakfast. My tea and muffin came to $4.00 and it was all I needed. I then went to the pool to enjoy my breakfast, at 9:00 they had a free water exercise class that I joined and was fun. By the pool desk where you get your towels, they have an activity board listing 3 days of activities for adults and kids, lot’s to do! Iguana feedings, bobbing for beers in the pool, Pilates, yoga, crafts, tennis matches, etc etc. I also noticed that there were more young children then I have ever seen before in January. The grumbling newlyweds next to me counted 40 kids under the age of 6 screaming and yelling in the pool. If this is something that would ruin your vacation I suggest going to Gallows or Caneel. I think this couple did switch to another hotel because of it. I didn’t really mind, the kids were cute and most well behaved. I found a nice corner chair, dug into my book, enjoyed a few rum punches and a delicious Mahi Caesar salad for lunch. Around 2:00 I went to shower and get ready to meet my hubby down by the ferry. I felt like a school girl getting ready for a date, the butterflies in the tummy, the rum punch and island sun do something to intensify that loving feeling. Went into town, did a little shopping. I went to St John Spice to get my natural bug spray and patches, Kiss of the Jumbie Coffee, Blind Betty pineapple hot sauce, a travel mug and a deck of fun drinking cards. I met 2 other people in the store from the Westin that I referred for bug spray. They were staying in the timeshare villas and their kids were eaten alive by bugs. I did not notice any bugs at the main hotel of the Westin. Ruth is a sweetheart and she has some of the nicest gifts to bring back for relatives and friends. Went to the bar next to the ferry station to wait for Jim, had another rum punch and got one for him when I saw his ferry pulling in. The rest was magic, we were in paradise and nothing else mattered in the world.
Saturday morning we woke up and went to the big Westin breakfast, the buffet is huge with almost everything you could imagine with the exception of eggs benedict. It was good and we enjoyed sitting at a table outside in the sun overlooking the harbor. After breakfast I checked out, while Jim went to the O”Connor Car rental desk at the Tennis shop to pick up our Jeep Liberty. It was a brand new Jeep with only 500 miles. At 10:00 we met Lisa from Vacation Vistas in the lobby to follow her to our new home for the week, Ebb Tide Villa in Chocolate Hole. Lisa is nice and very professional. She showed us the workings of the house, made some suggestions for restaurants and beaches and then showed my husband a walking trail to the Westin. It is an 8 minute walk on back roads from the house. We had only rented one jeep for 4 of us so it was very convenient if someone wanted to grab a cab into town. Lisa had left fruit, chocolate, crackers, cookies, cheese, beers, and soda in the fridge for us. Under the microwave was the liquor cabinet, it was stocked with past renters leftovers and we made our donation of Bailey’s, Banana Liquor, Cruzan Dark and Pineapple rum. The house is stocked with spices, foil wrap, baggies, paper towels and all soap products for dishes and clothes. The house is a short walk down a path to Chocolate Hole, with a small but nice infinity edge pool. The pool is not heated but gets sun all day and I found it comfortable, my husband and bro found it chilly; my sis said it was refreshing. The house is very comfortable for 2 couples, I would hesitate bringing a 3rd couple as the bedrooms are not equal and the living room/kitchen/dining room space is small, it felt more like a condo. The master is very large and nice with big closet and bathroom all tastefully done. The second bedroom isn’t as nice or large and it is 2 twins put together for a king. The 3rd bedroom is in the walk out basement level, the bed is a queen and the room is small. There is only one small TV with cable in a den in the basement level. The house has septic issues and you can smell it when you are outside down stairs, no throwing of toilet paper down the toilet and only flush when brown. They have wonderful water pressure but we were conservative and never left it running according to the signs in the house. The linens and towels are all excellent quality from the Company Store Catalog. The parking is easy as is getting to the house. The owners have put a lot of love in the house/grounds and it shows. The house is on the market for 2.75 million but it was not shown while we were there.
Jim and I went to town after Lisa left, to stock up on provisions, first stop, the drugstore in the Marketplace for a few things we forgot. The store is very nice and has everything you would get at CVS at home. Then we went down to the Starfish Market, closest to our villa and did our big shopping for ice, beer, liquor, soda, breakfast and snack foods. The one thing I have found going to all 3 markets at some time during the week, is to check expiration dates, many items in all 3 stores were way past the date purchased. I know we could have saved money at Dolphin or Pine Peace, but I figured I would rather do a close one stop shop and get back to the pool/sun fun. We hung at the Ebb Tide Pool and snorkeled in Chocolate Hole that afternoon, lots of fish, sting rays, and a turtle woohooooo
! Chocolate Hole is mostly sandy turtle grass.Our sis/bro arrived on the ferry at 6:15 and we headed to ZoZo’s for dinner at the bar.
I have to tell you we were very disappointed with the food, I will write more in a restaurant review, but let’s just say it was our least favorite restaurant of the week.Sunday morning we decided to head over to Coral Bay and Miss Lucy’s brunch. This is a great way to start a vacation, and I think it will become a tradition for us. We got a table next to the bay, excellent food, drinks and jazz in a drop dead gorgeous setting. I had the eggs benedict Florentine which was very good and my husband and bro had the crab cake benedict, which they declared a best benedict! The fruit salad served with the meals was perfectly ripe. I had a Dirty Banana drink and it was excellent. We shared a banana cake for desert and it was delish! After brunch the sis and bro wanted to head over to Vie’s and check out where they spent there first vacation together. Vie’s was closed as was her beach, about 200 yards beyond Vie’s, we found a nice pebbly beach to sun and snorkel. Parking for about 5 cars on the either side of the road. The snorkeling was very good to the left in an outcropping of rocks. We snorkeled up to Vies beach so the sis could have a look at her beach/love
shack and it all looked the same. After our snorkel we sat on the beach and listened to music coming from a big old wooden schooner moored in front of us. I thought it was a floating church as they started out singing hymns, then they progressed into James Taylor, C.S.N.&Y., Pure Prairie League, etc. It was really lovely. Later in the week I found out it was a Memorial/Spreading of the Ashes ceremony. We felt really lucky to witness such a special occasion filled with love. We headed back to the house in the late afternoon, Jim and I got ready for a sunset dinner at Asolare and bro and sis decided to nap and catch their beloved Patriots at the Westin bar. Asolare was fabulous, best meal of the week in the fine dining category. A separate dining review will be coming. Will mention here the Chocolate Tower desert, with a molten lava white and dark chocolate filling was unbelievable. Sis and bro headed to the Westin in search of football and burgers, but were disappointed with the selection of both so they went to Woody’s for the burger and settled into the Quiet Mon Pub to enjoy their first Virgin Isle Pale Ale, which they loved, and to watch their Patriots which they did not love!Monday the 22nd to follow
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Kentuckygirl
- Posts: 1903
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Kentucky
Lovely report Betty. I can't wait to hear more on your restaurant reviews! Everyone seems to like Zozo's so much. I am anxious to hear what made it your least favorite. We are definitely planning on Miss Lucy's brunch. After your take on it, I am even more excited. Thanks and I can't wait to hear more.
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StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:42 pm
- Location: St. John, VI
Wow, Betty, I can't believe you've never done this before. Great job.
I love it that your sister stayed at Vie's all those years ago. Did she say if it had changed at all?
I laughed at first at your description of the music from the ship. I actually was wondering how they got their hands on my Ipod! It's neat that you learned their story later in the week. A great experience to have shared, even with strangers.
Keep 'em coming.
-Ruth
I love it that your sister stayed at Vie's all those years ago. Did she say if it had changed at all?
I laughed at first at your description of the music from the ship. I actually was wondering how they got their hands on my Ipod! It's neat that you learned their story later in the week. A great experience to have shared, even with strangers.
Keep 'em coming.
-Ruth
