St. Thomas

[DCphoto]

Hi everyone, we are staying on St. Thomas for 2 days, is there anything you can suggest for us? Never really spent time there except at the Best Western by the airport. We will not have a car there, so we will be taking a cab to all locations until we get to St. John.

Thanks!

Sandy

[Connie]

Sandy, where are you staying this time on STT?

Try to get over to the East End/Red Hook area. You may even be able to rent at Sapphire Beach for a couple of nights and then you're right there for the ferry to STJ.

There's quite a few restaurants in Red Hook, the beach at Sapphire is wonderful and you could even head over to Coki beach.

If you feel like venturing out with a car, you can rent from Budget right at Sapphire.

Good luck!

[DCphoto]

We are staying at the Best Western Emerald Beach, flying in on the friday after Thanksgiving, we have a timeshare at the Westin that starts on Sunday. We like to explore and seeing new things. I hear there is a tram that goes up the Mountain that over looks the harbor. Is this worth it?

[ms411]

If you're a walker, you can walk from Best Western Emerald beach to Crown Bay Marina and take the ferry to Water Island for a nice, secluded beach outing (if no catamaran excursions show up!). You can take a cab for about $5 pp each way. Ferry is $9 RT pp, I think.

The Tillett Arts and Crafts fair is that weekend.

Take a walking tour of historic Charlotte Amalie. Blackbeard's Castle offers a tour of lovely restored buildings for about $12 pp unescorted or $20 escorted. Lovely views of the harbor (on clear days you can even see St Croix). Then go down the street to see another restored building of a lesser economic scale at the Seven Arches Museum. Fee is about $7 pp. She also has maps of a free walking tour that includes exteriors of other buildings.

Visit the art galleries in town.

Take an African drumming workshop at the African Drum Center off Backstreet by the Subway sandwich shop.

[DCphoto]

Thanks! The african drumming sounds interesting! My husband is a drummer. I might surprise him with that and going to Water Island. Thanks a bunch.
Sandy

[ready4paradise]

Sandy,

Did you get your starwood fees for next year yet?

OMG is all I have to say. What a increase! Have a great time.

Your fellow Westin Owner,
Laura

[ms411]

Here's a link to the Drum Center. He's got an amazing CD.

http://www.acdrumcenter.com/

[mrscaptainjay]

I love going up to Paradise Point (tram ride up the mountain). It's the home of the Baileys Bushwacker (so they claim) and the view is beautiful. Here is a link to a trip report I did while my cousin was visiting. Enjoy!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... php?t=8262

[Connie]

I agree, Paradise Point was beautiful. It was our third try to get up there (cruise ship traffic) and it was well worth it.

The bushwackers are very good and you can do some shopping while you're up there.

You'll see the cruise ships leave and the seaplanes landing.

[Schnell]

We are going to try going to Paradise Point this year. It has always interested us, just never have done it. We have walked by it multiple times (the tram) but I think we are going to drive up there if we can find the way. We can see the sea plane come and go as well as the cruise ships come and go from our balcony, but my guess is the Point is still worth the trip.

[DCphoto]

We are so disapointed with Starwood. We were so excited to have the timeshare when we bought it, thinking this would save us money in the long run and help us budget for our vacations. We were so wrong, the fees just keep going up. We are at the point that we do not want it anymore and when we go this year, we are going to check about selling the unit. It really is a bait and switch. The fees are just not worth it anymore.

Sandy

[ready4paradise]

I agree! We could rent a week in the summer time at a villa for the same amount that we have to pay for fees this coming year. I'm not sure that we would be able to get our money back at this point in the economy. We will just have to wait it out. Really do have a great trip and enjoy!