Do you tell people about St. John?

[cocosmom]

People always love the pictures of beaches and villas. The one thing I try to stress is they have to "go" to the beaches. Lots of people just want to walk outside their door and lie on the beach. They want to walk to their room for potty & refreshment breaks. I make it clear that they have to "pack up" for the day and drive/hike a few minutes to different beaches to enjoy STJ. Not a plus for some folks

[54b]

Thanks for posting such a thought provoking question...my wife and I got back from our second trip to STJ about a month ago. It was just the two of us. We had a "well documented" blast, but the next time we go, we really want to go with friends/family for a variety of reasons - sharing the costs (villa, car, food, etc.) and sharing in the fun being the biggest ones.

So now the trick is putting the answer to your question into practice and convincing the right friends/family to go along without alienating our friends/family that probably wouldn't enjoy it...I mean let's face, when you invite a newb to STJ with you, you're putting your happiness in their hands.

And how do you really ever know whether or not a person will love STJ like Pretty Woman loved the Opera?

I think most of comments above have alluded to doing one of the following:

1) Avoiding people who are into all-inclusives or love Cruises more for the ship than they do the variety of destinations/excursions

2) Attracting people with a lust for adventure and like not knowing how the story ends before opening the book.

Put simpler and more to the point...I think people who love and get STJ can be classified as active travelers where as those who don't are probably passive vacationers...it's not that STJ lovers can't sit on the beach and do nothing all day with the best of them, it's that they also relished hopping on a ferry, getting in a car, making their own drinks, and perspiring before they got there.

IMO, the tag line for STJ isn't "Gotta love it," it's "Gotta Get it."

Hopefully I'm right and choose well before my next trip...then again, with enough alcohol, I can turn a tax seminar into Mardi Gras. As Chevy said, "this is no longer a vacation, it's a quest...a quest for fun."

[Teresa_Rae]

People always love the pictures of beaches and villas. The one thing I try to stress is they have to "go" to the beaches. Lots of people just want to walk outside their door and lie on the beach. They want to walk to their room for potty & refreshment breaks. I make it clear that they have to "pack up" for the day and drive/hike a few minutes to different beaches to enjoy STJ. Not a plus for some folks

That's exactly what I say when people ask...and only when they ask, I don't volunteer information. Most people have no interest in STJ after hearing they won't be served cold drinks on the beach by a waiter 10 feet from the door to their hotel room.

[jmq]

Put simpler and more to the point...I think people who love and get STJ can be classified as active travelers where as those who don't are probably passive vacationers...it's not that STJ lovers can't sit on the beach and do nothing all day with the best of them, it's that they also relished hopping on a ferry, getting in a car, making their own drinks, and perspiring before they got there.

IMO, the tag line for STJ isn't "Gotta love it," it's "Gotta Get it."

54b - That is really very well said.

People always love the pictures of beaches and villas. The one thing I try to stress is they have to "go" to the beaches. Lots of people just want to walk outside their door and lie on the beach. They want to walk to their room for potty & refreshment breaks. I make it clear that they have to "pack up" for the day and drive/hike a few minutes to different beaches to enjoy STJ. Not a plus for some folks

coco- A bit of both seems to be ideal for us. That takes planning and a willingness to relocate, and a lot of folks understandably dont want to do that either. First trip in 05 was at Estate Lindholm on STJ (haven’t seen that mentioned here in a long time), finished up with walk out onto the beach room at Secret Harbour on STT. We enjoyed the contrast.
Last year stayed at a drive to beach place on Anegada (Neptunes) for first 1/3 of trip followed by short stroll to the beach Guavaberry on VG. This year combined drive to beach Gallows followed by walk out to beaches at Caneel, mostly because we could only go for 6 nights.
If you are beach people and not apt to hang at a villa anyway, it is actually amazing how much time is saved by not constantly loading/unloading the jeep and humping to/from the beach. That said, I certainly love some of that too – driving the islands with your fav tunes blasting and hitting a couple different beaches is certainly a big part of the experience – maybe just not 8 or more straight days of it!
I know thats one of the reasons why liamsaunt likes to finish up a STJ trip at Caneel when they can, so at least we have have some kindred spirits on that modus operandi.

[ccasebolt]

I only recommend STJ when (1) He/she asks, (2) I like the person, and (3) I think he/she will "get it". No point in pushing anyone who doesn't pass those discriminators. If they do, watch out - I become an information machine

[Jo Ann - VA]

I learned my lesson this year. I will never encourage anyone to vacation on STJ with us that could possibly turn in to a PIA.

[Xislandgirl]

I learned my lesson this year. I will never encourage anyone to vacation on STJ with us that could possibly turn in to a PIA.

That is the same for me.

If people ask, I tell them,but I stress that it is not for everyone and explain why.

[Noreen]

I will, and have. In Feb. my friend went down for aa wedding, and I drove her nuts (probably) saying you have to go here, you have to go there. But I know her well, and I knew she'd be knocked out. She returned, and we drove our other friends crazy talking about all the places we love. It was fun to talk to someone who'd been there and enjoyed Coral Bay.

On the other hand, we won't take anyone there with us. The other people we travel with would require a little more maintenance than our trip can provide!

[Chet]

Don't ask. Don't tell.

[MistB'Haven]

I'm wondering - I like to share with people I love. But why tell MORE people about our favorite little secret?

[JT]

Don't ask. Don't tell.

St.John? I think it's some place in Canada.

[Barb Y]

Those closest to me know not to get me started talking about it because my off button is hard to find once I start. I definately recommend it only to people who I truly feel will get it. I thought one of my sisters was going to be a tougher sell because she said it would be too hot and she didn't like to be in the water much. She is now lurking on the forum more than I am.
My friends have finally given in and we will be planning a trip in 2011. I know they will get it. STJ look out!

[liamsaunt]

I'm wondering - I like to share with people I love. But why tell MORE people about our favorite little secret?

If I felt that way I would not be on this forum all the time! Isn't that what this place is for?

I do understand where you are coming from though. One of our favorite houses, Cinnamon Tarn, is never available to rent for our dates anymore. My husband is convinced that the reason is the fact that I talk about it and post so many pictures of it here.

See? I just mentioned Cinnamon Tarn again! I can't help myself.