The Redemption Tour - the report

[pipanale]

No access from the deck...the only minus for the whole house.

If you're in the carport, turnaround and walk 10 feet. On the left is the gate that leads down 4 steps to the pool. If my information is correct...the pool used to be where you parked.

X: Correct me if I'm wrong.

You can't complain about the pool though...you know how it works; that it's not attached. After the first time when we all finished beers and I was met with looks of "What now, Mr Tour Director?" I just made sure we had a cooler any time we went "all the way" down to the pool.

It's funny. I think that our expectations had been so low that we were dazzled by the house. It's not a luxury villa; but it works and is very well cared for. That was something I liked a lot. As you read the guestbook, you'd see the owners pop in every 9-12 months. they'd outline the current improvement project.

The other 2 houses we'd rented were of the same age; but they were being permitted to rot into oblivion. this home is cared for and the owners clearly want to keep it viable and fresh for years to come.

I would recommend it to anyone.

[Xislandgirl]

Yes, the pool is my old driveway


I am so happy that you liked the house. I knew that you would.

The owners are really great people. Silverheels can vouch for that as well.
They had hurricane damage back in 1996 and really worked hard to ensure that original charm of the house was not changed. They could very well have completely updated it to become some luxury rental, but that is not how they are. They are just good people that love STJ.

[mbw1024]

got it, thanks!

[PA Girl]

It's funny. I think that our expectations had been so low that we were dazzled by the house. It's not a luxury villa; but it works and is very well cared for. That was something I liked a lot. As you read the guestbook, you'd see the owners pop in every 9-12 months. they'd outline the current improvement project.

The other 2 houses we'd rented were of the same age; but they were being permitted to rot into oblivion. this home is cared for and the owners clearly want to keep it viable and fresh for years to come.
I would recommend it to anyone.

That is valuable information to put out there and is what would sell me on a rental.

My "favorite" STJ house is not fancy, in fact it is rather basic, but it was obvious during our 2 stays that it was very well maintained and much loved by the owner.

I had posted about our experience in a unloved luxury house on another thread. Maintenance is my hot button.

I am sure the following isn’t unique to STJ but I suspect there are owners out there that had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they purchased properties10-15 years ago.

I remember reading owner’s financial complaints a while back that were along the lines of “we needed to spend $500 on towels or a stove only lasts two years. How are we expected to fix the hot tub?” or something like that.

Well, you (Mr./Mrs. Owner) are basically running a hotel. Things wear out and breakdown, stuff needs to be replaced on a regular basis. If you have a $1-$2 million rental house and $500 is going to make or break you, it probably is an asset you should unloading.

A friend of a friend owns a big-deal real estate office (sales and vacation rentals) in very popular (and rather rich and snotty) resort area. She says she constantly tells buyers that the best they can expect is for rental income to cover the taxes, insurance and maintenance yet they all think they will have the vacation rental that actually makes money, after the mortgage payments! She said deferred maintenance is a big problem and is the greatest source of renter complaints.

[Kentuckygirl]

Great report! I started reading it this morning, disrupted many, many times, and just finished, loved it!!!You're a hoot!
I'm glad you contacted Marriott with your issues. (Note to self- take pics!) Hopefully they'll follow through with everything! Glad they reimbursed you!!

[Terry]

Dude,
For real? I need a 3 day weekend to read this...and no pictures?

Glad you had a fun, but then again anyone that has the b__ls to dress up for Ruth in a grass skirt and coconuts is cool.

P.S.You have way too much time on your hands for this type of trip report. I want your job...making beer is it?

[California Girl]

I read the whole thing from beginning to end in one sitting! Loved it!! Thanks for taking the time to include all the details, it was an engaging read! And I'm thrilled most of all that TheKid "got it". I knew she would. She's such an excellent swimmer, I just knew she'd go crazy snorkeling! She's such a cutie... I'd love to see St. John through her eyes... all the bugs and lizards and everything a kid sees!

Thanks Pip!

[cptnkirk]

I shall return to read this novel after work. With my typing skills your report would taken me about a month.

[pipanale]

Reflections/Impressions

When we put St John in our collective rear-view mirror in 2008, I honestly didn't know if we'd ever set foot there again. The trip had been a major downer and I was starting to think the cute backwater feel of the island was really just a cute way of saying that it was a hole.

I'll admit. I looked at other islands. But, I kept getting drawn back to St John. The Sirens were calling me back. I needed to give the island another chance. I needed to give it a chance to redeem itself.

The planning for this trip was made that much more interesting when we introduced TheKid to the travel party.

My parents gave me shit for a while about my fear in bringing her.
"You're being an ass. She'll be fine"

Yea...they've never been with her when she decided to act her age and pout for hours because there are no Doritos. They weren't with us in Myrtle Beach 2 years ago when S was reduced to tears because of her behavior. They weren't there in the DR when I was reduced to tears by her behavior. S and I had experienced the worst that this kid could offer and we feared it. In her defense, we've also experienced the best that she has to offer. TheKid has a travel bug. And, she's being taught to be a traveler and not a tourist.

But, St John is different. There are no arcades, no kids clubs, no mini golf, no go karts. There's just an island. You go there to chill.

So, was I concerned she'd make us miserable? Am I happy I was wrong? Happier than you can imagine.

The trip turned out to be everything I had hoped for.

The bad weather that plagued people the week before left as we arrived.
Our house was perfect.
We all got along.
My connection to St John got stronger. I like recognizing faces in the stores, at the bars, and out and about. It feels good to belong.
I got to meet several of my internet buddies. That's always a lot of fun; and it's always better when done at The Beach Bar.

<img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 6881_n.jpg" alt="">

But, above all, we got to see our little girl fall in love. She's hooked. St John has taken hold of her. I'm waiting for her to ask if we can skip Disney in 2011 so we can go back. She may just love it that much.

"St John...it's better than Disney!"

S and I have talked about it before and, after the trip, we're convinced that, down the road, we'll talk about deferring that freshman year for a year. She's gonna go live there at some point. And, know what, she should. Every kid should have that time to be a dumb kid. Why rush into adulthood when there's an island to live on for a year?

The trip just felt good. I'm at a loss for words. Hell, you would be too after nearly 18,000 words about a week's trip.

It's hard to describe what it's like to see your daughter jump off a boat into the ocean and simply explode with joy upon seeing what lives underwater.

<img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 5021_n.jpg" alt="">

How do you put a Caribbean sunset into words?

<img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 8814_n.jpg" alt="">

How do you put this into words?
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9om2ULMhx14&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9om2ULMhx14&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

What about being able to spend a perfect week in a perfect place with 4 of your 5 favorite people on Earth?

<img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 8928_n.jpg" alt="">

This time, all the planning, the fretting, the packing, the worrying paid off.

I'll let Zac Brown take us home...

<center>There's a place, where the boat leaves from
It takes away all your big problems
You got worries you can drop them in the blue ocean
But you gotta get away to where the boat leaves from
Take one part sand, and one part sea, one part shade of a banana tree
The drinks they're cold and the reggae is hot
And I know this is the place for me </center>

<img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 0010_n.jpg" alt="">

[augie]

You're gonna make me cry, you a@@hole!

[pipanale]

You're gonna make me cry, you a@@hole

It got dusty in the office while typing it

[silverheels]

Absolutely one of the best trip reports I have read.
It's your daughter who impressed me the most. Reminds me of ours when we first took her to STJ. She got it!
Your way with words and the pictures made it great reading. I remember meeting you and Susan a couple of years ago at the BB with Ruth.
Yes, I do agree with X. The owners of Morgan Point are wonderful people. By the way the name of it comes from the home that they have on the CT shore. The area is called Morgan Point. Very special people!

[pipanale]

I remember meeting you and Susan a couple of years ago at the BB with Ruth.
Yes, I do agree with X. The owners of Morgan Point are wonderful people. By the way the name of it comes from the home that they have on the CT shore. The area is called Morgan Point. Very special people!

I remember meeting you too.

As for the home in CT...that explains the seemingly random photo in the hallway of what is clearly a New England beach house. Now I get it!

[jmq]

I was thinking too that it couldve been the END if you had been there during the prior week monsoon because I dont think you had enuff positive STJ stuff in reserve to help you withstand that, esp with the 8 yr old in tow.
Although any week on island is precious, it probably makes it a little easier to roll with a bad week if you've already had a few good ones.
And look how mushy one great week on STJ has made you!

[PA Girl]

I was thinking too that it couldve been the END if you had been there during the prior week monsoon because I dont think you had enuff positive STJ stuff in reserve to help you withstand that, esp with the 8 yr old in tow.

I was thinking the same thing and was actually keeping an eye on the weather. I am so glad it all worked out.

It took me a long time to "get over" the 69 degree, sidewides rain weather, with a 3 yo, of our Virgin Gorda trip.