usvi-on-line
"I wish I would have known/thought about/considered....
"I wish I would have known/thought about/considered....
A new forum member sent me a PM with a great question about my post under the Underrated/Overrated thread.
I mentioned that our last newbie couple was somewhat unpleasantly surprised by a few things during their first STJ trip. (FYI - we downright hammered them with a STJ education for months before the trip, they absorbed little of it)
The question in my PM was "what did the newbie couple wish I would have told them BEFORE the trip?"
In our case, the couple did have a "you told us about X, Y , and Z" but it was like they couldn't wrap their head around certain STJ elements like chickens.
The PM got me thinking about first time visitors, alone or in a group.
What do you wish you would have known? What surprised you? What should you have told a newbie? What did the newbie wish they would have know prior to their first trip?
For one trip, I wish I would have considered how villa food/drink would be purchased and shared or not shared.
Three of our four couples are ok with buy whatever looks good, keep track of the receipts and we will work it out when we get home. The 4th was not cool with that at all as they are very frugal with their eating/drinking dollars. The thought of $7 bags of chips and $12 hunks of cheese gave them anxiety attacks.
Couple #4 kept items that she didn't want to share in the bathroom. It sort of threw off a weird vibe with the rest of the group whan this person was walking around with a certain beverage and others were wondering where it came from.
I mentioned that our last newbie couple was somewhat unpleasantly surprised by a few things during their first STJ trip. (FYI - we downright hammered them with a STJ education for months before the trip, they absorbed little of it)
The question in my PM was "what did the newbie couple wish I would have told them BEFORE the trip?"
In our case, the couple did have a "you told us about X, Y , and Z" but it was like they couldn't wrap their head around certain STJ elements like chickens.
The PM got me thinking about first time visitors, alone or in a group.
What do you wish you would have known? What surprised you? What should you have told a newbie? What did the newbie wish they would have know prior to their first trip?
For one trip, I wish I would have considered how villa food/drink would be purchased and shared or not shared.
Three of our four couples are ok with buy whatever looks good, keep track of the receipts and we will work it out when we get home. The 4th was not cool with that at all as they are very frugal with their eating/drinking dollars. The thought of $7 bags of chips and $12 hunks of cheese gave them anxiety attacks.
Couple #4 kept items that she didn't want to share in the bathroom. It sort of threw off a weird vibe with the rest of the group whan this person was walking around with a certain beverage and others were wondering where it came from.
-
Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
I am brutally honest with newbies, hence the reason that we have brought newbies 2 times ONLY.
I told them about power outages,water conservation, the timeline of a typical day, heat and AC or lack there of, driving and walking, shopping, and eating and drinking, parking,no tops off jeeps, and West Indian culture, etc.
I am confident that the only thing they heard was: Cheap rum, walking around town with a beer, beach, cheap rum, jeeps, sun.
I think the most important thing to talk to Newbies about before booking is what they want in a vacation. I think that if I asked one couple what they wanted, I never would have brought them with us.
STJ is my paradise but it is not for everyone and I would rather someone choose another destintion than book and be miserable.
I told them about power outages,water conservation, the timeline of a typical day, heat and AC or lack there of, driving and walking, shopping, and eating and drinking, parking,no tops off jeeps, and West Indian culture, etc.
I am confident that the only thing they heard was: Cheap rum, walking around town with a beer, beach, cheap rum, jeeps, sun.
I think the most important thing to talk to Newbies about before booking is what they want in a vacation. I think that if I asked one couple what they wanted, I never would have brought them with us.
STJ is my paradise but it is not for everyone and I would rather someone choose another destintion than book and be miserable.
It is just for that reason we do not ask newbies to go with us to Da Islans, Mon. I was once a newbie, and didn't have anyone to ask questions to, and I learned to love the Paradise for myself.
That being said, I have had two sets of newbies go with us, but I never asked them to go. they looked at my pictures, listened to my stories of what wonderful places St. John/ St. Thomas/ St. Croix are, and they ended up asking if they could go with us. I just said, sure, but you must keep an open mind, and enjoy what you want, and don't do what you don't want.
They are no longer newbies, and are still going back. Like X said, you really can't force your idea of a great vacation on others, that's why they make (shudder) RV parks and such....
Anyway, Just my two cents worth of babble....
-Bert
That being said, I have had two sets of newbies go with us, but I never asked them to go. they looked at my pictures, listened to my stories of what wonderful places St. John/ St. Thomas/ St. Croix are, and they ended up asking if they could go with us. I just said, sure, but you must keep an open mind, and enjoy what you want, and don't do what you don't want.
They are no longer newbies, and are still going back. Like X said, you really can't force your idea of a great vacation on others, that's why they make (shudder) RV parks and such....
Anyway, Just my two cents worth of babble....
-Bert
The liver is evil, it must be punished!
I noticed in the past that when I tell newbs about STJ, I tended to apologize and make excuses for things about STJ that I really shouldn't have. And by the time I was done, I had them prepped more for a D-Day-like invasion than a relaxing beach vacation.
So I've changed tactics and simply invited them to imagine a vacation on STJ as very similar to renting a cabin next to or in a National Park like Yellowstone.
I think that sets the expectations better as one who does that kind of vacation expects to take more responsibility for their happiness, fulfillment and fun than a person going on a Caribbean cruise or to an all-inclusive resort...at a National Park, you'd probably expect to rent a car and move from place to place and in a cabin, you'd expect you'll probably need to stop by a grocery store to stock the fridge and bring more toiletries than usual.
Quick side story relating to STJ newbs...I was out jogging the Grande Bay Loop near Chocolate Hole and a woman came out of her villa and said, "which way do I walk to get a good cup of coffee?" I said, "well, you can walk about a mile that way and probably find a cup at the Westin, but you're gonna earn it." She said, "oh, I think I'll get the car." I said, "probably a good idea."
So I've changed tactics and simply invited them to imagine a vacation on STJ as very similar to renting a cabin next to or in a National Park like Yellowstone.
I think that sets the expectations better as one who does that kind of vacation expects to take more responsibility for their happiness, fulfillment and fun than a person going on a Caribbean cruise or to an all-inclusive resort...at a National Park, you'd probably expect to rent a car and move from place to place and in a cabin, you'd expect you'll probably need to stop by a grocery store to stock the fridge and bring more toiletries than usual.
Quick side story relating to STJ newbs...I was out jogging the Grande Bay Loop near Chocolate Hole and a woman came out of her villa and said, "which way do I walk to get a good cup of coffee?" I said, "well, you can walk about a mile that way and probably find a cup at the Westin, but you're gonna earn it." She said, "oh, I think I'll get the car." I said, "probably a good idea."
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
We've been down a few times with newbies.
The worst time was a couple who insisted on joining us as we'd been there so many times. I mean "How bad can it be, right?"-they must've been thinking...
So,like the lot of you who have posted, I filled them in on everything imaginable regarding STJ, and aside from how wonderful the history,views,scents,traditions,people,delicious foods,etc...were,I ,too, decided to remind them of the negatives-
From the heat, bugs,slowness of service at some places, travel day issues,nothing at all like an "all inclusive", foodshopping prices,and then some.
Just trying to keep it real, ya' know?
So we planned on our visit together to Blue Tang over the better part of 6-9 months.
A week or two before we are set to arrive, they let us know that HE wasn't much for beaches, and SHE wasn't into it being too hot, and hated the beach...
Big hard gulp, there...
Needless to say, we had an horrific trip.
Finances were no big deal, but there were several arguments otherwise. It was terrible.
That was when I realized that renting 2 Jeeps is best when sharing a villa with other couples.
Sadly, we haven't heard from them since.
Luckily enough, though, another newbie couple stayed on STJ the same week as we did this past May and loved it. (They optioned to stay at The Westin, we were in Coral Bay...) They're actually hoping to return next Spring,as well.
They "get it", thankfully.
Rolling the dice with newbies can be as great as it can be awful. As Rick G has said,"No whining!", and if they seem overly concerned with the $ thing, have them stay somewhere else,or at home. That 'hoarding food' thing in the bathroom seems paltry & humiliating on a few uncomfortable levels...
Island Time works both ways, sometimes. For better if you know what you're in for, and worse if you don't have the patience to relax on vacation...
Smiles-
MJ
The worst time was a couple who insisted on joining us as we'd been there so many times. I mean "How bad can it be, right?"-they must've been thinking...
So,like the lot of you who have posted, I filled them in on everything imaginable regarding STJ, and aside from how wonderful the history,views,scents,traditions,people,delicious foods,etc...were,I ,too, decided to remind them of the negatives-
From the heat, bugs,slowness of service at some places, travel day issues,nothing at all like an "all inclusive", foodshopping prices,and then some.
Just trying to keep it real, ya' know?
So we planned on our visit together to Blue Tang over the better part of 6-9 months.
A week or two before we are set to arrive, they let us know that HE wasn't much for beaches, and SHE wasn't into it being too hot, and hated the beach...
Big hard gulp, there...Needless to say, we had an horrific trip.
Finances were no big deal, but there were several arguments otherwise. It was terrible.
That was when I realized that renting 2 Jeeps is best when sharing a villa with other couples.
Sadly, we haven't heard from them since.
Luckily enough, though, another newbie couple stayed on STJ the same week as we did this past May and loved it. (They optioned to stay at The Westin, we were in Coral Bay...) They're actually hoping to return next Spring,as well.
They "get it", thankfully.
Rolling the dice with newbies can be as great as it can be awful. As Rick G has said,"No whining!", and if they seem overly concerned with the $ thing, have them stay somewhere else,or at home. That 'hoarding food' thing in the bathroom seems paltry & humiliating on a few uncomfortable levels...
Island Time works both ways, sometimes. For better if you know what you're in for, and worse if you don't have the patience to relax on vacation...
Smiles-
MJ
-
Capn Dan and Ruby
- Posts: 1006
- Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:08 pm
- Location: PC Florida
We went with Greyhoundmom and dad when we were newbies, I hope we were not horrific! We loved it of course!!!
Our children are going with us next year as newbies. Our oldest will adore it...no prob. Our son-in-law will never complain about anything, but we think he will love it. Our youngest (his wife) is the big question. Rick G's rule will prevail... No whiners!!! We have told all about heat, bugs, hills, time schedules, chickens, etc. We will see... I realy want to share my wonderful island with the family I care so much for. I only hope they will love it. And of course, being that they are our children, the bill is mostly on us!
Our children are going with us next year as newbies. Our oldest will adore it...no prob. Our son-in-law will never complain about anything, but we think he will love it. Our youngest (his wife) is the big question. Rick G's rule will prevail... No whiners!!! We have told all about heat, bugs, hills, time schedules, chickens, etc. We will see... I realy want to share my wonderful island with the family I care so much for. I only hope they will love it. And of course, being that they are our children, the bill is mostly on us!
We went for two weeks in June, the second week we were joined by a newbie couple. I was certain the guy would fit in perfectly. The wife I was very afraid would not. I stole the phrase “expensive camping” from the forum and used it on them ahead of time just to try to set expectations. We booked a villa (Virgin Seabreeze) that we had stayed in and loved back in 2009 just to try to avoid any villa ‘gotchas’ for the newbies, as well. Thank goodness all the power outages were the week before they arrived!
As for the outcome – the guy was cool with the whole experience and would return in a minute, as I predicted. He loved Woody’s and the Beach Bar. He went out at 5:30am one morning to drive around and take pictures from destinations we wouldn’t have hit otherwise, like the Annaburg Ruins. He loved all the beaches and snorkling and was, simply, right at home all week.
The wife started out good with the “wow” factor of the villa and she did like many of the restaurants (Morgan’s Mango and Lime Inn, to name a couple) but she was quickly overcome by the fact that too many of the beaches required even a minimal hike, bugs, chickens afoot in the restaurant (Skinnys), no A/C in most places, rocky beach entrances, on and on. She also fashions herself as a bit of a restaurant critic so the unceasing commentary over every dish in every restaurant got old before the week was out for me as well. The kicker was when she found a small scorpion in their shower! So, needless to say, she was one and done with the island experience, STJ style.
The other piece that I hadn’t planned on was that my wife was not herself that whole week as well. We are somewhat seasoned veterans this having been our fifth trip to St. John. However, the newbie wife is one of her best friends and the stress Mrs. RD took on during that week trying to make everything perfect for her friend wore her out.
I don’t want to paint too dismal a picture; it was still a great vacation. It was the first time we had ever vacationed for two weeks anywhere and we did have a great trip! My advice is “Know Your Newbies!” If you think someone is probably not going to like it, they most likely won’t.
As for the outcome – the guy was cool with the whole experience and would return in a minute, as I predicted. He loved Woody’s and the Beach Bar. He went out at 5:30am one morning to drive around and take pictures from destinations we wouldn’t have hit otherwise, like the Annaburg Ruins. He loved all the beaches and snorkling and was, simply, right at home all week.
The wife started out good with the “wow” factor of the villa and she did like many of the restaurants (Morgan’s Mango and Lime Inn, to name a couple) but she was quickly overcome by the fact that too many of the beaches required even a minimal hike, bugs, chickens afoot in the restaurant (Skinnys), no A/C in most places, rocky beach entrances, on and on. She also fashions herself as a bit of a restaurant critic so the unceasing commentary over every dish in every restaurant got old before the week was out for me as well. The kicker was when she found a small scorpion in their shower! So, needless to say, she was one and done with the island experience, STJ style.
The other piece that I hadn’t planned on was that my wife was not herself that whole week as well. We are somewhat seasoned veterans this having been our fifth trip to St. John. However, the newbie wife is one of her best friends and the stress Mrs. RD took on during that week trying to make everything perfect for her friend wore her out.
I don’t want to paint too dismal a picture; it was still a great vacation. It was the first time we had ever vacationed for two weeks anywhere and we did have a great trip! My advice is “Know Your Newbies!” If you think someone is probably not going to like it, they most likely won’t.
I'm actually in the beginnings of planning a trip that will include my mom, brother, his gf and my aunt. Pretty sure they will all love it as long as the place we pick to stay is good. That means no camping (although I might go down a couple days early and stay at Maho by myself). They've been to St. Croix before so they aren't VI newbies. They explored the crap out of that island, even more than I did when I was there. But they've never been to St. John. I think the best way to do it (for my group) is let them decide what to do while asking my opinion here and there. My to-do list from past trips will have to be put off to the side while I let them start their own. I started loving this island because I found things on my own, so I'll let them do the same. I really hope they love it at least as half as much as I do though. I guess we'll find out next May!
Matt
You find out a lot about people when you stay with them and sometimes it's not good. Not everyone is on the same page and it can get very tense. Always make sure you have more than one car. And always tell the newbies to bring extra money (you can always take it back home if you bring too much).It still blows my mind how much money we can spend on food, etc. and we don't eat out a lot.
We've learned the hard way that nobody's vacation ideals are the same...We took newbies to STJ/BVI's...they didn't get it...they were more happening resort bring me my drink on a tray peeps. They refused to get their own 4X4 opting to ride with us. . NEVER AGAIN! By the end of the week we were trying to stifle groans and hide the rolling of eyes. It's just so perfect when it's just us. We're not unsociable, love meeting new peeps, doing new things. I guess I just don't like the self assigned obligation of making sure everyone is having fun and being entertained. OCD calling card.
Having said this, our daugher's BF will accompany us on his first trip to the Caribbean next Summer. See, he's cool. Even if he was miserable, he'd paste a smile on his face and thank us profusely for the time of his life!
. I find him to be a safe bet as we've taken him to WDW twice. Easy to please, goes with the flow, always ready, never complains, and fits in perfectly.
PS, One of our guests was freaked out by the bugs and bites. I'm not too fond of bugs either, but if I were freaked out that bad by bugs, I would of never went back! We've shared our villas with Tarantulas, Scropions, ants, lizards, big black millipedes, all kinds of crawling things!
. NEVER AGAIN! By the end of the week we were trying to stifle groans and hide the rolling of eyes. It's just so perfect when it's just us. We're not unsociable, love meeting new peeps, doing new things. I guess I just don't like the self assigned obligation of making sure everyone is having fun and being entertained. OCD calling card.Having said this, our daugher's BF will accompany us on his first trip to the Caribbean next Summer. See, he's cool. Even if he was miserable, he'd paste a smile on his face and thank us profusely for the time of his life!
. I find him to be a safe bet as we've taken him to WDW twice. Easy to please, goes with the flow, always ready, never complains, and fits in perfectly. PS, One of our guests was freaked out by the bugs and bites. I'm not too fond of bugs either, but if I were freaked out that bad by bugs, I would of never went back! We've shared our villas with Tarantulas, Scropions, ants, lizards, big black millipedes, all kinds of crawling things!
Last edited by chrisn on Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
GotToGetAway
- Posts: 396
- Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:55 pm
- Location: FL
Before our first trip in 2005, I wish someone had told me about pools being notoriously cold on Bordeaux Mountain as I would have chosen a different location or opted to go to a cheaper villa with no pool and stay longer. Also about it being so cold at night on the mountain ("it's the tropics" I thought "how could I be cold, I didn't pack for cold"). I also never would have thought to have to ask the villa company if the hot tub actually works. Now I had a freezing pool, and no "hot" tub. Nevertheless, we came back, but to a different house. I learned to ready villa reviews very carefully.
I also wish someone had told me about all the driving to get to all the places you want to go in one day. And about all the sand that will collect in your jeep.
And about the size of the bugs you may find when you innocently open the silverware drawer.
We are coming with a group of newbies on our next trip. We have shared all these experiences with them, informed them of grocery prices, the roads, the chickens, the bugs, the heat, the military showers, the power outages, the long travel days, and also the absolute love we have for the island.
I am a little scared to go with newbies after reading all of your stories, but they are family and we are booked, so we will have to make it work. Plus we have many months to continue to prepare them (and us), so please keep the ideas coming!
I also wish someone had told me about all the driving to get to all the places you want to go in one day. And about all the sand that will collect in your jeep.
And about the size of the bugs you may find when you innocently open the silverware drawer.
We are coming with a group of newbies on our next trip. We have shared all these experiences with them, informed them of grocery prices, the roads, the chickens, the bugs, the heat, the military showers, the power outages, the long travel days, and also the absolute love we have for the island.
I am a little scared to go with newbies after reading all of your stories, but they are family and we are booked, so we will have to make it work. Plus we have many months to continue to prepare them (and us), so please keep the ideas coming!
Tickerless 
Sounds like the perfect person to take to STJ!chrisn wrote:We've learned the hard way that nobody's vacation ideals are the same...We took newbies to STJ/BVI's...they didn't get it...they were more happening resort bring me my drink on a tray peeps. They refused to get their own 4X4 opting to ride with us.
Having said this, our daugher's BF will accompany us on his first trip to the Caribbean next Summer. See, he's cool. Even if he was miserable, he'd paste a smile on his face and thank us profusely for the time of his life!
-
GraysonDave
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:41 am
- Location: Georgia
GotToGetAway wrote:
I am a little scared to go with newbies after reading all of your stories
Yeah, no kidding. We will be going with two (or 3) couples who have been longtime friends, but who we have never travelled with. One has been to STJ before and the other has not. I was feeling pretty good about things until this thread.
Me too!!!! My solution is that I am not going to read this thread anymore and will continue to tell myself that everything is going to work out just fine!GraysonDave wrote:GotToGetAway wrote:
I am a little scared to go with newbies after reading all of your stories
Yeah, no kidding. We will be going with two (or 3) couples who have been longtime friends, but who we have never travelled with. One has been to STJ before and the other has not. I was feeling pretty good about things until this thread.
Of course if it doesn't you all will hear the gory details when I am back.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.