St. John or not? Help me boardie experts !

[ohio angie]

I am looking for somewhere to go on my 40th in October. I usually go to Negril Jamaica a couple times a year. I love that it isn't commercialized. I like to eat at local spots and love to go out for drinks in the evening. Also love to snorkel. Also I have never stayed in a villa and am wondering about the prices. What airport you fly in to and also how much is your transfer to the island from the airport? I know I am asking a lot but your boardies are the experts. Thanks! Angie [/quote]

[Xislandgirl]

You fly into St. Thomas and then take the ferry to St. John.The taxi ride is $15 plus the ferry fee with baggage; $6 plus $2.50 per bag
In most cases, if you rent a villa, you will need to rent a jeep, so add that into your budget. There are places right in Cruz Bay that do not require a jeep but you will need to take taxis to the North Shore Beaches.
There is great shore snorkeling from many beaches but some of the great snorkels will require a rental jeep.
Rental prices range from very little to $1000's a day so of you were to give us a budget for your lodging we can give you some suggestions,m or you can start by looking at vrbo.com to give you an idea

I have never been to Negril, so I can not compare it.

Feel free to ask any other questions!

[Harpersmom8910]

I have been to both Negril and St John .. In Negril we stayed at a couples resort it was a wonderful place but totally opposite vacation than St John. In St John you most likely won't be staying on the beach unless you stay at the Westin or Caneel Bay so you drive to the beaches. The beaches in St John completely blow away the ones in Jamaica in my opinion. I really liked Negril and would return for a resort vacation but that's it.

[ohio angie]

Xisland girl my budget is $1000 for the week and I was planning on renting a jeep thanks for the reply
Harpermom when in Negril I stay on the cliffs but I was wondering if there is an area for a pub crawl? Are there any bars with swim up pool bars? Is it a really chilled out Island or a lot of fun?

[Bonny in CA]

Hi Angie!

The island has two main areas, Cruz Bay and Coral Bay.

Cruz Bay has lots of shopping, restaurants and bars, more lively night life.

Coral Bay is more rural and laid back, but still plenty of restaurants, a handful of bars and shops. It's my favorite end of the island. The bars here usually have live music or D.J.'s also.

I've just booked our trip for November, so I have been researching villas and cottages.

These properties can mostly be found at http://www.vrbo.com

Also, these prices are for 2 people, at the end of November, prices change with the seasons, but here's what I found!

Blue Wrasse $800 a week
Windward Guest Cottage $1,190 a week
Sea Cottage $1,120 a week (where we're going)
Surf Sound $1,000 a week, (I missed out on this one)
Bambooshay $1,250 a week

I just realized that your $1,000 a week might have been total, not just lodging, in which case, Concordia Eco-Tents might be a good choice.

Good luck in your searching, I hope you love St. John like the rest of us do!

Bonny

[vi lover]

The island has both "a lot of fun" and is a "chill out island". That's what is so great! You choose!

When it's just the two of us, we get a condo at Cruz Bay Villas (Cruz Views works too) so we can be very accessible to the "pub crawl" of Cruz Bay. LOTS of places to have a drink and walk to the next one.

I don't know of any swim-up bars. Sorry.

Snorkeling St. John is simply the best. Lots of both popular, and hidden, places. Our favorite snokel spot is Waterlemon Cay/Leinester Bay.

Between our villa, airline tickets, rental car, meals, provisions, and ferry to JVD we normally budget $5,000 for the week (and we stay at "value" places". Just to give you some rough estimates.

You will never regret going!

Good Luck! Have Fun!

[Teresa_Rae]

Xisland girl my budget is $1000 for the week and I was planning on renting a jeep thanks for the reply
Harpermom when in Negril I stay on the cliffs but I was wondering if there is an area for a pub crawl? Are there any bars with swim up pool bars? Is it a really chilled out Island or a lot of fun?

If you want to spend $1000 for accommodations AND car rental it's not going to happen unless you camp. In the off season $1000 a week for a 1-bedroom or studio is about as good as it gets.

Does that $1000 include your airfare? If so, I don't think STJ is going to work.

A vehicle rental on STJ is a must because you need to be able to drive to get to the beaches. Taxis aren't an option for most beaches. It is nothing like Negril where taxis are an easy, readily available option. On STJ the taxis only go to and from a couple beaches, and they don't go to villas.

As for a swim up bar, simply put, STJ isn't "that kind" of island. There aren't touristy things like you find in Jamaica. You won't find people hawking their wares on the beaches, there will be nobody yelling from a glass bottom boat to come out for a ride, there will be nobody trying to sell you "nose candy" or cigarettes at every turn, Bob Marley's relatives won't be yelling things in microphones at the beach, jet skis are illegal, etc., etc., etc. STJ is very quiet compared to Negril.

STJ is mostly national park. People snorkel, lie on the beach, and go hiking. There is some nightlife but it is pretty tame compared to what you'll find in Jamaica.

On STJ you also don't get the local flavor that exists in Negril, at least not on the beaches. There are no shanties serving up local fare a stone's throw from your beach towel. Because the good beaches are within the national park, there aren't restaurants, bars, or hotels along the beaches. The backdrop of the beaches is tropical forest, so taking supplies to the beach in a cooler is a necessity on STJ.

I have stayed on the cliffs in Negril and there really is no comparison to STJ. They are just very, very different places.

[loria]

have to second what Theresa Rae is saying-- i fyou did , say maho-- off season the rate is 80/night for a tent cottage-- rental cars are about 75/day--so that basically eats up your 1000 for the week--
you CAN stay at maho without a car (they have taxi's to and from town that can be arranged) and you can hitchhike-- but it isn't the party central that jamaica is at all-- it is very laid back.

[ohio angie]

Thanks to all! I was looking at spending $1000 on just a place to stay. Thanks to everyone on here I am getting the idea this would be more of a relaxation vacation then a busy one.

[Bonny in CA]

It can be both Angie.

It just depends on which one you want.

Bonny

[waterguy]

For 1000 you deffnetly can find a nice place to stay. Our day's are so filled with snorkling or exploring I'm not a good one to ask for night life. After a long day in the water I like to sit on the deck or in the hot tub and watch the stars with a few blender drinks. Don't let anyone talk you out of it but just go in knowing it will be different then Jamaica I like the fact you never get hassled to buy things or get your hair done. Those things are there just that you have to go find the shops. I used to go to Jamaica every year and now don't think I'll ever go back.