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Amazing Vacation!! Trip Report 6/24-6/30/12
Amazing Vacation!! Trip Report 6/24-6/30/12
This was my 3rd trip to STJ (2nd time solo).
Flew out of TPA -MIA on first flight out at 6:35am. I was worried that my flight would be cancelled since TS Debby was coming our way. STT bound at 10:10am. Flight was uneventful but cloudy the whole way. Landed in STT on time & I instantly felt a connection, like this is where I belong! Took taxi to Red Hook & made the 3pm ferry. I do have to say this was the scariest ferry ride I had been on! The boat seemed overloaded & water was very rough going through the channel. I thought we would capsize; even the locals were terrified. Ferry slowed down & finally made it to STJ safe & sound!
I checked in to The Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel (love this B&B & the owners, David, Denise & Kathy are wonderful). Have stayed here previously & highly recommend this hotel! I headed over to the Beach Bar for some lunch....tuna tataki! Later I went to the Spyglass for the late night happy hour, fish tacos & a margarita! Great value for the $$. Back to hotel for some much needed sleep!
Chartered Island Roots for a BVI excursion with a nice couple from TN that I met here on Trip Advisor! We had the best time: snorkel at the Indians, the Caves, lunch at Pirate's Bight (I had the chicken roti) a swim at Sandy Cay & the Soggy Dollar. The snorkeling at the Indians was fantastic! A great time was had by all & Island Roots gets excellent reviews!
Checked in to Grande Bay (VRBO #288205). This is where I stayed for the remainder of my trip. The studio was so nice! I had a beautiful view of Cruz Bay. I liked the fact that I could make my own breakfast & pack lunches for the beach.
Rented a Jeep Wrangler from Varlack & had no problems at all. Very professional. My first time driving on STJ & I am so glad I rented a jeep, don't know why I never did before. Very easy to drive around the island & roads are well maintained IMO.
Visited the Animal Care Center as I had checked a bag so that I could bring lots of treats & toys for all the dogs & cats there. My precious Pomeranian, Sabal, passed away a week before my trip & I donated her heart medicines, leash & collar to the ACC. Right before I headed up there, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that read "Be Kind in memory of Sable" (although not spelled the same way, I felt that was a sign from the Lord). So thankful that Sabal's medicine will be able to help another dog & that a part of her will always be on STJ.
Beaches visited: Cinnamon, Hawksnest, Trunk, Francis & Caneel, Reef Bay.
Dinner: Lime Inn x 2, Candie's BBQ (loved the BBQ sauce) & the Italian restaurant located below Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel (can't think of the name of it) &.lunch at Caneel Bay.
Did the sunset sail on Keoka, nice & relaxing. Did feel ignored through the whole sail though & feel the $$ should be collected at the end of trip, not in the middle. I completely missed a big giant rock we sailed past because of this. Very disappointing.
Hiked the Reef Bay Trail with a park ranger & a group reserved through Friends of the Park located in Mongoose Junction. Cost $30.00 & well worth it. Hiked to the petroglyphs, saw the Reef Bay sugar mill ruins & several deer. If you are not used to hiking, this may not be for you. We finally made it to the beach for the boat ride back to Cruz Bay......after all this was my last full day on STJ!
Had Caribbean Lobster at the Lime Inn (always a last night ritual for me). Walked around town, it was the start of the festivities of Carnival. Heard the Pan Dragons, the youth steel orchestra, then headed over to the Beach Bar to hear a fantastic musician by the name of Kurt Schindler from St. Croix.
I always am very sad & teary-eyed the day I have to leave STJ. This trip was the best time I have ever had! Next year I want to stay through Carnival & have already made arrangements to do so. Until then.............all I can do is keep dreaming of all the beauty of this wonderful island!
Flew out of TPA -MIA on first flight out at 6:35am. I was worried that my flight would be cancelled since TS Debby was coming our way. STT bound at 10:10am. Flight was uneventful but cloudy the whole way. Landed in STT on time & I instantly felt a connection, like this is where I belong! Took taxi to Red Hook & made the 3pm ferry. I do have to say this was the scariest ferry ride I had been on! The boat seemed overloaded & water was very rough going through the channel. I thought we would capsize; even the locals were terrified. Ferry slowed down & finally made it to STJ safe & sound!
I checked in to The Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel (love this B&B & the owners, David, Denise & Kathy are wonderful). Have stayed here previously & highly recommend this hotel! I headed over to the Beach Bar for some lunch....tuna tataki! Later I went to the Spyglass for the late night happy hour, fish tacos & a margarita! Great value for the $$. Back to hotel for some much needed sleep!
Chartered Island Roots for a BVI excursion with a nice couple from TN that I met here on Trip Advisor! We had the best time: snorkel at the Indians, the Caves, lunch at Pirate's Bight (I had the chicken roti) a swim at Sandy Cay & the Soggy Dollar. The snorkeling at the Indians was fantastic! A great time was had by all & Island Roots gets excellent reviews!
Checked in to Grande Bay (VRBO #288205). This is where I stayed for the remainder of my trip. The studio was so nice! I had a beautiful view of Cruz Bay. I liked the fact that I could make my own breakfast & pack lunches for the beach.
Rented a Jeep Wrangler from Varlack & had no problems at all. Very professional. My first time driving on STJ & I am so glad I rented a jeep, don't know why I never did before. Very easy to drive around the island & roads are well maintained IMO.
Visited the Animal Care Center as I had checked a bag so that I could bring lots of treats & toys for all the dogs & cats there. My precious Pomeranian, Sabal, passed away a week before my trip & I donated her heart medicines, leash & collar to the ACC. Right before I headed up there, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that read "Be Kind in memory of Sable" (although not spelled the same way, I felt that was a sign from the Lord). So thankful that Sabal's medicine will be able to help another dog & that a part of her will always be on STJ.
Beaches visited: Cinnamon, Hawksnest, Trunk, Francis & Caneel, Reef Bay.
Dinner: Lime Inn x 2, Candie's BBQ (loved the BBQ sauce) & the Italian restaurant located below Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel (can't think of the name of it) &.lunch at Caneel Bay.
Did the sunset sail on Keoka, nice & relaxing. Did feel ignored through the whole sail though & feel the $$ should be collected at the end of trip, not in the middle. I completely missed a big giant rock we sailed past because of this. Very disappointing.
Hiked the Reef Bay Trail with a park ranger & a group reserved through Friends of the Park located in Mongoose Junction. Cost $30.00 & well worth it. Hiked to the petroglyphs, saw the Reef Bay sugar mill ruins & several deer. If you are not used to hiking, this may not be for you. We finally made it to the beach for the boat ride back to Cruz Bay......after all this was my last full day on STJ!
Had Caribbean Lobster at the Lime Inn (always a last night ritual for me). Walked around town, it was the start of the festivities of Carnival. Heard the Pan Dragons, the youth steel orchestra, then headed over to the Beach Bar to hear a fantastic musician by the name of Kurt Schindler from St. Croix.
I always am very sad & teary-eyed the day I have to leave STJ. This trip was the best time I have ever had! Next year I want to stay through Carnival & have already made arrangements to do so. Until then.............all I can do is keep dreaming of all the beauty of this wonderful island!
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Backtotheislands
- Posts: 371
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:32 pm
- Location: Rockwall, Texas
Thanks for your trip report! I'm counting down! 
So sorry to hear about your Sabal, but I'm sure the animal care center will put her stuff to good use. I have 2 precious goldens - just adopted my 8 1/2 year old last year as a senior rescue - and it will break my heart when either of them goes. 
Bless you!
So sorry to hear about your Sabal, but I'm sure the animal care center will put her stuff to good use. I have 2 precious goldens - just adopted my 8 1/2 year old last year as a senior rescue - and it will break my heart when either of them goes. Bless you!
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EagleRayLover
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:56 pm
- Location: St. John -WooHoo!!