Getting to St. John NOT half the fun?

[MrB]

IF I like McDonalds, I don't expect Burger King to serve McDonalds food just so I eat there.

...IF you don't like it, don't come back. Go stay at a 5 star resort that caters to your every whim and be happy...

I agree with Bug 1000% What great metaphor!!!!

The funny thing is, the dude was not talking about a 5 star resort...He was talking about a grubby(IMO) cruise ships!!! While I have never been on a cruise at sea, I used to work on ships in drydock, and I know from just that that I would never spend my vacation on one, being dumped off and rushed thru a day on an island, just to come back in the eve and be carted off to another one. This 'consultant' seemed to want to compare STJ with a cruise...they are clearly 2 different types of vacation. While I agree that teleporting directly to your villa or Caneel would be SUPER, will this really give STJ suck a huge boost in it's tourisim dollar?

And another thing!!!! (hehehe) What is the deal with needing a rum punch when you get off the plane?? I don't get a cheesesteak when I get off the plane in philly!

[pipanale]

Can I quote myself here? That's tacky, isn't it.

"St John, for all its wonder, is not a place you just happen to go to. You need to want to go to St John in order to get there. You have to fly to St Thomas, endure the baggage follies and then get on a boat. The ferries run from the main town on St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie (10 minutes from the airport) or from the other side of the island in Red Hook. Red Hook is a 45 minute taxi grand prix away from the airport. From a money standpoint, it’s about the same. Do you want a long cab ride and short ferry or the other way around? The choice is yours."

You have to want to go to STJ and to be able to unwind. I had a friend want to go there, but he told me his wife wanted an island with resorts and a casino. Needless to say, they went to Aruba.

We found STJ on a day trip from a cruise ship. We fell in love and knew on that day we'd be house renters from there on.

[LysaC]

I love STJ because I'm not catered to.

I don't like people in my face when I'm trying to relax.

I hate the thought of those resort beaches with the chaises all lined up a few feet from each other. How can you relax with someone right up next to you. Good GOD!

I cannot for the life of me figure out why someone would choose that sort of beach experience over having a pristine, quiet, tropical, natural beach all to yourself- well maybe a few other people can be there... but only ones who respect your space!

And I'd hate having to go by someone else's schedule- relying on ferries, taxis, buffet times/lines, breakfast times/lines, etc. We want total freedom to do whatever, whenever.

After we set foot on-island and pick up the car, paradise is ours on our own terms. We don't rely on others to dictate our vacation.

Hubby and I always choose a private, quiet vacation where we can travel to civilization IF we choose to. Heck, we'll even cook & do dishes in order to have our privacy!

This year we rented a cabin in NH on 40 acres of private land but a 10 minute drive to all-that-is-the-NH-Lakes Region. Perfect!

[PA Girl]

For us, getting there is definately part of the experience. There is something about arriving to our desitination by boat that makes it special for us (we go to an east coast island that also requires a ferry)

Relaxing with a drink in my hand while riding the Caneel boat is a very vivid memory of our first STJ trip.

It would be interesting to hear what type of traveller/visitor/tourist that STJ (meaning businesses and residents impacted by tourism) want to cater to.

[Ron in South Texas]

I have been on several cruises and they were very enjoyable. I suppose it's your state of mind on the cruise. I never felt herded or rushed. I guess it's because I am a seasoned traveler and I don't usually go on the cruise ship excursions. I do my homework about the islands I'm visiting and arrange my own tour.
This will be my third trip to St John and I enjoy the process of getting there and I really enjoy the laid back lifestyle.

[Jan&MikeVa]

The more difficult the trek, the more people stay away. I don't mind getting to STJ, it's so worth it. I'd even throw in an extra ferry or taxi; if that would keep it small and simple!

Let the complainers complain!!

Jan (akaCharlie)

[obsessedmuch]

Obviously this is coming from a very limited perspective but I, too, like the fact that there's effort involved in getting there. I'm excited that I'll really be "away" from everything and if it means three flight connections, a crazy taxi ride, a wait for a ferry, riding the ferry and finding the rental car place then so be it. I've been on cruises and they're not bad but in no way would I equate the two.

[Robin in NC]

I find myself being a little contrarian in this thread. I certainly understand the desire to keep prima donna tourists away. And when I was there, I tried to avoid the cruise ship crowd at all costs.

But I don't understand the pleasure some take in travel difficulties. Straighten out the airport problems, for heaven's sake; I want to spend my time relaxing on STJ then getting home quickly, not in baggage lines, taxi queues, and check-in lines. And I'm pretty sure that the STJ merchants, who depend on travel dollars, don't want to restrict the number of visitors just because we don't want our experience to change. We talk about wanting to support them, but preventing them from growing their businesses doesn't sound like support to me. I realize that all who are venting their frustration here don't intend that, I'm only saying it would be an unintended consequence of their wishes.

For some reason, when I write online, things tend to come across a little more stridently than I mean them, so I'm certainly not trying to be argumentative. I love the STJ experience; to me, that's pristine beaches and breathtaking views. But it doesn't have to be bad service and travel hassles. That's not a part of the package, it's just...bad service and travel hassles.

Robin

[cypressgirl]

Getting there, along with the planning phase, IS half the fun. Doing the reverse, the return, in the bear for me.

[b-as-u-r]

I say we promote the fact that it's extremely difficult to get to, the travel days are very grueling and tiresome, the airport's a mess, the ferry rides impossible and we keep that little slice of heaven a secret amongst all we "be-as-you-are and getting-it" folks that know what it's really all about! Ali~

[Tina]

Whoever this consultant talked are idiots and should not be welcomed on St. John anyhow!

I love the first step off the plane on STT, the free rum drink (most islands don't give you any type of free drink when you arrive...so take it and be happy) and just the feeling of finally being on island. Granted, waiting for the cabby to fill up his cab on a slow day can be trying for someone who is fast paced and needs to unwind. uUt again, you're on island so be happy.

And the comment about cruise ships vieing for tourist money...whatever. If you want to be held to a schedule, stand in line to get off and on the ship and never experience a true island experience, than go right ahead. Talk about people who "don't get" STJ.

[MrsCARolph]

While I've never been to STJ, I've heard enough of you talking about the "New STJ" vs. the "Old STJ" and I can say that I hope these inevitable changes happen slowly. We picked this island for our honeymoon because of the feeling of isolation and seclusion, not the crowds or the high rises.