usvi-on-line
One week to go...but a little anxious
One week to go...but a little anxious
About exactly this time next week, we will be stepping onto the ferry dock in my favorite place in the world. My wife and I visited STJ in 2010 and absolutely fell in love with it. We've been saving and planning a return trip since we were in the STT airport heading back to the states - and we are finally oh so close.
We are returning next week and bringing our daughters (14 & 11) with us - which the primary source of my anxiety. I desperately want them to "get" STJ and experience everything the island has to offer with open minds, but I'm afraid they may not. We typically vacation along the Gulf coast and my girls are accustomed to the beach plus all of the other stuff that you typically see in those beach towns - the shopping, well-known restaurants, etc. They bith love the water and swim like fish, so i know theyll enjoy the snorkeling, but i dont know about the rest. They seem excited but I'm not sure they can 'unplug' and just enjoy themselves (my oldest's main concern is whether or not she'll have service on her phone).
I'm sure there are others here that have been through this before. Am I just worrying for nothing or is this a justifiable concern? I know I can't make them 'get' but does anybody have any insight?
We are returning next week and bringing our daughters (14 & 11) with us - which the primary source of my anxiety. I desperately want them to "get" STJ and experience everything the island has to offer with open minds, but I'm afraid they may not. We typically vacation along the Gulf coast and my girls are accustomed to the beach plus all of the other stuff that you typically see in those beach towns - the shopping, well-known restaurants, etc. They bith love the water and swim like fish, so i know theyll enjoy the snorkeling, but i dont know about the rest. They seem excited but I'm not sure they can 'unplug' and just enjoy themselves (my oldest's main concern is whether or not she'll have service on her phone).
I'm sure there are others here that have been through this before. Am I just worrying for nothing or is this a justifiable concern? I know I can't make them 'get' but does anybody have any insight?
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longingstjohn
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:17 pm
- Location: Coopersburg, Pa.
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
i have been taking my kids down for years and seriously i have never heard the dreaded "im bored" yet. between the banquits, iguanas and mongoose, diversity of beaches, wonderful island feel and the soon come now atmosphere....they love it. my children are now 20 and 23 and now have a better appreciation for all the fun they ignored while younger. the bars, music and people are so very welcoming. we are on island again starting saturday, hopefully to buy a vacation home. when we discussed our plans to buy a home on st john, our daughter informed me she that while she might be able to get a job teaching there, she did not want to have to work in her personal paradise. just one humble lurkers experience with kids on st john. good luck, and yes i think you are worrying too much......
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
I took my 18 year old niece for her first trip two weeks ago, and she loved it! She loved the animals, people and lack of commercialization. She absolutely "got it". She did play on her phone some, but really not much. She was so laid back and relaxed.
On the flip side, our 4 year old has been twice - at age 2 and 4- and he totally gets it! We take a few sand toys and a football, and maybe a raft. He just loves the island life.
On the flip side, our 4 year old has been twice - at age 2 and 4- and he totally gets it! We take a few sand toys and a football, and maybe a raft. He just loves the island life.
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
I am here now with a 14 year old and an 11 year old. They are having a blast. The 11 year old left her devices at home excepting her kindle. The 14 year old has spent a little time everyday playing some racing thing on his iPad but that's it so far. We are on day 8 of a 17 day stay and I have not heard "I am bored" yet.
My advice: give them some time to chill at your villa, playing games or just relaxing in their room. Let them pick the restaurants and beaches. Bring food to the beach! My 14 year old nephew is in that whip-thin constantly eating and growing taller every minute phase. If it is in the budget book some activities. We are going on a day sail tomorrow and are doing two sunset sails over the course of the trip. The kids love boats. Oh, and there is a video store in the Marketplace that rents to tourists.
As far as phone service, my husband and I have AT&T and they are working great with no roaming except over on the Coral Bay side where they pick up the "LIME" network.. We have our phones set not to accept data roaming so it is fine. My brother in law has Sprint and his phone won't work at all.
Have a great trip! I'm off to the beach.
My advice: give them some time to chill at your villa, playing games or just relaxing in their room. Let them pick the restaurants and beaches. Bring food to the beach! My 14 year old nephew is in that whip-thin constantly eating and growing taller every minute phase. If it is in the budget book some activities. We are going on a day sail tomorrow and are doing two sunset sails over the course of the trip. The kids love boats. Oh, and there is a video store in the Marketplace that rents to tourists.
As far as phone service, my husband and I have AT&T and they are working great with no roaming except over on the Coral Bay side where they pick up the "LIME" network.. We have our phones set not to accept data roaming so it is fine. My brother in law has Sprint and his phone won't work at all.
Have a great trip! I'm off to the beach.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
I don't have kids but recently helped a coworker with her STJ vacation. She has 2 kids, 9 and 12 and was worried about the same thing. I gave her an overload of info before she went and this is what she said worked perfectly for them (I called her last night to ask)
They had a copy of Feet Fins and 4WD and they passed it around the family to pick out things to do. Their first day was Mom's choice, 2nd day was the 12 year olds, 3rd was Dad's choice, 4th 9 year olds, and the remaining days were made with a family decision.
She said it worked out great because everyone had their day and the others could not complain about it. She said that the family decision days were the best for them because they usually had a little bit of everyone's choices wrapped into one day.
She did say that they ended up with 2 late morning starts when the 12 year old wanted to sleep in and lounge at the pool and the day that they were all just too tired to motivate.
Not sure if that works for your family but it just might!
They had a copy of Feet Fins and 4WD and they passed it around the family to pick out things to do. Their first day was Mom's choice, 2nd day was the 12 year olds, 3rd was Dad's choice, 4th 9 year olds, and the remaining days were made with a family decision.
She said it worked out great because everyone had their day and the others could not complain about it. She said that the family decision days were the best for them because they usually had a little bit of everyone's choices wrapped into one day.
She did say that they ended up with 2 late morning starts when the 12 year old wanted to sleep in and lounge at the pool and the day that they were all just too tired to motivate.
Not sure if that works for your family but it just might!
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snowrooster
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:09 pm
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
STR1996 -
Wow are we in the same boat!
My husband and I visited St John about 10 years ago (kids were little & stayed w/grandparents) and we have been planning on returning w/our kids someday ever since. We leave 7/16.
We have a boy age 12 and daughter that is almost 11. We usually vacation in the Outer Banks with all of the comforts, technology, and larger supermarkets like at home, so STJ will indeed be a change of pace.
They are really excited, but I keep reminding them of the importance of having a good attitude. That we have planned and saved a long time for this trip and if even everything isn't just as they'd like it, they should cherish the time there.
They will be snorkeling for the first time as well, so that is a bit of a worry for me. They are good swimmers and we are starting off easy at Maho, but just want them to love it as much as we do.
I'm sure you'll have a great trip, but I know where you are coming from!!
Lisa
Wow are we in the same boat!
My husband and I visited St John about 10 years ago (kids were little & stayed w/grandparents) and we have been planning on returning w/our kids someday ever since. We leave 7/16.
We have a boy age 12 and daughter that is almost 11. We usually vacation in the Outer Banks with all of the comforts, technology, and larger supermarkets like at home, so STJ will indeed be a change of pace.
They are really excited, but I keep reminding them of the importance of having a good attitude. That we have planned and saved a long time for this trip and if even everything isn't just as they'd like it, they should cherish the time there.
They will be snorkeling for the first time as well, so that is a bit of a worry for me. They are good swimmers and we are starting off easy at Maho, but just want them to love it as much as we do.
I'm sure you'll have a great trip, but I know where you are coming from!!
Lisa
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
Sounds like there are several of you that are going to be there during the same period...give or take a day or so . Why not plan to meet up at a beach or location and let your kids meet each other and spend some time enjoying the water or activities ( maybe even at one of the places you are staying if you have a pool) together. When kids get to spend time with others their own age, besides siblings, they tend to have a good time.
But also wanted to say...We brought our grown kids and 2 grandchildren, twins boy/girl age 11, last year! They def. "GET IT" ....all they have talked about is going back again. They were heartbroken that they didn't get to come a couple of weeks ago with us...It was adults only trip. We are now planning a return trip next June with them ! They loved everything about STJ. One of the biggest kicks they got was getting to see and pet the donkeys on our way up Centerline to Coral Bay ! They look at all the pics we took...over and over !
Don't worry too much...be Happy !
But also wanted to say...We brought our grown kids and 2 grandchildren, twins boy/girl age 11, last year! They def. "GET IT" ....all they have talked about is going back again. They were heartbroken that they didn't get to come a couple of weeks ago with us...It was adults only trip. We are now planning a return trip next June with them ! They loved everything about STJ. One of the biggest kicks they got was getting to see and pet the donkeys on our way up Centerline to Coral Bay ! They look at all the pics we took...over and over !
Don't worry too much...be Happy !
" I believe there's Magic here...."
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
Just one more thought....Forumites, Why don't you think about putting VIOL bracelets on your kids too ! That way they could have a cool game of trying to spot each other at the beaches and restaurants or shops. Just a thought . 
" I believe there's Magic here...."
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
We were there a few weeks ago with our son (14) and daughter (11) and they had a great time. Our kids had snorkeled once before in Aruba so that part was already a done deal for us. Our kids spent some "down time" at the villa texting etc. on their devices via wifi and that was their connection back to friends and familiar technology...
We involved them in choosing beaches and restaurants and they had a blast, I took a football to the bech to throw with my son and our kids also play well together (usually) so they stayed entertained.
They loved snorkeling and spotting underwater creatures...important they have snorkel equipment that works for them!
My daughter also loved feeding the donkeys and swing on the tire swing at Gibney.
Have fun!
We involved them in choosing beaches and restaurants and they had a blast, I took a football to the bech to throw with my son and our kids also play well together (usually) so they stayed entertained.
They loved snorkeling and spotting underwater creatures...important they have snorkel equipment that works for them!
My daughter also loved feeding the donkeys and swing on the tire swing at Gibney.
Have fun!
STJ Villa Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
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EagleRayLover
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:56 pm
- Location: St. John -WooHoo!!
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
I have a babysitting service down here so I am forever trying to think up new ways to keep kids busy and not get bored. Something that one Forumite's kids liked a whole lot was a scavenger hunt I made up that they did during a hike. in their words" it made it much more fun than just looking at stuff , they now had to look for stuff!"
Leslie, Kids Night In Babysitting
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dreamshark
- Posts: 311
- Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:08 pm
Re: One week to go...but a little anxious
I know exactly what you mean, even though our "kids" are in their early 30's. My daughter and SIL are joining us tonight for the last half of our 10-day stay and it's obvious from their questions that they really don't understand what kind of a vacation destination they are about to experience. They keep asking about Netflix streaming in the villa, seafood restaurants, and what kind of activities are available. I think they'll get it once they're here, but I'm worried that they won't. 
