St. Thomas Honeymoon vs. St. John?

[linz02m]

Hi everyone,

Sorry to bug you guys again. We have the first part of our April 2008 honeymoon figured out and now we're on to the second half. We are staying 5 nights on St. John in a villa not too far from Cruz Bay. We were going to stay 5 nights in a villa on St. Thomas to end our trip but there aren't as many sites for St. Thomas villas as there was for St. John. I've looked at www.islandhideaways.com and st-thomas.caribbeanway.com but I didn't know if there were others.

Can anyone recommend a villa on St. Thomas? It would be awesome to have a pool and hot tub both but we'd settle for just one. We would like to be close to the action of St. Thomas but preferably do NOT want a view that consists of a bunch of sailboats if we can help it. One problem we've ran into is some places want a 7 night stay year round and we couldn't do that.

One last question, would you all recommend maybe skipping St. Thomas all together and staying on St. John the whole time? The first 5 nights we'll be close to Cruz Bay so should we look into a villa maybe on the Coral Bay side instead of going to St. Thomas? I just don't want to get bored and didn't know if we'd be missing out by not seeing anything but the airport on St. Thomas.

Thanks!!!!

[California Girl]

If I were you, I'd spend both weeks on St. John and devote a couple of day trips to St. Thomas. I'm sure you'd love shopping in Charlotte Amalie and visiting Magen's Bay and seeing the views from Mountaintop. I know other people here on the forum will be able to recommend villas if you choose to stay on STT, though.

[FlaGeorge]

We honeymoon on STT – so STT will always have a special place in my heart. I have a friend that always stays at a villa somewhere near the Ritz. It has a pool, but no hot tub. I will try to contact him and get the info.

We stayed at the Point Pleasant Resort. The place needs some updating, but I liked it. We had a condo at the very top of the hill (view is to die for) with a wrap around balcony and the place has 3 pools (never saw another person in the pool). At that base of the hill is a funky restaurant called Fungi’s. It’s right on the water and has great food and drinks.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[Ksea]

I must agree with California Girl. Now that I have been to both STT and STJ, I would stay on STJ for two weeks and ferry over to STT for day trips. I don't think you will get bored on STJ. One week was not enough for us (it was our first visit). We have a list of new things to do when we return next June. You can also go over to the BVI's...it's beautiful over there!

[captainjay]

You might try and look at VRBO.com Its a rental sight were owners manage their own villas. That said I have spent time on both islands and will likely end up living on St Thomas, but for a vacation if it was in the budget I would rather be in St John. You can take the downtown ferry over one day to shop and take the Red Hook ferry over one evening to party/dine, not necessarily in that order at Red Hook and you will have done more than most tourists on St Thomas. As for two different villas on St John. If you are happy with the one you have picked out I wouldn't want to move mid trip. I would try to book it for the whole ten days. Another option might be Water Island (the other USVI) there are some private villas available there and its a five minute ferry ride from Crown Bay in Charlotee Amalie.
Enjoy your trip and good luck.

Jay

[SuefromMA]

Just another suggestion. I agree that 5 days on St. John is not enough. You will just be getting "the feel" of it by then.

I would suggest extending your stay on St. John a bit. But then, spend your last 2 nights on St. Thomas. We can strongly, from personal experience, recommend Secret Harbour Beach Resort. If you book early enough - you can get Oceanfront One Bedroom Suite. Each has full condo-style accomodations with absolutely gorgeous balconies. Great onsite restaurant & bar. Beautiful treelined beach & very good snorkeling.

We love ending our vacations there for many reasons. No reason to "run around off resort" unless you want to. Depending on when your flight is - you can virtually get an extra day on the beach. It is just a great place to "unwind". Not as busy as the Ritz, Wyndham or Sapphire. So, if you want/need more action - this might not be the place for you.

But, we loved it.

Our first trip to the islands, we did have fun visiting Mountain Top and seeing Magen's Bay, etc. But, the "sites" of St. Thomas pale in comparison to St. John.

Also, if possible, take a day trip to the British Virgin Islands. We took New Horizons II and greatly enjoyed, in particular, seeing The Baths of Virgin Gorda & tasting our first Painkiller on the amazingly beautiful Jost Van Dyke! But, of course, need passports.

Congratulations! Enjoy planning!!

Sue

[linne]

In July we visited STT (lived in the nice Secret Harbour) for 4 days and STJ for 10 days.
We were so satisfied with having 10 days on STJ and not only 7 days, which were our first plan. We are beach and nature lovers and there is so many different beaches to try on STJ. We were also very satisfied with both staying in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. In Coral bay we stayed in a small but very beautiful house, Island Cottage, which we rented for 5 days,no pool, only hot tub. If interested you can read abut it in my diary from the trip.

Linne

[Rachelle & Joe]

Hi , Having stayed on both islands... for us it's St.John!!! will be back on st.john next may in villa this will b our 4th stay there vs 1 on st.thomas. the fun thing is though when on st.john we alway's take the ferry over to st.thomas for a fun day! but alway's r very happy to return to St.John!! Eveytime we meet someone on st.jonh for the day from st.thomas they alway's say they wished they had chose st.john!! & will b sure to return!! here r two websites for st,john villas that we have used but there r many!!! carefreegetaway's.com Destinationstjohn.com .Best of Luck & Have Fun!!! Rachelle & Joe

[gobucs]

Just a thought
If you do decide that you need to stay on STT at all try this
www.mclaughlinanderson.com
then look for Stone Cottage on the west end
You will need a car but the views are great and the cottage is great for honeymooners
good luck

[Margy Z]

Agree, gobucs, McLaughlin Anderson is the heavy hitter on STT. Also agree about Stone Cottage or Rockworks (same owner, both excellently maintained villas in the very quiet northwest). On STT we prefer villas to the north or northwest, too.

It's tough to split time, we have tried it. Once you get to the first villa, that old villa gravity takes over and you may be relucatant to leave. Agree about ending a STJ villa trip with a couple of nights on STT at Secret Harbour, though.

If your heart's set on doing two villas, besides the two just mentioned, look into Allure: large pool and hot tub, beautiful master and master bath, multi-level decks. It's on the Atlantic side of the Peterborg Peninsula, you can hear the water, see the pelicans flying past and diving for dinner right in front you. It's not too difficult to get to - just a road or two up from Magens but it's very quiet and much breezier on this side of the peninsula. Stargate has a double view - both sides of the peninsula, down to Magens Beach - not sure about a jacuzzi, though. For something a little smaller, look at Pelican View out northwest in the Carat Bay enclave - pool, no jacuzzi, but one of the large villas out there, Mimosa, has both. These villas are hanging right over the water and the rock formations below are just gorgeous.

Good luck with your planning!

[cat]

I go with the folks that say the last 2 nights on St Thomas and the rest of the trip on St John!