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Trip report 11/28 - 12/5 & Sago Palms
Trip report 11/28 - 12/5 & Sago Palms
This will be my first trip report (although not my first trip), so please bear with me. This was our second trip to St John in 2007. We have never gone twice in one year before, but we justified it since we had missed going in 2006, it became our Christmas gift to each other and we got to stay at Sago Palms, which we have been trying to do for several years. We flew Delta out of Buffalo. Left 11/28/07 at 6:15 AM and after a slight delay in Atlanta, we arrived only ten minutes late at 3:00. This was our sixth trip to St John, but it was a first for several things beginning with carry-on luggage only. We've now decided it's the only way to go! We got off the plane and called Dependable for our car. They arrived within 10 minutes, took us back to their office and very shortly we were in our jeep and off to Kmart at Tutu for toiletries.
We caught the 5:00 ferry, which left about 10 minutes late and took at least 30 minutes -it seemed so sloooow, just wanted to get on the island! We finally got to Starfish, whipped through there for that night and the following morning's supplies and followed PHPV to Sago. The villa is gorgeous! We grilled steaks and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
We decided to spend our first morning just relaxing at the villa. This plan was upset by a single Bannaquit that kept looking at us and tilting its head as if to say "come on-where's the sugar"? This distressed me as there was no sugar in the villa, so I had nothing to give the bird! Well we had to go and get some, so off to town we went! We shopped a little at Mongoose and found it a little busy. We had lunch at the Beach Bar and finished our shopping at Starfish, including a bag of sugar. That night we ate at Bannadeck and had Thai chicken and Caribbean chicken. No food porn, but it was good. Sitting outside back at the villa was cool enough for me to put on the sweats that I had traveled in.
I didn't take notes, so the week's events are a bit of a blur. However, the next day we decided to make our first trek to Salomon - it won't be our last! We had only been as far as Honeymoon before. I found that it was about a ten minute walk to Honeymoon from the Caneel parking lot and another 10 minutes to Salomon. The beach is GORGEOUS, but the sea was very high and I didn't feel comfortable snorkeling (I'm a wuss). We swam and enjoyed the beach, which we had to ourselves for an hour or so. We found a mermaid sand sculpture that someone had made. It was really good! Eventually we left and went to Skinny's for lunch. It was good as always and not very busy.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 7314"><img src="http://lh6.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHD4Npc ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 0306"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHGYNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 8786"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHRoNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
One day we went to Vie's beach for a swim and snorkel. That was another first. There were only a few people there. I don't recall seeing anything special while snorkeling, but we liked the beach which we found mostly to be sand and calm. We enjoyed using the lounge chairs.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 0978"><img src="http://lh3.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHVINpd ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 7186"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHToNpd ... 9.JPG"></a>
We ate in that night. Bob Barbequed chicken seasoned with Durkee Grill creations, Kansas City style chicken, which was compliments of a previous villa renter. We stir fried veggies with Bronco Bob Apricot Chipotle sauce, mixed in chicken pieces and penne. It was GOOD. We always find such interesting sauces available on the island. Mix them up with whatever you're cooking and you can't go wrong.
We visited Salt Pond for the first time also. We weren't sure we had the right place since there wasn't any sign, but the parking area and vicinity made it a pretty safe bet. There was a sweet, flowery odor that I couldn't place, as we walked down the trail. It reminded me of something from my childhood, but I just couldn't figure out what it was. Do you ever smell something and have your memory jolted? We enjoyed Salt Pond. We were greeted by a Congo line of squid, that all moved together. Upon leaving we decide to follow the road and ended up at Lameshure. We didn't explore there this time, but shall next trip. Lunch was at Shipwreck. Good food and good drinks.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 2402"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHAoNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 4306"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHBYNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
On Sunday we stopped at Maho and Francis. It rained and while I know that we were already wet, it was cold! So we headed to town and by the time we reached Hawksnest it was sunny again, so we stopped. We did snorkel but the sea was high and the sun kept hiding. The ocean floor sand was kicked up, so it wasn't the best snorkeling. We stopped at Beach Bar again for lunch. My husband just loves the Tuna Down.
Monday we had breakfast out. We stopped in at JJ's, and while the wait service was good, the food took forever to be ready. It was very good when it finally arrived. We then visited Trunk. I must say that the beaches, other than Salomon, were quite crowded. Another first!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 9138"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VH2oNpd ... 9.JPG"></a>
We left Trunk and headed to Mongoose Junction, stopping for pictures at the Cruz Bay overlook. We noticed a cruise ship anchored not far from shore. While we were taking pictures, a taxi with about four people pulled up and I overheard a woman looking over at STT saying that it was STJ. I wasn't going to say anything, but that's hard for me, so I had to correct her. The cabby was laughing and asked "Where does she think she is???"
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 9442"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VH5YNpd ... y.JPG"></a>
At Mongoose it was VERY busy and there were people walking around with numbered labels on their shirts. I guess they must have been from the cruise ship. I hope that doesn't become a regular occurrence! We had lunch at Sun Dog and people watched. That night we ate at La Tapa. It's funny, we had a memorable dinner there in May and decided that we had to eat there again this trip. Well, it wasn't memorable again. There was nothing wrong with what we had, it just didn't have the magic the first dinner had. I hate it when this happens!
Tuesday was our last full day. The weather had warmed up and it was sunny. We spent time swimming, snorkeling and just enjoying being at Hawksnest. The two young ladies that decided to suntan topless next to us, added to my husband's enjoyment of the day.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 2290"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VG3YNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
We decided to go back to Shipwreck for lunch and compare their burgers to Skinny's. Shipwreck's were good, they seemed more grilled than Skinny's. AND they have French fries, either fat or skinny. That suited us because I Iike the fat ones and Bob likes the skinny ones. We were entertained by the bannaquits flying through the place, some of which passed by so close I could feel their wings flapping. I thought I'd get one stuck in my ear! It turns out there was a bowl on sugar on the ledge just behind us. We met a couple that were building a house on Mamey Peak. We didn't get their names, but the villa will be called Apito.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 1922"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VH_oNpd ... c.JPG"></a>
That night we ate in again and enjoyed the villa, views and hot tub for the last time, at least for this trip.
Each night we would turn on all the exterior lighting, which was lovely. The pool was illuminated and we could see bats dive bombing for bugs and a drink.
I must say that the temperature and weather were different than we had experienced previously. We normally go in May but had visited in November several years ago. My recollection of that trip was that the weather was basically the same as it was in May. Not this time! The first few days were very windy at the villa and a bit CHILLY at night, if I dare say. There was some rain during all but our last couple of days. The pool did not get much sun, but I assume that was due to the time of year as there are pictures with the pool fully engulfed in sun. We found the pool too cool to use - but there were one or two beaches to choose from so we were good! The north shore beaches that we visited, Salomon, Hawksnest, Trunk, Gibney (tied to go but basically there was no beach), Jumbie as observed from the villa, all had heavy waves. Hawksnest appeared to have much less beach (narrower) than I remember.
We saw a fawn one day on the road between Maho and Coral Bay. We saw a buck on our last day along the North Shore road. We had a hawk visit on the villa deck twice. It didn't seem to mind us getting close to it. Perhaps it was interested in the bannaquits which were visiting by the dozen by the end of our week. What are the little black ones with red throats? They always seem so much more timid than the yellow ones. We were sitting next to two bowls of sugar, when a humming bird joined the gang and went for straight sugar! One of the bowls was more syrupy thanks to the rain and when the hummer noticed that bowl, it started shooing away the other birds!
Since there have been a number of inquiries about the villa, I will make comments here, although I DON'T want it to get any more popular!
The road in takes 4 minutes from Centerline to Sago and isn't that bad. Yes it's bumpy and mostly dirt, but the steep parts are paved, so no biggie. The road makes a very sharp turn below the villa and is then impassible. We did not explore this although we meant to - time just ran out. Apparently it connects with the North Shore road. It was referred to in the villa book as some guests used it to go to Jumbie. One report said it took an hour, another report said half an hour.
The driveway has a stone wall on one side and a drop on the other. It ends with a wooden gate, which opens to a stone walkway to the villa door. Both sides of the entrance walkway and everywhere around the villa are gardens and potted plants. The entrance opens to the dining room, kitchen and living room. The kitchen has granite counters and is well equipped. There is a half bathroom here also. All the bathrooms are gorgeous. The vanity tops are mosaic tiled, but in some kind of shiny, glimmery, glass kind of tile in teals and beiges. The cabinets are all in a lovely wood, perhaps cherry? The showers are all walk in with natural stone and ceramic tile. The master bath shower even has a chair in it!
There is decking/balconies off all the rooms. The queen bedroom suite below the living room is lovely, with its own sitting room. The master is better than pictured on the website and has its own private decking (as does the queen bedroom). It is on the top floor of the second building. We stayed in the room below the master. It has two queen beds and opens to the pool deck. We did not pull down the shades, so upon waking we would see the pool with the ocean beyond it. It was almost as if we were on a boat! Between the two buildings, on the upper level are a Weber barbeque and a hot tub, which we used every night. There is also a table with umbrella here. There are comfortable chairs on all the decks. There is a natural stone stairway that winds down to the pool deck. The pool has an infinity edge, with an attached square area lined with a sitting ledge. The pool deck has lounge chairs and a table with chairs. Behind a wall of doors you will find the washer and dryer and a mini fridge, coffee maker, sink and microwave! What more could anyone ask for?
Before we arrived we had been informed that construction had resumed next door. Well as it turns out, they were only there for a few hours on our second last day and then on our departure day. In the pictures you will be able to see a wall of the new villa. It is VERY far from completion, see it is hard to tell what it will be like and how much it will compromise the privacy at Sago. It seems ironic, all that forest and there has to be a villa right next door?
There is spot lighting on the various tall palm trees, large garden plants, down the stairwell, along the railings, etc. It is gorgeous at night too! The views are lovely. You see Jumbie, Gibney and Jost Van Dyke. It is obvious that PHPV does not take any leftovers from villa renters. We found a full package of butter, margarine, jams, sauces, oils, mustards, mayo, spices, seasonings and lots of booze!
All told, we loved the villa and hope to return.
We'll be back in May but at at different villa and this time with friends - another first.
Villa and trip pictures can be found here:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJohnNov2007
Please excuse the towels and quality.
Karen
We caught the 5:00 ferry, which left about 10 minutes late and took at least 30 minutes -it seemed so sloooow, just wanted to get on the island! We finally got to Starfish, whipped through there for that night and the following morning's supplies and followed PHPV to Sago. The villa is gorgeous! We grilled steaks and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
We decided to spend our first morning just relaxing at the villa. This plan was upset by a single Bannaquit that kept looking at us and tilting its head as if to say "come on-where's the sugar"? This distressed me as there was no sugar in the villa, so I had nothing to give the bird! Well we had to go and get some, so off to town we went! We shopped a little at Mongoose and found it a little busy. We had lunch at the Beach Bar and finished our shopping at Starfish, including a bag of sugar. That night we ate at Bannadeck and had Thai chicken and Caribbean chicken. No food porn, but it was good. Sitting outside back at the villa was cool enough for me to put on the sweats that I had traveled in.
I didn't take notes, so the week's events are a bit of a blur. However, the next day we decided to make our first trek to Salomon - it won't be our last! We had only been as far as Honeymoon before. I found that it was about a ten minute walk to Honeymoon from the Caneel parking lot and another 10 minutes to Salomon. The beach is GORGEOUS, but the sea was very high and I didn't feel comfortable snorkeling (I'm a wuss). We swam and enjoyed the beach, which we had to ourselves for an hour or so. We found a mermaid sand sculpture that someone had made. It was really good! Eventually we left and went to Skinny's for lunch. It was good as always and not very busy.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 7314"><img src="http://lh6.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHD4Npc ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 0306"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHGYNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 8786"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHRoNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
One day we went to Vie's beach for a swim and snorkel. That was another first. There were only a few people there. I don't recall seeing anything special while snorkeling, but we liked the beach which we found mostly to be sand and calm. We enjoyed using the lounge chairs.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 0978"><img src="http://lh3.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHVINpd ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 7186"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHToNpd ... 9.JPG"></a>
We ate in that night. Bob Barbequed chicken seasoned with Durkee Grill creations, Kansas City style chicken, which was compliments of a previous villa renter. We stir fried veggies with Bronco Bob Apricot Chipotle sauce, mixed in chicken pieces and penne. It was GOOD. We always find such interesting sauces available on the island. Mix them up with whatever you're cooking and you can't go wrong.
We visited Salt Pond for the first time also. We weren't sure we had the right place since there wasn't any sign, but the parking area and vicinity made it a pretty safe bet. There was a sweet, flowery odor that I couldn't place, as we walked down the trail. It reminded me of something from my childhood, but I just couldn't figure out what it was. Do you ever smell something and have your memory jolted? We enjoyed Salt Pond. We were greeted by a Congo line of squid, that all moved together. Upon leaving we decide to follow the road and ended up at Lameshure. We didn't explore there this time, but shall next trip. Lunch was at Shipwreck. Good food and good drinks.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 2402"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHAoNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 4306"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VHBYNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
On Sunday we stopped at Maho and Francis. It rained and while I know that we were already wet, it was cold! So we headed to town and by the time we reached Hawksnest it was sunny again, so we stopped. We did snorkel but the sea was high and the sun kept hiding. The ocean floor sand was kicked up, so it wasn't the best snorkeling. We stopped at Beach Bar again for lunch. My husband just loves the Tuna Down.
Monday we had breakfast out. We stopped in at JJ's, and while the wait service was good, the food took forever to be ready. It was very good when it finally arrived. We then visited Trunk. I must say that the beaches, other than Salomon, were quite crowded. Another first!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 9138"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VH2oNpd ... 9.JPG"></a>
We left Trunk and headed to Mongoose Junction, stopping for pictures at the Cruz Bay overlook. We noticed a cruise ship anchored not far from shore. While we were taking pictures, a taxi with about four people pulled up and I overheard a woman looking over at STT saying that it was STJ. I wasn't going to say anything, but that's hard for me, so I had to correct her. The cabby was laughing and asked "Where does she think she is???"
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 9442"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VH5YNpd ... y.JPG"></a>
At Mongoose it was VERY busy and there were people walking around with numbered labels on their shirts. I guess they must have been from the cruise ship. I hope that doesn't become a regular occurrence! We had lunch at Sun Dog and people watched. That night we ate at La Tapa. It's funny, we had a memorable dinner there in May and decided that we had to eat there again this trip. Well, it wasn't memorable again. There was nothing wrong with what we had, it just didn't have the magic the first dinner had. I hate it when this happens!
Tuesday was our last full day. The weather had warmed up and it was sunny. We spent time swimming, snorkeling and just enjoying being at Hawksnest. The two young ladies that decided to suntan topless next to us, added to my husband's enjoyment of the day.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 2290"><img src="http://lh4.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VG3YNpc ... 9.JPG"></a>
We decided to go back to Shipwreck for lunch and compare their burgers to Skinny's. Shipwreck's were good, they seemed more grilled than Skinny's. AND they have French fries, either fat or skinny. That suited us because I Iike the fat ones and Bob likes the skinny ones. We were entertained by the bannaquits flying through the place, some of which passed by so close I could feel their wings flapping. I thought I'd get one stuck in my ear! It turns out there was a bowl on sugar on the ledge just behind us. We met a couple that were building a house on Mamey Peak. We didn't get their names, but the villa will be called Apito.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJ ... 1922"><img src="http://lh5.google.ca/kplumm01/R2VH_oNpd ... c.JPG"></a>
That night we ate in again and enjoyed the villa, views and hot tub for the last time, at least for this trip.
Each night we would turn on all the exterior lighting, which was lovely. The pool was illuminated and we could see bats dive bombing for bugs and a drink.
I must say that the temperature and weather were different than we had experienced previously. We normally go in May but had visited in November several years ago. My recollection of that trip was that the weather was basically the same as it was in May. Not this time! The first few days were very windy at the villa and a bit CHILLY at night, if I dare say. There was some rain during all but our last couple of days. The pool did not get much sun, but I assume that was due to the time of year as there are pictures with the pool fully engulfed in sun. We found the pool too cool to use - but there were one or two beaches to choose from so we were good! The north shore beaches that we visited, Salomon, Hawksnest, Trunk, Gibney (tied to go but basically there was no beach), Jumbie as observed from the villa, all had heavy waves. Hawksnest appeared to have much less beach (narrower) than I remember.
We saw a fawn one day on the road between Maho and Coral Bay. We saw a buck on our last day along the North Shore road. We had a hawk visit on the villa deck twice. It didn't seem to mind us getting close to it. Perhaps it was interested in the bannaquits which were visiting by the dozen by the end of our week. What are the little black ones with red throats? They always seem so much more timid than the yellow ones. We were sitting next to two bowls of sugar, when a humming bird joined the gang and went for straight sugar! One of the bowls was more syrupy thanks to the rain and when the hummer noticed that bowl, it started shooing away the other birds!
Since there have been a number of inquiries about the villa, I will make comments here, although I DON'T want it to get any more popular!
The road in takes 4 minutes from Centerline to Sago and isn't that bad. Yes it's bumpy and mostly dirt, but the steep parts are paved, so no biggie. The road makes a very sharp turn below the villa and is then impassible. We did not explore this although we meant to - time just ran out. Apparently it connects with the North Shore road. It was referred to in the villa book as some guests used it to go to Jumbie. One report said it took an hour, another report said half an hour.
The driveway has a stone wall on one side and a drop on the other. It ends with a wooden gate, which opens to a stone walkway to the villa door. Both sides of the entrance walkway and everywhere around the villa are gardens and potted plants. The entrance opens to the dining room, kitchen and living room. The kitchen has granite counters and is well equipped. There is a half bathroom here also. All the bathrooms are gorgeous. The vanity tops are mosaic tiled, but in some kind of shiny, glimmery, glass kind of tile in teals and beiges. The cabinets are all in a lovely wood, perhaps cherry? The showers are all walk in with natural stone and ceramic tile. The master bath shower even has a chair in it!
There is decking/balconies off all the rooms. The queen bedroom suite below the living room is lovely, with its own sitting room. The master is better than pictured on the website and has its own private decking (as does the queen bedroom). It is on the top floor of the second building. We stayed in the room below the master. It has two queen beds and opens to the pool deck. We did not pull down the shades, so upon waking we would see the pool with the ocean beyond it. It was almost as if we were on a boat! Between the two buildings, on the upper level are a Weber barbeque and a hot tub, which we used every night. There is also a table with umbrella here. There are comfortable chairs on all the decks. There is a natural stone stairway that winds down to the pool deck. The pool has an infinity edge, with an attached square area lined with a sitting ledge. The pool deck has lounge chairs and a table with chairs. Behind a wall of doors you will find the washer and dryer and a mini fridge, coffee maker, sink and microwave! What more could anyone ask for?
Before we arrived we had been informed that construction had resumed next door. Well as it turns out, they were only there for a few hours on our second last day and then on our departure day. In the pictures you will be able to see a wall of the new villa. It is VERY far from completion, see it is hard to tell what it will be like and how much it will compromise the privacy at Sago. It seems ironic, all that forest and there has to be a villa right next door?
There is spot lighting on the various tall palm trees, large garden plants, down the stairwell, along the railings, etc. It is gorgeous at night too! The views are lovely. You see Jumbie, Gibney and Jost Van Dyke. It is obvious that PHPV does not take any leftovers from villa renters. We found a full package of butter, margarine, jams, sauces, oils, mustards, mayo, spices, seasonings and lots of booze!
All told, we loved the villa and hope to return.
We'll be back in May but at at different villa and this time with friends - another first.
Villa and trip pictures can be found here:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/kplumm01/StJohnNov2007
Please excuse the towels and quality.
Karen
-
Wanda Creech
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:47 pm
- Location: Raleigh,NC
Sago Palms
Karin.
Thanks for the wonderful trip report. We will be staying at Sago Palms and it was nice to see new pictures. View looks great. Your idea of switching to the downstairs bedroom sounds like a good idea.
Did you say how long it took to get to the North Shore beaches and town from Sago ?
Thanks for the wonderful trip report. We will be staying at Sago Palms and it was nice to see new pictures. View looks great. Your idea of switching to the downstairs bedroom sounds like a good idea.
Did you say how long it took to get to the North Shore beaches and town from Sago ?
Beach Creecher
-
TropicAtHeart
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:37 am
- Location: Ohio
Wanda, it took me multiple trips to remember to time the drive between Centerline and the villa. I kept getting distracted once we got started! However finally I clocked 4 minutes. One day we want to Hakwsnest and I tried to time that. I think it was between 10 and 15 minutes, but again I got distracted. 
One way or the other, it's not long!
One way or the other, it's not long!