First trip....any tips?

[chriscartman]

This will be my first trip to STJ. Any travel tips or suggestions?

[JT]

CCM- Welcome to the forum. When are you planning to go? How long? How many of you? Have you picked a place to stay? Make arrangements for a car way in advance, as there is limited availability.

[chriscartman]

We will be there from Jan. 11th to Jan. 19th. There are two of us going and we will be staying at Maho. Already have a jeep reserved.

[Nancy_B]

Welcome to the forum! The trip down is always a long day - especially for new travelers. You'll be on a plane, a taxi and then a ferry and then a car out to Maho (about 30 drive from the ferry dock). My advice is bring snacks/food with you so you don't get grumpy from the travel day. Once there, relax and explore! It is such a beautiful island so I recommend trying a new beach each day. If you enjoy hiking, try the Reef Bay or Ram Head hike (early in the day so it's not too hot). Be sure to hit the Beach Bar and Woody's for happy hours. Oh, and pack light! It is so casual! Even this nicest restaurant is fine with shorts and flip flops for dinner. Have an amazing time!

[sherban]

I'm planning my summer 2008 trip, my strategy was to figure out all the basics before I get there so I'm not fooling around with maps and asking where to eat or snorkel when I get there...

So I browsed these forums to figure out what restaurants sounded good to me and what beaches...then I mapped it all out so I would't forget it...not as young as I used to be...

Bars and restaurants:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php ... ost1077353

Beaches:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php ... PHPSESSID=

And read Bluegirl's recent post and don't do any thing she did ...well, the painkillers sounded like a good idea...

[Gizzmo]

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... sc&start=0

Still a good guide but I must have been to the Dolphin Market on a bad day and the SKEETERS should not be a problem in January.

WELCOME to the forum! You will have a blast on StJohn

[XOXO]

I really used my guidebooks a lot once I got on the island. This forum is great, but once you get on St. John, you might need a refresher on where to go and especially how to get there. I read them on the plane and then almost every night trying to plan the next day.

I liked:

St. John Off the Beaten Track

St. John Beaches

St. John Feet Fin and Four-wheel Drive

St. John on Feet and By Car

If I only got 2 I would get Off the Beaten Track because of all of the stories, day hikes, and driving the island loop and St. John Beaches because it really gives a lot of info about where the best snorkeling is and how to get to the beaches--especially a secluded beach that you can have all to yourself.

Also, when you get off the ferry you will see the National Park building--go in there and get the map of St. John. It is free and very good.

Have a great trip!

Gina

[California Girl]

I highly recommend the Virgin Islands Street Atlas (sometimes it's one of the thumbnails at the top of this page - just click on it). The atlas shows an aerial photo of an area on the left side with the corresponding map of the same area on the facing page. We used it a lot to get around.

[sailorgirl]

I will repeat the sage advice heard many times here:

Bring half the cloths and twice the money

[RickG]

chriscartman, you'll have a blast at Maho. You took my first recommendation, which is get a Jeep. Maho is fun, but is quiet after dinner. I would not bring too much perishable food, the cooler they provide is about 48 quarts. They sell block ice at the camp store, this works great.

For groceries Lily's and Love City Mini Mart are convenient in Coral Bay. The groceries in Cruz Bay have a bigger selection. The breakfast at Maho is great, dinners are usually just okay.

Don't be afraid of driving to Coral Bay and Cruz Bay at night. Just keep the rum level at a reasonable point and watch your speed.

Two of my favorite beaches are convenient - Maho Bay and Francis Bay. You can reach Francis Bay via the stairs to Lille Maho and a rock scramble or a quick swim. If you want to take the lazy way out, its a 2 minute drive. Maho Bay is accessed via the goat trail, and should be marked on the map they give you when you check in. Driving to Maho takes longer than walking because you have to drive up and over a ridge.

Something I found very convenient at Maho was a hanging shower bag. That allowed me to take my shower gear to the bath house and hang it on the side while I showered.

I have a trip report on Maho Campground here in the archive and on my web site at http://www.garvin.us/STJ/Trip_Reports/2 ... round.html . There's also a newbie's guide to STJ that I wrote for family in 2006 that may be of help http://www.garvin.us/STJ/New_Visitors_G ... Guide.html .

Cheers, RickG

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

You might want to go back into the archives on this board. I suspect that almost every question you may have has been addressed. I hope that didn't come out pissy, I didn't intend that. Older posts are a good starting place, is all I am saying.

[JT]

You've made a great start by coming to this forum. Rick G and Pete's advice are great. One other suggestion that I always have is to go to
skinnylegs.com and scroll down the opening page until you see a link "local info" and click it. I think it is pretty informative, in a fun way.
I also think you should adopt an attitude from the beginning of "the plan is, there is no plan". Maho is a great place, on a great island, to just chill and take each day as it comes.You'll have a week and it will go way too quickly. Slow down from the time you get there. You'll love it!

[Iguanaeddie]

Keep saying "Left shoulder to left shoulder" and you will have no problem driving on the left side of the road.
Ed

[chriscartman]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions! I will be leaving on the 11th. I will let everyone know how my first trip to STJ went.

[Kentuckygirl]

Have a great trip!