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Trip Report
Trip Report
Home since Saturday, and re-entry is hell! Why oh why can't we win the lottery?
As many of you told me, St.John was indeed magical. It was our first time and I can honestly say, that to date, it's my favorite island. And I've been to a few....
Armed with Feet, Fins and Four Wheel Drive (I highly recommend it), all of your suggestions, and my girl Vicki's notes (thank you Vicki), off we went on Super Bowl Sunday for 2 glorious weeks on St.John.
Accomodations
We stayed at Sago Cottage in Coral Bay the 1st week and it was a lovely, studio cottage perched HIGH on Calabash Boom. We loved everything about it, so if there are just two of you, and you don't need a pool,(but there's a hot tub) you like cats (a must as the house is equipped with them), and you don't mind the long, crazy drive up,try it.(www.calabashcottages,com). It's adorable and very well kept and managed by the owner.
We joined two other couples the second week at Andante By the Sea on Hart Bay/Chocolate Hole(www.andantebythesea.com), a three BR, three BA villa where both sunrise and sunset enveloped us. We liked this villa very much as well, though we had some problems with a broken water pipe in the beginning (it was remedied as fast as humanly possible, I must say). The only negative was that there was really no shade on the main deck and since the sun shone all day long, I found myself inside(yuk) having my coffee/cocktail when I would really much rather be outside. That being said, there was a lovely shaded deck under the main deck, but not on the main level.
Food
In Coral Bay we tried Shipwreck Landing (very good), Aqua Bistro (our best dinner in Coral Bay), Miss Lucy's twice (I was a bit disappointed in brunch, sad to say, but loved the location and people and goats), Skinny's twice, once for Super Bowl, (so after we got off the 4pm ferry and signed "lisamcg" in the sand, we took off on our own "amazing race" across the island, checked into the cottage, changed clothes, got there before kickoff and stayed for the entire game.....there were at least a million people there
, and by half time, we actually found a seat and had a burger..yum!). We tried Miss Vie's for lunch twice (loved it, loved it, loved it...a must), and had dinner twice at home on the bbq which was very nice.
In Cruz Bay, we tried La Tapa (amazing, pricey, and well worth it), The Lime Inn (ok, nothing to write home about), Morgan's Mango (very good),the Stone Terrace (again, fabulous, pricey and worth it), and of course The Beach Bar, three times for lunch (as we arrived, as we departed and somehwere in between) and Sunday Jazz as well. Oh, and Woody's for one or two.... We used our barbecue the other nights.
Beaches
Loved Vie's..there's just something magical about it to me (saw three turtles there)..we went twice. Tried Salt Pond, but it rained both times we were there, and hard rain I must say. We did snorkel, but not for long. We went to Little Lameshur, and again, it was raining (the same day as Salt Pond), plus there was a group of kids there on some sort of outward bound program, so that combined with the rain, sent us a running!
We went to Maho, Cinnamon, Trunk and Hawksnest. I really wanted to go to Francis, Gibney and Jumbie, but didn't make it......next time. We got to Waterlemon via a boat and it was lovely, but a little rough that day. We are not hikers, so the beaches that take effort will probably never see the likes of us
However there is no doubt in my mind that we'll go back so I'll see the ones I missed one day! We snorkeled everywhere we went and loved it all..saw so many fish and the water was incredibly clear.
Other
We contracted with Kevin on Born To Rhumb for a day and had a fabulous day. He took us to Waterlemon, The Caves, Pirates for lunch (I think that's what it's called, but not sure.....anyway, it was great...it always amazes me that they provision by boat, staff arrives by boat,and that the food is atually good in those kinds of places!). Next was Jost of course. Jost has to be one of my favorite places ever, so a vist there is always welcome (last year we were on Tortola and spent an entire day at Soggy Dollar!)I highy recommend Born To Rhumb if you like a powerboat, and a guy with stories! (I actually prefer sailing but our friends set this up and who was I to not go with the flow?!!)
This about covers it, I think. As I've said, we truly loved St. John and will definitely go back...one of my friends was actually looking at villas for next year the day after we got back! Not sure if we'll return next year or not (as I'm a BIG believer in "so many islands, so little time") and I just don't want to miss anything:), but we WILL go back.
In the meanitme, I will keep in touch and add my 2 cents when needed and listen to your advice. I have really enjoyed this forum and your input.
Cheers!
Lisa
PS..I am not smart enough to post pictures but have 252 of them:)
As many of you told me, St.John was indeed magical. It was our first time and I can honestly say, that to date, it's my favorite island. And I've been to a few....
Armed with Feet, Fins and Four Wheel Drive (I highly recommend it), all of your suggestions, and my girl Vicki's notes (thank you Vicki), off we went on Super Bowl Sunday for 2 glorious weeks on St.John.
Accomodations
We stayed at Sago Cottage in Coral Bay the 1st week and it was a lovely, studio cottage perched HIGH on Calabash Boom. We loved everything about it, so if there are just two of you, and you don't need a pool,(but there's a hot tub) you like cats (a must as the house is equipped with them), and you don't mind the long, crazy drive up,try it.(www.calabashcottages,com). It's adorable and very well kept and managed by the owner.
We joined two other couples the second week at Andante By the Sea on Hart Bay/Chocolate Hole(www.andantebythesea.com), a three BR, three BA villa where both sunrise and sunset enveloped us. We liked this villa very much as well, though we had some problems with a broken water pipe in the beginning (it was remedied as fast as humanly possible, I must say). The only negative was that there was really no shade on the main deck and since the sun shone all day long, I found myself inside(yuk) having my coffee/cocktail when I would really much rather be outside. That being said, there was a lovely shaded deck under the main deck, but not on the main level.
Food
In Coral Bay we tried Shipwreck Landing (very good), Aqua Bistro (our best dinner in Coral Bay), Miss Lucy's twice (I was a bit disappointed in brunch, sad to say, but loved the location and people and goats), Skinny's twice, once for Super Bowl, (so after we got off the 4pm ferry and signed "lisamcg" in the sand, we took off on our own "amazing race" across the island, checked into the cottage, changed clothes, got there before kickoff and stayed for the entire game.....there were at least a million people there
, and by half time, we actually found a seat and had a burger..yum!). We tried Miss Vie's for lunch twice (loved it, loved it, loved it...a must), and had dinner twice at home on the bbq which was very nice.In Cruz Bay, we tried La Tapa (amazing, pricey, and well worth it), The Lime Inn (ok, nothing to write home about), Morgan's Mango (very good),the Stone Terrace (again, fabulous, pricey and worth it), and of course The Beach Bar, three times for lunch (as we arrived, as we departed and somehwere in between) and Sunday Jazz as well. Oh, and Woody's for one or two.... We used our barbecue the other nights.
Beaches
Loved Vie's..there's just something magical about it to me (saw three turtles there)..we went twice. Tried Salt Pond, but it rained both times we were there, and hard rain I must say. We did snorkel, but not for long. We went to Little Lameshur, and again, it was raining (the same day as Salt Pond), plus there was a group of kids there on some sort of outward bound program, so that combined with the rain, sent us a running!
We went to Maho, Cinnamon, Trunk and Hawksnest. I really wanted to go to Francis, Gibney and Jumbie, but didn't make it......next time. We got to Waterlemon via a boat and it was lovely, but a little rough that day. We are not hikers, so the beaches that take effort will probably never see the likes of us
However there is no doubt in my mind that we'll go back so I'll see the ones I missed one day! We snorkeled everywhere we went and loved it all..saw so many fish and the water was incredibly clear.Other
We contracted with Kevin on Born To Rhumb for a day and had a fabulous day. He took us to Waterlemon, The Caves, Pirates for lunch (I think that's what it's called, but not sure.....anyway, it was great...it always amazes me that they provision by boat, staff arrives by boat,and that the food is atually good in those kinds of places!). Next was Jost of course. Jost has to be one of my favorite places ever, so a vist there is always welcome (last year we were on Tortola and spent an entire day at Soggy Dollar!)I highy recommend Born To Rhumb if you like a powerboat, and a guy with stories! (I actually prefer sailing but our friends set this up and who was I to not go with the flow?!!)
This about covers it, I think. As I've said, we truly loved St. John and will definitely go back...one of my friends was actually looking at villas for next year the day after we got back! Not sure if we'll return next year or not (as I'm a BIG believer in "so many islands, so little time") and I just don't want to miss anything:), but we WILL go back.
In the meanitme, I will keep in touch and add my 2 cents when needed and listen to your advice. I have really enjoyed this forum and your input.
Cheers!
Lisa
PS..I am not smart enough to post pictures but have 252 of them:)
all you have to do is smile, smile, smile
Thanks for sharing Lisa, sounds nice.
Hey- you can't "beg out" of sharing photos that easily!
Don't pull the "I'm not smart enough" stuff on us...
Step One- set up a free account with photobucket
http://photobucket.com/?link=topmenu
Step two- Upload photos
Thep three share a link to the photos....
C'mon, give the people what they want...
Just ask if you need a little help, it's easy, girl..
Cheers-
Hey- you can't "beg out" of sharing photos that easily!
Don't pull the "I'm not smart enough" stuff on us...
Step One- set up a free account with photobucket
http://photobucket.com/?link=topmenu
Step two- Upload photos
Thep three share a link to the photos....
C'mon, give the people what they want...
Just ask if you need a little help, it's easy, girl..
Cheers-
Lisa - so glad you had a great time. Sounds like a wonderful trip. And I am REALLY glad you didn't come back saying, "That Vicki is an idiot...her suggestions stunk...." or that if you did, at least you didn't write it in the trip report.
Sherban is right. We must have photos. At least toss us a few to be kind.
Welcome home!
Sherban is right. We must have photos. At least toss us a few to be kind.
Welcome home!
Vie's beach is definitely off the beaten path past Skinny's on the East end. You have to pay $2.50, walk through a grave yard, pass several abandoned dingys' bouys and things, then you'll come upon a beautiful fairly long strech of white sand beach. She has comfy loung chairs for use but not much shade. The sonrkeling was fabulous, the water clear and calm and the day glorious. There were at most 10 people there with us.
As most of you know, lunch at Vie's is an authentic treat that shouldn't be missed (call before you go, sometimes she's just not there!) Her garlic chicken, conch fritters, red beans and rice with meat sauce and cold beer are to die for
If you haven't been there yet, make it a point to go next time.
As most of you know, lunch at Vie's is an authentic treat that shouldn't be missed (call before you go, sometimes she's just not there!) Her garlic chicken, conch fritters, red beans and rice with meat sauce and cold beer are to die for
If you haven't been there yet, make it a point to go next time.
all you have to do is smile, smile, smile
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Rachelle & Joe
- Posts: 677
- Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:23 pm
- Location: ohio
lisa's trip report
Lisa your report was great!!! Thanks so much! sounds like u all had a great time the island is very easy to love~ as far as posting your pic's any site will do!!! i also use shutterfly & have found it quite satisfactory. no one will care who u use we just want PICTURES!!!! Thanks again!!!