USVI-On-Line

X- I am a planner and know exactly how you feel. I suggest "making your plans" and never following through with them. Type your emails and hit delete instead of send... put all of the forumites phone numbers in your contact list and don't ever call them, and plan the day you "would be travelling to the BVI...in your mind that is. Do all of the research like it was really going to happen beforehand because if you're like me, the months leading up to the STJ trip are just as exciting as the actual trip because of the planning. Before you know it, December will be here and your "unplanned" trip will be the best one yet!!

Don't try to deny who you are.

Do all the planning you want, except don't book a day sail. Make lists, read about which beaches are best for this or that and make a plan for which to hit each day and which hikes are near those beaches. Plan where you're going to eat each night. Make a grocery list and the names and phone numbers for people.

Type it all up, mark it up, retype it, reorganize it and print it out.

When you get to the airport, throw it in the first garbage can you see. LIBERATION!

PS, I like to plan and have all my stuff written down (flights, car rental, villa info, restaurant ideas, key phone numbers), but like to travel light and not haul a bunch of stuff with me. If you do too, check out Pocket Mod (http://www.pocketmod.com/). With a little work you can make your own in Word so it's easier to input info, then use their folding technique. Very handy. I even pull it out and hand write the location I parked the car so we don't forget when we get home.

The only thing we plan is our day trip to BVI and believe me I am a planner/organizer, but on vacation I try to let all that go! I do try to make a list of the things we haven't done before and if we get to do at least one, then I'm happy - leaves more for next year! Relax - you can do it!!

My wife and I just got back from a 3rd trip to STJ (trip report hopefully soon come)...our first trip was by accident because our cruise was canceled last minute, so totally winged it all week and had a blast. The second trip, I freaking planned it down to the minute after scouring this forum for every tidbit I could find. Trip Report here: http://becauseitsnotthere.wordpress.com/ Still had a blast.

This time we compromised. Like LysaC, we brainstormed and developed a list of things we've done/would love to do again and a list of things we'd like to try.

And that worked really well. We'd break out list each night at dinner and figure out what we'd like to do the next day. It also allowed us to pair things up because we had some notes about when things were open...so we did Rams Head/Cobblestone snorkel on a day we knew Vies Snack shack would be open.

Hope that helps...and for me at least, it's not the plan, it's the execution. Nothing wrong with a plan as long as it doesn't prevent you from having a blast.

Some of the best trips are the ones that go unplanned. What is a vacation if we worry so much about being here and there at a certain time? Don’t we do that in the everyday world we live in? Isn’t a vacation the excuse to escape that everyday world?

I remember the days when we first started traveling. I was the one that had to make sure to book this and book that. You know all the tourist things that we must do while we are away from our everyday world. My first trip to Aruba was a hoot I tell ya. I had poor Boston Nicolle doing everything. At the TNT introduction at the Black Hog I was like a kid in Toys R Us that had a credit card and no parent to say no to which toys I wanted. We booked just about freakin’ everything. We had something to do just about every day. Then I realized I needed a vacation from a vacation. WTF is that all about?

Book the flight & accommodations, throw what you need in a suitcase and just go. Leave contact info with loved ones at home and make sure to tell them that you only turn your cell phone on once a day.

I love the no agenda trips now and really get into the reality of me when I am away. Have you found your reality?

Our trips to STJ are always based on one simple premise:

The plan is: there is no plan.

Somehow it all always seems to work out.

You'll do fine.

BTW, X, I'm glad your back. I missed your insights and humor.

When you are a planner by nature and by profession, it is hard to turn that off.
As everyone said, you have all the pertinent details so just go and enjoy.
Let the island spill the magic onto you.....let every day be new and inviting. Let every evening be wherever the wind may blow ya........

vacation def: an extended period of recreation

recreation def: activity done for enjoyment when one is not working

Do what I do, leave the planning where it belongs, at WORK!

Not having a plan leaves your heart and mind open to the joys and wonderment of life that you might miss if you have a plan. Some of the best things in my life are a result of not planning. One of my favorite things about living on St. John is that most of the people who live here know how to let the day lead them instead of the other way around.

Chickadee...I am in love...the pocketmod is a dream come true for me .. Thanks!!!

The problem for me is not the NO plans on vascation, I am good with that. 5 years of island living make it easy for me to let go.
It is the 5 months leading up to the trip.

I am happy to plan someone elses trip, any newbies need a STJ travel consultant?

5 months? That's not "No Plans." 5 days? Yes!

Cheers, RickG

Make no plans of your own....just hang out here on the forum reading about other people's plans!

X-
Surely you are well aware of your favorite things to do, places to eat, beaches to visit, etc...
Just get on the plane, watch the movie, eat the lousy "snack/meal", and land at the airport knowing that you're in no rush to get anywhere.
So many trips to STJ that I've taken involved "plans" for one thing or another.
Barely followed through with a bunch of them, because wherever we found ourselves, it didn't suck.
You know this.
It's a treat enough to visit. Don't pressure yourself.
Go. Eat good food.Swim in that gorgeous water.Relax.Recharge the batteries.Get nude.Have a chilly drink. Be anonymous. Eat & drink more. Soak up the sun. Nap when you want to.
Stay nude.
Just sayin'...
Pack plenty of
Smiles-
MJ

I agree with Rick - the best way to do a no plans vacation is to do it all very last minute! Shy of that, the other suggestions are good - especially the plan but don't execute option!

Either way, you are going to have a great time! Enjoy!

Keep Smiling!!!

Last minute trips have no place in our world. Our work schedules never allow for that, as my husband can not take time off without a large lead time.

I am trying to just let go. Spending my time between now and then looking for a new piece of luggage and debating on new bathing suits.
I guess that will have to do for now