USVI-On-Line

PA Girl wrote:Ok, I am sort of embarassed to admit this but I am actually making folders for the rest of the group. Each family will be getting one.

We are having a planning session in a few weeks and I feel that the participants need to be informed prior to the meeting - vacation homework, in a way.

Forget so of embarassed, I am really embarassed now that I typed it.

HA - I took Charlie on his first cruise. Before we went I made him a "Cruising for Newbies" pamphlet. Even put it in a duo-tang

PA Girl, I hope that helps diminish your embarassment! LOL

I am validated!

Thanks for all the input. It sounds like the price for being pampered seems prohibitive - money could be better spent on other things. We did make several trips to Starfish Market this year but we could have been more organized and only gone twice! How do I find out more about Katilady and the starter basket? Also what is the Dohms service? Love the idea of mailing a box of staples to the rental agent ahead of your flight - does CVilla have an office on St. John where you pick up the key when you get there? We've been several summers but the villa rental is something new.

Not only do I have a folder for my upcoming trip, I also have a folder from every trip we have taken since 1995. Back in the 90's, every rental villa had a large color brochure and we would either pick up a brochure for each and every rental house on the island while we were on our trips or else we would call from work to ask questions about the villas or write away to get the brochures for the newest houses.
We would get together for villa meetings and spread all the brochures out and then make our decision. I have the rental price lists since 1996 for Caribbean Villas, Catered To and Destination St John. Many of the off-season villa prices in those days compare to a trip to Starfish Market today.
In my folders I also have the restaurant menus for many of the restaurants--old and new. And the villa catering prices too. and the rental car prices-- and we have this info for the villas and islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Nevi, St Lucia and Barbados too.
I keep all of this stuff in a large chest that we call "Vacationland". Am I a pack-rat???

Greyhoundmom -

Katilady website - http://www.katilady.com/

Dohms is a water taxi service that leave from the STT National Park Dock, $20 per person, baggage included - http://www.watertaxi-vi.com/

When you use Dohm's where do they bring you to upon arrival on the St. John side?

Dohm's drops you at the National Park dock, by the visitors center. The villa rep has always waited in the small parking area off of the main street. It works well for our group.

thanks, PA Girl!

greyhoundmom wrote:Love the idea of mailing a box of staples to the rental agent ahead of your flight - does CVilla have an office on St. John where you pick up the key when you get there? We've been several summers but the villa rental is something new.

Caribbean Villas and Resorts Office is in The Lumberyard complex. To get there, turn right (heading toward Mongoose Junction)at the corner before Nature's Nook Smoothie stand. As you go up the hill, (Mixology is on your left), turn left into the complex and the office is on your left.
When renting from them, we just meet the agent at their office after we pick up our jeep rental.

Just keep in mind that you will probably need to Fedex your package if you want it there in a reasonable time. Even then, overnight isn't necessarily overnight. Call them and you'll see what I mean. USPS is a joke and it takes forever IMHO. Plus when you factor in the costs of shipping something Fedex you may rethink whether or not you could have bought he items on island for less.

Bottom line, think carefully about shipping something down and plan accordingly.

We did a provisioning package from Katilady last time, mainly because it was our first visit to STJ and I was unsure about how much time we'd want to take to "stock up" once we got there. I found it to be just okay. They ended up substituting some things for what I had ordered (ended up w/Cheerios instead of Fruity Pebbles....explain that to the 8 and 9-yr olds!)

We went to Starfish anyway the first day as we passed it on our way to the villa and were comfortable making our way back to it. We bought everything that the starter package/provisioning didn't provide.

I would not do it again. It seemed like quite a bit more money as compared to going to Starfish ourselves.
We also used Katilady for an "in-villa" dinner on our first night. That was absolutely fabulous. We were travel weary that night and did not have to move a muscle to get dinner. Our kids fell asleep on the dining room table, no one cared! The dinner was really great. I'd highly recommend doing that.

We shipped our stuff through the post office and had no problems. It took about 2 weeks but I do know someone here had luck with getting a box there in less than a week.

The USPS is the best bet in my opinion, much cheaper then fedex and more reliable in service to the islands.

We used Katilady last time and it was just okay. Believe me, I am the laziest person on earth, and I hate the starfish, and still it wasn't worth it. We got the basic package - it was about $250 I think.

The prior time we stayed in a villa, Caribbean villas recommended a woman for provisioning that I believe worked for them. I'm not sure what the surcharge was for that - it was minimal I believe. She provided the receipt for our items.

We still had to grocery shop in a few days, however.

As the time gets closer Im going to email our Villa Owners/Managers and ask if I can mail a box of food to their address and have them hold it for us. If I send it 2 weeks ahead of time we should be good to go. I hate to be so cheap, but as Ive said before, its so hard to find specialty diet stuff at Starfish at any price. As for the meats, Im still pondering how to best take care of that. Probably check a cooler. Oh, and I have trip folders too

A big thank you to everyone who graciously answered my questions about Dohm's, CVilla location, Katilady, mailing ahead of time, etc. I adore this site! In reading other posts, I'm happy to hear that I'm not the only "big kid" when it's time to go back to St. John. When I step off the Cruz Bay ferry I'm usually grinning like an idiot, feeling like I'm "home"! Now, if only we could retire here.....hmmm.....thinking two old bartenders at night, living off a catamaran by day....it's good to dream!