USVI-On-Line

I thought is was common practice to charge over 6, meaning teens would always be counted as a "person" in pricing by the rental companies. For a number of reasons, I would never try to sneak anyone.

We ran into one villa that counted our 2 year old in the head count and cost so we picked an alternative villa for the next trip. (he sleeps in our room on his own travel bed)

The couple with the teens - the mom is the type to spend $$$$ on shopping while on vacation but can't see the value/fairness of needing to get a bedroom for her kids.

Definately NOT a good addition to the travelling group but the husbands are all life-long friends and have been petitioning for a group trip. I agreed to it only as an add-on summer trip. We will see if it actually happens, I have serious doubts.

I second Flip Flops warning. If people are bitching ahead of time "Danger! Danger Will Robinson!"

We've always done the cost per person (since that's what the rental co's charge) and done the work to find a place that will accomodate everyone as equally as possible and within everyone's budget.

I understand what you're saying about the husband's friendships. But I can tell you, that those friendships could be irreparably damaged if the advance work isn't done and everyone agrees in ADVANCE on the rules and finances.

BTW I love Rick G's suggestion of the room pick. Definitely get's people to pay up quickly.

Although I find it is often difficult to judge what the bedrooms are like until you get there-- of course I guess you could do the whole pick order when you get there-- is that what you mean RickG?

I agree about the whole sofa thing. It can be very disruptive on the common area.

My bottom line is this, if you (not you personally-- but "people") are fussing about the costs ahead of time you/they/whoever can't afford to go. Sorry if that sounds harsh but trust me you will be arguing over tips, tabs, groceries and gas money with these people and will be paying for THEIR vacation.

Save yourslef the aggravation and bow out gracefully if you can.

FF is right. We have this down to a science and in the past have sometimes found out the hard way: The best travel companions are not always best friends and Best Friends are not always the best travel companions.

It takes very special people who can be both.

Hugs to you FF!!!

FF is right. We have this down to a science and in the past have sometimes found out the hard way: The best travel companions are not always best friends and Best Friends are not always the best travel companions.

It takes very special people who can be both.


well said

Thanks waterguy!

Awww I feel the love.

Now, how much will I owe you for the extra bedroom in the house Dec 1-11. Maybe Marybeth will let me crash on her sofa until you get there Gromit

If I have enough forum friends I may NEVER come home.

Just like you, we'd only charge you the difference to add another person to the head count at the villa

That and a decent dinner out will do!

Right back at ya baby!

Economically, we are all on the same general level but the way they (Teen Couple) choose to spend their money is radically different from the rest of the group. We buy experiences, they like to buy stuff. To each their own.

I KNOW as soon as they see the total cost of airfare, two bedrooms, their own jeep rental, etc, all these plans are going to come to a grinding halt. I will then keep the momentum going for my family and book a few days at Caneel (there is a method to my madness, hee, hee)

Gromit wrote:BTW I love Rick G's suggestion of the room pick. Definitely get's people to pay up quickly.

Although I find it is often difficult to judge what the bedrooms are like until you get there-- of course I guess you could do the whole pick order when you get there-- is that what you mean RickG?

We usually pick the rooms when we get there. I deal with the greeter, check the blender, find the fuse box and the cistern pump. Sweet Christine looks at each bedroom and agonizes over the selection. It works out fine, when you take into account the chihuahua-like hyper energy that each persons displays - spinning at the ends of their leashes. It helps that I'm not fussy. It's challenging that my lover takes a long time to make decisions. I'm usually in the pool before the exercise is done.

I've pretty much decided to travel with folks where the whole room drama is a non-issue. Pre-trip whining? No trip for you!

There's a good group trip discussion started by traveler 22 at: http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum ... ight=kitty

I'll reprint my rant here:

Gee, we really need to write a FAQ.


6-8 is very doable, especially if they are 3-4 couples. We have 6 going in October - the 6 that really get STJ. We do a couple of things that work well:

- Don't invite anyone who is a whiner. Don't invite anyone that you would not spend a week with 1-on-1.

- I pick the villa and the week and people get to decide if they want to come. It's okay if no one wants to come.

- You get to pick your room in the order that you pay. I've already paid the deposit, so I go first. This deals with the equal rooms problem.

- One vehicle per 2 couples with at least one person from each couple on the contract for each car. Expect there to be an early group and a late group each morning. This is not a problem. I get my own vehicle. I'm in the early group and my lover is in the late group.

- Pick a beach each day that you will hit, 11AM is a good rendezvous time. The late group can usually make it and the early group will have done a hike and another beach already.

- Do happy hour at the villa. It's cheap and 6-8 people is a party. Bring Twister.

- Dinner for 6-8 is a pain in the a$$. Cook at the villa and do some date nights. Meet for drinks before and after dinner. There's always room at the Beach Bar and the Quiet Mon for 6-8.

- Expect to spend a day without leaving the villa. Start the blender at 10AM, but put sunscreen on first.

- Put $100 per person in a food/drink kitty for villa provisions. If someone is concerned that they won't spend that much and want differential treatment, they don't get to come. $800 will cover food and booze at the villa for 8 adults for a week. Dinner for 8 at Zozo's is $680.

Lessons learned:
- If someone whines at home, they will whine more on STJ.
- If someone pitches in at home they will pitch in more on STJ.
- 10 people feels much bigger than 8 people.
- Don't be afraid to say "I'm heading out. I'll be back for sunset."
- Newbies will assume the villa is on the beach, even if you tell them otherwise and show them pictures. If they can't get over this, they stay at the Westin.

Past trip reports and newbie guides in the archive here and at http://www.garvin.us/STJ/St_John_US_Virgin_Islands.html. I do need to add my last two trip reports to the web site...

Have fun!

Cheers, RickG

RickG is definitely the trip nazi (think Seinfeld and the soup nazi) ... you whine, no trip for you!

Fortunately for me, my friends are not whiners. Family can be a different matter Though I know plenty of adults (former friends) who can out-whine my 5 year old anyday.

We have an interesting situation: 3 families, 2 with one child each, one family (us) with 2 kids. We are taking up 2 bedrooms (DH and me in one; our 2 kids in another.) The other couples each get a bedroom, then their boys share a bedroom. We will be there 2 days longer than them.

The villa owners were very nice in charging us the 4 person rate for 2 days and then the 10 person rate for the other 8. (It's over the holidays so they didn't have to prorate it.) My family is paying the 4 person rate for 2 days; then splitting the 8 person rate 3 ways. I didn't even think about the fact that our family gets 2 bedrooms and the other families each get 1 1/2, and they didn't care either. They're just happy they got to glom on to our trip!

Now the bigger question... how much do you charge for all your planning services?

I don't know about any of you, but my planning services are priceless Or is it worthless??

flip-flop: the correct answer of course is PRICELESS!

This summer at the last minute we invited my husbands couisn and boyfriend to join our family vacation . we asked them only to pay the differnec between the villa rate for 3 and 5. Everything else was split 3/5's us 2/5's them. The bigger issue was the level of spending. We were trying to keep the budget down, they had more disposable income. Because we didn't talk about it before we wound up spending more $$ on some things then we would have wanted.