usvi-on-line
How did you get "here"?
My story about finding STJ is a little different from others, so I will like to tell it (again).
I’m interested in history and in 2006 I need to make an undergraduate dissertation to pass an examination. I choose to write about the time, when Denmark owned STT, STX and STJ and about the reasons, why they in 1917 sold the islands to USA. I found it so interesting that our little country has been the owner for nearly 250 years, and I read a lot of books about it. When we planned our vacation for 2007, I told hubby that I would love to see some of the places, I have written about. He accepted, and I started to look in Trip Advisor for information about hotels and cottages. I found a forum there, started to read it, found information about “another forum”, asked a question there about NY, and a forum member from VIOL (Waterguy) send me a PM and recommended me to ask the same question on this forum, which I did. It was our plan that we only should stay on STJ a few days, but after I started to read a lot here about STJ, I could see that it was just a place for us, so I changed the plan, and we spent 10 days on STJ instead and a shorter time on STX and STT.
We loved STJ, but we also liked STT and STX very much. We will not come back in the near future, but the island has a place in my heart.
Why continue to read and write here, when we don’t have a plan about returning?
As others, I got “obsessed” of this forum. I feel that I “know” a lot of you. I learn something about Americans, and I like the off topic forum with trip reports from different places.
Linne
I’m interested in history and in 2006 I need to make an undergraduate dissertation to pass an examination. I choose to write about the time, when Denmark owned STT, STX and STJ and about the reasons, why they in 1917 sold the islands to USA. I found it so interesting that our little country has been the owner for nearly 250 years, and I read a lot of books about it. When we planned our vacation for 2007, I told hubby that I would love to see some of the places, I have written about. He accepted, and I started to look in Trip Advisor for information about hotels and cottages. I found a forum there, started to read it, found information about “another forum”, asked a question there about NY, and a forum member from VIOL (Waterguy) send me a PM and recommended me to ask the same question on this forum, which I did. It was our plan that we only should stay on STJ a few days, but after I started to read a lot here about STJ, I could see that it was just a place for us, so I changed the plan, and we spent 10 days on STJ instead and a shorter time on STX and STT.
We loved STJ, but we also liked STT and STX very much. We will not come back in the near future, but the island has a place in my heart.
Why continue to read and write here, when we don’t have a plan about returning?
As others, I got “obsessed” of this forum. I feel that I “know” a lot of you. I learn something about Americans, and I like the off topic forum with trip reports from different places.
Linne
My hubby and I were sitting around the pool one day listening to island music and we were talking about where we should go on our next vacation
I started naming islands we both hadent been to and i gave him the choice to pick
Well he says lets go to the VI's so i say yeah lets do it
We stayed in STT in a villa and went island hopping Well needless to say we were hooked on St.John after that and dream about it EVERYDAY 
Now its a yearly thing
I learned about the forum from resurching our first trip
I started naming islands we both hadent been to and i gave him the choice to pick
Well he says lets go to the VI's so i say yeah lets do it
We stayed in STT in a villa and went island hopping Well needless to say we were hooked on St.John after that and dream about it EVERYDAY Now its a yearly thing
I learned about the forum from resurching our first trip
1. I was wanting to go away for my birthday. I was sitting at a bar with a friend of mine...Our "thinking" bar...And they had this cheesy fiber optic glowing beach scene thing hanging on the wall. I realized that I had been staring at it, and the "island vacation" idea was born. My Aunt had spent some time around the Tortola area learning to sail, but I didn't like the looks of it when I Googled it. Somehow, my online research led me to STJ. Something about it, just made me have to go...not WANT to go...HAVE to go!
2. I found the forum when it was the "old" forum format, before my trip. I can't remember how I stumbled onto it.
2. I found the forum when it was the "old" forum format, before my trip. I can't remember how I stumbled onto it.
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea." -Isak Dinesen
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
After coming back from Maui 2 years ago, I was looking for another wonderful island experience, minus the big resorts. (Some of our favorite days in Maui were in Hana, a remote and beautiful area.) I was on the TA forum, and read a post that said "St. John is like Maui was 25 years ago." Aha! I started researching for a trip to STJ.
Then someone on the TA St. John forum pointed me over here. I'm sure it was one of you! If you remember, please let me know, because reading/joining this forum has been great. Anyway, that began a whole round of research and planning for STJ. (Incidentally, during the planning for our STJ trip, I read a post that said "Bequia is like St. John was 40 years ago." That started me on a whole other round of research, but I don't see Bequia in my future yet.)
Then someone on the TA St. John forum pointed me over here. I'm sure it was one of you! If you remember, please let me know, because reading/joining this forum has been great. Anyway, that began a whole round of research and planning for STJ. (Incidentally, during the planning for our STJ trip, I read a post that said "Bequia is like St. John was 40 years ago." That started me on a whole other round of research, but I don't see Bequia in my future yet.)
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designbyroe
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:27 pm
- Location: Chilaxin on White Bay at least in my mind
I found St. John in 1981. My mom and dad worked for Eastern which then was the airline of the Caribbean.
My mom and I took a trip since she had honeymoomed in San Juan and always wanted to go to the VI's
We came and I wanted to see St. John since all I knew was it was the island of park land and you could camp on the beach. WOW!!!
I came over and my mom and I met this lady who I think was Miss Lucy who had a cab.
She took me to Ciniammon and I camped.
I came back and we went back to Jersey.
I wanted to go back right away. I applied to the University and spent my senior yr in HS down on island every other month. Eastern had these pass books you got when you were 16.
I got accepted into the University and my dad said UNless I was Jacquie Cousteau he was not paying for me to spend my 4 yrs on the beach.
I promised myself I would be back and every yr til 96 I came for the different carnivals.
I was in Santa Monica area for 7 yrs so went to Baja and Oahu and Cabo alot
It was not St. John.
In 2002 I brought my mom to the VI's again and met a lady and we were talking about teaching pilates.
She said that would be really good here.
I went back and told my dr who told his massage therapist who had worked for the Westin.
He got me in touch with the powers that be and in 2003 I got a yrly contract.
I stayed and fell in love and was planning on getting married and my mom took ill.
I came back stateside and one thing after another has happened.
St. John is still in my heart and my soul and I will be back for good soon.....
How I found the board I have no idea.
I love it here.......you all are so cool and friendly and have so much info and are funny......
My mom and I took a trip since she had honeymoomed in San Juan and always wanted to go to the VI's
We came and I wanted to see St. John since all I knew was it was the island of park land and you could camp on the beach. WOW!!!
I came over and my mom and I met this lady who I think was Miss Lucy who had a cab.
She took me to Ciniammon and I camped.
I came back and we went back to Jersey.
I wanted to go back right away. I applied to the University and spent my senior yr in HS down on island every other month. Eastern had these pass books you got when you were 16.
I got accepted into the University and my dad said UNless I was Jacquie Cousteau he was not paying for me to spend my 4 yrs on the beach.
I promised myself I would be back and every yr til 96 I came for the different carnivals.
I was in Santa Monica area for 7 yrs so went to Baja and Oahu and Cabo alot
It was not St. John.
In 2002 I brought my mom to the VI's again and met a lady and we were talking about teaching pilates.
She said that would be really good here.
I went back and told my dr who told his massage therapist who had worked for the Westin.
He got me in touch with the powers that be and in 2003 I got a yrly contract.
I stayed and fell in love and was planning on getting married and my mom took ill.
I came back stateside and one thing after another has happened.
St. John is still in my heart and my soul and I will be back for good soon.....
How I found the board I have no idea.
I love it here.......you all are so cool and friendly and have so much info and are funny......
There's no $ sign on a peace of mind, this I've come to know
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
I know we've told this story before but, here it goes again.
In 1999, Pete and I got married and honeymooned in St. Lucia. It rained the whole time; something about being 100 yards from a rain forest might have played a role.
The next year, we wanted to try something new where we could enjoy sun! I found, in the New Yorker, an add for Pavillions and Pools. Then, as an AOL user, found the forum for the USVI's. We posted many questions about the islands and chose STT and Pavillions and Pools as our destination. We loved the idea of a private pool.
We enjoyed our vacation at P&P but, there was NO VIEW from our "villa" and STT wasn't as pristine as we were expecting. So, while looking at the yellow "Virgin Islands This Week" book, we found that we could rent a villa on STJ for the same money AND have view AND it's 2/3 National Park. Oddly, we never went over to STJ that vacation to check it out.
Back home after that trip, we made all kinds of queries on the AOL forum and booked a trip the following spring for a villa in STJ. Sight unseen.
So, that year, 2001, we found OUR island and we've been back every year, sometimes twice a year (one "alone" vacation, one "kid" vacation) since.
The USVI forum was introduced to us as the AOL forum disintegrated. This was years ago and most of the old AOL folks are on this forum. And, I'm proud to say, I survived the format change. Phew, it was dicey at first but, now I can't imagine the old format.
In 1999, Pete and I got married and honeymooned in St. Lucia. It rained the whole time; something about being 100 yards from a rain forest might have played a role.
The next year, we wanted to try something new where we could enjoy sun! I found, in the New Yorker, an add for Pavillions and Pools. Then, as an AOL user, found the forum for the USVI's. We posted many questions about the islands and chose STT and Pavillions and Pools as our destination. We loved the idea of a private pool.
We enjoyed our vacation at P&P but, there was NO VIEW from our "villa" and STT wasn't as pristine as we were expecting. So, while looking at the yellow "Virgin Islands This Week" book, we found that we could rent a villa on STJ for the same money AND have view AND it's 2/3 National Park. Oddly, we never went over to STJ that vacation to check it out.
Back home after that trip, we made all kinds of queries on the AOL forum and booked a trip the following spring for a villa in STJ. Sight unseen.
So, that year, 2001, we found OUR island and we've been back every year, sometimes twice a year (one "alone" vacation, one "kid" vacation) since.
The USVI forum was introduced to us as the AOL forum disintegrated. This was years ago and most of the old AOL folks are on this forum. And, I'm proud to say, I survived the format change. Phew, it was dicey at first but, now I can't imagine the old format.
Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
Missing St. John. As always.
Missing St. John. As always.
We were engaged to be married in December of 1999 and knew we wanted a destination wedding and thought it would be Bermuda because we had been and loved it. My friend, Stacey, told me to get married on St. John. Her friend, Ron, had lived there and she had visited twice and loved it. I trusted her and began booking my wedding and arranging for villas, flights, etc. for my guests.
In May of 2000 when all plans were set, we decided it was probably a good idea to go and check it out before our May 2001 wedding. We stayed at Splash in June of 2000 with 2 other couples. We were immediately hooked! We loved it so much. The other two couples (including Stacey) had been there before so they were great tour guides. I was amazed at how beautiful the island was.
Ron who lived on St. John had found us Casa Del Sol to have our wedding reception at and our friends were going to stay there because I didn't want to be bothered with the mess of the reception. We went on a tour when we were there and that was it - we changed our friends to our villa and we stayed there. It's still my most favorite villa on the island.
We found this forum thru krislbi. We met Kristen and her husband in St. Thomas airport when he asked my husband where we were going to watch the Eagles in the Superbowl. We went on a boat trip with them that week and we've been friends ever since
In May of 2000 when all plans were set, we decided it was probably a good idea to go and check it out before our May 2001 wedding. We stayed at Splash in June of 2000 with 2 other couples. We were immediately hooked! We loved it so much. The other two couples (including Stacey) had been there before so they were great tour guides. I was amazed at how beautiful the island was.
Ron who lived on St. John had found us Casa Del Sol to have our wedding reception at and our friends were going to stay there because I didn't want to be bothered with the mess of the reception. We went on a tour when we were there and that was it - we changed our friends to our villa and we stayed there. It's still my most favorite villa on the island.
We found this forum thru krislbi. We met Kristen and her husband in St. Thomas airport when he asked my husband where we were going to watch the Eagles in the Superbowl. We went on a boat trip with them that week and we've been friends ever since
NancyB
Back in '79, a friend and I were looking for a cool place to go for a couple of weeks and someone told us about Cinnamon Bay campgrounds. We flew down late June so we also happened onto Carnival. I was addicted immediately, next year I sold all of my worldly possessions and headed back to St John with about $500 in my pocket! Wound up spending months on St Croix before returning home, but have been going back to St John ever since (25+ times maybe). Hard to believe that my first trip was 30 years ago.
Found the forum thru google...
Found the forum thru google...
Last edited by mfaughey on Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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greyhoundmom
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:06 pm
- Location: Columbia South Carolina
GHDad found Maho Bay Camps 5 years ago browsing the net. We based our first vacation around Maho! We've been back for a total of 6 weeks. Baby boy worked Maho 2 summers ago. Last October boy and I got petroglyph tatts for our love of STJ. He on upper arm and GHM below shoulder in turquoise and deep blue. My one and only tatt, will have it re-colored again in October. I think I found the VI forum by chance looking at all of the STJ sites. Used to look at TA forum but not anymore! This is my daily fix and I'm obsessed like the rest of you!
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southeastofdisorder
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:08 am
- Location: Yorktown, VA
1. ok - here we go - work brought me to St. John - time on st. thomas and st.croix - on a day off took the barge over to st. john and fell in love - i know i don't get there often enough but god knows i surely try. live on the chesapeake bay so the summer is not an option - spend every weekend on the boat and the beach somewhere - very thankful for where i live. 2 hours away from the outerbanks - so it takes some discipline to save the money to get way for the winter.
2. my sister found this place - don't post often - but visit often
2. my sister found this place - don't post often - but visit often
Honeymoon in July of 1995. We wanted a tropical island without all the touristy stuff - STJ fit the bill perfectly.Xislandgirl wrote:
1.How did you find St. John?
I used to spend time on the "other" forum, but after experiencing the negative vibes over there, I looked around, found this one, and have been here ever sinceXislandgirl wrote: 2.How did you find the forum?
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aroobagirl
- Posts: 316
- Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:58 pm
- Location: Fairfax, VA
Looking for a place to elope but qualify for US marriage license. PR had a waiting requirement on island, St. Thomas didn't. Stayed the week in St. Thomas and daytripped to St. John. We realized our error and now St. Thomas is now just a means to getting to St. John!
As for the forum, stumbled on it while researching a trip.
As for the forum, stumbled on it while researching a trip.
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CBINPARADISE
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:59 am
- Location: PERDIDO KEY, FLORIDA
How did I get here?
Back in 1979 I was a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, based in ATL. I was on a trip from New York to Miami and met a guy in 1st class who was on his way back to STJ where he lived. We started talking, he changed his plans and followed me back to Atlanta. He stayed for a week then I took a week off and went with him to STJ. I went back to ATL, quit my job and moved down there. I stayed on STJ for 4 years then moved to STX where I lived for 2 years. I still have friends on both islands and visit several times a year. Eventually I will live there again. 
I found this forum through a link on TTOL.
I found this forum through a link on TTOL.