USVI-On-Line

Bob & Anita, we're following that same groove. We've behaved on the beach since the unfortunate ticket incident of 2001.

That's one of the things that makes me thing about a Jamaica or St. Martin vacation, the prudity of the VIs. But, there's always the villa!

Cheers, RickG

Chet! HA! I imagine there are a very small number of folks that can relate to your over/unders! I happen to be one of them! Too stinkin' funny!!! And...yes...we were there for both! What a riot! Thankfully...I'd hand Omar the over award...and the earthquake the under!

Soon Come...
19 & Counting...

Over - Sloop Jones - have you seen the prices? Who buys this stuff?

Under - the local people, we always meet the nicest folks!

pipanale wrote:

mahojim wrote: Pip-
It's almost always a challenge going to STJ with others, but you just had a string of bad luck, if you ask me, and that's a collossal shame. You're bound to get past it!

But...we've vacationed with them 4 of the last 5 years and they come for thanksgiving. They're our best friends on Earth and vacationing without them is odd. Like I said, once I have the child with us, she and I will be able to don eye patches and head out. Mom can come along or enjoy what's likely to be her first moments of peace after thing 2 comes.

Are you answering your own question?
Mom & hubby/family comes first, no?
There are no further obligations. Why have the sabotage of that stress be involved in a place which is otherwise so serene?
It's late, and I'm easily confused, so hopefully I'll catch up tomorrow.
I'm just here for the
Smiles-
MJ

MLS wrote:High Tide, whom I think had the best conch fritters on STJ, I thought had closed.
Please tell me it is, indeed, open.

Shipwreck Landing is overrated, maybe the worse conch fritters on STJ. Hate the cockroaches every time.

No way can Maho ever be overrated now. Maybe when the Puerto Rican armada of motorboats used to lash thenselves together close to shore, but not now. Even the beach and parking is better.

AC in villas and cars is overrated!

Hercules pates, the perfect beach food, are underrated.

Had the best snack of tuna Johnny Cakes from Hercules-
Simple, and delicious.
Smiles-
MJ

High Tide is open, and has been open all along. They actually have one of the shortest "down-times" only closing a week or two for cleaning and repairs in the off season. If you were here around Omar, you may have seen it taken apart in preparation. They took all the fans down, the awning, the tables and chairs, it really looked like they were out of there. They had it all put back up the day after the storm though.

mahojim were is Hercules at? I love pates made me think of the guy in Jamaica on the bike that sold them. Didn't have to leave your lounge chair to go eat lunch YUM CURRY CHICKEN PATES

cptnkirk, Hercules is across from is in Cruz Bay on the side street that runs from the traffic circle towards the wharf where the cruise ship handlers tie up/former car barge. It's a small shack. (Actually, I considered giving directions using only landmarks that were formerly there!).

Their pates are a bit different from Jamaican pates. They are quite tasty, but all seem to be made with Johnnycake dough, with more body and breadyness than the Jamaican shortcrust type dough.

We love Hercules, and there's nothing quite like the looks you get from tourists when you get on the ferry with a grease-soaked bag. Make mine saltfish.

Cheers, RickG

Thanks Rick I'm there in May for sure

Peachie's been lurking for a couple of years and we decided to get our feet wet

We'll be back "home" on St. John in 10 days 18 hours and...well, you get the idea. We simply love the place and this is our fifth return.

We're generally a pair of beach bums, snorkeling and sunning through the days and just kicking back over good food and some drinks at night. Being verrrry relaxed is our mantra.

Here's a go at our likes/not so likes

Under rated:
Estate Concordia studios. We've stayed here 4 times and always loved the privacy, cleanliness, the pool at the end of the day followed by pina coladas on the deck as we gaze at the stars and lights far out at sea. The price is very reasonable.

The Pavillion at Maho Bay - very good prices and generally great meals. Friday night is prime rib night, BTW.

Renting a car from Avis on STT - friendly service (unlike Budget) and better prices than on STJ.

Water Lemon Cay for snorkeling - simply beautiful, and the hike in keeps away the crowds.

Maho - yes, that Maho! Our first taste of paradise, so we're sentimental, but we enjoy the occasional convenience of just driving up and jumping in.

All the other beaches - simply an incredible place. Just avoid Trunk Bay during "cruise people" invasions; make this a last dip of the day around 3-4 PM.

The schooner Heron -Based in Rockport, Maine (we long admired the Heron on vacations there), Captain Twig and wife Bonnie built this gorgeous craft and certainly know their way about boats. Taking the sunset sail followed by dinner and "refreshments" at the Pavilion with fellow passengers last year, we found ourselves with fast friends as the sun dipped down. Based at Little Maho Bay last season.

Love City Mini Mart - if staying near Coral Bay , a convenient place to shop for food/beer/rum. Nothing fancy, just friendly and reasonable.

Over Rated:

Miss Lucy's: Same full moon dinner experience as others, 'nuf said.

Cruz Bay - just too busy for our tastes (we're pretty laid back). But this year we're staying at Serendip (we didn't reserve early enough at Concordia), so maybe we'll see it in a new light.

STT - overbuilt, kind of run down and we just haven't found it to be all that friendly. Also, cruise ship (oversized people barges?) mania - ick. A different world than STJ.

Oh yeah, and we'll chime in for Pia - we cannot imagine sharing our precious moments on romantic STJ with a crowd of people who clearly don't get it.

And thanks for all the new tips!

Steve S wrote:I'll have to tip my hat to High Tide also... we always go there but you don't read about it much here on the forum. There was a pretty good singer named just "James" last year. Was he a transient or will we find him somewhere when we come down next month?

James is around I think. Ruth would know or Pia.
He plays at Morgans too I think.
He was on island for like 18 yrs and then left and Tiffany and him went to Maine......brrrrrr
and then they and the baby came back.
I could listen to James play all night......just love him

overrated.......woody's I love Todd and Chad and the new mgr Mark I think or Mike. I do not think it is a must see though

underrated Waterlemon.....
natures nook....didn't they reopen and they make smoothies and the smoothie stand by the PO.......
Hercules and Sheila's pot

I will probably have more

RickG wrote:cptnkirk, Hercules is across from is in Cruz Bay on the side street that runs from the traffic circle towards the wharf where the cruise ship handlers tie up/former car barge. It's a small shack. (Actually, I considered giving directions using only landmarks that were formerly there!).

Their pates are a bit different from Jamaican pates. They are quite tasty, but all seem to be made with Johnnycake dough, with more body and breadyness than the Jamaican shortcrust type dough.

We love Hercules, and there's nothing quite like the looks you get from tourists when you get on the ferry with a grease-soaked bag. Make mine saltfish.

Cheers, RickG

If noone has any issues with it, I'm choosing RickG as my personal Spokesmodel. Forward any/all questions for me to him, hereafter.
Thank you.
He's such a handsome devil!

Smiles-
Jimmy

I just **love** this thread. Its fun to read everyone's opinions and add a few things to my "must do" list. My job has been too intensely busy to post until now, so I hope its ok to bump this up again.

Underrated:
- I have to agree with Steve about Estate Concordia studios. We stayed in one that had a huge deck with a sweeping view of Salt Pond. We loved breakfasts and evenings on the deck. Its a studio and not a villa, of course, but very roomy. Price is definitely right. We stayed one week there and one week in a villa, so the "average" per night price of our accomodations was lower.

- Sogos - we enjoy the authentic West Indian food and talking to the lady from Dominica who owns it. She also has nice tropical fruit juices - so refreshing and so...Caribbean.

- Little smoothie stand in Cruz Bay on the road going towards Cap's Place (next to florist). Nice guy who runs it and very good smoothies. We like to get a smoothie, then sit in the park near JJ's to savor it and enjoy the comings and goings of Cruz Bay. Also had a smoothie at Nature's Nook once - it was the best mango smoothie ever.

- TuTu Much - jewelry store on Bordeaux Mtn going over to Coral Bay. They have some interesting jewelry. The owners, TuTu and Kiko are very nice and are world travelers. We enjoy chatting with them and hearing interesting stories.

- Muffins and cookies at Starfish bakery (in the case). These are surprisingly good for "grocery store made" items. Hubby loves the pistachio and chocolate chip. (Those are 2 different flavors.) We liked the availability of fresh whole grain bread too. (In baskets near the muffins.)

Overrated:
- Skinny's didn't appeal to us
- Conch fritters weren't very good. Had read so many reviews that raved about the fritters everywhere, but we didn't have good ones anywhere.
- Beach Bar too smoky for us

Rated right:
- St John Spice, especially Cruz Bay marinade
- the feeling of arriving on St John and walking down the ferry dock
- St John