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michele · Post by **michele** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:47 pm

I'm new to the forum. My husband and I will be traveling to St. John for the first time in May. We are very excited! Can't wait for the warm beautiful weather....it's supposed to snow 4-6 inches tonight here in Kentucky!
Anybody have any info to share about the best place to rent a car on the island and the "what not to miss list"? We already have secured our place to stay and our flights.

deejayjay · Post by **deejayjay** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:06 pm

We have rented from St John car rental and Courtesy car rental. Both were great. Courtesy met us at the dock with a car after hours. St john was arranged by our villa rep. Get the books Feet Fins and 4 wheel drive, and St John off the beaten path. Both will highlight all the must sees. May is a great time to go. We'll be there is Apr for the 1st time this year. Have a great trip.

Boston Mike · Post by **Boston Mike** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:16 pm

Welcome to the forum Michele.

We will be there in May (15th thru 24th)also.

Enjoy St. John.

JT · Post by JT » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:46 pm

Welcome,Michele! Take this advice: Get you car reserved now! There are only so many cars available on island and they get reserved months in advance!
Other then the agencies previously mentioned,
also check Conrad Sutton Rentals. They have great cars,and a lot to park in. Be extra polite and they're ok to deal with. Penn Car Rentals are good,too. Cool Breeze gets mixed reviews here, though I did use them once when I went on short notice and everybody else was sold out.

Keep left and have fun!

Pianogrl · Post by **Pianogrl** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:50 pm

Hi Michele....welcome to a great forum with awesome people who are very knowledgeable about STJ. We'll be there in May also. Both recommended books in the previous post are great, as they helped us in planning our first trip & getting a "working knowledge" for the surroundings before you even get there. Enjoy your planning & ask away...someone here always has the answer or can help you find it!
Again welcome!!

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:57 pm

First trip in May. Have fun. May is a great time of year. Our first 3 trips were all in May.

Here's a list of do's (sorry it is so long, it might take many many trips and some may be outdated though I tried to clean it up a little...

TREATS

Cocoberry Shake from that place in Wharfside
Mojito from Joe's Rum Hut
Any Smoothie from the smoothie truck
Garlic Chicken & Tarts @ Vie's
Root Beer @ the Tap Room
Uncle Joe's BBQ & ALL the sides to go back to the house
Baked in the Sun sandwiches
Steak Sandwich and Crab Wontons at the Beach Bar
Create a Beach smorgasboard at Deli Grotto
Appetizers and drinks at Zozo's bar @ sunset
fresh greens from Josephine
fresh tuna or mahi-mahi, either by the dock or at the Fish Trap Market

RESTAURANTS

Rhumblines
Donkey Diner especially breakfast
ZoZo's
Inn at Taramind Court esp breakfast
Sweet Plantains
Miss Lucy's
La Tapa
Island Blues - esp that drink w/ nutmeg
Aqua Bistro
Cafe Roma
JJs Texas Coast - esp breakfast
Pastory Gardens
Skinny Legs
Shipwreck Landing Restaurant
Happy Fish - sushi

BARS

Woody's
Beach Bar
Go to the Tap Room for a VI Pale Ale (Free WIFI)
Sputnik
Quiet Mon
Compass Rose (Free WIFI)

BEACHES/SNORKELING

Salt Pond
Vie's Beach
Hawsknest
Maho - kiddie friendly
Gibney
Francis Bay
Caneel Bay
North side of Haulover, Pelican Rock and Paradise Point
Drunk Bay
Honeymoon beach
Night snorkeling
Lime Tree Beach
Snorkel at Turtle Beach at Caneel Bay
Snorkel Chocolate Hole
Denis Bay
Jumbie
Trunk Bay
Cinnamon Bay
Honeymoon

HIKES

Ram Head Trail - if you like to hike this is a must do
Hiking Reef Bay (stand on Reef Bay and look back up the hillside, you are getting the same view that has existed since the island was formed)
Waterlemon - hike and snorkel
Brown Bay hike and beach
Solomon & Honeymoon Beach hike
hike to Drunk Bay & Blue Cobblestone Beach from Salt Pond

EVENTS/SPECIALS

Sunday Jazz @ Beach Bar
Pastory @ sunset Happy Hour 3-6. Drinks $1.00 off
$3 painkillers at Beach Bar on Sunday afternoon
Arrange a Forum Happy Hour w Pia & Ruth
Morgan's Mango Mango Margaritas and Tuesday Lobster Night
Full Moon Party @ Miss Lucy's

ON ST JOHN

Rent a dinghy
Drink in the pool
Sunset Sail
kayak to Hurricane Hole from Crabby's
Visit the Animal Shelter
Check out the Michael Banzhaf Gallery
Nightdive
Book a massage with Nomadic Spa
Play mini golf at Pastory Gardens

OFF ST JOHN EXCURSIONS

Rent power boat for BVIs - Ocean Runner
Jost Van Dyke in power boat from OR w/captain
Virgin Gorda
Day Sail to the BVIs
Ferry to Tortola
Ferry to Jost

SHOPPING

St. John Spice - Say Hi to Ruth!
Mongoose Junction
Pink Papaya
Jolly Dog & Skinnys
Freebird

hoosierdaddy · Post by **hoosierdaddy** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:50 pm

Flip Flop, that is a mighty large list. How long would it take to do all of those things?
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flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:55 pm

Well are coming up on our 6th trip and I am still working on it...

I'd say we've accomplished about 1/2. Then there are the dozens of other random things when we get there that get in the way of the list.

patr · Post by **patr** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:34 pm

Wow FF - quite a list!

A couple of things missing:

Happy Hour at Ficus Bar in front of Lime Inn -
half price drinks 4-6!!

Grilled lobster at Lime Inn.
AYCE shrimp on Wed at Lime Inn.
(I am not paid to advertise for Rich) We just love the Lime Inn.

Fish 'n chips at Shipwreck;

Day sail with Capt Phil of the Wayward Sailor - what a crusty character - we had a blast!

michele · Post by **michele** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:40 pm

Wow flip flop what a list! Our 10 days may not be enough! To be such a small island, it seems like there is an endless supply of things to see and do.
I hope we can find the balance between seeing and enjoying the island, but also relaxing.
One thing I would love to see are sea turtles. Is there a place that I would have the best chance of doing that?

Lovermont · Post by **Lovermont** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:09 pm

Michele,
Maho Bay is likely to have some sea turtles. That's where I saw some last month. They're beautiful, peaceful animals. Enjoy your trip!

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:18 pm

michele wrote:Wow flip flop what a list! Our 10 days may not be enough! To be such a small island, it seems like there is an endless supply of things to see and do.
I hope we can find the balance between seeing and enjoying the island, but also relaxing.
One thing I would love to see are sea turtles. Is there a place that I would have the best chance of doing that?

My list is by no means a do-all on one trip kind of thing. Just a running list as someone posts and idea that sounds interesting and of things we've done.

As for turtles...I saw them at Francis. My buddy saw them at Salt Pond. In my experience if I was still they would kind of float by. I try to calm myself and not be my normal spastic self. AMAZING experience.

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:33 am

Welcome to the board we are there in May too

Check this site out from our forum St John expert Rick G a must read for newbies
http://www.garvin.us/STJ/New_Visitors_G ... Guide.html

ifloat · Post by **ifloat** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:24 pm

Welcome to the board! We are making our first trip to STJ in March and everyone here has been so helpful and welcoming!

Wait, we need some! more! exclamation! points!!

overman · Post by **overman** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:52 pm

the best advice i ever got was bring half the clothes and twice the money.

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