USVI-On-Line

Aug 25 marks 331 days until our trip. time to be up at midnight to call Delta to cash in the miles.

I hope the process is easier this time. Because, picking the villa is gonna suck. 4 adults and an 8-year old. After last summer's disaster, I need a good house. I have a few in mind but don't look forward to starting over on St John again.

Wish me luck with Delta!

Dude, don't forget the baby!

Cheers, RickG

god speed! let the villa hunting begin!

I don't think they're taking the baby Rick...She gets to stay home and have the whole house to herself!

Worse...she gets to stay with my mother for the week. Sucks to be her!

As always, I am a dumbass. I can't book until 12:00AM Thursday.

The waiting is the hardest part...

Hopefully she won't screw her up too bad while you're away...

Friggin Delta. they have a new policy. I can't book the outbound leg and then wait a week to book the return.

Ugh.

Help me out here, folks (and this is not a call for pity.

The thought of having to do all this again for a trip already has me tired. I'm starting from scratch this time. Need a new car rental agency. Need a new vila (and company).

I'm just so entirely not in the mood. It's starting to feel like booking this trip is more of a chore than anything else.

Someone tell me it's worth it and will be awesome. And, while you're at it, find me a good car rental agency who won't be mean to me and a villa with working water, amenities that work, 2 or 3 BR, AC in said BRs, a nice pool, breezes and relatively close proximity to Cruz Bay...all for under $2700 out of season.

thanks for that

Don't make it into a chore. It will be worth it. You know it will.

I can't remember who you had a hard time with for your last car rental. For your next trip, maybe look into Penns? They are SUPER friendly, and they have a huge lot that you can park in. Their prices are a little higher than the other agencies, but you get the free parking in a big lot so...

For houses, a quick search turned up a couple of possibilities. This one has distant ocean views but fills your requirements and you can supposedly walk to the swimming/snorkeling at Ditleff:

http://www.vivacations.com/site/Overvie ... fault.aspx

These two look nice and accept children:

http://www.seaviewhomes.com/seaturtlevilla.htm

http://www.seaviewhomes.com/seaview.htm

Finally, we’ve stayed here—-it’s 2 bedrooms, so if you end up needing three it won't work. The house has a really nice pool and deep soaking hot tub. The siting of the house makes it exceptionally breezy. The outdoor room is so comfortable, and they have added AC to the bedrooms.

http://www.seaviewhomes.com/orchid-hill.htm

C&C is offering 10% off car rentals right now if that helps you.

I have never used them so can't help you there.

Congratulations on that new baby girl. What did you name her? Is Schmuppie (sp?)happy with the new addition? The only advise I can give you about a great villa is Orion's Hill. Two bedrooms, separate floors, it's like two houses. Bottom has huge laundry room, full bath off bedroom, half bath in hallway, full of toys cause owners having g'kids. Top floor is full living room, half bath, great kitchen and bedroom with bath. Wrap around porches on both levels, amazing view of Coral Bay high atop Ajax Mountain. If you take a left past Smoothie Shack you are on your way up. Electronic gate which is very nice. Pool is ionized, no chlorine, so clean you can drink from it (just don't pee in it!). Gas grill, lots of pool toys. Owners live next door a way past your villa but you'll never see them. Owner owns auto parts store on STJ and he is the best host. You never see him unless you need him. We spent two wonderful weeks and would go back in a heartbeat. Widow's walk up top looking over BVI's. We felt like we had walked into our second home and we are hard to please. Did I mention two queen sleeper sofas in both up and downstairs living rooms? Very spacious laundry room downstairs is the size of a master bedroom. Lots of love and thought put into this one. Can't help you with airline but this villa is amazing.

Take a deep breath.....It will be worth it. Don't panic. We'll help you...You know that.

2 things at play here...maybe like 7.

1: I know I'll get help here. WAY more than in the past. So, when I look at a house, I know I can rely on you goons to help me.

I just keep thinking back to my last day on island last time and how much, at that moment, I utterly and totally hated St John. If I go through that again, Ruth will find me sitting on the steps (sign or not), weeping. She'll have to box me up to go home because I'll have lost the will to move.

However, I keep telling myself that I'll be in the company of a bright-eyed 8-year old who's so totally jacked to go to St John that she can't even form sentences. She's going to energize me. I know that.

But...

2: Thing1 asked me yesterday "When can we go back to Disney?" We've been pondering an April trip to WDW (taking advantage of my parents' timeshare points). But, even if we drive to FLA, stay for free and eat breakfast in the condo, we're still looking at $3G's for a week.

I can't afford Disney AND St John in the same year. I can afford either AND an Emerald Isle, NC trip (especially if we're sharing costs in August with our friends). Do we put St John on hold until 2011 and do Disney next summer or do we put Disney on hold?

Kids...they're cute and all, but they ruin all the fun.

I don't have kids so I may be the voice you don't want to or need to hear, but you know me so...

I think that you need to plan your vacations based on what you and the wife need.
This has been a tough year for you guys as a couple, pregnancy and then a new baby can do that. Everything is focused around them and you seldom take any time for the couple, seperate from the fammily.

Do you think that a week of sun and sand will give you guys what you need, while making Shmuppie happy, therefore making you happier?
That is the question that I would ask myself.

If it were me..Id put Disney on hold. esp if you she has been there. Thats not a put down for Disney at all. We have been on 2 of their cruises and enjoyed them very much. And I get asked the same thing...when are we going back? lol
We have a cruise booked next yr. (not Disney)of which I cant get out of without loosing a deposit for each of us. and also hubby's family is booked with us too, so I hate to bail out on them, or I would cancel in a sec and head to STJ. After taking a cpl trips each yr to the caribbean the last 3 yrs. We just cant afford to both next yr. either...Unless we hit the lottery. and Im not holding my breath on that one. plus I dont wanna loose my deposit. But if I had a choice...I know what mine would be.

Speaking as someone who goes to Disney and St. John every year, I will tell you to drop Disney in a heartbeat for St. John. You guys need a break, and you know that Disney is NOT a break. You will be constantly on the move, in sensory overload, etc. Go to the beach. You deserve it.

Plus, if you skip a year before going back to Disney, your little one will be old enough to at least get a kick out of some of the characters, etc. Your oldest won't be too old yet either. My nephew is 10 and is super excited about our December Disney trip.