Just back!
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:01 pm
Here's some random things about our 9 day trip to St. John:
1. Northshore road work: It appears they are taking it down all the way to the base instead of a quick re-paving (asphalt). The work area is only a couple hundred feet at a time. The light appears to work on a sensor instead of a straight timer. We usually caught the green and the few times we got the red it was only seconds.....not a big deal at all!
2. Roundabout work: Roundabout is working but the middle concrete work still has to be poured. Traffic seemed to flow find through it....once in the roundabout you have the right of way and those waiting to enter must yield!
3. Only one gas station is up and running on the island. Coral bay station has not had gas for weeks...it was all boarded up. Gas station past the Starfish (on the way to Westin) only gas in town. Reg unleaded was 3.17 and Premium unleaded was 3.24...since there was a padlock on the regular pump we upgraded to the Premium gas!! (what a bargain)
4. Northswell was up plus full moon happened on the 28th. Trunk snorkeling trail was shut down twice because of it!
5. Maho....Wow....what a difference....parking is on both sides of the road and it was always packed. IMO Maho used to be very underrated but sadly now Maho is way way overrated! Not good at all! No wonder they are going to put in a parking lot across the road at the end of the bay (towards Francis)
6. We witnessed some injuries with the big waves from the swell (seperated shoulders, broken wrists, arms, cuts and scrapes, and a lot of lost sunglasses at Trunk and Cinnamon))....be careful and don't turn your back on the waves!
7. Denis was beautiful....spent two full days there....the path is very easy to id now....very well worn....5 to 6 minutes to hit the beach and a then a short walk to the right to hit the sweet spot between the two reefs!
8. Honeymoon and Jumbie were tied for second place! Very beautiful! The ten dollar fee at Caneel is not collected at the gate. They give you a ticket when you enter and if you buy drinks, food, gifts the ten dollar fee is deducted from your purchase and then you get a different color ticket that you give to the gate person to get out. If you don't buy anything you pay the fee at the front desk and get the different colored ticket to give to the gate keeper on the way out.
9. Cooler stuffed with bailey smoothies, beach chairs, ipod port. speakers, sandwiches and snacks, beautiful beach like Denis,Jumbie,Honeymoon = perfect relaxation!!
10. Ferry ride over was the roughest one yet. Several people riding on the top got soaked!!! On the way back nobody was allowed to ride on top!
11. Met Moe at Skinnys on Sunday during the Gold medal Hockey game....Skinnys was packed! A lot of fun...burgers were 9.50 chesseburgers 10.50....during the week I think after 4pm happy hour was cool (especially after long day at the beach.....Heikens 2.50 Amstel lights 2.50 plus they were ice cold...that and a burger = perfection!
12. Stayed at Sailviewstjohn with wonderful owners...highly recommend it!
All and All a Great Great trip!
Best of luck to everyone heading to beautiful St. John in the near future!
Oh, we rented from Courtesy very nice people! The jeep had a lot of character!!!! But I prefer that over a new one....if you know what I mean! Anyway about the insurance thing.....he just copied my insurance card (must be current) and that was it! We have State Farm Insurance and are covered so we declined the insurance......one thing about the added insurance (if you go with that) YOU are still liable for the first 1500.00 EVEN with the added insurance and by the looks of all the Jeeps we saw on the island they all have a lot of character on them.....granted some more than others but anyways no need to bring a copy of your policy down just a current insurance card....whole process with Courtesy was very very easy no problems at all!
1. Northshore road work: It appears they are taking it down all the way to the base instead of a quick re-paving (asphalt). The work area is only a couple hundred feet at a time. The light appears to work on a sensor instead of a straight timer. We usually caught the green and the few times we got the red it was only seconds.....not a big deal at all!
2. Roundabout work: Roundabout is working but the middle concrete work still has to be poured. Traffic seemed to flow find through it....once in the roundabout you have the right of way and those waiting to enter must yield!
3. Only one gas station is up and running on the island. Coral bay station has not had gas for weeks...it was all boarded up. Gas station past the Starfish (on the way to Westin) only gas in town. Reg unleaded was 3.17 and Premium unleaded was 3.24...since there was a padlock on the regular pump we upgraded to the Premium gas!! (what a bargain)
4. Northswell was up plus full moon happened on the 28th. Trunk snorkeling trail was shut down twice because of it!
5. Maho....Wow....what a difference....parking is on both sides of the road and it was always packed. IMO Maho used to be very underrated but sadly now Maho is way way overrated! Not good at all! No wonder they are going to put in a parking lot across the road at the end of the bay (towards Francis)
6. We witnessed some injuries with the big waves from the swell (seperated shoulders, broken wrists, arms, cuts and scrapes, and a lot of lost sunglasses at Trunk and Cinnamon))....be careful and don't turn your back on the waves!
7. Denis was beautiful....spent two full days there....the path is very easy to id now....very well worn....5 to 6 minutes to hit the beach and a then a short walk to the right to hit the sweet spot between the two reefs!
8. Honeymoon and Jumbie were tied for second place! Very beautiful! The ten dollar fee at Caneel is not collected at the gate. They give you a ticket when you enter and if you buy drinks, food, gifts the ten dollar fee is deducted from your purchase and then you get a different color ticket that you give to the gate person to get out. If you don't buy anything you pay the fee at the front desk and get the different colored ticket to give to the gate keeper on the way out.
9. Cooler stuffed with bailey smoothies, beach chairs, ipod port. speakers, sandwiches and snacks, beautiful beach like Denis,Jumbie,Honeymoon = perfect relaxation!!
10. Ferry ride over was the roughest one yet. Several people riding on the top got soaked!!! On the way back nobody was allowed to ride on top!
11. Met Moe at Skinnys on Sunday during the Gold medal Hockey game....Skinnys was packed! A lot of fun...burgers were 9.50 chesseburgers 10.50....during the week I think after 4pm happy hour was cool (especially after long day at the beach.....Heikens 2.50 Amstel lights 2.50 plus they were ice cold...that and a burger = perfection!
12. Stayed at Sailviewstjohn with wonderful owners...highly recommend it!
All and All a Great Great trip!
Best of luck to everyone heading to beautiful St. John in the near future!
Oh, we rented from Courtesy very nice people! The jeep had a lot of character!!!! But I prefer that over a new one....if you know what I mean! Anyway about the insurance thing.....he just copied my insurance card (must be current) and that was it! We have State Farm Insurance and are covered so we declined the insurance......one thing about the added insurance (if you go with that) YOU are still liable for the first 1500.00 EVEN with the added insurance and by the looks of all the Jeeps we saw on the island they all have a lot of character on them.....granted some more than others but anyways no need to bring a copy of your policy down just a current insurance card....whole process with Courtesy was very very easy no problems at all!
