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Spiders on STJ
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:44 pm
by GracesMom
We are planning our first trip to STJ and I was looking at pictures my sister's friend took on a recent trip to STJ. She ha pictures of a couple, quite large spiders, including 1 in their villa I was just wondering how common are these spiders? Is it common to see them in the villas? I have a pretty bad fear of spiders, and I usually have nightmares for several nights after seeing large, hairy spiders (something my husband does not enjoy, getting woke up in the middle of the night with me saying there are spiders in the bed!)
Don't get me wrong, I am a country girl and see spiders daily, but large hairy spiders freak me out. And the spiders in the photos I saw put most of our spiders to shame! Of course, maybe after a couple of painkillers, the spiders won't bother me as much!
Thanks,
Angie
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:14 pm
by Jost Kidding
On our first trip to St John we encountered a small scorpion in the kitchen of our villa. No hairy spiders though...
I would imagine there is a strong possibility of encountering both, but don't let it get to you. After about an hour on island I think spiders will drift from your mind.
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:37 pm
by liamsaunt
There are lots of spiders on the island. The only time we had hairy spiders inside the villa was when we stayed high up on the hillside in Coral Bay. We had tarantulas and lizards in the house (and sometimes birds when we kept the sliders open). We just picked up the big spiders with paper and threw them over the deck. I totally get that you are skeeved out, but spiders won't hurt you. I'd rather have spiders than roaches. Or rats.
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:14 pm
by lark22
I know that spiders are good for eating bugs, and I know they won't hurt me, but that doesn't help the instinctive fear...I'm definitely an arachnophobe. Luckily, I've only seen one large spider in a villa, and we watched it come in from outside when we were coming in one night. So our track record is pretty good -- 6 visits, 5 villas, 1 large spider.
I'd prefer zero, but what can ya do?
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:42 pm
by inuny
Luckily spiders are one of the few things I'm not scared of. But I understand. To decrease bugs in the house, I think you should look for a villa that is not totally open, that has screens, and that does not have an open air shower.
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:15 pm
by mindehankins
We've only been to St. John twice, but we've never seen any spiders.
Yay us
I totally get the nightmare thing!
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:43 pm
by Lovermont
I don't want to discount the fact that others have had experiences with spiders, but in my 5 trips to STJ (staying at campgrounds for 2 of those trips), I can not remember any incidents with spiders. Since the OP has a phobia of them, I think it's important to mention that there's a good chance of a non-spider vacation.
Spiders
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:21 am
by ColatoStJohn
The only time I've seen a spider on St. John was on the Reef Bay Hike (and she was NOT a hairy spider). Obviously YMMV.
I used to be much more afraid of spiders, but living in the South is sort of exposure therapy for arachnaphobia - we have tons of spiders, beetles, fire ants and palmetto bugs (giant flying roaches). Plain old spiders don't bother me anymore.
I'd still run screaming from the room like a little girl if I saw a tarantula or scorpion in the villa.
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:52 am
by piscesgirl0314
On our last trip we encountered a HUGE spide and a scorpion...not a fan of either...that being said, of all the trips we've taken this was the only time we saw any of the above mentioned...I HATE SPIDERS but it certainly wouldn't keep me away from St John...
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:00 am
by waterguy
In my 20 some thing trips I haven't ever seen a spider in the house
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:41 am
by grandpainin
We have been going there for 15 years and have not seen a spider yet.
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:08 pm
by sailorgirl
Sorry, but had both tarantula and scorpions in my rental houses. make sure to shake out your shoes before putting them on.
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:12 pm
by Teresa_Rae
We've seen some massive spiders on STJ, but never in a house...we've seen them while hiking. The biggest one we've ever seen was along the Reef Bay Trail.
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:15 pm
by Earlyriser
I am not a big fan of spiders either. I understand there is a purpose for everything and I wish I could like them..but that's not the case. I would take a snake any day over a spider! They are so scary, like a big hairy hand! EEEEEKKKKKKK! When we first entered our tent at Maho and opened the door there were a few interesting insects around. I saw something big and black run across the floor. But that was the first and the last time I saw something that looked to be a spider. The only other thing related to that was when we went to the top of Peace Hill. There were so many holes in the ground. The workers that were cutting the grass said that they were spider holes. I'm not sure if they were kidding around or not!:)
Teresa_Rae- when you say "massive", like how big?
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:44 pm
by mahojim
sailorgirl wrote:Sorry, but had both tarantula and scorpions in my rental houses. make sure to shake out your shoes before putting them on.
Ditto for me. I know they're not there to hurt me, but I have this irrational fear of waking up with one on my head and squashing it to death on my face.
Yucko.
Smiles-
MJ