USVI-On-Line

There is no way I'll ever be able to keep this a secret but I'm gonna try. Her 50th birthday is not until December, but I'm already planning.

All I've got so far is a reservation with Captain John for the day of her birthday. That was step one.

Step two will be deciding whether I want it to be just the two of us, or whether I want to include some friends. It would be so cool to arrive at the dock for our boat trip day and have her best friend waiting there as a surprise. Not sure we can pull that off though.

The friends/no friends decision will determine whether we get a villa or stay in town at Grande Bay. I really loved the convenience of Grande Bay for the couple of nights we stayed there last year.

Also thinking about a few nights on Jost or Virgin Gorda. Oh boy, planning this is gonna be fun.

Sounds GREAT! I hope it is a surprise!

my husband did that for my 40th and it was the best present ever---what a lucky lady your wife is to have a guy as thoughtful as you!

Good Boy!
(I'll have to "accidentally" leave this post up on my hubby's computer to give him your great birthday idea )

Best present ever!

That is awesome! I will print this and leave it on my husband's dresser.

I'd give you the old "Atta' Boy...!", but you're making me look bad, Amigo!!!
Just kidding, of course.
Wonderful gift for the beloved. Looking forward to watching this baby unfold!
Smiles-
MJ

If you invite someone, make sure it is someone you have traveled with, this coming from the voice of experience.

What I can recommend, is sending a note to 50 friends and family members right now. Ask them to send a birthday card to a mutual friend or family member and give them a deadline of 2 weeks before your trip.
Make sure you get 50, and on the morning of her birthday have her open 50 cards from everyone that loves and cares for her. I did that for Chip's 40th and he was so surprised. People from all over the country sent cards, people he had not heard from in years. It was a really great gift.

What a great way to celebrate a milestone!! Very thoughtful!!

Lucky gal!!!

Adding friends, IMHO, is always so much fun

This is too funny! My husband, myself and a friend of ours are planning a surprise vacation to St. John in December as well. Our friend's wife has no clue! She will find out on their wedding anniversary in June. Now, I just wish I could get my husband to do something like that for me.
Have fun planning, we have been!

What a great birthday present. I say get as many friends there as possible and build some more memories.

I h ope she does not read the Forum.

No she doesn't. I'll have to make sure she doesn't start.

My latest thought is to have our three college age daughters come down for the weekend and join us for the boat trip. They would enjoy staying at the St. John Inn or something for a couple of nights. I could have Captain John pick them up before he meets us on the dock and they would already be on board when he pulls up. That would surprise the heck out of her. She would probably start crying.

Would be an expensive surprise and they would have to miss class on a Friday right before final exams so it might not be such a good idea. I am enjoying the planning though.

Slowly inching along on the planning. Nixed the idea of the kids coming. Too close to their final exams.

Broached the idea with two other couples and now I have two definite maybe's. Starting to bring back bad memories of being the ringleader on spring break and Ga/Fla football game trips in my college days. Never could get anybody to commit til the last minute back then.

Those two couples plus 3 others have endorsed the vague idea of a joint trip in the past, so I'm at the point now where I'm planning for anywhere between 2 and 6 couples. Frustrating but fun to look at all the villa options. Will contact the others very soon. Still trying to decide whether one of them would fit in with the rest. Some of the folks only know each other in passing.

I put together a budget spreadsheet that includes the villa, airfare, bvi trip, dinghy day, supper from Ted, rental cars, airport transfers/ferries, and a lot of food and drink. Probably padded it a bit, but I don't want anybody to get a nasty surprise on the cost.

Good idea from xislandgirl on the cards from all those people. Gonna keep that in mind as the time draws closer.

Main reason for this update is that I feel good enough about my progress to try to set up a ticker for the first time and wanted to test it. So here we go.