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ok ready...trip report #1

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:20 pm
by suzi
OK Gang...finally got up the energy to start writing my trip report...maybe it will make me feel better if I relive it...

Wed. Apr.4
For those of you you are just joining us...the vacation was our family ( me, husband, twin daughters ,16 yrs old, and their friend) this was our 7th time to STJ.
Woke to a cold, rainy morning- 2 hrs early to Philly. Long long lines to check in. Took 45 min to check baggage, another 45 to get thru security- no extra time at the boarding gate. By the time we got there, they were just beginning to board!!! Man...when they say get there 2 hours ahead of time, they really mean it!!! We were on the non-stop Us Air flight. I had checked the seat assignments and knew that the plane would be full, but when we boarded, the plane was about 1/2 full!!! Peaple did not make their connection because of the weather!! Late in our vacation, we met some people from Cleaveland who were supposed to be on that flight, but just didnt make it! Sat on tarmac for 1/2 hr because of weather, then a bumpy bumpy 15 mins. once we took off. SCARY!!!! finally smoothed out. for those of you who do not know, meals are no longer included in the fare. $5.00 for a "box" lunch. But I do not ever remeber seeing anything on the web site stating this. I would have brought my own sandwiches if I had known this. And get this...the plane is half full, it is one of the busiest times to fly, and they run out of sandwiches!!!!! Now does that make any sense to you??? Also, it was FREEZING on the plane. I was wrapped up in my jacket and my husbands jacket, and had my hood pulled up!!! AND, the overhead lights didnt work!!!! It was so absurd that we were laughing!!! Us AIr has gone down the tubes!!!
Feeling excitement as we see the islands in the distance. Landed and felt the "blast" as we got off the plane. Did not have to wait long for the luggage, maybe 20 min. Got right on a taxi and made the 3:00 ferry in Red Hook. Just as a refresher...$11 per person, plus $2 per bag. This fare changed on the way back ( according to taxi driver on the way back ), but I will fill you in on that later. then $5.00 pp plus $2 per bag for the ferry. We pretty much counted on $100 for a party of 5, just to get to stj. New terminal not finished yet.

Ohhhhh Man....that wonderful wonderful feeling
of seeing the "Welcome to St. John" sign. Took the obligatory pic. Matt, from Lavender Hill, met us, loaded up the luggage. The girls walked up to LH and Hubs and I walked up to get car from Bouganvilla Leasing.
Lavender Hill 9E
We really liked it here. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. The master is upstairs, and is actually a loft, as it opens a bit to the downstairs living area. It has its own bath and its own balcony. Also, big closet, and TV and king size bed. We gave this space to the girls, since there were 3 of them. It was almost
like a neat "dorm" for them/. Hub and I in downstairs bedroom with the bath right across the hall. the wrap around porch was awesome and spacious. The porch furniture was plentiful. the view was awesome! the kitchen looked lime it had been redone. It was well equipped to the extreme. Too much of everything. The owners seriously should go thru the kitchen and do a major "throw-away". there was one whole cabinet of pots,pans, cookie sheets, baking pans, and more pots and pans. And then there was another whole cabinet of plastic containers and tupperware and plastic pitchers. Extra coffee pots and junk!!! There were plenty of dishes and glasses.
the unit had a dial- up compouter and that did come in handy a fw times. There were 5 really nice beach chairs, and 5 beach towels. The grounds were very well kept and the pool was clean, but VERY COLD!!! Laundry facilities were on site, down stairs, and detergent was complimentary, and no charge to wash or dry. I thought that this was a nice amenity, altho we did not do any laundry. 3 nice kitties also lived on the property .
First night we walked down to Lime Inn, with only a 10 min wait. they do not take reservations on Wed. nights because it is all-you-can-eat shrimp. 3 of us had the shrimp, which was yummy- other 2 had mahi mahi, which was fab! OUr plates were totally clean!
Back to LH and we couldnt keep our eyes open. So hapopy we were FINALLY here!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:34 pm
by waterguy
Great report I have wrote off Us air and won't fly them anymore.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:45 pm
by brenda
Enjoying your trip report so far. Sorry to hear about US Air. We are flying them again in June because we have found the best flight times and prices from Detroit. Sad to hear about the decline. They only had lunchboxes for $5:00 that had breadsticks and crax, chips and salsa, cookie, or something like that last time we flew. We didn't buy it.

Thanks for the info about the RH Ferry Terminal. I had inquired in another post whether or not it was finished.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:51 pm
by cypressgirl
Can't wait for more. I'm also interested in Lavender Hill for my mom-daughter trip. Do you have pics??

Glad you made it there with no delays!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:05 pm
by b-as-u-r
No kidding, that WELCOME is like the thing that makes that travel day finally feel so worth it!! A little off the topic, but I have 16-year old twins too. Actually, they turn 17 on the 17th, just a few more days. I have a boy and a girl. Yeah, that was it for us. Well, looking forward to your next trip report. Enjoy!!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:09 pm
by PA Girl
Can't wait to hear more!

We experienced the same sold-out yet half-empty US Air flight in Feb. We boarded early because of our son and the flight crew was telling us the flight was 100% booked. Apparently lots and lots missed the flight due to ice.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:40 pm
by Ron_L
Thanks for the report, Suzi! I've never been a US Air fan. i do have to fly them once in a while (to Philly, typically) and I usually regret it.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:25 pm
by SRT
Hi, Did you have AC in your unit? Was construction noise a factor? I'm trying to figure out why Gallows Point is so much more expensive. Thanks for the report. SRT

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:28 pm
by liamsaunt
Oh no! We booked this year on USAir via Philly. I am thinking I might regret this decision. The prices are so high, I went with the best fare I could get. Urgh. :(

I agree that the Lime Inn shrimp is yummy!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:55 pm
by brenda
liamsaunt wrote:Oh no! We booked this year on USAir via Philly. I am thinking I might regret this decision. The prices are so high, I went with the best fare I could get. Urgh. :(

I agree that the Lime Inn shrimp is yummy!
Just keep in mind that is a means to get to paradise :)

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:25 pm
by waterguy
You have to try Lime Inns mussle appatizer "sp" I order 2 and have it for my meal

Hooray!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:34 pm
by NoWorriesMom
Grrrreat trip report! Can't wait for next installment!
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:39 pm
by sea-nile
Yea a trip report!
Great job, thanks!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:55 pm
by brenda
waterguy wrote:You have to try Lime Inns mussle appatizer "sp" I order 2 and have it for my meal
I'm quite picky about mussels, I've had some bad ones.I have to say that the Lime Inn mussels dish is one of the best ever. Don't know the "fancy" name for it either, but it is basically very fresh mussels in a lemon, garlic, cream sauce. The bread that is supplied for dipping is excellent as well. OK, now my mouth is watering...

Since we are on the food subject, the escargot in puff pastry at La Taps is also excellent. Only 49 more days!