Getting to St. John NOT half the fun?

[Gromit]

I was just reading an article on Frank Barnako's site:

http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_j ... tting.html

Evidently the VI hired someone to do a tourism service "audit" of sorts and you should see what he had to say and the comments it prompted from readers (perhaps some of you). I am a PR Director so professionally I know where he's coming from. But apparently he has NO CLUE. Thank god some of the commenters did!

Clearly some people want to be "catered to" and he's suggesting how to do that.

But I gotta be honest and say that the effort involved in getting to STJ IS half the fun for me.

Sure I'd love Scotty to beam me over to STJ direct from my living room here at home, but I'd love the world to be filled with rainbows and eat lollipops and ice cream for breakfast too. But it ain't gonna happen -- OK maybe I do eat ice cream for breakfast on occasion-- so sue me.

I figure you get out of STJ as much as you put into it. If you want a lotion butler and someone to kiss your A$$ constantly stay at the Ritz Carlton on STT-- that's what they do best.

But if you want a sense of adventure, discovery and the ability to feel like you are a part of the island experience for even short time on this earth, and you're lucky enough to have found STJ then you are all the better for it and STJ delivers on every one of these promises.

Personally, I think we should make folks pass a "test" and a know a password before setting foot on the ferry before coming to STJ.

The test would be if they smiled and said "good morning/good afternoon/good evening" before saying another word to someone and the Password would be "Peace"

Cause if you can't handle either, you will NEVER get STJ.

Thanks for letting me vent. I just hate to see the VI waste valuable resources on "consultants" who clearly have no clue.

[Nic in KC]

Have to comment that we met some people who definitely didn't "get" St. John. They were often the daytrippers from the cruise ship who were demanding service and being rude and offending locals. We were appalled by some of the behavior and wanted to say...exactly what did you expect from this island??? Interesting article!

While planning our trip to St. John we always referred to it as an adventure into the unknown. Like you said, if you don't want the adventure, stay at the Ritz!

[Barb Y]

If the people that are reading that review are the type that need to be "catered to", let them read it. I hope that turns them off of visiting. If they feel that the Islanders are rude to them, maybe they need to take a look at themselves and how they come across. You get what you give. The only part I don't like about going to St. John is coming home.

[pswlrw]

Leaving St. John on the car barge a few weeks ago, my cousin (who had just enjoyed her first week ever on STJ and defintely "got it") had to move away from a woman who was complaining LOUDLY about the car barge "Are they going to wait for the WHOLE thing to fill up" "They have to have a schedule" "How long are they going to make us wait". My poor cousin said she had to get away from her because the woman was overwhelming her with negative vibes! Hopefully, this harpy will NOT be returning to STJ

[Ron in South Texas]

I ran into the same type of person last year in the Bahamas. There are small ferries that run from Paradise Island to downtown Nassau. They are supposed to leave every half hour. Of course, the ferry captains are on Island Time. One lady was complaining that it was 6:00 and it was time to go. I looked at her and said "Do you see any clocks? Does the captain have on a watch?" Of course not. I told her that we would leave when the boat was full. Sure enough, about 6:20, the boat was full and we returned to Paradise Island.

Those are the type of people that "don't get" the Caribbean. I little courtesy and patience goes a long way. I'm always nice and use my "Texas manners" (yes m'am, no m'am, yes sir, no sir, 'mornin', afternoon, evenin')and I usually get that in return.

[fbarnako]

The consultant was Berkeley Young of Randall Travel Marketing. I was planning to summarize the dozens of comments ... will be happy to wait for more to be posted ... and we'll get his react.

Links to the articles and podcasts:

http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_j ... _st_j.html

http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_j ... tting.html

[BabaAus]

Berkeley just did what he was hired to do (can't blame a guy for earning his buck) ...and let's all hope that his report is w-i-d-e-l-y circulated so that those who want another Holiday Inn/MacDonalds/
WalMart vacation go somewhere else. If anything, StJ needs to put the brakes on further tourism-oriented development until they can get it together to preserve their precious environment. I was bummed to see the Subway sandwich shop in Cruz Bay. Does that mean that it's only a matter of time before Dunkin' Donuts arrives and installs a "convenient" drive-thru?

[Bug]

What's wrong with STJ being STJ? Why do people think a place should change to suit their taste? IF I like McDonalds, I don't expect Burger King to serve McDonalds food just so I eat there.

STJ is a low-key (sorry for the use of this but) be-as-you-are type place. When you visit for the first time, you know this. IF you don't like it, don't come back. Go stay at a 5 star resort that caters to your every whim and be happy. However, if you want a place that you can just be - no expectations - go to STJ. Isn't that what the spirit of STJ is, just being who you are. STJ is what it is - who are we to try to change it?

[Diana2]

I hope this article is WIDELY circulated!!!!!!!!! We don't need any more people 'discovering' STJ, for heaven sake!! Especially the needy, demanding "ugly Americans" who expect to snap their fingers and be waited on as if they are royalty.

I love the mayhem at the taxi stand at STT airport and the madness at the ferry dock. It reminds me that I'm in the islands and it's time to go with the flow. I love the fact that there aren't rows and rows and lounge chairs and umbrellas to rent at the beach and there are no waiters to fetch umbrella drinks at the snap of your fingers. We want those tourist to find their perfect place where all their needs can be met........and it won't be STJ.

[susan & herb]

I remember many years ago we were at The Dawn Beach Hotel on St Martin (Dawn Beach Hotel is no longer, washed away by hurricane)and some people came up to the beach bar and you knew right away they were from the "cruise boat". They were youngish, in their thirties, with NY cruise attire. I can say that because I am from NY originally.They were making real asses of themselves at the bar ,even making remarks about the bartender and he just went along with it. After they left, we went over to the bar and my husband made some remark regarding the group and their behavior and basically he said he sees it all the time, and just goes along with it. Tips I guess. They certainly were "the ugly Americans", and I have to say I was embarassed.

Yes it does take a few hours to get into Island time, but isn't that why we go to SJ and not a high rise hotel somewhere that has plastic decor that is the same in every room regardless of where you are.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Indeed, getting here is half the fun. It's like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" each trip: Drive to faraway airport, stay overnight at a park/sleep/fly, wake up at 3:00 am, catch shuttle to airport, fly to whichever airline's hub, catch another flight to STT, taxi to ferry, ferry to STJ, haul bags to Jeep rental agency, Jeep scramble to your destination. Door to door, about 24 hours. I wouldn't want it any other way. Each leg of the journey tells a story. If it were easy to get to it wouldn't seen so exotic.

Keeps out the riff-raff, too.

Marcia (Mrs. Pete)

[flip-flop]

I, too, love that its hard to get there. You have to be committed! The more relaxed about it you are the better your experience will be.

I often find those who have trouble with the flight attendant, the baggage claim guys, the ferry dudes, the car rental place, the villa, the servers....need I go on ... are the "common denominator" in their woeful situations.

I have run into an unpleasant person or two, but you know what I have been unpleasant a time or two in my every day life. Its my vacation but its another work day for them.

[caribechris]

I agree with Diana2, I have been going to STJ for many years and I like the atmosphere here, I also miss some of the old days here as well, it was even a bit more rustic then. If people want to be pampered there are enough places for them, I like STJ the way it is!!!

[bj]

Tourists come to St. John because there are NO massive foodliners, but is a Nature’s Nook; NO high rise concrete parking garages, but a Slimmans parking lot; NO two lane high speed highways but a slow one lane; NO fast food restaurants, but a local Uncle Joe's BBQ or Sheila's Pot; NO sad, depressing bars, but a local Patrick's or Woody's with real people hanging out.

If only the "catered to" tourist OR new residents come to St. John that will be the islands demise. St. John is changing and that is a very sad fact. Nobody is against progress. Most local Virgin Islanders are just for common sense and planning.

[Ron_L]

I think the whole travel thing is just intimidating for a lot of people. The security rules (don't forget your quart-sized see-through bag!), the changing pass port regulations, yada yada yada... It all makes a lot of people look for the simplest, shortest travel route. They look at the travel portion as an obstacle, not part of the experience. I see these people in airports all of the time. You can tell immediately that they are "amateurs". I try to help them when I can, but unfortunately I am usually running to make my own flight.

I travel frequently on business (the next 7 weeks include Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, San Diego and LA) and I often joke that the last thing I want to do for vacation is to get on another airplane, but I enjoyed the trip to STJ (as much as I can enjoy sitting in a cramped seat for 4 1/2 hours ) partly because it was new, and mostly because I knew what was waiting for me at the other end!