newbie, solo traveller, last minute trip ADVICE PLEASE!

loria · Post by **loria** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:01 pm

OK forum friends-- i know i can count on you for some great ideas--
my best friend for ever just managed to book a last minute vacation..never been to stj-- but he is arriving on Saturday afternoon (the 23rd) and staying until the following Friday i think--He is trying to do this uber cheap and he manged to get a room at tamarind court (last minute cancellation) --and will not have a car. I would love to try to put together a thread of ideas for him about what each of you guys thinks your favorite inexpensive places to hang/eat/drink (in Cruz bay ideally-- though he might take the VITRAN over the hill-- also what is the best place to rent snorkel gear in town (cruz bay watersports?)
and if he were to splurge on one activity what would you reccommend (sailing trip to snorkel with captain phil? ferry to jost for the day? sunset sail?)
He just had back surgery and really needs this get away and while he is not incapacitated, i am not sure how much serious hiking he'd be up for (in fact i would say not so much -- he needs to rest!)
Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say-- and THANK YOU! I am SO excited for him--it's almost like going there on friday myself!

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:39 pm

I wonder if a day trip might be too much for his back- that channel can be bumpy with a chop. I was thinking a day trip to Honeymoon could be a nice idea. He could take a cab and rent his snorkle gear and a chair at the new hut there, then have lunch at the Beach Bar restaurant there- Liamsaunt said they have fabulous sushi now. Then he'd be snorkling around other people and not alone and they could help him get his gear just right.

loria · Post by **loria** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:58 pm

i should clarify-- he is walking and in good shape-- but probably should n't tax himself too much --he is a decent swimmer and snorkler

dreamshark · Post by **dreamshark** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:18 pm

Loria, what a dear friend you are to be so excited about his trip! (Some lesser souls might be envious).

I've been amusing myself by planning exactly this type of trip (last-minute cheapie trip w/no jeep). Here's what I came up with for day trips:

* Visit the National Park Service at the north edge of town, browse the gift shop, and sign up for any short guided ranger walk. I went on a great one at Leinster Bay - short, flat, easy and so very interesting. Forget the Reef Bay Hike. Not only is it kind of grueling, you have to sign up months in advance. Have lunch at Mongoose Junction across the road.

*Cinnamon Bay Day: taxi to Cinnamon Bay and spend the day there. Beautiful beach with full facilities (showers, even) and a small restaurant so you don't even need to pack a lunch. Big sandy beach with easy entry and decent snorkeling. Scenic sugar-mill ruins right across the street (short, easy hike on flat ground).

* Near north shore tour: get up at dawn, taxi to Trunk Bay. The idea is to get here before they start charging the $4 entry fee and (more importantly) before the tourist boats from St. Thomas arrive. Skip the snorkel trail and head right for the little cay - there are big fish around on the right-hand side. When the beach starts to fill up, take a taxi to the next beach. Repeat until ending up at Cinnamon Bay again for lunch and a shower before heading back to town. All the beaches are free except Trunk.

* Snorkel in town. Walk over to Frank Bay for a snorkel and/or to watch the sunset. I gather that the beach is small and a bit rocky but there's some reef. In any case, there's a bench under a tree for watching the sun go down.

* Walk the Lind Point trail to Honeymoon Bay, then mosey over to Caneel resort and check it out. You can use a couple of the resort beaches for free if you walk in. There are also places you can buy food and drink. Take the taxi back to town. Alternatively you can take the taxi both ways to Caneel if a rigorous 1-mile hike sounds like too much.

* Take the Vitran bus to Coral Bay. People on the forums always advise against the bus because it's apparently not terribly reliable, but my husband and I once successfully bused to Salt Pond and back and had a great day. We still laugh about the dramatic moment when the bag of key limes broke open and bounced all over the bus with all the passengers scurrying after them. I'd recommend trying to look as much like a local as possible when undertaking this adventure - there have been reports of some bus drivers being unwelcoming to tourists.

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:40 pm

A sunset sail sounds more restful than the other two boating options you mentioned.

Art lover??? Bajo el Sol in Mongoose Junction and the Coconut Coast Studios Wednesday Night Sunset Cocktail party... nice place for sunsets and meeting some local folks.

My husband recently rented fins from Low Key Watersports and was very happy with the price and the service.

Great suggestions folks!

Ed S · Post by **Ed S** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:47 pm

I also recommend renting snorkel gear from Low Key Water Sports (just across the road and a few steps up from the Beach Bar). We have rented from them for the past 2 years. And, if you pre-register, you can save an additional 15% off the rental rates. They do a nice job of fitting you for gear, which is important.
http://www.divelowkey.com/snorkelrental.html

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:26 pm

What a great friend you are! I'll bet he finds some great ideas here. If this was during our trip, we'd offer to take him with us on our adventures!
Candi's ribs, up the hill towards Starfish, has BIG lunches/dinners for around $11. Hercules Pate, down the hill, has pates for maybe $3? The takeout from Starfish isn't too expensive.
St. John will help him recuperate, for sure. Good call!

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:27 pm

Oh, and make sure he knows it's acceptable to hitchhike, as well. Point your finger (not your thumb) in the direction you want to travel.

toni · Post by **toni** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 6:40 pm

Spyglass bar for great inexpensive happy hour food, $5 sliders or fish tacos.

Woodys for cheap happy hour beer and rum drinks of course

Gretchen3 · Post by **Gretchen3** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:25 pm

Jakes sells pizza by the slice. Perfect for when I'm on my own and the staff is good company.
I think places like The Beach Bar and Woody's, among others, are great places for a person traveling alone and interested in meeting others.
He may also want to check out the schedule of events at Maho. Not sure how transportation would work though.
What a luck guy! Wishing him the best.

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 6:29 am

Let him know there is a gathering of forum peeps at the Beach Bar on Sunday around 5. We're meeting on the beach by one of the big trees. I'll be there (Tracy) with my friend (Mary).

We're a friendly group !

equineannie · Post by **equineannie** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:35 am

Snorkel gear from Low Key Watersports & day sail on the Kekoa...

dreamshark · Post by **dreamshark** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 12:13 pm

lprof wrote:...the Coconut Coast Studios Wednesday Night Sunset Cocktail party... nice place for sunsets and meeting some local folks.

Ooh, tell me more about this!! On our upcoming July trip we're spending Wednesday night in Cruz Bay. I already planned to wander over to Frank Bay to watch the sunset - so this sounds PERFECT. What is this event, and when does it start?

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 12:21 pm

This sunset party event only runs November-April, but the studio is delightful to visit all year round.
http://www.coconutcoaststudios.com/Site ... Party.html

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 12:26 pm

Just had another idea - does the Westin give vouchers for activities, in exchange for sitting through a presentation? Maybe they'd let him "visit" the pool as well?

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