Trip Report - August 3 - 16, 2013 (Day One)
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:20 pm
This was our 5th trip in 5 years. In tow: Me and my husband, D. We're mid-30's, and no kids (yet). We discovered STJ 5 years ago on our honeymoon, and we've been back every year since. We always go in August because of my job. (Blah blah blah - y'all remember this from my previous trip reports, I'm sure.)
Day 1: Travel Day
Last year, we had to wake up at some ungodly hour - like 2am - since we were flying from Charleston to Charlotte to St. Thomas. (We live outside Columbia.) This year, none of that. Direct from Charlotte to St. Thomas. This allowed us to wake up much later - 4:45am. I jest. But it was nice getting those extra couple of hours of zzzz. (Our flight left around 9:45am-ish, and arrived around 1:15pm-ish.)
I enjoyed two cupcakes for breakfast (hey - it was my actual BIRTHDAY, and #35 at that, so that's allowed
) and a big cup of coffee. We got cash and gas, and we were on the way. Arrived in Charlotte about 7:20am. WORST TIME FINDING PARKING. What recession?!? Where are all these people going?!? Hopefully not St. John! (You think I'm kidding.... 
)
We had talked about upgrading to First Class if we had the option, ESPECIALLY since it was my 35th birthday, and ESPECIALLY since we had a direct flight (ie, more time to enjoy the "free" drinks / food / etc.).
The birthday gods shone down on us. Lo and behold, there were 2 available First Class Seats side by side. SOLD!! $500 total for the upgrade, and totally worth it. We enjoyed lunch and drinks (which included RUM - when in (or on the way to) Rome....) and plenty of room to spread out and chillax and take it all in.
Landed. Walked past the suckers in the terminal, grabbed our two rum shots (guava and .... I forget), and since we were in First Class, I was the FIRST lady to the baggage claim restrooms. THAT will probably never happen again!!! Waited just a few minutes for our luggage, and shared a taxi to Red Hook with a few others.
Remembered to pay the $2.50 for the suitcase for the ferry this year (yay - small victories, y'all), and off we went. We were able to get on the 2pm ferry, and my mom saw me on the St. John Spice Webcam around 2:20pm.
Since we were staying at the Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel, we decided to check in instead of dragging ourselves and our luggage to St. John Car Rental first. (The very kind and hospitable) Denise welcomed us, and showed us to our room (#4 - larger than most, and tres nice!). It was being cleaned (I previously told her we'd be there on the 3pm ferry - I underestimated the efficiency of baggage claim!!), so we left our stuff there, and walked over to St. John Car Rental....where we waited about 40 minutes for someone to come back from lunch. We were there waiting along with 2 other couples, so we just enjoyed the chat.
Sign the papers, orange jeep is all ours. Off to Coral Bay we go. Shipwreck is our first meal on island this year, and boy was it yummy. Conch fritters were had (of COURSE they were - we are conch fritters connoisseurs), as were fries and curry nut shrimp. I also enjoyed the FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER PIE (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!), and of course, we enjoyed some tasty beverages.
It was still sunny out, so we stopped by D's favorite beach - Maho, for some pictures.
Then we went back to the Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel and crashed.
Literally.
Day 1: Travel Day
Last year, we had to wake up at some ungodly hour - like 2am - since we were flying from Charleston to Charlotte to St. Thomas. (We live outside Columbia.) This year, none of that. Direct from Charlotte to St. Thomas. This allowed us to wake up much later - 4:45am. I jest. But it was nice getting those extra couple of hours of zzzz. (Our flight left around 9:45am-ish, and arrived around 1:15pm-ish.)
I enjoyed two cupcakes for breakfast (hey - it was my actual BIRTHDAY, and #35 at that, so that's allowed
) and a big cup of coffee. We got cash and gas, and we were on the way. Arrived in Charlotte about 7:20am. WORST TIME FINDING PARKING. What recession?!? Where are all these people going?!? Hopefully not St. John! (You think I'm kidding.... ) We had talked about upgrading to First Class if we had the option, ESPECIALLY since it was my 35th birthday, and ESPECIALLY since we had a direct flight (ie, more time to enjoy the "free" drinks / food / etc.).
The birthday gods shone down on us. Lo and behold, there were 2 available First Class Seats side by side. SOLD!! $500 total for the upgrade, and totally worth it. We enjoyed lunch and drinks (which included RUM - when in (or on the way to) Rome....) and plenty of room to spread out and chillax and take it all in.
Landed. Walked past the suckers in the terminal, grabbed our two rum shots (guava and .... I forget), and since we were in First Class, I was the FIRST lady to the baggage claim restrooms. THAT will probably never happen again!!! Waited just a few minutes for our luggage, and shared a taxi to Red Hook with a few others.
Remembered to pay the $2.50 for the suitcase for the ferry this year (yay - small victories, y'all), and off we went. We were able to get on the 2pm ferry, and my mom saw me on the St. John Spice Webcam around 2:20pm.
Since we were staying at the Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel, we decided to check in instead of dragging ourselves and our luggage to St. John Car Rental first. (The very kind and hospitable) Denise welcomed us, and showed us to our room (#4 - larger than most, and tres nice!). It was being cleaned (I previously told her we'd be there on the 3pm ferry - I underestimated the efficiency of baggage claim!!), so we left our stuff there, and walked over to St. John Car Rental....where we waited about 40 minutes for someone to come back from lunch. We were there waiting along with 2 other couples, so we just enjoyed the chat.
Sign the papers, orange jeep is all ours. Off to Coral Bay we go. Shipwreck is our first meal on island this year, and boy was it yummy. Conch fritters were had (of COURSE they were - we are conch fritters connoisseurs), as were fries and curry nut shrimp. I also enjoyed the FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER PIE (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!), and of course, we enjoyed some tasty beverages.
It was still sunny out, so we stopped by D's favorite beach - Maho, for some pictures.
Then we went back to the Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel and crashed.
Literally.
This was a Queen.