USVI-On-Line

Long time lurker here! Started lurking about a year ago and now I'm registered. This is my second attempt to send this, I typed the first one directly now I'm writing this in word, is that what you guys do? I must have timed out??

Anyways, a few weeks ago I read a post that asked about Onlinevacations.com and I wanted to chime in, actually I've wanted to join the conversations a few times but never registered. Here's my story, I've been vacationing on St John since @ 1982-83 when I was @ 20 years old. My buddies and I always camped at Cinnamon Bay, which I think ran about $7 a day per guy. Surprisingly the flights from the DC area were still in the $300 range. Back then we would buy a bottle of Cruzan for @ $1.50 and a couple big cans of whatever juice the commissary had in stock then we'd pour it all into a plastic trash can. We called it jungle juice. I think the trash can was clean but I can't vouch for that. We'd always end up at the Kite. Man, we had a blast!

After I learned to grow up a little and learned to drink from a clean glass, I met my future wife. In 1991 I traded in my friends and introduced my future wifey to the island. We stayed at Gallows Point and I proposed to her on a hammock at the little beach at Gallows. The next year we honeymooned there as well. Next few years we dragged fiends down with us and stayed at various villas, I got my buddies back!!!!.

1995 child soon come! We took a 4-5 year time out from our favorite place on earth to start our family. 2000 daughter turns 5 and we are back on island, yee haa!!! ( This summer will be her 7th trip and she really loves it there) The 2000 trip was the first time we used Denise Wright at Onlinevacations.com. She handled everything from villa, jeeps, private taxis, dock greeters, boat tours, etc. We had three other couples with us that trip and one couple made their own arrangements. They hated the place they checked into, so I called Denise and asked if she could help and she found them the perfect place that same day!

Unfortunately we didn't meet Denise and her husband Gary personally until the following year. We met for drinks and dinner a couple of times (Pusser's and Skinny's I think) and we have been friends ever since! Denise does not manage the properties she advertises, however you DO NOT pay extra to go through her. She offers many many years of local knowledge, she has lived on the "laid back side" of the island for many years. If she is aware of it, she tells us when there are construction concerns "noise", remodeling concerns, privacy concerns etc. We have had very few problems with villas, however Denise has always been reachable and she addresses the problems quickly! Not only is she attentive, she is truly a beautiful person! She did not pay me to say that and she doesn't know that I'm writing this!! Oh yeah, for you art lovers, check out her originals on her web site and if you meet her ask to see her portfolio, she's very talented and reasonable! We own a couple.

I warned you that I could be long winded, but here are a few places we have stayed through the years, Cinnamon Bay, Maho/Concordia, Gallows Point, SeaCay, Caribe Villa, Belle Mer, Villa Carolina, Drakes Lookout, LeTete Rouge..... all are different experiences and we've enjoyed everyone of them!!! Thanks for your time!

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Jorge and CG I do have some photo's, mostly of the big views and candids. I haven't looked at them in a while. I believe they are the washed out look variety. At 20 I wasn't carrying a camera around much. I have a great shot of me and Doug Sica at the old Backyard, it looks like he's giving me some serious advice and a few of Victor at the Kite. I have proof that the dead tree at Cinnamon Bay was dead and in the water at that time. I'll look for the dock shots??? the dock was only a narrow strip of concrete with tires hanging from it. Jorge, we always ate some kind of breakfast sandwich at that beer stand. We are upgrading our computer this summer, at this time I cannot scan and send any, hopefully that will change soon.

Budman, Welcome to the forum. I found your post to be one of the freshest and most entertaining posts I've read in the years I've "hung out" here. Don't be a stranger!

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"After I learned to grow up a little and learned to drink from a clean glass, I met my future wife."

That's good advice.

Glad you decided to come out of the woodwork. Sounds like you're a pro and that's always helpful.

glad you were able to start posting, your stories sounds like good ones!

Welcome to the forum! I'd love to hear more of your stories about the old days.

I'd also like to get your take on Belle Mer. It's one of those houses that we always consider but it has not made it to the final selection yet.

THANKYOU for this post! I'm pretty sure it was me that asked about Online Vacations. I've spoken to Denise by phone two or three times and could definitely see what you said. She seemed so genuine and extremely helpful. I was quite impressed. I will file this information away in my overextended brain someplace for future use. Villa Carolina was one of the villas Denise recommended for us. I've also looked at Drakes View. I REALLY loved your post. Don't be a stranger now!

Welcome and thanks for sharing your stories about the old times. STJ must have been really cool back then. I wish I'd found it in the early 80's when I was in my 20's.

We just got back from spending a couple days in the mountains and wow.....I'VE GOT MAIL!!

Jorge, sorry bud I haven't had a chance to look at the photo's yet, but I'll hit that this week, also I'm in Northern VA, but Blacksburg is awesome GO HOKIES!

Chrisn, you can't go wrong with Denise, tell her exactly what you're looking for in a villa and she'll hook you up! Villa Carolina is beautiful, you can see Tortola and Coral Bay from its pool.

Liamsaunt, Belle Mer was great for us. The place is older, but I think the location is very cool! We had four adults and two kids. A/C Master in the mainhouse and A/C Master in seperate pod, and upstairs loft no A/C back then. You'll need A/C down by the water, there was a breeze but not like higher up. We stayed in the seperate pod and were very confortable, and if I remember right you had to completely close off all the natural light to run the a/c efficiently??, no big deal for us! The shower in that room is outside by the pool and you are visible from the shoulders up, my friends had to tolerate my immaturity at times, if they couldn't take a joke they would not have been invited!! The pool is super tiny, but the kids loved it. Two great things about this villa were the privacy and the pebble beach. The rounded pebbles actually roll in and out with the waves and it is hypnotic! You would find me sitting on that beach at sunrise and sunset without a single thought in my head, yeah that's usually the case, but really if you've ever heard the sound of a pebble beach you'll understand what I mean. Ask me some specifics and I'll answer them the best I can!! I would absolutely stay there again!

Sea-nile, St John is still very cool no matter what your age. I've seen alot of changes over the last 25 or so years and not all for the better. The fact that 70% of the island is park land is a blessing. When the Maho deal was up in the air I was nervous, but it looks like we lucked out! Change happens and you just go with the flow IF you have to. The island will always be 70% paradise and you can't say that about many places.

Thanks for coming out you will like it here.

Budman, welcome to the forum. I love stories like yours. One guy I know did a Boy Scout trip from Washington, DC to Cinnamon Bay. Now, that is cool.

Any pictures from the old days?

Cheers, RickG