USVI-On-Line

Wow. I am sitting here packing up for my first trip ever to St John. I'm heading out from Atlanta on Thursday AM. I can't wait.

Anyway, some questions....

I plan on doing some hiking each day. Do you folks recommend boots or will some running shoes do? I wouldn't' think the terrain is too rugged. So, I was leaning to the much lighter runners.

what time do the night time festivities start and end at the local watering holes? From reading some on this forum, it sounds like it starts at happy hour and goes until....? will I be able to get a taxi home to my villa in Peter Bay when it is time to go home?

How long of a drive is it from Cruz Bay to Peter Bay? It doesn't look to far in a straight line. But, the road looks really curvy!

Anybody else heading down next week?

Any tips for the rookie virgin islanders would be appreciated!!

Welcome to the forum, Reidder.

I will be there starting Tues. night for a week with 3 gals. How many are in your group? There is a forum get together at the Beach Bar on the 29th around 4:30 or whenever you get there.

Are you not renting a car? I'm not sure, but I think taxis run until about midnight. Not as late as the bars stay open.

I think Peter Bay is about a 10 drive. Maybe less.

I don't hike too much, but I think running shoes would be fine.

I don't know about taxi's going to villas. What is the opinion on this? Will taxi's take you to your villa, assuming it's pretty close to CB?

welcome and enjoy your trip.

Hey, Reidder,

We are leaving out of Atlanta Friday morning (5 days and a wake up!). We are having a beach bar gatherings on 7/29 and 8/2 at 4:30 pm if you are still on St. John.

This is a first trip for us as well, so I can only tell you what I've picked up on the forum. Most people take Teva sandals for hiking, but if you are doing "SERIOUS" hiking, you might want something that protects your feet better. Did you pick up the book, "Feet, Fins and Four wheel drive"? It goes into all the trails for hiking and jeep 4 wheel drive trips and answers all these questions. As far as "night life", night starts pretty early on St. John. Sun sets very early. Normally the beach bar and woody's start getting busy as people come in out of the sun early afternoon.... and I'm guessing goes on until fairly late.

This forum has been so valuable to us in our planning. Ask any specific questions and use the search function to see if there are prior postings.

Hope to see you there!

Boots? Perish the thought! My wife and I have hiked most of the trails on STJ. We aren't spring chickens, and my wife was in a very serious auto accident about 10 years ago. Damage to her knee was bad. She wears Tevas.Everywhere!

CYpressgirl,

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure about the rental car situation. This is one of those trips where someone else is doing all of the groundwork. So, if I don't have to rent one myself, I won't.

From the sounds of it, it seems like most people just get loaded and make the short drive home in their rental! I'd rather take a taxi!

There are 8 of us in our group. 4 of us coming down Thursday and the other four filtering in over the weekend.

JT wrote:Boots? Perish the thought! My wife and I have hiked most of the trails on STJ. We aren't spring chickens, and my wife was in a very serious auto accident about 10 years ago. Damage to her knee was bad. She wears Tevas.Everywhere!

Cool. I thought it might be overkill. I really didn't want all that weight in my luggage!

I know last March when we stayed in town at Cruz Views condos we walked into town at night and taxied back. I'm pretty sure they stopped service around midnight. Usually by then I'm pooped and ready to go to bed. The day starts pretty early on STJ. Some days it's hard to leave the villa once you've showered from the beach, had a few drinks, watched the sunset. It's nice to have food around for those nights or call Ronnie's Pizza. I'm sure he delivers to Peter Bay.

I would not drink excessiely and drive across the island late at night, that's why we usually stay pretty close to town.

The only problem not have a jeep is that there is so much to see that you won't beable to just getting from your villa to town is hard going back is easier because all the taxis in town I would get wheels split it with some of the others.
Tom

Not easy to get a taxi out to PB.......better to just have more freedom to see the island and rent a jeep.
and happy hour starts at 3p, but for some happy hour is all day.........

JT wrote:Boots? Perish the thought! My wife and I have hiked most of the trails on STJ. We aren't spring chickens, and my wife was in a very serious auto accident about 10 years ago. Damage to her knee was bad. She wears Tevas.Everywhere!

The only place I've wanted boots are the trails up from Lameshur to Bordeaux Mountain (1200') and over to Reef Bay. These are very hot exposed climbs. Actually, they are so bloody hot and dry that I'll never do them again. Some of the trail on the South side have cactus on the edges of the trail.

That being said, it's been 7 years since I brought anything but Tevas. My daughters do most of the trails in flip flops.

Cheers, RickG