USVI-On-Line

Hi all -
We will be on STJ for a week in March (myself, DH and DD age 4), renting a house in Chocolate Hole area and rent a Jeep to drive. Basically we plan to go on a BVI trip one day, and spend our other 5 days going to beaches on STJ (maybe rent a dinghy one of those days to explore). Basically hope to do about 2 beaches a day on STJ.

I have noted posts of favorite beaches and made a list.(Maho, Cinnamon, Francis, Trunk, Honeymoon, Saltpond, Vies, Jumbie, Gibney, White and Watermelon/Leinster)

Here's the place I need some help.
1)Getting to the particular beaches. Are they marked well? If not, is their any single source (don't want to take multiple books/maps) which can tell us how to get where best?
2) Which of the best above are best for our 4 yr old?
3) If renting a dinghy for the day - which beaches/sites would be best for that day?
4) Which are the most crowded on weekends?

Other suggestion needed - we'll be arriving to STJ about 7:30 pm then have to get checked-in to the villa - so where would you suggest trying to get some dinner close to 9pm on the west end of the island?

Dining suggestions for the week - I've written down lots of places folks like but

Help me make a list of maybe 7-10 places best for lunch and 10 best best for dinner.

Dinner- wise mostly looking for casual but we will probably want one top-end "special" dinner.

So tell me if you were only going to one "special" restaurant which one would it be?

Sorry to have so many questions but trying to mentally map our week. Needless to say we're gonna be flexible since this vacation is all about relaxation but want to learn tips from those you know.

Thanks in advance.

"Here's the place I need some help.
1)Getting to the particular beaches. Are they marked well? If not, is their any single source (don't want to take multiple books/maps) which can tell us how to get where best?
2) Which of the best above are best for our 4 yr old?
3) If renting a dinghy for the day - which beaches/sites would be best for that day?
4) Which are the most crowded on weekends? "

Beaches: See the St. John Beaches Guide on the header above.

Beaches for a youngster, IMHO Trunk, Cinnamon( both have places you can get food and drinks (grow up ones included) and they have lots of services. For ease of acess Maho and Hawksnest. Maho has no facilities though. Hawsnest has pinic benches in covered areas and toilets but no running water. Hawksnest also has good snorkling on reefs right off the beach good for introducing the young ones. One word of warning, it tends to get shalow in the reefs so you might want to go around the edges with a youngster. The far right on Hawksnest near the rocks has very good shade and a great place to set up for the day.

All the beaches with easy acess are crowded on the weekends, but crowded is a relative term, were not talking Coney Island on 4th of July .

As for Dingy rentals, just ask the operator, Noah's Little Arks can give you good advice about where to go, it might depend on the wind and surf conditons on that particular day.

Restaurant suggestions:

For the first night, Banana Deck or carry in from Candi's. For a special night, Stone Terrace.

You'll have a great time. Our kids were 3,5,6 when we took there the first time.

Most of the beaches on your list are North Shore so you'll be able to find most of them very easily. When our kids were toddlers, they liked Cinnamon, Maho and Trunk the best because they have the biggest beaches. Salt Pond and Vies are on the other side of the island and a little harder to find if it's your first time, but all you'll need is one good map or guidebook.

As far as 9 pm dinner on your first night, you'll need to go into Cruz Bay. Should be a 10 minute drive (max) from your villa. Where you go really depends on how tired your 4 yr old is and how quickly you want to get served. You should be able to get in and out fairly quickly at that time.

For a nice dinner out, our favorites are Asolare, Stone Terrace, Zozo's and Chateau Bordeaux. You should be able to find their menus online so you can see what style of cuisine suits you best. They are pretty much all the same $$$. There are a couple of newer places that have opened in the last year or two that other posters can weigh in on.

You'll be there before you know it.

We traveled w/ young teenagers last time and the first night, after a long day of traveling, we just picked up Uncle Joe's barbeque and ate at the villa and hung out at the pool.

My favorite "special" restaurant is La Tapa.

Another option for dining when arriving late would be to have provisions delivered to your villa before you arrive. Katilady and other caterers provide this service. Or perhaps your villa greeter will wait while you pick up a few dinner and breakfast items before leading you to your villa.

katilady.com

Have a wonderful & safe vacation.