USVI-On-Line

Hey everyone-

I just made my post-lunch call to hubby and he was on the website for Sago Cottage on Calabash Boom about to make reservations for January 2009!

First: Woohoo!

Second: I'm having some fear of flying issue lately.

Third: What's STJ like during high season?

His desire to book Sago came from me sending the latest Jeep Cam video from On-StJohn. The Bongo Boys traveled along a stretch of road that hubby and I have traveled oh-so-many times (Shipwreck Landing to Cocoloba Plaza/Crabby's).

Anyone else have fear of flying issues? If so, any reccomendations? Short trip to NY (flying out of Logan)? Short trip to Bermuda (preferred)? Drugs? Drugs and alcohol?

Also, the last four times we went, we went in December/Shoulder Season. What kind of changes can we expect in January/High Season?

I missed STJ so much this year that it actually made me sad at times. I'm a little crazy I guess huh?

Drugs -

Hubs has some issues with flying (really it is a confinement OMG I can't control the plane like a car thing) and our family doc gave him a Rx for a light tranquilizer that has worked very well.

and maybe Alcohol -

He says he doesn't notice any negative affects like sleepiness even when accompanied by a beer or two. Probably not a good idea but he doesn't listen to me

If you haven't seen it, here's a video of the road up Calabash Boom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PITOhT4n5R0

YES. I really hate flying. It is bad for me when the food and drink cart is rolled out. Than about that time the passenger in front will decide to decline their seat. I get an awful feeling of being trapped! Solution, I take a quick "down the hatch" wtih the last gulp of my drink, close my eyes and day dream of being on Hawknest beach.

I do not think you will see any changes from December to January. Some nights may be just a little cooler.

I always miss STJ too when away. However, not leaving after a year on STJ can make me even crazier, with rock fever.

Drug: A good narcotic

Booze: Makes me feel like a can't breathe well in the air, but I have two anyway.

Anyone ever tried these little gadgets? Must admit, I'm tempted to get a couple of sets. We're both tall and never recline our seats in coach - think it's kind of rude since there is so little room these days and, at least on AA, the seats are sometimes worn out and recline father than normal. Sorry, recliners!

http://www.kneedefender.com/html2/buy2.htm

I have heard from two unnamed sources that traveling "in" season you will find some of the guests on island a bit more shall we say snooty.

Nose up in the air.

But its STJ, I'll go ANYTIME of year my husband will let me

I too have a fear of flying. I went to my doctor and he gave me a prescription for xanax to use when I fly. Despite the fact that it makes me sound a tad like Anna Nicole, the stuff works great. I still wouldn't say I like flying, but the panic is not as intense.

A couple of pointers: do a trial run before your flight with the meds. My xanax takes almost exactly 90 minutes to reach its full effectiveness, and since my anxiety is mostly boarding and take-off related, I know now how to better time my doses. Also, my first doctor had me on a really low dose. It didn't do a darn thing, so I'm glad I tried it before my first flight. I now sleep through a good portion of most flights, which is just the way I like it.

Flight anxiety is normal. I'd recommend seeing your doctor before just trying to medicate with alcohol. Usually, alcohol mades my nerves worse.

I have always had terrible flying anxiety (panic attacks, etc.) For years, I self medicated with alcohol About 2 years ago, my dentist gave me valium to deal with my anxiety when I have dental work done (no, really, I am not a freak ... it's just that with the novocaine I can't feel my through so I think I can't swallow, so I think I'm suffocating. ). Anyway, my dentist recommended that I take valium when I fly and it is a whole new world!! Without the dread of flying, I really do enjoy traveling so much more!!! The valium kicks in quickly (about 20 minutes). It doesn't make you loopy or tired, just really calm. Add a wine on the flight and I am GOOD TO GO. Woo hoo!!

All my trips have been in shoulder season (May or late Nov/early Dec). This past January was my first "peak season" visit, so I can say whether these were anomalies or the usual (someone else might shed some light there), but differences I noticed were:

1) MUCH more crowded in restaurants and on beaches
2) Cooler temps at night - really needed pants/capris or longer sleeves
3) Cooler water temps
4) Windy resulting in rougher wave action
5) A slightly different "type" of people on island than I am used to in the off season......

None of it enough to be considered a "down side," just different.

Ok, pretend I'm drunk when I say "oh man... I looove you guys... you guysss are awesssssome"!!

Seriously, where else can a person get this many answers of this great quality!

My issue is the same as PA's hubby "OMG I can't control the plane like a car thing". It happended after a few really bad turbulent flights to/from Vegas. Scary s*@&!

I tried Xanax and Adavan (sp?) but they didn't really work for me. I think I need to expirement with dosage and timing. "Hey doc- can I have more Xanax? It's for expiremental purposes."

Lex- thanks for the link for ther Calabash drive! Man was I scared the first time we headed up that road!

In terms of high season, when I thought a bit more about it, I realized that hubby and I really keep to oursleves and don't venture much out of Coral Bay. I'm thinking we'll be cool.

I'll make sure to keep an eye out for the snooties and, depending on how many painkillers I've downed, give 'em the finger or moon 'em.

A couple of pre-flight Bloody Mary's usually help to settle my nerves a bit. I have heard that Valium does work well too!

LysaC,
Like bj said, January isn't really "high season" yet. The level of business is more like the time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. High Seasonn usually starts in the next few weeks or so. I think you will like January on St. John.
-Ruth

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Lysa,

I have alot of the same issues as you. I dread flying - the airport hassle, the claustrophic feeling inside the plane, the landing, takeoff and I suffer from nausea and airsickness.

My stragegy used to be Xanax coupled w/Dramamine. The problem with that combo - was the drowsiness. I needed a day and half to sleep it off. With precious vacation time that's a bummer.

So I have a new method that works pretty good for me - now I take an herbal relaxant - "Calms Forte" and ginger capsules for the motion sickness. Last summer I had to fly to Europe alone - I was afraid with the length of the flights and the plane changes that I would not be able to function well enough to get to where I needed to be, so hence the new approach - it worked great and now is my new travel plan - it does not make me too sleepy and I now able to enjoy the rest of the trip without that groggy, sleepy feeling that always started every trip.

We stayed in Coral Bay last Spring during season, and absolutely loved it! We did not notice much of a difference from off season as long as we stayed on that side of the island. We did drive into Cruz Bay a couple of times for dinner and the traffic and parking was a nightmare. We ended up parking at Slimman's lot- thank heavens for Slimman! Our favorite beaches were Vie's, Francis and Maho - not crowded at all. We did venture to some of the other North Shore beached but only later in the afternoons after the crowds had departed.