USVI-On-Line

...what cool thing do you do to make your st.john stay and travel better, easier, cheaper or smarter?...we're staying in march and we'd love your thoughts.

On our newbie trip last June (5 of us), I started by doing lots of reasearch on STJ. I received most of my great info right here. Then I made a schedule of activities, beaches and restaurants. Since I was the vacation planner, the schedule allowed me to enjoy my short 7 days along with everyone else. Some people don't like a schedule, but with 5 newbies, I did not want to sit around all morninging saying "what do you want to do today?". The trip was fabulous and everyone thanked me for all the pre-planning. This year we decided on a smaller villa to save a little $$ and we are trying carry on to save a little time.

An iPod loaded with "mood" playlists is essential. It saves you from having to lug down a bunch of CDs. We also pack a small JBL Soundstage dock (it has a remote) to use for tunes around the pool area of the villa. Music is key and sometimes you can't trust that the villa's sound system is going to be all that you want it to be.

I also pack a 15 foot extension cord. I know that sounds silly, but it has come in handy every trip, mostly to make sure that the music is located where we want it to be.

Binoculars. They are great for watching the boats, the other villas (especially if someone like Jorge's group is there) and the stars.

Our trusty V.I. National Park tear-resistant map. We like to look at it over coffee in the morning to plan that day's excursion. (Which usually is followed by no excursion and a day at the villa).

Steno notebooks for writing down notes of what we did, etc.

Neat sheet. Comes in handy. We even used it as curtains at one villa.

Handcuffs. Some villas have them, some don't...why take a chance.

By the way, this is a great idea for a post. Thanks.

Had to read that one out loud to the lovely Jeannie, Pete. What a hoot. Good advice on all counts. Hope the villas with the handcuffs are scrupulously cleaned...

Robin

I second Pete's suggestion for binoculars....not sure why you would need handcuffs though.

I like to read...so we shipped a box filled mostly with books and snorkel gear. We shipped to Connections; they hold it for a $10.00 flat rate until you pick it up.

Last trip we stayed at Caneel Resort for 4 nights and used their private ferry for transportation when we arrived and departed.

We prefer taking the Charlotte Amalie ferry from downtown....shorter taxi ride....longer ferry ride. I prefer being on a boat with the breeze in my face, rather than stuffed in a taxi for 45 minutes.

Keep a gallon or two of water from the villa in your trunk...use it to rinse off sand before getting in your vehicle.

Sunday Brunch at Miss Lucy's.

I know you will have a great trip!

After packing your clothing, take half out - you won't wear half of the remaining. If you can't carry on then you are taking too much.

Make kids carry their own stuff if they are over 5.

Zip-off pants for the trip down and back.

Tevas with socks for travel. Tevas only on the island.

Buy sunscreen and bug spray at Chelsea Drugstore.

Cruzan in the blender, Mount Gay on the rocks, Ponche Kuba over ice.

Cheap walking around Presidentes at Cap's.

Plan activities, use your plan as a guideline, sort of a chinese menu.

Drive out East End, Salt Pond to Lameshur and Fish Bay roads to see all of the drivable corners.

No glass on the NPS beaches - $100 fine.

Hot tub lube.

If you are traveling with newbies, tell them what you are hitting first and last for the day. Leave them with their own vehicle and a map.

If you are a couple, plan a date night with just the two of you.

Most importantly, if you're not certain if someone will be fun, leave them at home.


There's a whole other list for traveling with groups of more than 6.

Cheers, RickG

RickG didn't mention his very informative site...so I will.

http://www.garvin.us/STJ/New_Visitors_G ... Guide.html

For the Villa a whetstone to sharpen the typically dull knives.

As to books there is a community "take a book leave a book" located at Skinny's (saves taking a lot of books)

Refilling water jugs cheaply at St. John Ice in the Lumberyard complex. It a principal thing as well not having to buy another case of water. And the water jug in car for sand is a great idea we use every year.

It's been said before but a small assortment of spices from home comes in handy when cooking.

Throw a handful of kitchen trash bags in your luggage. Use for dirty or sandy stuff coming home and maybe at the villa. They take NO room and it's frustrating buying a box when you need only 5.

Rick said it best as to clothes. Each year I take less and less, there is after all a washer in most villas. I'm talking one good golf shirt, one good pair of shorts etc.

One more thing. Here's a link to Ruth's (Ruth of STJ Spice fame) restaurant listing. The phone numbers on her list are current, whereas some of the listings in the villa binders are not. Also, she has the phone numbers for many of the newer restaurants. We print it and bring it with us. Thanks Ruth.

http://stjohnspice.com/stjohnrestaurants.htm

The best piece of advise I have, that was mentioned on this board came in handy for us. Use the porter at the Airport. We are overpackers. Gromit can back this up. She was astonished at the amount of stuff we had. We bought our two swim mates along which each weigh 30 lbs. The porter got our boarding passes for us, which saved us from standing line. Put us in the short line to go through customs and then through security. Amazing! I wish all airports could do this. We tipped him 30 dollars, way above what he would have charged us, but for us, well worth it.

Sandy

nice, thanks guys. great advice...

how about dinner reservations?-do it early in the week or night before?...

is there a daily weather heads up if it's a good day for a dinghy rental, or which side is calmer for snorkeling?...

it's just the 2 of us and we want a buffet of stuff to mix and match each day so like someone said we don't sit there each morning saying 'what do you want to do today?'...less figurin, more limin'...

now i only have 4 weeks to get the cuffs, binos and lube.

I like to throw in some bunjie cords and amybe some small rope to to either tie down suitcases to the roof or the beach chairs from the villa

Luggage usually makes it through, but if you are checking bags and don't have a direct flight, you might take a couple of precautions. (won't keep your luggage from getting lost, but makes it a little less disruptive if it is lost). I put a couple of clothing items (a swim suit, for sure) in my carry-on. And my wife and I put a couple of items in each other's luggage (in case only one makes it through).


Personally, I think the most important part of preparing is to get my head right. STJ is not like the mainland. When I go there I'm stepping into a different culture. Things work differently. The sooner I can shift into Tropics/Island Time mode the better. We've been spending time in the tropics for a lot of years, so we make the transition fairly quickly and smoothly, but it still requires some attitude checking and adjusting.

Don't have a schedule, but at least have a list of things you want to do. Work off the list as the week goes on. If you're in a villa, don't plan a villa day, but don't be surprised if you have a couple. Most of all, don't worry if you don't get through the list. No big deal if you miss something. On our first trip we only saw Trunk Bay for a beach - we had no idea that some folks would think we wasted our time It was a great trip for us.

I'm an overpacker so I don't even consider carry-on only; it would be way too stressful for me. But we do the same as Lex. Instead of us each having our own bag, we split 2 bags. If one doesn't make it, we're not totally lost. We also pack a swimsuit, change of clothes , snorkel & mask in our carry-on. (we've had luggage go astray, but not in St. Thomas). Grab a cold Caribe from the bar while you wait for your bags.

Bring a tripod or 2; not so much for the better photos, but so you can get some shots of the two of you on vacation.

Bring a small flashlight. We stayed at Estate Lindholm one year and the entrance became quite dark at night. It was also helpful walking back to our villa in Frank Bay.

We also bring an extension cord; it usually comes in handly especially for my husband's seapac machine. We also bring a power strip - lots of recharging with phones, ipods, camera batteries, etc.

Buy Off the Beaten Track before you go.

Just relax and have fun!!!

Pack smart- You WILL NOT need all that stuff. I have no problem throwing in a load of laundry if I have to.

Don't over plan- I make plans for 1 day and the rest of my time is wide open. I may wake up and not want to leave the villa. I totally go with the flow. I have a mental list of the things that I want to do but if I get to them, I am amazed. My perfect vacation is waking up when I am done sleeping and doing what feels right.

Be nice- This is probably the most important. It sounds simple but many of us forget that not everyone is on vacation. True, the island is dependent on your tourism dollars but they still deserve a smile and a please and thank you.