usvi-on-line
trip report (part 1)
trip report (part 1)
Sorry it has taken me so long to get my act together to begin a trip report.It took 15 hrs to get home and finally caught up on sleep!( More on the last day later) Still catching up on laundry and reading mail. And still depressed...but maybe a tr will make me feel better.
Background-
Our 8th trip to STJ. Me, husband, twin A and Twin B are 17 yr old girls. 10 days at Amani, through Island Getaways. First 5 days are just us, newbie family join us last 5 days. They are wife, husband and 2 girls, 17 and 14.
First of all we llllloved AMANI. We chose this villa after hours of looking and looking and looking. ( my favorite pastime anyway) We wanted to stay in Great Cruz Bay Estates. Love the location of the neighborhood, proximity to town, good area for walking, good views. We chose Amani because it has 3 bedrooms that could be accessed inside the house. ( i don't "get" the walking ouside of the house to get to some bedrooms) the 4th bedroom is located in a cute cute adorable guest cottage across the driveway. 2 of the bedrooms inside are identical, one on either side of the living space. Both have their own bathrooms, and sliding doors to the pool deck. The upstairs bedroom is 2 twin beds and their own bathroom. this upstairs room is good for kids. there really is no view from here. Just looks out the back of the house. all the bedrooms have a tv, and ceiling fan and AC. There is no AC in the kitchen or living area.
the living area has huge huge sliding doors, almost the entire length of the room! It is marvelous, and a wonderful feature of the house. the pool is right outside of the living area, along with plenty of lounge chairs and lg eating table. We could not get enough of the view, looking out to sea and STT over to the right. Sunsets were spectacular! the most wonderful thing was the privacy!!!! We could not see a single house from our pool or deck . I know Hali Lani is on one side, but it is far away. I believe that Las Brisas Caribe is on the other side, but there is thick thick woody areas between the houses. I was able to skinny dip ! the house cannot be seen from the street below! It was wonderful.
\ the guest cottage was adorable and the girls has so much fun hanging out there. It was like there own little hideaway. It has a large bedroom area, sitting area, and eating area and kitchenette!!! Washer and dryer too. ( there was a washer and dryer in the main house, too) Large bathroom, also. the deck was large and fantastic views here also. This is where the hot tub was and the girls loved sitting in the hot tub, by the light of the almost full moon!!! they loved it!!!
I cannot say enough good things about Amani and we would def stay there again.
OK...back to the trip...flew American. No problems. Remember the freak out" a little while ago , when I realized that our passports had expired? We did not even need out birth certificates! Our licenses were the only thing we needed, but I would not take a chance NOT having them. Still, passports are the easiest.
Flight smooth and arrival on time. Now this is unbelieveable...plane leaves Philly on time ( a miracle in itself), arrives STT on time. Our plane is the ONLY one there, our luggage is first off and waiting for us. didnt even have time to change into shorts.!! We are first to get on taxi...BING,BAM,BOOM...VAN FILLS UP AND AWAY WE GO!!! And we make the 2 oclock ferry!!! We landed at exactly 1:30!!! the Island Gods are with us!!!
Judy from Island Getaways waiting for us, pile luggage into her car. I ride with her to get car at Bouganvilla Leasing. Girls and husband go immediately to Thomas' smoothie stand across from post office. We all meet up and away we go to AMANI. the Welcome Basket is adorable and yummy!! thanks Kathy!
short nap and then trip to Starfish. Among our items...$11.00 gal Tropicana OJ ( husband is OJ freak) $8.00 gal STT ice cream ( Breyers is $11.00 gal) grapes $5.00 lb.
Dinner @ Waterfront. Lovely...beautiful setting on the beachfront. Our waitress was from our hometown and we knew some of the same people!!! Who knew! Had Mahi mahi, salmon, chicken. Our plates were clean!!!
Forgot to say, taxi from STT airport to Red Hook was $15.00 per person, plus $2.00 per bag, plus tip.
Ferry was $5.00 per person, plus $2.00 per bag. We always tip the guys loading/unloading when we get to STJ. they work hard.
More tomorrow...
Background-
Our 8th trip to STJ. Me, husband, twin A and Twin B are 17 yr old girls. 10 days at Amani, through Island Getaways. First 5 days are just us, newbie family join us last 5 days. They are wife, husband and 2 girls, 17 and 14.
First of all we llllloved AMANI. We chose this villa after hours of looking and looking and looking. ( my favorite pastime anyway) We wanted to stay in Great Cruz Bay Estates. Love the location of the neighborhood, proximity to town, good area for walking, good views. We chose Amani because it has 3 bedrooms that could be accessed inside the house. ( i don't "get" the walking ouside of the house to get to some bedrooms) the 4th bedroom is located in a cute cute adorable guest cottage across the driveway. 2 of the bedrooms inside are identical, one on either side of the living space. Both have their own bathrooms, and sliding doors to the pool deck. The upstairs bedroom is 2 twin beds and their own bathroom. this upstairs room is good for kids. there really is no view from here. Just looks out the back of the house. all the bedrooms have a tv, and ceiling fan and AC. There is no AC in the kitchen or living area.
the living area has huge huge sliding doors, almost the entire length of the room! It is marvelous, and a wonderful feature of the house. the pool is right outside of the living area, along with plenty of lounge chairs and lg eating table. We could not get enough of the view, looking out to sea and STT over to the right. Sunsets were spectacular! the most wonderful thing was the privacy!!!! We could not see a single house from our pool or deck . I know Hali Lani is on one side, but it is far away. I believe that Las Brisas Caribe is on the other side, but there is thick thick woody areas between the houses. I was able to skinny dip ! the house cannot be seen from the street below! It was wonderful.
\ the guest cottage was adorable and the girls has so much fun hanging out there. It was like there own little hideaway. It has a large bedroom area, sitting area, and eating area and kitchenette!!! Washer and dryer too. ( there was a washer and dryer in the main house, too) Large bathroom, also. the deck was large and fantastic views here also. This is where the hot tub was and the girls loved sitting in the hot tub, by the light of the almost full moon!!! they loved it!!!
I cannot say enough good things about Amani and we would def stay there again.
OK...back to the trip...flew American. No problems. Remember the freak out" a little while ago , when I realized that our passports had expired? We did not even need out birth certificates! Our licenses were the only thing we needed, but I would not take a chance NOT having them. Still, passports are the easiest.
Flight smooth and arrival on time. Now this is unbelieveable...plane leaves Philly on time ( a miracle in itself), arrives STT on time. Our plane is the ONLY one there, our luggage is first off and waiting for us. didnt even have time to change into shorts.!! We are first to get on taxi...BING,BAM,BOOM...VAN FILLS UP AND AWAY WE GO!!! And we make the 2 oclock ferry!!! We landed at exactly 1:30!!! the Island Gods are with us!!!
Judy from Island Getaways waiting for us, pile luggage into her car. I ride with her to get car at Bouganvilla Leasing. Girls and husband go immediately to Thomas' smoothie stand across from post office. We all meet up and away we go to AMANI. the Welcome Basket is adorable and yummy!! thanks Kathy!
short nap and then trip to Starfish. Among our items...$11.00 gal Tropicana OJ ( husband is OJ freak) $8.00 gal STT ice cream ( Breyers is $11.00 gal) grapes $5.00 lb.
Dinner @ Waterfront. Lovely...beautiful setting on the beachfront. Our waitress was from our hometown and we knew some of the same people!!! Who knew! Had Mahi mahi, salmon, chicken. Our plates were clean!!!
Forgot to say, taxi from STT airport to Red Hook was $15.00 per person, plus $2.00 per bag, plus tip.
Ferry was $5.00 per person, plus $2.00 per bag. We always tip the guys loading/unloading when we get to STJ. they work hard.
More tomorrow...
-
Rachelle & Joe
- Posts: 677
- Joined: Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:23 pm
- Location: ohio
trip report
well sounds like all went pretty good so far ! Thanks for the villa info. it's alway's such a stressful 
time trying to decide which villa to go for so villa reviews like yours is well appreciated & Helpful ! looking forward to the rest of report !
time trying to decide which villa to go for so villa reviews like yours is well appreciated & Helpful ! looking forward to the rest of report !