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Prelim Trip Report 11/25-12/2 - Some Observations
Prelim Trip Report 11/25-12/2 - Some Observations
Before I delve into the details of our recent trip to St. John, I wanted to just list some things you all might be interested in before I forget. So here goes:
Costs: Either I blocked this from my memory of past trips, or St. John has become increasing ridiculously expensive. Be prepared. At first you think, hey, I'm on vacation, who cares, but by the middle of the week you realize that you are paying $10 for a side salad at the full service restaurants. Blew $60 on taxis and ferries just to get there the first day. I also must note that I believe there is some gouging going on, for example $9.00 for 2 six packs of Coke at Gallows Gourmet shop, where it's $4.75 for a 12 pack at Dolphin Market. Average restaurant entree prices are a minimum of $19 with salad extra, where you can get 2 huge platters of chicken at Uncle Joes for $19.90. Just be prepared for the sticker shock...
Supermarkets: Dolphin Market is significantly cheaper, and it seemed to me this time, better stocked than Starfish (ex: Tropicana OJ, $5.50 at Dolphin, $6.55 at Starfish; 12 pack Coke, $4.75 Dolphin, $5 something at Starfish) Dolphin even had better looking produce. Starfish had better meat selection. Stear clear of Gallows Gourmet, they used to be comparable to Starfish prices, now they are just in the strasophere.
Weather: First time we've been in November/December, previous trips were October and May. Weather much more comfortable at this time of year. Constant breezes even made swimming a little chilly! Never felt oppressively hot, just beautiful!
A lot more crowded too, where did all those people come from on Salomon Beach?!
Car Rental: Gotta give a plug for L&L Jeep Rental. They were one of only 2 places that actually responded to our request for a reservation. In fact, they responded right away, faxed us the forms, e-mailed when our fax/printer wasn't on, and got us the reservation in one day. They delivered our Jeep Liberty to our unit at Lavendar Hill and picked it up again. We kept the car until 5 pm the last day and told them we would pay for the extra day (car was due back by 10 am) and they didn't charge us. The guys were extremely friendly and the Liberty was in great shape for a 2005 with 8500 St. John miles on it. They also will deliver your car to the ferry dock at any hour so you don't have to worry about the place being closed if you arrive late.
New Favorite Restaurant: Paradiso. First time we tried here. Really good pasta dishes.
Grande Bay Resort: At the risk of raising the wrath of the St. John traditionalists out there, this place actually looks quite nice and fits into the landscape nicely. The top half of the contruction is finished on the outside and it really looks good. Wouldn't mind staying there once it's completed (don't hate me!) There is some monstrosity being contructed at the top of the hill behind Cruz Bay, don't know what that is but it looks like a big scar on the landscape right now...
USAirways: Well, miracles do happen. I cannot bash USAirways this trip. We took the 7:35 am nonstop flight out of Philadelphia and we actually pushed back from the gate early!!! Arrived in St. Thomas about 40 minutes early, bag came right out, and we were able to make the 1:00 ferry from Charlotte Amalie rather than hoping to make the 2:00 ferry from Red Hook. All in all, the smoothest trip down there yet. (we even got our checked bag in Philly on the way back, no problem, and didn't even have to wait more than 15 minutes to get it, unheard of!)
Lavendar Hill: Pleasantly surprised. Condo was great. Great view, well equipped, use of computer with free dial up internet access, walk to town (not too bad on the way up, until you get to EveryTing at Gallows it gets steep and the beginning of the driveway is very steep, but after a week of that, no problem mon...)
Beaches: Still stunning. No matter which one you go to.
Well, just wanted to get these things down. Detailed trip report soon come...
Thanks for reading,
Angela
Costs: Either I blocked this from my memory of past trips, or St. John has become increasing ridiculously expensive. Be prepared. At first you think, hey, I'm on vacation, who cares, but by the middle of the week you realize that you are paying $10 for a side salad at the full service restaurants. Blew $60 on taxis and ferries just to get there the first day. I also must note that I believe there is some gouging going on, for example $9.00 for 2 six packs of Coke at Gallows Gourmet shop, where it's $4.75 for a 12 pack at Dolphin Market. Average restaurant entree prices are a minimum of $19 with salad extra, where you can get 2 huge platters of chicken at Uncle Joes for $19.90. Just be prepared for the sticker shock...
Supermarkets: Dolphin Market is significantly cheaper, and it seemed to me this time, better stocked than Starfish (ex: Tropicana OJ, $5.50 at Dolphin, $6.55 at Starfish; 12 pack Coke, $4.75 Dolphin, $5 something at Starfish) Dolphin even had better looking produce. Starfish had better meat selection. Stear clear of Gallows Gourmet, they used to be comparable to Starfish prices, now they are just in the strasophere.
Weather: First time we've been in November/December, previous trips were October and May. Weather much more comfortable at this time of year. Constant breezes even made swimming a little chilly! Never felt oppressively hot, just beautiful!
A lot more crowded too, where did all those people come from on Salomon Beach?!
Car Rental: Gotta give a plug for L&L Jeep Rental. They were one of only 2 places that actually responded to our request for a reservation. In fact, they responded right away, faxed us the forms, e-mailed when our fax/printer wasn't on, and got us the reservation in one day. They delivered our Jeep Liberty to our unit at Lavendar Hill and picked it up again. We kept the car until 5 pm the last day and told them we would pay for the extra day (car was due back by 10 am) and they didn't charge us. The guys were extremely friendly and the Liberty was in great shape for a 2005 with 8500 St. John miles on it. They also will deliver your car to the ferry dock at any hour so you don't have to worry about the place being closed if you arrive late.
New Favorite Restaurant: Paradiso. First time we tried here. Really good pasta dishes.
Grande Bay Resort: At the risk of raising the wrath of the St. John traditionalists out there, this place actually looks quite nice and fits into the landscape nicely. The top half of the contruction is finished on the outside and it really looks good. Wouldn't mind staying there once it's completed (don't hate me!) There is some monstrosity being contructed at the top of the hill behind Cruz Bay, don't know what that is but it looks like a big scar on the landscape right now...
USAirways: Well, miracles do happen. I cannot bash USAirways this trip. We took the 7:35 am nonstop flight out of Philadelphia and we actually pushed back from the gate early!!! Arrived in St. Thomas about 40 minutes early, bag came right out, and we were able to make the 1:00 ferry from Charlotte Amalie rather than hoping to make the 2:00 ferry from Red Hook. All in all, the smoothest trip down there yet. (we even got our checked bag in Philly on the way back, no problem, and didn't even have to wait more than 15 minutes to get it, unheard of!)
Lavendar Hill: Pleasantly surprised. Condo was great. Great view, well equipped, use of computer with free dial up internet access, walk to town (not too bad on the way up, until you get to EveryTing at Gallows it gets steep and the beginning of the driveway is very steep, but after a week of that, no problem mon...)
Beaches: Still stunning. No matter which one you go to.
Well, just wanted to get these things down. Detailed trip report soon come...
Thanks for reading,
Angela
I too noticed some nice improvements at Dolphin from the previous year to this past March. We usually end up at Starfish for certain things...love the deli counter for sandwich meat & prepared salads. I know Dolphin has a deli counter...we've just never tried anything. Did you try anything Dolphin offered at their deli counter? I also agree with the fresh produce observation. As long as the policy has not changed...at Dolphin you can also get 10% off simply for asking!
We also stay at Lavender Hill! Which unit were you in ATG?
Thanks for the info...looking forward to the rest of your TR! Great panoramic shot on your other post btw!
JC
93 & Out
We also stay at Lavender Hill! Which unit were you in ATG?
Thanks for the info...looking forward to the rest of your TR! Great panoramic shot on your other post btw!
JC
93 & Out
"I didn't come here...and I ain't leavin'"
-
California Girl
Thanks for the tip on Dolphin. We always just go to Starfish out of habit, but I'll be checking Dolphin next trip.
We had a good experience renting from L+L too. They don't seem to be on the radar as much as other companies for some reason.
We had a good experience renting from L+L too. They don't seem to be on the radar as much as other companies for some reason.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Photos of Grande Bay Resort?
Any recent ones taken in the past couple of weeks you can post??
JC- we stayed in 2W, a one bedroom unit.
FlaGeorge - I didn't think there was much difference in the weather either, and I don't know if it was just the week we were there, but there was more of a breeze and not as oppressively hot as the time were were there in May. Less rain than October too.
Everyone else - I will try to post more pictures in my trip report.....stay tuned.
FlaGeorge - I didn't think there was much difference in the weather either, and I don't know if it was just the week we were there, but there was more of a breeze and not as oppressively hot as the time were were there in May. Less rain than October too.
Everyone else - I will try to post more pictures in my trip report.....stay tuned.