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Lost luggage, earthquakes, hurricanes and more -Day 1
Lost luggage, earthquakes, hurricanes and more -Day 1
Day 1 - 10/10
Background - My husband (39) and I (34) have been vacationing on St. John around this time of year for the past four years for our anniversary. We had friends of ours get married on the island two years ago and were meeting them down there the next day to spend some time together on St. John. We were planning on staying at the Westin for the first half and then Caneel for the second half. This was our fifth time and was my first time not taking out traveler's insurance since we always had good weather and luck. I wanted to save some $$$. Well that all changed this time round.
We woke up at 3:30 am Friday (10/10) to get ready for our 4:00 am pick up to Newark. I had been fighting a bad cold that had been going around my place of employment for the past week or so. I woke up feeling terrible - sinuses, sore throat - awful. I tried to tell myself that the sun and warm air would make me feel better. Our flight from Newark to Puerto Rico was fine. We had a two our layover so we decided to grab a beer and an appetizer or two. The Cape Air flight to St. Thomas was ready to board so we followed the air traffic controller towards the plane. My husband then turned to me and said "Isn't that one of our luggage over there?" There was a pile of luggage just outside the Cape Air Terminal and we have two very large bright blue bags. I didn't even bother to look since I was feeling terrible and just wanted to get to St. Thomas. I just thought 'whatever its probably just another bag that looks similar'.
Landing into St. Thomas:
After we landed into the St. Thomas airport we went claim our bags. Well we had two. The one bag had our toiletries, beach towels, beach bags, shoes, etc. The other bag had all our clothes. We only got one bag and it was not the clothing bag. Turns out two other couples on the plane also were missing their luggage. We went to the Cape Air counter and were reassured that this happens all the time and we should be getting our luggage that night. So we headed over to the Westin counter to check-in, etc.
Turns out we were the only two people on the ferry to the Westin. It was a nice little surprise. We ran into the grocery store right next to Tickles Restuarant at the Crown Bay Marina right before we were scheduled to hop on the Westin Ferry, to grab some beer, snacks and of course some cartons of cigarettes. (NOTE: the airport duty free shop was out of cartons of Marlboro at this time). We got to the Westin and had been upgraded from a garden view room to an ocean view room. The room was #2314. It was a large/spacious room with a great view. We did notice however, how quiet the resort was. We spoke to some staff and they said that they were feeling the effects as well from the economy, etc.
Arriving at the Westin:
We decided to have a couple of beers on our porch and watch the sunset and wait for our luggage. The weather was beautiful at this point.
View from our Ocean View room:
Around 6:30 our luggage was delivered. I was so happy that everything was there and the bag was fine. I was still not feeling that well but we managed to go into town and hit the Beach Bar. We decided on a couple of appetizers for dinner and a couple of rum punches. Then for one last night cap we walked over to Joe's Rum Hut. If you stop by Joe's, be sure to say hi to Freddy. He's great!
Joe's Rum Hut:
Then it was time to head back to the Westin and have a good night sleep. Little did we know, we would wake up to a 6.3 earthquake that morning. (to be continued)...
Background - My husband (39) and I (34) have been vacationing on St. John around this time of year for the past four years for our anniversary. We had friends of ours get married on the island two years ago and were meeting them down there the next day to spend some time together on St. John. We were planning on staying at the Westin for the first half and then Caneel for the second half. This was our fifth time and was my first time not taking out traveler's insurance since we always had good weather and luck. I wanted to save some $$$. Well that all changed this time round.
We woke up at 3:30 am Friday (10/10) to get ready for our 4:00 am pick up to Newark. I had been fighting a bad cold that had been going around my place of employment for the past week or so. I woke up feeling terrible - sinuses, sore throat - awful. I tried to tell myself that the sun and warm air would make me feel better. Our flight from Newark to Puerto Rico was fine. We had a two our layover so we decided to grab a beer and an appetizer or two. The Cape Air flight to St. Thomas was ready to board so we followed the air traffic controller towards the plane. My husband then turned to me and said "Isn't that one of our luggage over there?" There was a pile of luggage just outside the Cape Air Terminal and we have two very large bright blue bags. I didn't even bother to look since I was feeling terrible and just wanted to get to St. Thomas. I just thought 'whatever its probably just another bag that looks similar'.
Landing into St. Thomas:
After we landed into the St. Thomas airport we went claim our bags. Well we had two. The one bag had our toiletries, beach towels, beach bags, shoes, etc. The other bag had all our clothes. We only got one bag and it was not the clothing bag. Turns out two other couples on the plane also were missing their luggage. We went to the Cape Air counter and were reassured that this happens all the time and we should be getting our luggage that night. So we headed over to the Westin counter to check-in, etc.
Turns out we were the only two people on the ferry to the Westin. It was a nice little surprise. We ran into the grocery store right next to Tickles Restuarant at the Crown Bay Marina right before we were scheduled to hop on the Westin Ferry, to grab some beer, snacks and of course some cartons of cigarettes. (NOTE: the airport duty free shop was out of cartons of Marlboro at this time). We got to the Westin and had been upgraded from a garden view room to an ocean view room. The room was #2314. It was a large/spacious room with a great view. We did notice however, how quiet the resort was. We spoke to some staff and they said that they were feeling the effects as well from the economy, etc.
Arriving at the Westin:
We decided to have a couple of beers on our porch and watch the sunset and wait for our luggage. The weather was beautiful at this point.
View from our Ocean View room:
Around 6:30 our luggage was delivered. I was so happy that everything was there and the bag was fine. I was still not feeling that well but we managed to go into town and hit the Beach Bar. We decided on a couple of appetizers for dinner and a couple of rum punches. Then for one last night cap we walked over to Joe's Rum Hut. If you stop by Joe's, be sure to say hi to Freddy. He's great!
Joe's Rum Hut:
Then it was time to head back to the Westin and have a good night sleep. Little did we know, we would wake up to a 6.3 earthquake that morning. (to be continued)...
-
California Girl
Oh Susan, I'm so sorry your first day was probably your nicest day, weather-wise. We were there on that same day (left on 10/11) and it WAS a beautiful day, though we did get some localized heavy showers on Maho that morning. Trust me, after being there the week before (when the weather was nice) we could literally see the change in the sky that Friday. My husband kept commenting on "all the cool cloud formations."
I can attest that flying through those same cloud formations after experiencing an earthquake and a rainy ferry ride was not my idea of "cool."
I can attest that flying through those same cloud formations after experiencing an earthquake and a rainy ferry ride was not my idea of "cool."
Great start! I really like the atomic bomb mushroom cloud shot. I flashed back and tucked and rolled......just like Tommy Turtle said to do. *for those of you who are not of age to know who Tommy Turtle is...please excuse this reference*
Looking forward to hearing the "rest of the story"...
-Bert
Looking forward to hearing the "rest of the story"...
-Bert
The liver is evil, it must be punished!
I have a serious question regarding the trip insurance. Under your circumstances where you went on your vacation and then experienced "bad weather", albiet a named hurricane, would you have a claim ? I'm thinking you only have a claim when the island you are traveling to has a hurricane and you then cancel the trip. Thanks in advance.
Regarding the traveler's insurance - I am not exactly sure. We were technically "strongly urged to evacuate" Caneel (more to come with that one) so they said they would reimburse us.
However I prepaid everything through our travel agent. I am awaiting to hear back from her regarding getting our money back.
We did speak with other guests and they said Caneel reimbursed them but they paid with their own credit card.
However I prepaid everything through our travel agent. I am awaiting to hear back from her regarding getting our money back.
We did speak with other guests and they said Caneel reimbursed them but they paid with their own credit card.
I missed that you moved to Caneel at some point. I'm interested in hearing more about that when the time comes.
I don't think the fact that a Hurricane brewed while you were on vacation is cause for a claim but if, for example, it causes you to be displaced or to have to change your flight at additional costs then you have a claim
I don't think the fact that a Hurricane brewed while you were on vacation is cause for a claim but if, for example, it causes you to be displaced or to have to change your flight at additional costs then you have a claim
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msgcolleen
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Allen, Texas
Susan~
Thanks for your first day reporting and cool pics. Loved the cockpit view of the St. Thomas airport! The Westin looks so nice from the water too!
Can't wait to hear more about your unforgettable vacation adventure!!
Thanks for your first day reporting and cool pics. Loved the cockpit view of the St. Thomas airport! The Westin looks so nice from the water too!
Can't wait to hear more about your unforgettable vacation adventure!!
I've got 2 tickets to paradise~Pack your bags we'll leave tonight!
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]