St John USVI

[aak0517]

H and I are planning a week there in May. It'll be my 4th time, his 1st.

I know my way around pretty well in SJ so I don't really need recs for that... but I'd like to maybe do a day trip to another island during our week there- in the several times I've been, I've flown into STT then taken the ferry over to SJ for the trip but haven't ventured off of SJ or really explored St Thomas other than landing and making our way to the ferry.

Is there anything worth taking a day trip to see? anything outside of St John or in St Thomas you recommend we see/visit?

TIA!

[chicago]

I've heard good things about Jost Van Dyke, but I haven't been.

[vigurl]

Nov 20, 2014 18:01:39 GMT -5 aak0517 said:

H and I are planning a week there in May. It'll be my 4th time, his 1st.

I know my way around pretty well in SJ so I don't really need recs for that... but I'd like to maybe do a day trip to another island during our week there- in the several times I've been, I've flown into STT then taken the ferry over to SJ for the trip but haven't ventured off of SJ or really explored St Thomas other than landing and making our way to the ferry.

Is there anything worth taking a day trip to see? anything outside of St John or in St Thomas you recommend we see/visit?

TIA!

Sure.  St. Thomas and St. Croix has a ton to see.  What do yo like to do?  Are you a beach bum?  Bar scene type? Gambler? Shopper? Historian?

[aak0517]

Nov 22, 2014 0:54:44 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Nov 20, 2014 18:01:39 GMT -5 aak0517 said:

H and I are planning a week there in May. It'll be my 4th time, his 1st.

I know my way around pretty well in SJ so I don't really need recs for that... but I'd like to maybe do a day trip to another island during our week there- in the several times I've been, I've flown into STT then taken the ferry over to SJ for the trip but haven't ventured off of SJ or really explored St Thomas other than landing and making our way to the ferry.

Is there anything worth taking a day trip to see? anything outside of St John or in St Thomas you recommend we see/visit?

TIA!

Sure.  St. Thomas and St. Croix has a ton to see.  What do yo like to do?  Are you a beach bum?  Bar scene type? Gambler? Shopper? Historian?

Beach bums but also foodies and I like to explore and take pictures. We enjoy hiking as well but mostly want to take
In the views, enjoy the beautiful beaches and eat good food. It's been a chaotic year so we are looking forward to a week of recharging and exploring.

[vigurl]

Nov 22, 2014 9:52:57 GMT -5 aak0517 said:

Nov 22, 2014 0:54:44 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Sure.  St. Thomas and St. Croix has a ton to see.  What do yo like to do?  Are you a beach bum?  Bar scene type? Gambler? Shopper? Historian?

Beach bums but also foodies and I like to explore and take pictures. We enjoy hiking as well but mostly want to take
In the views, enjoy beach till views and beaches and eat good food. It's been a chaotic year so we are looking forward to a week of recharging and exploring.

Ok if you want to do St. Croix it is 20 mins on the sea plane each way (if you are afraid of tiny planes this is NOT for you) there is no regular ferry to St. Croix.  Cost of seaplane is about 180 RT.  No advanced reservations needed.  It flies several times a day between St. Croix and St. Thomas.  The seaplane website is Seaborneairlines.com.  There is only one sea plane co.   It lands in the heart of downtown Christiansted St. Croix.  Right near all the bars, duty free shopping and restaurants.  It lands on the boat dock/charter dock.  You can pay for a day trip to buck island (20 mins).  It has some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean and I can give a few charter company websites.  You can also take a short boat ride (5 minutes) to the beach at Hotel on the Cay.  There is a bar/restaurant and a not crowded beautiful beach.  You can also do a dive tour from a company right at the dock where the sea plane drops you.  I can also give you info on that.  OR you can do an island tour, rum factory tour and eat at chicken shack (cheap delish local grub) where Martha Steward ate this spring.  It's like $10 for a meal...think roadside dining. 

If you want to do St. Thomas you can head to Megans Bay voted most beautiful beach in the world numerous times.  But seriously it is just as nice as any other beach.  However, if it there is a cruise ship in town (which is more likely than not) it will be crowded.  

You can do island tours, go on the tram to lookout mountain and see beautiful 360 degree views of the island and buy some souvenirs and grab a quick meal.  You can also head down town and shop (gold and diamonds are much cheaper on both islands than on the US mainland).  You can go to coral world, you can zip line also.  I can get you the links to all of those also. For food I rec Off the Grid...food truck... very similar to Chicken Shack

[egishere]

There are day trips to the BVIs on a big catamaran or you can go private boat that leave from the Westin there. I've done both and it was a lot of fun. I know we went to Jost van Dyke and a few other places.

[kirstinb]

Ferry to Virgin Gorda. Go see the baths. Awesome.

[woowoo]

I 2nd the trip to Virgin Gorda. The baths were incredible, just try and time it where there aren't a ton of cruise ships in the nearby ports. A day trip to Virgin Gorda and Jost VanDyke would be my first choice!

[preppy]

I second taking day trips to both Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. A visit to the Soggy Dollar in Jost is a must when in the Virgin Islands. If you do go to St Criox I would go out to Buck Island or head over to Cane Bay. The restaurant "Eat@Cane Bay" is awesome.

[seabitch]

You can catch a ferry from St John to Tortola, BVI and explore the great places to eat and beaches. A taxi can take you from the ferry dock. Not as much hiking on Tortola as on St John. A different island you can ferry to from St John is Jost Van Dyke. Home of Soggy Dollar Bar, Foxy's, and Ivans. Also, the new B-Line Bar. Most day sail trips from St John to Jost will stop at one or several of these. We like Kekoa (large catamaran with black sail) out of St John.

On our last trip to St John, we made an effort to hike to some of the beaches that are way off the beating path. Long hikes but glorious paybacks.

[aak0517]

Thanks everyone!