Frenchman's Cove with Kids During Christmas Holiday Week

[NYFLTRAVELER]

Are there organized activities or a kids camp at this resort for children (ages 5 & 7)? We will be at MFC over the christmas holiday period and plan on spending most, if not all of our time at the MFC resort and adjoining Marriott hotel complex and want to be sure that there are sufficient activities for the kids so they are not bored.

Thank you.

SBD

 

[jimf41]

At the Cove they have the normal activities you expect at any MVC resort. Arts & Crafts, hair braiding, face painting, pool games and the like. Not sure what they have at the hotel side. It's been my experience with kids that age that all you have to do is slather them with sunblock, buy 'em a pail & shovel and let them play with the other 200 kids that will be at the resort that week.

Speaking for my grandkids they were never bored and hardly participated at all in the resort organized activities.

 

[suzannesimon]

We own Christmas week units at FC and love it there. My grandchildren don't really do many organized children's activities, but we all love the kareoke night and the glass bottom kayak trip. We liked BBQing outside while they showed movies at the pool.

 

[NYFLTRAVELER]

Thank you. How much more expensive are groceries than in the continental US? Being there for a week, I would like to have some meals in the room (at least breakfasts and some lunches and maybe 1 night make a bbq)...... otherwise it can get very expensive and boring.....

 

[Fasttr]

Thank you. How much more expensive are groceries than in the continental US? Being there for a week, I would like to have some meals in the room (at least breakfasts and some lunches and maybe 1 night make a bbq)...... otherwise it can get very expensive and boring.....

Things that have to get shipped to the islands are going to cost more... and groceries are no exception. From my recollection from our trip this past May, I would estimate they were up to 30% higher give or take.

 

[suzannesimon]

You can ship non-perishables to yourself and they will hold them for you. Food is more expensive but a lot cheaper than restaurants. We always go out for a nice dinner, but eat breakfasts and most lunches in the unit. Stay away from buying food in the on-site store unless you want to pay $9 for a small jar of peanut butter.

 

[NYFLTRAVELER]

You can ship non-perishables to yourself and they will hold them for you. Food is more expensive but a lot cheaper than restaurants. We always go out for a nice dinner, but eat breakfasts and most lunches in the unit. Stay away from buying food in the on-site store unless you want to pay $9 for a small jar of peanut butter.

Good idea. How expensive is it to ship a box from the continental US to STT?

 

[suzannesimon]

I think it is about the same as shipping in the continental US. My kids do the shipping. When the grandkids were young, it was a great way to send diapers, baby food, laundry detergent sheets, etc. Now they send peanut butter. Cereal, seasonings, condiments, etc.

 

[jimf41]

IMO the savings for a family of four for a week gained by shipping food from the mainland to STT is negligible in the overall scheme of things. Mailing a 10 lb package standard post will arrive in the USVI in 13 days and cost $25. It would be much more economical to buy a cheap canvas bag, pack it with up to 50lbs of groceries and check it as an extra bag. AA will let you check the first bag free for each person in the family if you have their CC or some status with them. Other airlines offer similar programs.

Still not enough savings to warrant the hassle but better than mailing packages IMO. FASTTR estimated groceries are 30% higher in STT. I think that's a little high but I can't say I've actually compared prices item by item. Remember that if you are going to eat in a lot you still have to buy milk, juice, bread etc. at the market so you won't save on your whole grocery bill just a portion of it. Milk by the way is about 30% more in the USVI.