Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[svntug]

Towel service?

Another quick question. (I searched on "towels" in this thread and surprisingly, got no results!)

Is the towel policy the same as other westin's? (Harborside/maui/princeville) - pool towels are signed out and returned to huts near the pool? Can we plan to use them when we go to the beaches, or, should we bring our own?

Thanks again!

 

[LisaRex]

Is the towel policy the same as other westin's? (Harborside/maui/princeville) - pool towels are signed out and returned to huts near the pool? Can we plan to use them when we go to the beaches, or, should we bring our own?

They provide them and you exchange them at the pool hut. The hut closes around 5pm IIRC. You can take them to the beaches. Everywhere we went we saw Westin towels.

 

[svntug]

RE: Towels

They provide them and you exchange them at the pool hut. The hut closes around 5pm IIRC. You can take them to the beaches. Everywhere we went we saw Westin towels.

Great - thanks!

 

[YYJMSP]

No way i'm renting a car here!

Day two and I'm still surprised not to see tons of vehicles run off the road.

No chance I'm renting a car here -- figure i'd have a heart attack in the first 15mins of driving on the wrong side of the steep windy barely wide enough roads.

 

[KACTravels]

Day two and I'm still surprised not to see tons of vehicles run off the road.

No chance I'm renting a car here -- figure i'd have a heart attack in the first 15mins of driving on the wrong side of the steep windy barely wide enough roads.

YYJM.. We are arriving in 3 weeks and can't wait. How are the sea lice? Which way did you decide to go to get to the Westin from the airport? How is it so far?

 

[DavidnRobin]

Day two and I'm still surprised not to see tons of vehicles run off the road.

No chance I'm renting a car here -- figure i'd have a heart attack in the first 15mins of driving on the wrong side of the steep windy barely wide enough roads.

I guess I was born to drive left...
Too bad it doesn't work for you.

 

[YYJMSP]

YYJM.. We are arriving in 3 weeks and can't wait. How are the sea lice? Which way did you decide to go to get to the Westin from the airport? How is it so far?

There are people in the water, so I don't think it can be that bad. Not that many in the water at the property, but the first three beaches (Trunk? Maho? forget the other name...) had quite a few people frolicking, but not packed.

Staying in CV, very Westin-feeling. Never been in the others, but they looked much more island-feeling from the pictures. Had a 2nd floor studio the first night, nice view, small bathroom, no deck, kitchenette. Now in a 3rd floor 2BR for the rest of the stay, very nice view, 2 decks with lots of furniture, both bathrooms are a bit on the small side (master has shower only, other has tub with shower head, neither has any real counter space), only a kitchenette again (2 burner cooktop, microwave, small fridge, no oven, weirdest coffee machine ever) with no counter space at all. It all looks nice, but if you start looking at the details, you see what I would call cheap/quick workmanship -- lots of crooked things, paint not well edged, grout missing between lots of tiles, etc)

Did a 2hr tour of the island yesterday to see the highlights and get a feel for the island and where things are.

Ate a dinner and a breakfast at Lemongrass, pretty good food, price on par with dinner at Ocean Grill last night (their food was really good). So far, we're finding things are maybe 50% more expensive than other places we've been (after taking in to consideration we're paying 30% on the currency exchange right now )

Hopefully last of the jet lag recovery today...

 

[KACTravels]

Thanks for the update. Did you enjoy the island tour? I hope you have time to post more. As you would say "only 21 more sleeps"!

 

[YYJMSP]

I guess I was born to drive left...
Too bad it doesn't work for you.

I think I'm not relaxed enough yet (still working unfortunately)

There were 6 beers in a bucket on ice when we arrived, which would probably have helped get into the right mindset; unfortunately, I don't like beer...

 

[YYJMSP]

Thanks for the update. Did you enjoy the island tour? I hope you have time to post more. As you would say "only 21 more sleeps"!

The tour was quite nice -- we got a "local legend" (James Penn) as our driver, and he definitely made the trip very worthwhile. $25/adult, half price for kids under 12.

Five of us in a taxi truck that holds up to 27, so very comfortable and felt more personal. We picked up a couple at the first beach who wanted to go to the second beach.

It was about 2hrs long, stopped at all of the "Kodak Moment" spots (including all the north beaches, each one more beautiful than the last), gave us a running commentary at each stop, and we read his life story in the copy of St John Magazine he had with him.

He's traveled a bit, and he had actually stopped in our home town on an Alaskan cruise.

I'll definitely post more of our experiences/opinions over the next week or so.

Lunch at the pool was extremely overpriced.

Walked the 2mins across/down the street to St John Market (a bit of a limited selection, but you get 15% off with your owner discount card), walked back as far as the entrance to the property where, perfect timing, an iguana shuttle stopped and asked us if we wanted a ride (we were told to walk to the guard gate and they would call us an iguana to our building).

 

[DavidnRobin]

I think I'm not relaxed enough yet (still working unfortunately)

There were 6 beers in a bucket on ice when we arrived, which would probably have helped get into the right mindset; unfortunately, I don't like beer...

Rum is cheap. However, as they say. (To me leaving Angel's Rest over in Hanson Bay) - 'there has been only 1 DUI on STJ in 10 years - don't be the 2nd'

My biggest problem is when I get home, and driving a 2 lane winding road (like last week in Napa) - and having to remind myself to keep right.

While on STJ last month - I almost had a tourist turn into me at that left by Chesters BBQ going towards the car ferry parking lot. At 1st, I flashed on me being on wrong side - made us laugh - especially the look of panic on his face. Of course, a low speed limit on the island (max 20mph) helps alleviate fear of driving left. From that aspect STT is tougher.

 

[tomandrobin]

We are officially 1 year out from two weeks at Westin St John.

We locked in all three of our units and are counting down the days.....365!

 

[Sicnarf]

Has anyone used the carge barge from RedHook to Cruz Bay? Do you have to stay in your car during the trip or can you get out and walk around the barge? Thanks.

 

[tomandrobin]

Has anyone used the carge barge from RedHook to Cruz Bay? Do you have to stay in your car during the trip or can you get out and walk around the barge? Thanks.

Your choice....

We get out, but some people sit in their cars.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Has anyone used the carge barge from RedHook to Cruz Bay? Do you have to stay in your car during the trip or can you get out and walk around the barge? Thanks.

We use the car barge every year - best way to go - for us - YMMV
Always funny to hear opinions about this from people who have never done it...

Locals tend to stay in cars - visitors get out. We get out, and go up top to enjoy the view (hold onto hats and handrails...)
The cars are tightly packed - so be careful if you are wearing white clothing as you may have to squeeze between cars/trucks (Robin has fallen prey to this before...)

The only challenge is backing onto the car barge - and not panicking when they yell at you. We saw a women in a family van drive off the side of the ramp this year (about 2 feet onto a metal spike - with everyone screaming to stop!) - luckily the tires did not burst and no car damage.

Also - only buy a 1-way ticket as there are a couple of car barge companies and you do not want to be waiting for next barge to depart an hour later (not worth the $5 saved)

backing onto car barge...

 

[LisaH]

Anyone knows that, other than Hillside section, where else 1BR premium villa can be located? Also, is there window in the bedroom to look out if it's in the Hillside? Can't tell from the 1BR unit layout...
As it turns out, kids are not able to make it for our Aug trip so I downsized from 2BR to 1BR today.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Anyone knows that, other than Hillside section, where else 1BR premium villa can be located? Also, is there window in the bedroom to look out if it's in the Hillside? Can't tell from the 1BR unit layout...
As it turns out, kids are not able to make it for our Aug trip so I downsized from 2BR to 1BR today.

Only the VGV section has 1Bd villas.
There is not a window from the Bd that looks out towards GCB, the upstairs Bd is located in back of villa (over kitchen area). Look at the 2Bd TH versus 1Bd villa layout. Also, the bedroom in the 1Bd villas are open to villa below (no door... but some with moving wall- from discussions - never have seen one inside).

 

[LisaH]

Thanks David! Hmm, no door on the 2nd floor...good that it's just DH and I.
BTW, just booked the Reef Bay Hike on the phone. So look forward to it as this will be our 1st.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Thanks David! Hmm, no door on the 2nd floor...good that it's just DH and I.
BTW, just booked the Reef Bay Hike on the phone. So look forward to it as this will be our 1st.

The Reef Bay Hike is great (and one of the few island bargains) - but bring plenty of water, and wear clothing that wicks away moisture. It is very hot/humid in in the sub-tropical forest away from water with no wind.

 

[LisaH]

Will do. Thanks!

 

[LisaRex]

Staying in CV, very Westin-feeling.

How is the walk from the parking lot to CV. A poster on the Westin weather thread is trying to avoid climbing up hills. I know that BV is up a hill, but not sure about CV. I remember it being lower, but I was in island mode (aka tipsy) and perhaps not remembering well.

 

[DavidnRobin]

How is the walk from the parking lot to CV. A poster on the Westin weather thread is trying to avoid climbing up hills. I know that BV is up a hill, but not sure about CV. I remember it being lower, but I was in island mode (aka tipsy) and perhaps not remembering well.

Minor elevation as CV is one level lower than BV.
I have photos from June - I was not impressed with CV. Not because of location - - better than BV - I didn't like how they were set-up.

 

[YYJMSP]

How is the walk from the parking lot to CV. A poster on the Westin weather thread is trying to avoid climbing up hills. I know that BV is up a hill, but not sure about CV. I remember it being lower, but I was in island mode (aka tipsy) and perhaps not remembering well.

If I remember where the parking lot is (past the tennis courts?), you have to go down from the buildings and then a long way around between the back of the reception building and past the pool, etch, but all flat I think.

The CV's are on little hills (we're in the middle one just above Lemongrass), so you have at least the one down to go. There are steps at one end (nearest the reception building) or an iguana road between the buildings.

Of course, every down is an up on the way back from the lot...

 

[YYJMSP]

Not because of location - - better than BV - I didn't like how they were set-up.

I don't know about the other phases, but we keep comparing the unit to WKORV/N, WMH and WDW, and they are definitely not the same for space or layout/use of what space there is.

Kitchen complaints (we tried using it at lunch today) -- the cooktop is a joke (two burners but you can't actually fit two things on at once, and it takes forever to get hot), the microwave hood fan appears to just vent back in to the room, there is NO counter space at all, etc.

 

[Sicnarf]

Thanks for the info and pix.