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

[applekor]

We were at maho yesterday and they were everywhere. You could feel them touch your skin and you could even pick them up. They look like jellyfish larvae. None of us got stung by them and it didn't seem to be that big of an issue except for visibility while snorkeling.

We hit all the Caneel beaches a few days before Maho and did not see any.

 

[GrayFal]

Any place to buy SafeSea on St John? Heading there tomorrow...

Were you able to pick up in island?

I can get it from Amazon but am doing carry on and it is 4 ounce size. Hate to pay $15 to have it confiscated.

 

[happymum]

And through Amazon.ca the same size bottle is $100 PLUS shipping!:rofl:

 

[GrayFal]

And through Amazon.ca the same size bottle is $100 PLUS shipping!:rofl:

Well I purchased it and will try to smuggle it thru next week. Unless Lisa tells us where we can buy it in STT or STJ. I was only planning on charging you $75. CAD that is!

 

[LisaH]

Pat, We checked at Starfish market and didn't see it. Went to waterlemon Cay, Francis, and Cinnamon Beach today. Although they are present at all three places, it was worst around Cinnamon Cay. I used Avon's Skin So Soft with insect Repellent & sunscreen and only had minor stings. DH didn't use at first and got stung more seriously at Cinnamon Cay. I can leave it at the front desk for you.

 

[GrayFal]

Pat, We checked at Starfish market and didn't see it. Went to waterlemon Cay, Francis, and Cinnamon Beach today. Although they are present at all three places, it was worst around Cinnamon Cay. I used Avon's Skin So Soft with insect Repellent & sunscreen and only had minor stings. DH didn't use at first and got stung more seriously at Cinnamon Cay. I can leave it at the front desk for you.

Thanks....will forward my info to you.

 

[ekinggill]

Maho

We were at maho yesterday and they were everywhere. You could feel them touch your skin and you could even pick them up. They look like jellyfish larvae. None of us got stung by them and it didn't seem to be that big of an issue except for visibility while snorkeling.

We hit all the Caneel beaches a few days before Maho and did not see any.

Funny...I was at Maho yesterday and it was nothing like Francis two days earlier. I wonder if where you are in the bay makes a difference because of the currents. At Francis I was on the right side of the beach (facing the water) and the sea lice were dense. At Maho I was on the far left and didn't see nearly as many.

This link has videos from Maho this year and last year same day.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEfT9icQSBAnI_HEZu4r1HA/videos?view_as=subscriber

 

[DavidnRobin]

Caribbean Travel Channel Video on YouTube
Broadcast is Aug 23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy-ND3IzNEI

Why on this thread other than just to bump?
1) Shots of StJ - flashes of Hurricane Hole, etc..
2) Some of voice over done by Jason Siska (Island Roots)

 

[ekinggill]

Caribbean Travel Channel Video on YouTube
Broadcast is Aug 23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy-ND3IzNEI

Why on this thread other than just to bump?
1) Shots of StJ - flashes of Hurricane Hole, etc..
2) Some of voice over done by Jason Siska (Island Roots)

Thanks for sharing. Jason took us to the Eastern BVI yesterday...awesome trip. (BVI Imigration on Tortolla, a beautiful deserted beach stop on North Shore of Tortolla, Baths {where Jason was a great guide with the kids}, snorkeling on Fallen Jerusalem, lunch at Cooper Island Beach Club, a cool stop on Salt Island).

He is a great guy to go out with!

 

[LisaH]

Thanks for sharing. Jason took us to the Eastern BVI yesterday...awesome trip. (BVI Imigration on Tortolla, a beautiful deserted beach stop on North Shore of Tortolla, Baths {where Jason was a great guide with the kids}, snorkeling on Fallen Jerusalem, lunch at Cooper Island Beach Club, a cool stop on Salt Island).

He is a great guy to go out with!

Fanny! We went out with Jason on Wed. Did "The Triangle" including the Caves, the Indian near Norman, lunch at Willy Ts, then a quick visit to Sandy Cay & Sandy Spit, and ended up at White Bay on JVD. Great fun. Next year, we will do the Hurricane Hole with Island Roots.

Today we got day passes at Honeymoon Beach, the best time ever! We did SUP, kayak, floating pads, and snorkeled again and again. Saw multiple southern stingrays, turtles, squids, eels, and variety of fishes. last but not the least, we spotted our very first eagle ray!

 

[GrayFal]

Fanny! We went out with Jason on Wed. Did "The Triangle" including the Caves, the Indian near Norman, lunch at Willy Ts, then a quick visit to Sandy Cay & Sandy Spit, and ended up at White Bay on JVD. Great fun. Next year, we will do the Hurricane Hole with Island Roots.

Today we got day passes at Honeymoon Beach, the best time ever! We did SUP, kayak, floating pads, and snorkeled again and again. Saw multiple southern stingrays, turtles, squids, eels, and variety of fishes. last but not the least, we spotted our very first eagle ray!

Wow!

 

[LisaH]

Here is the video for the Eagle Ray. Enjoy!

 

[GrayFal]

Here is the video for the Eagle Ray. Enjoy!

OMG, wait untill Mary sees this!
I saw my first ever eagle day at waterlemon cay about 5 years ago.

 

[okwiater]

St. John is an amazing place. We saw an eagle ray in waist deep water at Hawksnest a few years back. Caught me by total surprise when I looked down and saw it swimming around my feet.

 

[happymum]

Wow! What a fabulous video! The clarity is amazing. I am so stoked!!

 

[beachlynn]

Any grass area?

We have a lightweight bocci ball set that we take to Maui and play endless games on the rolling grass area while consuming cold beverages . Do they have areas like that where we be able to play? If not we will leave the set at home.

 

[YYJMSP]

We have a lightweight bocci ball set that we take to Maui and play endless games on the rolling grass area while consuming cold beverages . Do they have areas like that where we be able to play? If not we will leave the set at home.

Lots of large grassy areas below the CV units but they're all sloped...

 

[beachlynn]

Lots of large grassy areas below the CV units but they're all sloped...[/QUOTE

 

[beachlynn]

That's ok. It makes it interesting if there is a slope. We also can play on the sand. It is a toss version as opposed to a rolling one My husband gets antsy just sitting on a lounge chair soaking up the sun so the bocci keeps him busy.

 

[okwiater]

That's ok. It makes it interesting if there is a slope. We also can play on the sand. It is a toss version as opposed to a rolling one�� My husband gets antsy just sitting on a lounge chair soaking up the sun so the bocci keeps him busy.

You think the slope makes it interesting -- wait til you see the iguanas!

 

[beachlynn]

Whatever your 2 bedroom describes it max, is its max. Unless you have little kids it will be a challenge. We own a 2 bedroom LOFT. It sleeps 10. Those are few though.

Ferry is all you can travel. There is enough on St. John that you won't see the need to leave. But it's there if you want it.

Gym & Spa are one of the worst I've seen in our system. Although I haven't been since they renovated. It was disappointing, especially the spa area.

We just booked a 2 bedroom loft that sleeps 10 with SO for Oct. We had already booked a 2 bedroom but wanted to include another couple. I'm hoping a 3 bedroom opens up. Several were available on Thurs but by the time our friends accepted our offer they were gone. I scooped up this loft as there are 6 adults. I will keep checking the inventory. It was scary having the agent drop my 2 bedroom villa and grab the 2 bedroom loft. I tried to get her to borrow from my 2016 148,000 SO so I wouldn't lose what I had but she wouldn't do it. Anybody have any tips on not going through that nailbiting situation???
How are the sofabeds in St John? Is the 2 bedroom loft likely in the BV section? I llie the idea being closer to the beach but I love a view also. Thanks for your help

 

[okwiater]

A 2br loft that sleeps 10 has to be in Bay Vista, because the Coral Vista lofts only sleep 8.

 

[beachlynn]

You think the slope makes it interesting -- wait til you see the iguanas!

Ha Ha. That will be quite a site. I can't wait to see them

 

[MPERL]

Who buys the furniture? Should be fired!

I hope the person who purchased the furniture in the last remodel got fired. He/she obviously did not lay in the sleeper sofa before purchasing. That sleeper was so uncomfortable from day one. Now that is is years old, it is completely unusable. Total POS. We stayed at Marriott Frenchman's Cove last week, and their sleeper sofa is a dream. I would think owners at WSJ would put your foot down. Much of the last remodel was substandard. We rented last year and the unit had just been redone. There were cracks in the new kitchen counter, the shower glass edge was never sealed so it leaked all over the bathroom. The dishwashers sounds like a jet airplane.

 

[GrayFal]

Government House - US Virgin Islands
5 hrs ·
GOVERNOR MAPP DECLARES A STATE OF EMERGENCY
AND PLACES THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL GUARD
INTO TERRITORIAL MILITARY SERVICE
IN THE WAKE OF TROPICAL STORM ERIKA

(August 27, 2015, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands) At 11:00pm tonight, Governor Kenneth E Mapp declared a State of Emergency in the Virgin Islands. In addition, the Governor, in order to protect the lives and property of the residents and visitors, imposed a curfew across the territory, froze consumer prices at their current levels, deputized all territorial peace officers and placed each of them under the direct supervision of the Police Commissioner and activated the Virgin Islands national Guard, placing the Guard into Territorial Military Service.
The Governor determined that these actions were necessary after being briefed by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and the Executive Director of the VI Water and Power Authority that trees, poles and electrical lines were down across the Virgin Islands. In addition, the Police Commissioner reported that under the cover of darkness, two drive by shootings have occurred.

The Governor’s order imposes an immediate curfew across the territory until 5:00 pm Friday August 28th, 2015 or until such time the safety of residents are secure. The Governor noted that more rain and wind gusts are expected through 4:00am August 28th, accordingly, conditions in the territory will only worsen, said the Governor.

The State of Emergency also freezes prices throughout the Territory. The Commissioner of the Department of licensing and Consumer has been directed to enforce this provision of the declaration of emergency.
“All peace officers are hereby deputized as law enforcement officers of the Virgin Islands specifically to perform public safety functions as required by the Governor during this stator of emergency and shall immediately report to the Commissioner of Police, or his or her designated representative on each island to perform as the Police Commissioner shall direct”, ordered the Governor.
“As Commander in Chief, I have ordered the Virgin Islands National Guard into Territorial Active Military Service, said the Governor. The Adjutant General shall mobilize such units of the Guard as are necessary to maintain public order and guarantee the safety of life and property of our residents and visitors alike,” said the Governor.

At mid-morning on August 28th, Governor Mapp will lead a team, making an aerial assessment of the conditions of all of the Virgin Islands. “I am asking our residents and visitors to remain indoors and off the public roadways while we clear, repair and restore safe conditions in the territory.
I thank all of our dedicated employees for their hard work and sacrifice away from home during this difficult period. In the end, we will be fine, the Governor said. In the meantime, stay home, stay dry and stay safe,” the Governor concluded.

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Don't think we are going anywhere too soon