Hello there,
We are Vistana owners. Our home resort in Kauai. We have never been to St. John. We are going in a month! (yay!) Me, DH, DD (15) and DS (13). Advice for newcomers welcome please!! Take the Westin ferry or not? Rent a car in St. Thomas to bring to St. John? Bear in mind we are taking a red eye from the west coast, so maybe not having to hassle with anything might be a plus. We will be there for 4 full days. Must sees? Places to eat?? Best beaches? My kids and DH love to snorkle, me, not so much....LOL.
Thanks in advance!!!
Hi
@malibuboatmama - answers to these questions are somewhat involved. I would suggest perusing this thread - and check out trip reports at beginning (and throughout). It will help answer these questions as each vacation party usually has different needs (not a 1 size fits all).
My personal advice (YMMV):
Rent 4Dr 4WD on STT (Amalie Rentals) - especially with 2 Adults/2 Teens - and only 4 days (all the way from west coast? ouch) UNLESS, you just plan to just hang out at resort, and cannot deal with driving on left side of road. Amalie will pick you up at STT, and you're on your way - drive to RedHook (not that difficult...) and take car barge across (pre-reserve for discount - Love City Ferries). The WSJ ferry will cost ~$480RT and convenient, but cost is likely more than car rental price. You can rent on STJ as well - either onsite (OConnor) or in Cruz Bay. If CB - at some agencies you can park on their lot (parking in CB is a hassle).
Added - be aware that WSJ has multiple phases, but can be broken down to being uphill from the Main resort (VGV phase), or on the resort (BV, CV, SB phases) - they all have three pluses/minuses - and also have different villa layouts.
If at VGV (Hillside) - a car is really nice as you can park right outside villa - and be on your way (Trunk Bay ~17 minutes). This is where we stay. We go for 2 weeks - 4 days (assume 5 nites) is really short. Be aware that compared to CA (or west-coast) that it is very hot/humid - much more than HI - and can take a while to get used to.
Also, prepare for mosquitoes, and for no-seeums (on beach at sunset...). There are no no-seeums (biting gnats really...) on best-coast or in HI - thankfully. Make sure if you are on sand during sunrise/sunset - stand on a beach blanket - and use spray up to knees. (do not lay on sand during these times). You do not want to get bit by these little f-ers.
As to beaches... too many to see in 4 days (another reason not to hang at resort...) - get on-line info for these. Just along the north-side there are plenty of beaches to visit (Solon=man, Honeymoon, Caneel, Hawksnest, Jumbie, Trunk Cay, Cinnamon, Maho, Francis, Leister (Watermelon Cay) - and really depends on what activities you guys like to do. Definitely, Trunk bay. Maho for turtles (please do not touch). On other side of island (Coral Bay area) - need car - there is Salt Pond and Little Lameshur (need 4WD). If full-moon - walk from Salt Pond to Ram Head (bring water, and flashlight - we use iPhone). Overall - StJ is not very exciting action-wise.
NPS tour of the Reef Bay Trail.
Consider a day charter - we use Island Roots (Capt Jason Sitka), but here are plenty of others.
) I might have an additional guest that would be using the sofa. I know I tried out our VGV sleeper and it was horrible. We are trading in to a different week so we won't be in VGV. I have already suggested to the guest to bring along an air mattress/pool float to place on top of the sleeper. Wondering if this will be sufficient?
It's great to hear the new sofa sleepers are an improvement. As of now, the extra guest is not joining us, but in case they change their mind again, I will have some info to share.