• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

WSJ: 3 weeks and counting

Notes on above letter:

PLEASE NOTE
• Prices are subject to change.
• Mother Nature sometimes requires The Westin Resort to alter its main docking location from Crown Bay Marina.

ALL INCLUSIVE
Roundtrip transfers include: the taxi to the St. Thomas docking location, the ferry to The Westin St. John, the returning ferry and taxi to the airport, all luggage handling, and unlimited return trips to St. Thomas to explore or shop for yourself and loved ones. (If you chose not to purchase a roundtrip transfer pass, but wish to take the ferry provided by The Westin St. John to St. Thomas during your stay, you may purchase a Shopper’s pass for $25 per person at The Marina Desk or The Main Lobby Front Desk.)


BRIDES AND GROOMS
If you need to go to the courthouse in order to obtain your marriage license, please check-in at The Westin Airport Lounge and our team will register you, and assist you in finding a taxi. You will ride ten minutes to the courthouse to receive your license and return to the airport via taxi to use our service.

RENTAL CARS
Travel with us and rent on property. Please contact our Concierge Team to make arrangements with O’Connor Jeep Rental.
Concierge.01098@westin.com

SHOPPERS
If you will not be purchasing a transfer pass but, would like to use our service for a day of shopping on St. Thomas, roundtrip shopper passes are available for $30 per person.

SPECIAL ATTENTION
All guests boarding after the 5:15 P.M. ferry departure will be driven forty five minutes to the National Park Dock on the East End of St. Thomas to board a water taxi for a fifteen minute ride to The Westin St. John.

LATER FLIGHT ARRIVALS
We do accommodate later flights and our Westin Airport Lounge will remain open until the last flight of the evening has landed.

If you have any questions about this information, we would be happy to provide you with assistance. Please feel free to contact us at 01098.GuestRelations@westin.com
 
Not sure if this has already been said....so much posted and no time to read...

I suggest planning if you want a rental car or a boat with a captain. My wife and I reserved a Nauti Nymph while we were there to do some snorkeling and to visit the Jost Van Dyke for lunch at Foxy's!
 
James1975NY said:
Not sure if this has already been said....so much posted and no time to read...

I suggest planning if you want a rental car or a boat with a captain. My wife and I reserved a Nauti Nymph while we were there to do some snorkeling and to visit the Jost Van Dyke for lunch at Foxy's!
Click to expand...

Haven't taken the Nauti Nymph - but they are a boat/charter that is allowed use of the Westin dock, and we have seen them every year while at JVD. I would be hesitant to take the longer Virgin Gorda trip on a small boat like NN unless it was glass smooth.

Two years ago we 'hired' a captain (not allowed to pay directly due to rules&regulation as he is not a certified charter captain) with a 6-pac licencse and he rented a bare boat from STT (See & Ski) in our name - and then picked us up at the Westin dock (very quickly) and took us where we wanted to go (vs. a charter). It was a good deal and all we had to do was take his kid sister and friend along - since he is allowed to take six people total and there were only 4 of us - it worked out great. He dealt with checking in at BVI (JVD) - and knew the bar/reatuarants at White Bay on JVD, and killer snorkle spots that a normal charter would not go. We paid for the bareboat, gas and bought his lunch - it was not the service a charter supplies - as we were 'friends' and not paid charter users. It was very low key and we enjoy the same music - so it was all good. Cheaper than a normal charter, but more expensive than taking the public ferry.
 
Where do you find these captains for hire? (I'm picturing them standing around the dock with a sandwich board.)

:)
 
LisaRex said:
Where do you find these captains for hire? (I'm picturing them standing around the dock with a sandwich board.)

:)
Click to expand...

I have been looking for some too. For my "herd of cats" it may be best. I have contacted several captains, but so have had little luck.
 
There are strict regulations for more than 6 passengers - so if more than six souls - your options are more limited. Explain your situation on the VINOW BBS - best advice may be there.

I found the 'captain' we used (he is actually not alowed to be called that - and cannot accept pay for services) reading the Travel Forum for USVI and someone mentioned their experience doing this with a wedding minister/planner that I knew form a search I did when trying to get married in STJ (ended up getting engaged to Robin instead because it was too difficult to do it and keep it a surprise).

If you have enough people - I think the BadKitty may do private charters, but it ain't going to be cheap no matter how you do it.
 
DavidnRobin said:
If you have enough people - I think the BadKitty may do private charters, but it ain't going to be cheap no matter how you do it.
Click to expand...

We actually got a quote from them for a private charter.
cost is $2610 (gratuity not included) $25 cash per person for customs & lunch money. Included in both charters are Continential Breakfast (Assorted Breakfast Breads and Sliced Fresh Fruit) Open Bar (Beers, Wine, Painkillers, Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, Champagne, Vodka, Gin, Rum, Juices, Sodas and Water.) Snorkel gear & instructions provided.
Click to expand...

Works out to be $225 pp + tips.
 
Last edited:
Ouch - $225 pp may be reasonable for the adults, but for the kids that seems like a lot.

It cost us about $150pp (w/ tips) last year on their normal charter.

The private captain/boat (26ft Prowler) cost us about $450 total (incl gas, BVI fee and tip, but not food) for the 4 of us.
 
DavidnRobin said:
Ouch - $225 pp may be reasonable for the adults, but for the kids that seems like a lot.

It cost us about $150pp (w/ tips) last year on their normal charter.

The private captain/boat (26ft Prowler) cost us about $450 total (incl gas, BVI fee and tip, but not food) for the 4 of us.
Click to expand...

FYI, I booked on the Wayward Sailor for $125 each, though we may have 2 strangers joining us. (Which is totally fine with us.)

BTW, would you recommend an all day snorkeling trip (10-4) or an all-day trip to Jost Van Dyke (8-4:30)? Oddly, both are the same price.
 
How about a snorkling trip that goes to JVD (White Bay - where the Soggy Dollar is) on the way back to STJ for some tropical drinks?

This is what most charters do (w/ some variation). I would prefer the snorkling myself. I would ask where does the snorkling trip take you. If it is just a trip to JVD - why not use the public ferry?
 
I would do the all day snorkeling trip with a stop at Josh Van Dyke.

FYI - One of the "private" charter for up to 6 is $450-$550 all day, plus tips - your agenda.
 
Does anyone know if internet connectivity is available at the Westin St. John, either at the villas or the hotel? My husband has a Verizon internet card but Verizon doesn't service St. John.

If not, do they have internet cafes like on the mainland?
 
LisaRex said:
Does anyone know if internet connectivity is available at the Westin St. John, either at the villas or the hotel? My husband has a Verizon internet card but Verizon doesn't service St. John.

If not, do they have internet cafes like on the mainland?
Click to expand...

The internet there works really well - both wired and wirelessly. Also Verizon does service St. John, probably not EVdo, but roaming is expensive there. There are also some places in town where you can get wireless access - some free - just make sure you have a good firewall.

-tim
 
Thanks so much. Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm scribbling it all down.

I wonder why the Westin website doesn't say it has internet accessibility? Or is my husband the only one who just cannot get away from work for a week?
 
tomandrobin said:
I would do the all day snorkeling trip with a stop at Josh Van Dyke.

FYI - One of the "private" charter for up to 6 is $450-$550 all day, plus tips - your agenda.
Click to expand...

Is this one of the ones advertised on Vinow?
 
LisaRex said:
Thanks so much. Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm scribbling it all down.

I wonder why the Westin website doesn't say it has internet accessibility? Or is my husband the only one who just cannot get away from work for a week?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, no, your husband is not the only one. The reason I can be so definitive in my post is that I spent over half my week there in October glued to my computer because of unexpected work demands. I'd still rather be in St. John doing that than being in my office! There are also two computers with a printer in the lobby so you can email yourself documents and print them there.

I hope your husband doesn't get stuck working. Have a great time.

-tim
 
As long as there's electricity in St Thomas

you'll have WIFI. When we were there Thanksgiving week, husband worked the first two days. Thankfully, when the electrical problem occurred on St Thomas, the WIFI went down, not returning for about 48 hours. I guess the Westin generators don't consider the WIFI a "necessary" use. Anyway, I was glad for the downtime.

Lori
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top