Sorry for the delay, finally getting around to writing a trip report
March 23-April 1st , 2007
St Thomas, St John, Anegada, Tortola this trip.
First time flying on Sprit Airlines
First time flying out of Ft Lauderdale Airport
First time flying into St Thomas Airport – great Rum punch at the welcome center
Nothing but good things to say about Spirit, bigger seats than AA, friendlier agents/stewardesses, like that you have an adjustable headrest so you don’t get a kink in your neck when sleeping and the overall price was the best, paid $288 for 2 of us to fly from Ft Lauderdale to St Thomas, cant beat that price no-where! What a Valentines Day sale that was for me!
Up early and out of the house by 4am, drive to Ft Lauderdale, about 3.5 hr. trip for us, got there early just in case something went wrong on the drive down, parked the car in the off-site lot, much cheaper to park the car there ($6/day vs. $12/day) (about a 5-10 min. free shuttle bus ride to terminal). Checked in around 730am, flight departs 10:30am arrives 1:30 (direct with no-stop overs), agent informs us we could of printed out boarding pass on line and only 1 hr check in needed prior to departure (not what the agent said on the phone when I called telling them I was having problems printing our boarding passes; live and learn). Flight left on time and arrived on time, met a great family from Sarasota on the plane, husband is a native of St Thomas, a musician, made the time fly by talking with them about the islands, put us in island mode before we even left FL; they were also going back home to visit family.
Arrived safely in St Thomas, boy did they have to put the breaks on when stopping the plane! Had no problems w/luggage, then again having only 1 checked bag for toiletries helps, were the carry-on only vacationers. Grabbed our free rum punch (new to this and like it); then head outside for a taxi to CA since we were heading to St John for 3 nights before heading to Anegada for a week with the family. The only thing I didn’t like was the taxi thing outside the airport, so much confusion going on, yelling, bickering, etc., took about 20 minutes to be told which van to get in, taxi driver asking each person where they were going to so he could arrange luggage in the van, with who was getting out first, etc…….now it gets interesting…..as were driving to drop off the 1st set of folks at the Holiday Inn near the ferry terminal, we tell the taxi driver we can get out here and walk the rest of the way, making it easier on him….well, the taxi driver starts yelling that we shouldn’t have been in his van if we were going to CA ferry, that he’s going to RH (meanwhile he knew we were going to the CA ferry when he loaded our luggage!), he keeps going on & on trying to convince us to go to RH for the same 3pm ferry, we insist we don’t want to go to RH, we want to hang and drink some beers in town, well he keeps badgering us, so we get out with the folks at Holiday Inn, tell him were going to walk from here (ferry stop is only 1-2 blocks away, we know where we are going, been before) he gets all pissy, tells us to get back in the van, he’d take us, wow, a whole 2 blocks, drops us off, we gave him 20 bucks instead of the $16 he asked for, told him he needs to lighten up, realized we didn’t want change and changed his mood a bit…..but geezzz, I know he wanted to make more $$ by taking us to RH, but don’t they listen to the customer? At least we did get to CA ferry terminal like we wanted to, decompress, grab some cold ones and enjoy the scenery in town, no 30 min. van drive for us, no thanks!
St John Fri/Sat/Sun – March 23-25
Took the CA ferry to St John, lots going on this week with the St Thomas Regatta festival, lots of sail boats, nice picturesque scenery on the ferry looking at all the colorful sails going by. Sure was great weather for the regatta, very very very windy by the end of the week, heard some boats were clocked at 25-40 knots !!
Been to St John only once on a day trip from Tortola, so this time we spent 3 nights, stayed in Cruz Bay, rented Evening Star Studio located just beyond Gallows Point, so within walking distance to the ferry and restaurants. Called the Owners of the villa, they picked us up at the ferry dock, brought us to the rental, showed us around and off we were into town for some cold ones and appetizers at Banana Deck restaurant, good food and good drinks, walked around town for a while, got a sunset, then off to bed early. Up the next morning, stopped for some beer for the cooler, a home made fruit smoothie then hiked to Honeymoon and Solomon for some snorkeling, great place, beautiful beaches !! Hardly no-one else there. Stayed couple hours, then headed back into town, grabbed a drink or two and some lunch at High Tide Restaurant in Wharfside Village, located right next to the ferry terminal on the water, really good caseadias and calamari was very very good, then taxi to Hawksnest beach for the afternoon. Walked around town trying to decide where to eat dinner, and stumbled across Lime Inn, which was on my list of places to eat, place was packed and I mean packed, they asked if we had a reservation, was going to tell a little white lie, but we believe in karma, so I said no, but with a little smile and sweet talk, we got our name on the list, 30 minute wait and we were in. Really great food here, couldn’t have found a better place to eat, great service all around too. Sunday was same, beer store, fruit smoothie, then taxi to Waterlemon, boy what a great morning we had there, awesome snorkeling. By the time we were done it was lunch time, a whole lot of people were there now, so time to leave. Waited 5 minutes or so for a taxi, started walking into town, got picked up by a local guy Paul, who was going into town, gave us a lift, his mom was visiting from PA and was giving her a tour of the island, so we got the tour too, worked out wonderful. Lunch at High Tide again, it was so good day before we order the same again, then taxi back to Hawksnest for the afternoon, gotta love that beach, great snorkeling there out at the several reefs they have. Sunday night dinner at Fish trap, split a round of mussels and bread, mmmmm good, couple drinks and good to go.
Anegada Monday thru Friday March 26-30
Monday up early to catch the 8am ferry to West End Tortola, on our walk to the ferry had to stop for my morning fruit smoothie, now got hubby into having them for breakfast, great morning, fresh air on the ferry ride outside upper deck, nice way to start the day, weather was great these 3 days, sunny with some clouds, no rain, nice. Customs was a breeze, they know us and know were going to visit the family (wishing they were coming with us), no problems whatsoever, grab a taxi to Nanny Cay Marina where Dad and his boat were docked. Grabbed couple cold ones, walked around about an hour, then Dad showed up, sure is nice to be back home with the family. Helped Dad load up the boat w/supplies, then head to Anegada, CW for the week. Al wanted to fish on the way over so he threw out the riggers, got 1 hit, but lost it, good try thou. Did some catching up on the ride over with Dad, Elley met us at the ferry dock, nice to see sister, been a while. Helped unload, then off to get a scooter for the week, head to the house at CW and see the rest of the family, Mama Belle, sister Tieka, nieces/nephew, and the new nephew, Henrique, what a blessing and a cutie pie too! Al was happy to see his brother Alex, been a while, lots of catching up to do. Weather was not too good for the week on Anegada, rain most of the time, but that was a good thing, the family said we brought them good luck, the rain, cause they haven’t had any in a long time, nice to hear were the good luck bringers…I don’t mind rain or sunshine in Anegada, just being there brings sunshine to our hearts. The rest of the week was spent limin’ with the family, did some shore fishing, Al caught a grunt or two one day, it rained 1 day all morning until about 3-4pm, it was funny, Dad and Elley couldn’t believe the sight of me and Al on the scooter wearing garbage bags on our body that we made into rain ponchos, we told them this is the real meaning of “white trash”, they laughed so hard, great memories, and there were plenty of memories to be made this trip with the family, we all had such a good time being together creating new memories. Every day it rained for a few hours, either early morning till noon or in the afternoon till evening, was really really windy, glad I brought 1 pair of jeans and long sleeve shirts and my jacket, as always, cause you never know the weather on Anegada from one minute to the next. Al was even happy I packed him a long john shirt; he wore it one day to keep warm. Anegada, with it being so flat, the wind/rain can go right thru you (or some of us; and being a Floridian don’t help; thin blood). Had some really great meals as usual from Mama, great burgers, chicken/rice, ribs, chicken fingers, some home-made coconut bread for breakfast one morning & Dad made pan fried fish to go with it, yummy! Dad also grilled us some trigger fish one night, YUMMY !! Al went snorkeling for conch, since Mama didn’t have any to cook up, too bad it was our last day and we missed out….next trip! Al fixed the carburetor on Dads flat bed truck that hasn’t run in over a year so he can deliver water for everyone and use it for construction supplies, etc., Al also welded one hell of a bumper for his truck (the entertainment of the day for all the daytrippers) –watch out if you see the big red truck coming is all I have to say……Dad kept Al busy this trip with odds/ends fixing’, time flew by too quick as usual, never enough time to spend w/the family…short trip this time, un-expected due to quick air sale, couldn’t pass it up. Nice surprise to see Auntie Katie visiting from St John, she seems to always be visiting when we are, time to catch up on life, she’s a sweetie, we shared a nice dinner and good conversation one night at ARH, nice surprise
Friday 5pm ferry to Tortola, got to spend the ride with my sister, Tieka and the baby, good way to say goodbye for now, spent the night in town at Paradise Suites Hotel, 5-10 minute walk from the ferry, nothing fancy, but clean room, comfortable bed, shower and tv/fridge in the room. This was the only place that was available in Tortola for 1 night due to the Regatta, thanks to Dad for getting us a room; otherwise a roadside bench would have been it. Had dinner at Nanny Cay Marina, our waitress sucked, she didn’t check on us after the 1st round of drinks, then took our order, only to receive 1 lobster dinner instead of 2, took us about 10 minutes to wave her down to come over, asked her where is the 2nd lobster, she said she only ordered 1, then asked if we wanted to wait 30-40 min for the other lobster, no thanks, Al was pissed at this point since we didn’t eat anything all day on Anegada except chips….now being 730pm this was un-acceptable. Manager comes over after seeing Al pissed off & get up from the table and me eating alone, he asked if everything was OK, I said “no as a matter a fact its not OK” told him the scenario, he goes & talks to the waitress, who comes and offers us 2 free drinks on the house, at this point its like “sure whatever”, lobster got cold fast due to the high winds, very dry, told Al it wasn’t meant to be that we had 2 lobsters, we shared the 1 and said lets get out of here, flag the waitress for the bill, she then asks my husband “are you still vixen with me” in such a thick accent, we both could not understand her, I asked her to repeat about 3 times, still not understanding her, I ask “are you asking him if he is still mad at you?”, she says “yes” and he says “yeah, you took my order and didn’t bring it to me, so I guess there is no dinner for me, what do you think?) I guess she still didn’t figure it out…. she returns with my bill, I give her my c.c., she returns with the receipt to sign but didn’t bring my credit card back!! Al is really pissed now, have to flag her down to ask her where is my wife’s c.c., daaaaaaa, standing there looking stupid and said “I guess I left it up at the register; my fault, I can get into trouble for that and lose my job she says (go figure) we tell her that someone better not have walked off with it or she will be in trouble. Let’s just say we won’t be back.
Saturday March 31
Up early and out the door by 750am, walked very very fast to the ferry for the 8am but it was pulling away as we arrive, bummer we thought…..low and behold a big guy with a ferry hat on asked us if we were going to St Thomas, we said yes, he said wait here, I can get you to west end and catch the ferry, he gets a friend with a taxi, he comes along for the ride with us, we had to drop off 2 people in CGB, so we didn’t think we’d make it in time, then off to WE where they were holding the boat for us GREAT !!! We thanked him over and over; blessings from above all around, all the time, such a great place the bvi’s!
Ferry customs a breeze as usual, easy taxi ride from the ferry terminal, off to Bolongo Bay Resort, stopped off at the supermarket for lunch meat/bagels for the plane ride home tomorrow afternoon. Checked into the hotel, really really nice place, great balcony sea view with chairs outside, microwave/small kitchen/fridge/coffee maker, table chairs inside room, tv, great shower, pool, full use of water sports equipment, great snorkeling seen a turtle and some other stuff, wished we stayed here for more than 1 night. Got a cab back into town to do some last minute shopping for home made spices/hot sauces/trinkets/t-shirts before heading home, knowing that Sundays its much quieter for trinket shopping better do it today, good time mingling with the locals at the market, dancing, drinks, lots of fun seeing friends. Back to the hotel for a dip in the sea and some snorkeling before the sun sets. Dinner at the restaurant on site, had lobster dinner since Al missed it the night before at Nanny Cay, was delicious, worth the wait. Can’t say enough about this resort and the mangers and staff, exceptional!!!
Sunday April 1st
Had a great morning at the hotel, played in the water till 12:30-12:45, grabbed 1 last dip, off to the airport, for 245pm flight back home to Ft Lauderdale, un-eventful. Customs at the airport no problems, once we put our luggage thru, the security agent stops to see our documents and tells Al that she’s seen him before, asks if he’s from Tortola, he says no, that he visits quite frequently, she says “I know you, I’ve seen you around before on Tortola, you don’t live there?” Al insists he does not, asks “why, am I in trouble, or is it a good thing you know me?” she laughs and says “no-no trouble, I just know I’ve seen you around, and to come back soon”…..how funny is that……while waiting to board the plane we met up with our friends from Sarasota again, talked about the good times we both had on St Thomas (and us about Anegada and St John). Our car ride home was good, hardly no traffic at 6:30-7pm on a Sunday, hit the door about 10pm, sister and dogs happy to have us back home. All in all a great short trip with the family. Been a while since we did a week trip, use to the 2 week trips, but couldn’t pass up the $288 for 2 RT to see the family….I’m hooked on Spirits Red Light Specials now, looking for another cheap flight back!!
The Good
The people in the BVI’s and on St John/St Thomas – always looking out for you to have a good time.
Great snorkeling on St John -
Shore fishing on Anegada
The Bad
No snorkeling to be done on Anegada due to crap weather, bummer, was looking forward to it
St Thomas – Taxi stand at the airport = too chaotic
St John - Only 1 caveat, I can’t stand the power boat rental people who pay no attention to the red/green markers in the water, driving the boat wherever, like they own the waters. I got pissed when these 2 big 25 foot rental boats pulled up to the shoreline to drop off some of the folks for a swim, then proceeded to idle the boat at the shoreline for 10-15 minutes, then headed out. Pisses me off that they don’t care about St John being a National Park, ruining the coral, not paying any attention to boat regulations, buoys, red/green markers, nothing, ignorant I tell you.
Tortola-Nanny Cay Marina Restaurant = service sucked
