Just returned from a week in the USVI--4 nights on St. John and 3 nights in St. Thomas. We stayed at the Westin in STJ and at Marriott Frenchman's Reef in STT. Highly recommend Westin. My feelings on Marriott are lukewarm. We're under 25 and rented car and drove around STJ to the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen!!! Did daysail on classic sailboat "Hirondelle" with Capt. Neil and visited Jost Van Dyke, had delicious flying fish platter lunch, snorkeled right outside of Cruz Bay. Rented waverunner and went parasailing. Went to Magens Bay on STT. Did day trip with Captain Nautica to the Baths on Virgin Gorda, lunched on Tortola and snorkeled at The Indians. Had a wonderful trip! Ask me anything!

Hi Alison, <BR> <BR> <BR>I saw your post on the Fodor's site. Your trip is extremely relevant because I leave for the USVI the first week of December, and my girlfriend and I are also staying at the Westin on St. John's. <BR> <BR> <BR>I'll be there for five nights and was hoping you could suggest some good itineraries for that five days. <BR> <BR> <BR>First of all, was the hotel nice? How did the transfers work from the airport? I'm hoping it wasn't too difficult. Did you rent a jeep or a car? Is the beach at the hotel any good, or should I make it a point to drive somewhere else? I'd like to book a snorkeling trip, should I go through the company stationed at the hotel or find someplace cheaper? <BR> <BR> <BR>Sorry to hit you with all these questions, but any suggestions or recommendations would be grand. My g/f and I are about your age (26) and are celebrating our first year together. <BR> <BR> <BR>Cheers, <BR>Ross <BR>

Alison, <BR>My wife and I are planning (actually I'm planning) a week long stay in St. John in the February/March timeframe. My big question is....what did the Westin cost. Are there any unadvertised specials, seems as though travel is down. Here's hoping I can find a nice place to stay in the $125 a night range during high season. I appreciate it. Thanks, Mark

mark... am looking into an early winter trip to st. john myself. found a great deal: the usvi tourism dept. has a thing called the "stay play and we'll pay" they give $200 per person amex travelers checks (up to $400 per room) and the forth night free at some hotels. only one on st. john is the westin. you have to go through a travel agency though...guess they're trying to support them as well. anyway, check out the web site: <BR>http://www.usvitourism.vi/en/welcome/rpessreleases.asp?id=241<BR><BR>nancy

Alison, I understand that you cannot fly directly into St. John - you have to fly into St. Thomas and take a ferry over? How cumbersome was it, and how did you arrange it? Was it difficult finding your way around when you rented the car?

Tracy-<BR>Once landing at St. Thomas you have to take a taxi to a ferry to get to St J. just tell the cabbie at the airport where you want to go. It can be difficult if you have a lot of luggage. I wouldn't look forward to it but its manageable. Driving is down right dangerous everything is backwards and the natives drive fast and tight.

Once arriving on St. Thomas (there is no airport on St. John!), the dispatcher at the taxi stand will put you on the appropriate taxi for either Red Hook (about a 20 min ride) or Charlotte Amalie (about a 5 minute ride) for the ferry. If you do stay at either the Westin or Caneel, your travel arrangements between the airport and their individual docks is available. It is not a big hassle compared to other islands where you might spend time getting to your resort and it's well worth the inconvenience! There are porters at the ferry dock IF you happen to bring too much luggage (don't do it!). As far as the driving, it is on the left with steering wheels on the left just like home. You quickly adjust and it's not a problem. Go slowly and use those horns on those hairpin turns. If you feel pressured by other drivers, just pull over and let them go by. What you have to watch out for are the goats, donkeys and other things that might be wandering about or being captured by the great views and sights that tempt you to take your eyes off the windey and hilly roads! Only really hard thing is the right hand turns!