To avoid the high-season crowds (and prices) we chose St. John, USVI for our upcoming, much needed vacation. We leave tomorrow (tues, 10/19), and although it's a very lovely little island, the forecast looks pretty terrible--THUNDERSHOWERS--at least for the first 3 or 4 days. What is there to do in bad weather? I don't think there's much, but please help! Card games and scrabble just won't cut it for 4 days straight! Should we go to st thomas? can you still hike? shop? All help would be very much appreciated. <BR> <BR>p.s. it's just me and my boyfriend, and we rented a great villa on maria bluff with a pool and spa.

I am so sorry that it may rain on your vacation. Hopefully the showers will be quick and then clear up. We went to St. Thomas in Feb. of this year. There is alot more shopping in St. Thomas than on St. John. St. Thomas is known for it's duty free shopping. There can be 3-5 cruise ships a day that stop there. <BR> <BR>We also went to the Mountain top on St. Thomas. It is supposed to be the highest point around, yet you would want a semi-clear day for that so you could see. Pick up the local free publications that they have at the airport to get some more ideas. <BR> <BR> There is a ferry that can take you back and forth between the islands. Don't know what is all on the British Virgin islands but you may want to check that out as well. You can take a ferry there too. You would need a passport or birth certificate and other ID to go there however. Good luck.

Lemme see, you're there with your boyfriend, in a villa, with a pool and a spa and you're worried about a rainstorm? <BR> <BR>What's wrong with this picture?

Amen. I'd love to have a rainy week alone with my husband.

very funny, okay, i sound pathetic. but i really enjoy being outdoors too!

So sorry! Nothing is worse than going on a long anticipated trip to walk into a week of lousy weather. I would pack a couple of rain ponchos, unbrellas, a flashlite or two and lots of books! Depending on weather, you might squeek in some beach time, hiking time but as soon as you get there, start blowing northerly as you may be joined by Jose ... think they are predicting Thursday arrival ... and everyone would appreciate your helping to blow it out of there! Usually the weather following a hurricane is delightful ... so you have that to look forward to!

Before you leave tomorrow, I would check out the "intentions" of tropical storm Jose, headed for the eastern carribean. If the storm is bad, you would really have an awful vacation. <BR> <BR>Check with your airline to make sure flights are going in and out and check the www.weather.com board and I would also check www.hurricanes99.com for the most updated info. <BR> <BR>I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. <BR> <BR>We were supposed to be on Nassau when Hurricane Floyd struck and rescheduled to when Irene was there, and we rescheduled again to the first week of November, (hurricane season is over, finally) <BR> <BR>Hope you have a GREAT TRIP <BR> <BR>tweedy

July, stand by <BR>August, a big gust <BR>September, remember <BR>October, almost over <BR>November, the ender <BR> <BR>Not many visit in November, but you have to wait until December 1 for it to be officially "over." <BR>

Just curious, Nicole, since you should be back soon. Did it rain? And if so, what did you wind up doing?

This is pretty long, but... <BR> <BR>I'm finally back, and we weathered the storm. The night before we left I kept checking the weather, and jose seemed to be far enough away....but by the time we stepped off the ferry in St. John we were told Jose had recently been classified as a hurricane, and that we should just turn around and go home! <BR>Obviously very upset/frustrated/desperate, we tried to get a flight anywhere except for home (boston) -another island, cancun, las vegas, however the only flight available to a location that wasn't under a hurricane watch was home, so we stuck it out at the Frenchman's Reef Marriott on St. Thomas. We figured 3 or 4 days of sun was better than giving in and canceling our trip altogether. <BR> <BR>Apparently, the marriott is the strongest building on the island-where the governor conducts business during times of weather emergencies- so we felt pretty comfortable with our decision. There's a 24 hour gourmet food store, a couple bars, a nightclub, etc. Plus, both the Westin and Caneel Bay closed down and sent all their guests to the marriott--so we made plenty of friends! There was a lot of wind, a bit of rain, and we were not allowed to leave the resort so mimosas and rum drinks and scrabble and card games and the world series passed the time away. The storm was not nearly as bad as anyone had predicted-nothing was damaged and the power stayed on throughout, on all the islands. The sea was beautiful, with all rough water, although we were locked out of using our little balcony "for liability reasons". <BR> <BR>We took the noon ferry on friday (had arrived on tuesday) to St. John, stayed in a fantastic villa, and except for some very scattered, brief storms the weather was amazing. Snorkeling and scuba was limited due to Jose, but we had such a fantastic time! Hiked to waterlemon cay, explored the east end, and the north shore beaches, took a day charter to the British Virgin Islands and the Baths (Pirates Penny-the crew was great and only 4 other passengers, worth $95/pp) and just relaxed and ate in the wonderful restaurants. Lime Inn and Asolare were my favorites! <BR> <BR>All the locals kept saying that it was such a fluke, hurricanes are so rare in late october, which didn't make me feel much better about the 3 and a half days out of the sun! I would still recommend the virgins in late october-not many tourists, don't need to wait in line to eat, and lodging is much cheaper. But i would also recommend trip insurance!

So glad that you were able to salvage your trip and that you tuffed it out ... was tempted to ask for a follow up and was glad to see your post! Yes, never fail to get travel insurance ... you know if a hurricane hits, the entire season following can be a disaster as well if the place closes! The Reef has survived the worst of the worst and even the gov lived there post Marilyn as it was one of the few spots still operating! And when are you scheduling your return trip?