I am honeymooning there for 6 days and 5 days on Virgin Gorda in Oct. 2004 would love some help.
Where can we buy a cooler once we get there? Should we bring one from home?

Where can we get good sandwhiches to pck in said cooler for days at the beach?

Do any places rent beach chairs? Do they have them at the Westin for rent?

What was the best meal you had while on the island?

What was your favorite activity on the island?

What do you wish you knew before you got there? Is there anything you'd do differently?

Any advice is appreciated. We have never been and I research every place to death before we arrive so I am looking for anything practical and useful
THANKS

Where can we buy a cooler once we get there? Should we bring one from home?

There is a hardware store that sells them in the Markletplace Complex.

Where can we get good sandwhiches to pck in said cooler for days at the beach?

There is also a grocery store in the Marketplace, as well as Simple Feast, right up the street from teh Westin and at the Westin Deli itself!

Do any places rent beach chairs? Do they have them at the Westin for rent?

Don't think so, butthey also have them at the hardware store! If you rent a villa, they have both items there for your use.

What was the best meal you had while on the island?

What was your favorite activity on the island?

Paradiso, Zozo's are two I am fond of.

What do you wish you knew before you got there? Is there anything you'd do differently?


I live in STT and am over there frequently, no answer for this one!

Congrats and good luck!
Ronnie

if it had just been my husband and i in st. john (no baby) we would have rented the jeep the entire stay (we rented 4 days out of 7 which wasn't bad).
i got bit by mosquitoes but my husband didn't..so if you're susceptible to mosquitoes, bring repellent (it's really not that bad so don't want to alarm you).
i read a great idea from someone on fodors one time (which we do every time we go on vacation now)..bring a candle so at night you and your other half can light it while relaxing on hotel room patio..very romantic (get cintronella-type candles).
you can get sandwiches at the deli at mangoose junction (tiny shopping center of st. john). the sandwiches are big and good.
we also had a great dinner at a restaurant called "paradiso" at mangoose junction. we thought restaurant was beautiful and romantic-type place. we had our infant with us which kinda killed the romantic part ..if you're staying at the westin, the shopping center is on the way to all the beautiful beaches.
i don't know if the westin rents chairs (we never asked) and don't know about coolers. but someone must rent those chairs because we saw quite a few people on the beaches with them.
favorite activity was simply going to all the different beaches every day.
have a GREAT time.

thanks for the helpful tips, keep them coming!

I would recommend bring a cooler from home, I have a soft sided one that works well for traveling. I think the Starfish Market on St John may sell styrofoam coolers, they will be expensive. I think our car rental place rented coolers too. We bought sandwiches and wraps at the Starfish Market. The only place I found that rented beach chairs was the dive shop on St John, I can't remember the name of it. It was really expensive like $30 per chair for the week. I don't remember the Westin renting chairs since they have their own for guests to use. (It's surprising how many guests don't leave the Westin to check out the rest of the island). Hope this helps.

thanks for the tips

Its funny when I thought $30 a chair for the week was cheap.I hate laying on the sand. And I want to explore the different beaches.

Any other tips are greatly appreciated!

Tape your folding beach chairs together and check them in as regular luggage. i usually take older ones and just leave them behind. They cost $7-$9 in the states but much more in the caribbean.