Devonmcj

Thanks for posting your photos and their captions. What an adorable family! We've rented Andante by the Sea for another family trip next year (it wil be our third- me, dh, ds, and dh's parents). It's great to see actual user photos in addition to the ones on their website. It looks like the villa is pretty much how it's represented. Am I right? We especially love beautiful views. Was lack of privacy an issue? It's not as if we're going to be doing anything in the buff with DH's parents around, but it's always nice to feel a little secluded.

Your photos remind me of our first trip to STJ when my son was three. Our first day on the island we packed up our beach stuff and drove 15 minutes to Maho beach, only to find we had forgotten our son's swimsuit. He was happy as a clam splashing around w/o anything on (there were no other people on the beach). The photos of that day are still my favorites.

kellybeaches

Hello, I’ve finally gotten the rest of our trip photos up and captioned. The only ones missing are our underwater photos which are still being developed. I’ll post those if any come out well. You can check out the rest here!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...share&Ux=0

Virginia, yeah, the yachts in VG were amazing! That’s on my list if we hit the lotto! The villa on VG was wonderful. I’m not sure if you can rent it for 2 rooms or not for a lower rate. You’d probably have to check with the owners.

Maggi, I’m with you on Hawaii being our ultimate favorite (Napali Coast on Kauai in particular-the Princeville is amazing). However, I don’t see us doing that flight again anytime soon, so in the meantime we’ll stay with the caribbean.

Blamona and Maggie, thanks for your thoughts on that little island. It looked nice from the air!

Devonmci, You’re in for a treat! Yes, their website is pretty much exactly how it is in real life. The views were great, the construction was a bit noisy though, but it may be all finished by the time you get there. I didn’t feel that privacy was an issue. Andante is one of the highest up villas, so if anything, you’re looking down on the other houses around you, not them looking down on you. Bring lots of bug spray-that was probably the worst part-poor Brooke had huge welts all over her, and we tried about 4 different kinds of bug spray-nothing seemed to work. I’m not sure if it was the time of year or what, but I don’t remember the bugs being that bad on any of our other island trips. It is fun traveling with a toddler-it’s amazing how they bring you back to seeing the joy and excitement in the most simple things!

Devonmcj

I admit I've had a few second thoughts about going back to STJ again when there are so many other places in the world we haven't seen. Your photos make me remember why we loved it so much. I especially like the one of your little girl jumping off the sand cliff at Cinnamon. Children sure do open up a whole new to you, don't they?

I looked at the photo of the villa you rented on Virgin Gorda. Wow. That looks wonderful. With 5 of us traveling, it's just a little too hard to reach. That's one of the reasons we're staying with STJ.

Glad to hear your flight to San Juan was okay. When I was pregnant, we took a puddle-jumper from Tortola to San Juan. That ranks right up there as one of the scariest flight I can recall having taken in my life.

I have one other question about Andante. Do you remember if you could see the entire shoreline area of Chocolate Hole. It sounds like a big development is slated to begin construction soon. I'd like to know how much of it we'll be seeing and hearing.

Thanks again for posting.

kellybeaches

Devonmci,
There is a hotel/condos being built on Pond Bay, which is set nestled into the lake portion of Chocolate Hole. You definitely can’t see it from the villa, and I doubt you’ll be able to hear it either. You drive by it when you turn onto Chocolate Hole road, but then you’ll hang a left onto the scary 1 lane dirt road up the the villa which wraps you around the mountain so you’re actually on the other side of it. I don’t think you’ll have any problems. Hopefully the new villas that were under construction will be finished by the time you go too. The owners of the villa are really nice and helpful which was great. Be sure to watch the sunrises-they’re great! Oh, and they have a REALLY nice washer/dryer, so pack lightly and just do laundry there. They also have pool floats, flippers, and we left our snorkel masks and snorkels for the next renters. Please let me know if you have anymore questions, and have a great time!

gldndog

What did you think about Katilady Katering? Did it run you extra with the
lobster?

kellybeaches

We booked our dinner with Katilady before we arrived. They were great, and delivered everything hot to our front door. The prices are fixed per their menu, so the lobster was whatever it cost on their menu.

Tuxedocat

kellybeaches: I can't tell you how happy your pictures made me. I couldn't help but be struck by your thoughts regarding your last set of pictures of the rainbow and stunning clouds. We've had an extremely tough year too which has prevented us from enjoying our home in STJ so your sentiments were very much appreciated. Here's to surviving the dark clouds and stormy seas and finding the light again. Thanks for your generosity in sharing your pictures and happy family times. Your daughter is just adorable. I have a 4 year old daughter myself so I can relate. You've really spread the sunshine.

JoenShell

Let me just say......I appreciated all those pics! I'm a photo junkie also & with a backdrop like that how can one ever delete! Your family is lovely & your lil' one reminds me of our grandaughter Giavonna she's 2 & also a toehead! We did the hike to solomon last time & wow! it was gorgeous!! will do again next may, booked miles away villa. with destination st.john. solomon was a lil' busy when we there....we'll have to go earlier next time... Loved Honeymoony also!!! & a lot easier to get to! did have a few day trippers but never stayed too long. our other fave is trunk! thanks again it was a great fix seeing the pic's! another great island to visit that i did'nt see on your list is Anguilla! Beautiful !!! Happy Travels!

cmerrell

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, kelly. I just visited St. John last month for the first time, and thought it was just wonderful.

ejcrowe

Thanks for posting the other pics, kelly. They're as great as the first batch you shared.

Umm, I'm usually able to curb my tendency to correct spelling, but this time I'm giving in because reading "toehead" is giving me awful mental images. It's "towhead" that you're looking for, folks. Now, back to your regular programming about St. John and blondheaded kids and please pardon my interference.

caribtraveler

Kelly: LOVE the additional pics. Your daughter is too cute!

wyatt92

ejcrowe, thank you! The incorrect spelling of towhead was bothering me too but I didn't want to sat anything. Either way, little Brooke is adorable.

kellybeaches

Glad everyone enjoyed the pictures! Unfortunately, my underwater pictures were all washed out (no pun intended) , so I didn’t post them.

Good to know about the spelling of towhead. Learn something new everyday!

Tuxedocat, it’s strange how sometimes things can be presented to you almost as a sign. That morning with the clouds coming in with the heavy rain below and the sun shining brightly above them really made me feel hope. Yes, here’s to weathering out the storm

Well, I’m signing off now until planning for the next trip. Thanks again for everyone’s input and help. We really had a great time. And as Jimmy Buffett said, that trip was “medicine no doctor could prescribe.”

christiegr

ej,
Thanks for the correct spelling of "towhead"...I have never had to *write* the word..so I was not sure how it is spelled.

Have you decided on where you are staying in Kaua'i yet? If not,I replied to your thread and recommended The Princeville Resort.Read the reply if you haven't already!
Christie

ejcrowe

christie, no, I hadn't read your reply yet, but I was hoping you'd respond.

I know how much you love Kauai, so I will check out your rec. Thanks!

stjohncaptain

Hey, Kellybeaches, I just looked at your photos. Cutie.
I have lived on St. John 7 years, Hawaii 19 years, and have been to Bermuda (11 times), Eleuthra, Abaco, all the BVI, all the Hawaiian Islands multiple times, etc. Somehow I keep going to islands. My wife makes me stay here, however, as it is her favorite. Where is your trip review posted?

kellybeaches

Hi St. John Captain,
Wow-sounds like you’ve had the travel experiences I hope to have someday-and what a beautiful place to live! You can see my trip report below each picture. You’ll need to click on the links above and then when the image comes up, I’ve written a long description below most outlining our trip. Hopefully you can view it. Enjoy!

kellybeaches

Ps-ejcrowe and christiegr, we stayed at the Princeville, Kauai for a week and the Ritz Kapalua in Maui for a week for our honeymoon. We LOVED the Princeville. It's hands down the most amazing place we've ever been on any of our travels. Ejcrowe, let me know if you want to see any pictures to help you decide. You know how I am with my picture taking!!

ejcrowe

kelly, that's very generous to offer to let me see your photos. I'd love to take you up on that. are they posted online someplace? you can email them to me directly at my forum user name + the number 42 at aol dot com

many thanks!

christiegr

Kelly,
The Princeville is where we will stay if we can ever take off 2 weeks (atleast) to go back to Kaua'i. I would love to see your pictures also.

BTW...what is your favorite place that you have visited?

Out of Kaua'i,Aruba,Grand Cayman,St John (2 times) and Vieques...I would have to say that Kaua'i is the most beautiful..with St John running in second!

Christie