Hi fellow travelers. Going to St. John in June for 2 50th birthdays. There’s a group of seven adults. Would love some ideas for unique and special experiences that we could give the birthday couple as a gift. They have been here a handful of times, so looking for something out of the ordinary. Thinking of ideas like chartering a boat (but where? have done the Baths, etc), hiring a private chef for a beach dinner….and totally open to your thoughts.
We’re staying at the Westin St. John for 8 nights.
thanks in advance!

I'll throw out one idea

One of my favorite restaurants on St John is Johnny Lime in Coral Bay. Nothing fancy - outdoor bench seating, but the food is fantastic. It's on the far end of the island from the Westin so the group is less likely to head that way...

For a group of 7 you can all fit in one taxi, and there will be taxis available at the Westin around the clock. It would be about a 20min taxi ride to Coral Bay. The restaurant could probably call you a taxi for the return, or you could get the phone # for a driver to pick you up.

As for the Westin, if you're not familiar with the property then temper your expectations. The rooms at the Westin are nice, but the property is rather sterile and the beach is nothing to write home about.''

Consider also renting a car or 2 for the group for at least part of the stay. There is a Budget office right on the Westin property. Book now if you have any inkling of renting a car. You can always cancel, but they do sell out in advance. Parking in Cruz Bay is a pain, so you'll probably just take taxis back and forth if you go out to dinner. At $10+ per person a pop each way that'll add up quickly. A car is handy to run to the supermarket for supplies, or to hit some of the hiking trails.

Beach parking along the north coast is more plentiful at places like Cinnamon Bay, less so at Maho, Trunk, and Hawksnest. If you get to the beach early in the day then you should not have an issue parking. If you go later then taking a taxi would avoid any parking hassle.

A boat charter is another good idea. It could be something as simple as a sunset ride. Any boat you charter could pick you up right at the Westin. The Westin has their own dock as well as boat. .... They may already offer similar rides.

If the group likes to snorkel, then a several hr expedition would be nice. Personally I'm fine with the "walk off the beach snorkeling at Honeymoon, Maho, Trunk, Cinnamon, or Hawksnest - 30min at a pop is sufficient for me... A boat can take you to more expansive reef areas.

We’ve done charters our last two trips to St. John with Sunshine Daydream, their boats can handle seven. We snorkeled at the Indians (really nice), then near Norman Island, Lunch at Willie T’s (kind of a pirate ship moored in a bay – fun) then to Jost Van Dyke for beach and drinks. We didn’t go to the Baths either time, but really liked what we did.

Why not organize a helicopter trip to see the islands from above or a bioluminescent kayak trip at night? A private dinner on a secluded beach with a chef could also be magical. Otherwise, a day on a yacht with a personalized itinerary to secret coves would be a nice surprise!

We hired Ted for a dinner and enjoyed it so much we had him back the next time we were back on the island.

https://www.tedssupperclub.com