For what it's worth, a well travelled scuba nut friend told me that the only VI worth visiting was the British Virgin Isl. apparently an entirely different atmosphere from USVI.<BR>Just noticed date of original post.. oh well !

Blight on Maui, Olive Oyl?!? I don't think so! I think you have Maui quite confused with certain parts of downtown Honolulu!! Now St. John -- that is pure BLIGHT -- just a smaller, less populated verzion of St. Thomas with SLUMS everywhere, unimpressive vegetation and LOUSY accommodations (Caneel Bay IS a dump, not luxurious at all! And the Westin? Don't even ask!) You call that a national park?!? Don't make me laugh! If you want a REAL National Park, go to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier National, etc., etc.!! As for Vegas, I'd rather stay at the Bellagio, Venetian, or Four Seasons ANY day over St. John!!!

Carl, Nope, never been in Honolulu. Billboards are blight and there they were, first day, first impression of Maui, on our drive in from the airport to Kaanapali.<BR><BR>Somehow, despite driving the entirety of St. John, we missed the "slums everywhere". Lucky us. Despite your impression of St John, over 50% IS national park. I'm one of those who isn't all that interested in the room I stay in and Bellagio struck me as Disney as did all of LV. Grown up Disney. We stayed at what is now the Westin in St. John, but what was then the Hyatt. It was a nice suite, up and down, looking down into a beautiful bay. It was nearly wiped out by a hurricane after our stay, and I have no idea what it's like now. It was closed for over a year for repairs after the storm, and now has new ownership and management. Hotel fit the grounds and at the time was a pretty property. Bellagio or the likes would never fit anyplace on St. John. To each their own. St. John was my kind of place...LV is not.

You are wrong about the billboards. Hawaii is the only state where billboards are prohibited. And Kauai is the only island where no building is allowed to be taller than a palm tree.

Mitch, Sorry if I gave bad info, but I do distinctly remember them along the stretch of highway between the airport and Kaanapali, and recall being very disappointed and surprised that they were in HI. My recollection is so vivid I looked up the regulations at http://www.newrules.org/environment/billboard.html. There is a ban in place now, but there are exceptions to the ban. This dates to 1990, and our trip was in the 80's. Whether they have been removed since then, I don't know, but they were present at that time, anyway. Good for them if they've been removed permanently. They are a terrific eyesore wherever they exist. <BR><BR>Does anyone ever read them anyway? I live in a city full of them...not only the city, but someone tried putting one up in Tampa Bay as well, anchored off one side of the Howard Frankland bridge between Tampa and Clearwater. How's that for spoiling the environment? It's since been removed and though no laws existed at the time prohibiting them in the water, they've either found a way around the lack of regulation or the public outcry was enough to bring it down. Whatever, it's now gone. Hope that is the case throughout HI as well, with no exceptions, ever!

I also have to reply,<BR>Went to kauai last xmas, St John at easter. Loved hawaii, the people, the scenery, you really felt you were in a special place. St John is pretty with beautiful blue water and good snorkeling, but I got the feeling we were disliked by locals and felt really uncomfortable about it. It became a challenge to find someone who would at least answer a question. Also taking a ferry to virgin gorda, nobody will even tell you if your on the right boat, when the ferry was delayed in tortola at immigration a man asked this women behind the desk when we could expect another ferry and she told him to shut up and wait outside. I was there with my 4 kids and this made me very upset to not be told what was going on. Just my experience im sure others have had positive.<BR>Susan

I'd have to say Kauai. My hubsnad and I spent our honeymoon in Kauai at the Hanalei Colony Resort which was pure heaven. For our first anniversary, ew spent a week at Caneel Bay on St. John's, which was pure, total pampering but hot and humid as hell. There was no airconiditioning in our room, although I believe this may have changed after the most recent hurricane. And when we checked into our room, the bellhop made a point of showing us the 3 cans of off, the Raid and the Wasp removal can. We would lay in our bed at night, staring at the fan, praying for it to somehow move faster, and then generally being horrified as we would notice all the cockroaches the size of my fist crawling on the ceiling. The bug situtation was so bad, along wiht the heat, that when we checked in, they actually gave us a disclaimer they referred us back to when we asked to be moved to another room or simply for a refund so we could leave. The food at Caneel Bay was wonderful, and the location of the hotel itself, inside the Virgin ISlands Nat. Park, cannot be beat. If you go, stya in the water and don't come out!<BR><BR>I have nothing but wonderful memories of Kauai, and while our rooms there did not have a/c, it was not a problem - the ocean breezes and fans all did a great job cooling us down - and there were no mosquitoes.

I've been to Kauai 3 times now and it my favorite spot on earth. My wife and I always stay at the Hyatt and love it. It has the most spectacular grounds I've personally experienced. We love the pace and the outdoor activities from sailing the NaPali coast, to exploring the north side hidden beaches, to hiking the canyon, the excellent spa, dining at Roys and the Beach house.<BR><BR>I have never been to St. John... Kauai is the first place I've been that I liked sooo much that I don't want to try anyplace new. No experience w/ the Princiville up north. I usually vacationin the spring and worry about the rain up there. Lots of people RAVE about it on this board as you have probably noticed by now.<BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>John

So, Olive Oyl, you drove from one end of St. John to the other and didn't see any slums?!? Were you also driving with a very dark sleep mask on your face as well?!? You were definitely BLIND to something! As for Bermuda, yes, I actually agree with you that it is a lovely spot - with beaches far nicer than Maui's -- but the scenery definitely is NOT on par with Hawaii's!!

I wanted to add that my husband and I travel to St. John and the BVIs every year before we pick up our sailing charter and have had no problems. We took the local bus to the other side of the island one day and instead of waiting for it to come back, we hitchhiked. I was a little nervous but it was definitely a first for me. I feel totally safe on St. John, however you should always be aware of your surroundings and don't put yourself in situations that could get you into trouble (i.e. traveling alone at night in a dark alley). My husband and I have yet to go to Kauai, but we really enjoyed Maui. I would have to agree though with the above poster that the water is rougher, not as blue, not as warm and they have many more sharks in Hawaii. We stayed at the Sheraton at Black Rock and the beach was closed for 2 days for sharks. Just be careful.

just got back from our honeymoon at caneel bay in st. john, and we couldn't have been happier with the experience.....the water is perfectly clear (enough to look down and see beautiful starfish, sea turtles, stingrays, etc. in waist-deep water!), the sand is the whitest i've ever seen (including the beaches in australia from which they export sand to hawaii), and the island is so green and full of vibrant colors.....sure, there are bugs, but not enough to affect the pleasant, relaxed mood (and remember, the lack of development is what causes the bugs -- they're killed off when there's tons of pollution).....and, of course there are some poor people (like any place in the world i've ever been), but it's certainly not upsetting or scary, it's just a different kind of lifestyle......i felt completely safe there, and absolutely loved the fact that there weren't any chain restaurants or stores there (st. thomas felt like manhattan after a week at caneel).....we had excellent dishes at every meal, from the resort to cruz bay......caneel is not an ostentatious luxury hotel at all, it's more of a casually elegant resort focused on organic architecture........we will absolutely return to share the beaches with few other occupants than the pelicans and parrotfish!

Good luck, my dear -- you'll need it at that vastly overpriced SUMMER CAMP for foolish adults!!

No chain restaurants or chain department stores in a 3rd world country? What a suprise. I really like your theory on bugs. Where did you earn your degree in entomology?

Kauai and St. John are actually two of my favorite places. IMO you can't go wrong with either!