21August2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors; For our Island Neighbors; St John Wannabee Help.
A lot has been written on mnany blogs and news sites about the prices of food on St John being higher than in the States or even on St. Thomas. But little has been written about variety. A few years ago, locals would snap up favorite brand items and hoard them, knwoing it could take months for the grocery shelves to be restocked for those items. In those days finding a stick of butter was sometimes like a treasure hunt, eventually yielding a single premium stick imported from Ireland. It was considered the norm to shop everywhere, buying a little here, and a little there and enjoying the socialness of shopping in a small town.
Time have certainly changed!
Starfish Market is certainly our largest market on-island, and with the addition of the wine and gourmet foods store right next door, that simplifies things. Also in Cruz Bay:
- Dolphin Market has a surprisingly large number of gluten-free products, frozen organic meals, and lots of variety for vegetarians.
- Pine Peace Market has always been a favorite for locals who are price concious. But, many people don’t realize that they also carry small appliances, and other hidden treasures. Recently they had a wonderful price for those noodle style floats, popular at the beach.
- The two new convience style stores in the Cruz Bay loop are open late at night - bless their souls, and take convenience to a whole new level. Fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and eggs, can goods, etc - are available just a block from the ferry dock!
Variety is a beautiful thing, but all that variety costs money. Be sure to shop around for your groceries and enjoy the social experience while saving money and finding exactly what you want, when you want it!
30July2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: Uncategorized.
Each summer the VIVA Villas staff hires summer interns - high school and/or college kids - who help us immensely with all our summer projects and annual organizing work. This year, we’ve asked Arelai, a 16-year old intern from Massachusetts to share her thoughts and experiences in her own words:
Hey everyone! If you were every wondering what it was like to intern at a company or was trying to decide what business to intern at I might be able to answer those questions. First off, interning is a great way to see what its like to work in a field that you are interested in without being committed to it. For most of my life I have strongly felt that business was the right path for me. By interning here at VIVA!, I have learned that my dream of someday becoming a CEO might not really fit me as well as I thought it would. I would never have realized that about myself if I had not interned here. Also, by working here I have developed great people skills. The staff is small so it is easy to grow close to them compared to a large company with hundreds of employees where a summer internee can get lost in the crowd. Here at VIVA! they treat you like family and like I had been working there for years. Also, the information and skills that you acquire here will last for a lifetime. I saw how a successful company functions and what it takes to make it work. Every person at VIVA! is needed and cherrished. Even as an intern, I felt like my work gave something useful to the company. I hope these words have helped you in your decision making process. I strongly reconmend interning for anyone because everyone can make a difference. In addition, I would consider VIVA! as a place to send an application in because, in my opinion, there is no other company that I would have rathered interned at.
Sincerelly,
Arelai Ephraim
1July2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors; For our Island Neighbors.
The rate for a ferry to St. John will be going up during the month of July. Given the price of gasoline, it is not surprising that the ferry companies say they are losing money and will need to temporarily raise rates. They are even considering dropping some ferry runs all together. This information has not yet made it into any of our visitor documentation that we know of.
Check with our St John Related News and Blogs friends (links found on the right side of this web-page) for breaking details on this breaking news and fast coming change.
30June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors; Island Events Calendar.
A key component to the annual St. John Festival is Children’s Village which runs every night during the last week of Festival through July 4th. Official hours are 6PM to 10:00PM each night.
Here a group of caring volunteers offer youngsters of all ages some good safe fun and games - Frog Flips, Racing Cars, Bouncy Bounce, Dart Throwing, Ball Toss, and other arcade games await. Buy inexpensive tickets and win tokens which can be redeemed for prizes. There are drinks, popcorn and snow cones too. Located across from Morgan’s Mango near the National Park Visitors Center, be sure to stop by and have some fun!
25June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors.
This is a question we are asked all year long, but especially this time of year with Hurricane season upon us. While a disaster of any kind is very rare, we believe in planning and its our goal to help you do that too.
Much research has been done on travel/trip insurance, and our friends at Trip Advisor recently issued an Article that summarizes feedback from a huge number of travelers and considers needs and options.
If you are willing to weigh the risks and can afford losses resulting becuase you cannot make a trip, or have to leave a vacation early, then by all means, skip the insurance. That’s your perogative. But, if you want total peace of mind, consider insurance. Unlike a hotel, since you sign a contract to rent a villa or other rental property, this aspect of your vacation can be covered by most trip insurance policies.
The best place to start sorting out your options is with your vacation rental company. Ask about their cancellation policies and their storm/hurricane policies. Ask what will happen if a natural disaster strikes while you are on vacation as those details might not be detailed in your rental contract.
Consider the cost of insurance - you may be very pleasantly surprised to find the cost for added peace of mind is surprisingly small!
25June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors.
At VIVA Villas, we are often asked which beaches are ‘the best’. The answer changes depending on what our guests are looking for in a perfect beach.
If you want the best beaches to snorkel from, we have those. But, they might not be the best beaches for on-site amenities, or soft white sand.
Here are some beaches we enjoy ourselves, broken into various categories we get asked about the most:
Snorkeling:
- Haulover Bay
- Leinster Bay (and Waterlemon Key)
- Hanson Bay/Privateer Bay
- Chocolate Hole (near the point)
- Francis Bay
Beach Amenities
- Trunk Bay - it has food, equipment rentals, showers, bathrooms, picnic areas
- Cinnamon Bay - food concession, showers, bathrooms, equipment rentals
- Little Maho (below campground) - food concession, showers, bathrooms, equipment rentals
Picnics and shade:
- Hawksnest - group picnic areas, changing rooms
- Francis Bay- nice portapotties, grills and tables
- Lamshure Bay - picnic tables, port-potties
- Trunk Bay - it has it all
White sand:
- Oppenheimer Beach
- Cinnamon Bay
- Trunk Bay
- Caneel Bay beaches
- Maho Bay
Quiet and private:
- Jumbie Beach
- Hanson bay (Vi’s Beach, East End Schoolhouse)
- Brown Bay
- Cocolobo
This is a small and subjective list. With 50 named beaches on St. John (and many of these accessible), finding the perfect beach is a lot of fun. Consider ‘beach hopping’ , and stopping for drinks or food in between, which will give you some time away from the sun during the day and give you a chance to meet some new island friends too.
25June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors; For our Island Neighbors; Island Events Calendar.
There is no need to worry about which restaurants will be open for your visit during August, September and October.
Ruth at St. John Spice Company (a great place to find gifts for family, friends and for yourself too!) has just published her annual schedule of St. John Restaurant Closures.
Not all restaurants are on her list, but it’s certainly a helpful reference for all of us making summer/fall food plans.
23June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors.
Planning for a vacation can be a stressful thing… and more stressful when it involves a group of people who are vacationing together. You must consider the needs of each member of your group. Fortunately, there are many unique properties across the island of St. John-each with its individual style and all that cater to please. Involve the suggestions and ideas from everyone in your group. This will diminish the amounts of possible complaints and wishwewouldof’s.
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Break out planning into individual tasks, so each person can “own” something. For example: make choosing the trype of rental vehicle something for your spouse via your Honeydo list. Consider having children/young adults chose what type of adventure & activities to pariticipate in while you’re on vacation.
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Plan to compromise-when traveling with different members of a group, compromising within that group is the key to ensure that your vacation is enjoyed by all.
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Remember that everyone does not have to do everything together. Suggest couples do ‘date night’ or ‘date day’ so each couple goes their own way for a while.
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Budget based on each person’s spending limit and be realistic to limitations.
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Involve an on-island specialist who knows the properties and location and can clue you in on things you may not have considered.
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Share where you can to save luggage space. (and remember that most villas already hav hair dryers, etc).
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Agree on how you will split restaurant bills and tips ahead of time for happier times on-island.
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Share information with everyone in the group, especially any information you receive from your rental company ahead of time.
The most important factor is to aim to be inclusive and to have fun!
Happy Planning…
21June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors.
St. John has over 500 private rental homes and villas. Choosing the right one for your stay may be a little trickier that simply budgeting and compromising. Our suggestion to most guests would be to “think of what type of vacation you’d like” before making those decisions that matter. Unlike many purchases—even if you’re planning on a last minute vacation— you typically have at least a full week to decide what type of trip you plan on having. Once you’ve made up your mind and have selected a villa, most booking agencies will let you hold that property for at least 48 hours –until you’ve made your decision to commit…that’s a lot of time! Unfortunately, many people do not consider what type of vacation they plan on having…leaving it to chance…and leaving money on the table. Simply deciding before hand what type of vacation you’d like to have can focus you on the things that count and allow you to avoid costly distractions…We’re not saying that you can’t be spontaneous, if that’s on your vacation to-do list—plan for a spontaneous trip!
13June2008
Posted by vivastjohn under: For St John Visitors; For our Island Neighbors; Island Events Calendar; St John Wannabee Help.
Before you leave, here are some quick tips to remember:
- Don’t forget to secure your villa and leave on an outside light(s) before you leave for Carnival Fun.
- Make sure you stay hydrated on H2O J and use sunscreen often during the day. The Carnival Sun can really get hot!!
- Make sure you have your Villa company’s After Hours Emergency # or Hotel’s # in your cell phones just in case you get lost or forget directions.
- PIA-Plan in advance. If you are planning to party/drink, have a designated driver or a taxi lined up ahead of time to take you home later. Ask VIVA’s Guest Services team Guestservices@vivacations.com in advance for a list of St. John Taxis.
- Please Park Safely. Obey all NO PARKING signs. During the day, there’s free parking in the Winston Wells Ball field. During the evenings, the tennis courts are a good place to park for free and there is paid parking at Slim Man’s Parking in Cruz Bay (across from Wharfside Village).
- Do not pick up hitch-hikers/strangers on your way to the festivities or on your way back home.
- Keep the expensive jewelry at home or in your villas safe. The village is usually full of guests and it’s easy for a clasp to break or an earring to fall out.
- Parade Day Driving-note for the St. John Carnival. The roads in Cruz Bay are closed. Thus please avoid Cruz Bay if you’re just going out to the beaches. You can use the St. John Map to find alternate routes to the beach i.e. Centerline Rd-Route 10 to the Colombo Yogurt Stand and then Route 20 to the Northshore Beaches.