<p>Thanks for jogging my memory jym. The surf club was where we stayed and it was a two bedroom with a kitchen. As I said in my earlier post I would go back to Aruba in a heartbeat. Perfect weather and lots to do.</p>
<p>Reading this thread has given me a serious desire to get away this Christmas. Lot’s of great ideas. My past experience includes St Thomas: like it, St Croix didn’t like, felt unsafe at the time although a family member owns a home there many years and they spend all winter there and love it, St Marteen French side x 2 did have wallet stolen off beach blanket when we walked down to the water, it was an empty beach and we put our blanket down near the brush/ shade and they came out from the bushes and grab our stuff, husband chased them and thankfully they dropped his wallet. It was our first day there so not such a great impression but the Island is beautiful and with extra care and attention to safety we went back but did stick to the resorts beach. St John’s is truly beautiful and I would love to go there again. I have only been in PR off a cruise 1 day each. In my travel sec of today’s paper there was an article about how PR was increasing police presence in San Juan to “reassure tourist in wake of increased homicide rates this year of 607, up 101 from last year”. They stated most of the killings are drug related & tourists are rarely targeted. Sounds like Mexico’s issues. I guess all islands have their safety issues and you just have to be smart and informed of your surrounding and not get a false sense of security no matter where you go. We went on our honeymoon years ago to Hawaii for 3 weeks and nothing has ever beat it. I would love to rent a condo and go for a month. It is such a long trip from the east coast.</p>
<p>Thank you Mom60, I’ll look into your suggestions. Do you happen to remember the company you used for the catamaran charter?</p>
<p>A few years back, we booked a villa on top of St John with a swimming pool and a view of the BVI. It was the best time we had. I googled and found the villa so I dont have the location and address anymore. It actually sleeps more than 4, maybe 10 but we only used 2 rooms.</p>
<p>Puzzled- we chartered from TMM in Belize 8 yrs ago. At the time they were the main presence in Belize. Moorings was just beginning to charter out of there. I think Sunsail might charter in Belize now.
We have used TMM twice. In Belize and the BVI. We have used Sunsail numerous times. TMM is usually less expensive but their boats are older. The cat we chartered in Belize had quite a number of problems but my H had done extensive cruising and worked as a yacht riger when he was younger so he was able to fix our minor issues. Sunsail is very professional. We did not use a crew. We have never used Moorings but they have a good reputation. We usually look at all 3 and go with who has the best boat size available for us when we want to go. You can also check the age of your specific boat.
Regarding crime- when we boat charter in the BVI they always stress that they have less crime. But the last time we went they said the crime rate had gone up. When we first started chartering they did not advise locking your dingy on shore, they now do. When H and I chartered in St Marteen they stressed locking up your boat and dingy when left unattended. While we had a great trip to St martin (we also sailed to St Barths on the same trip) I have no desire to go back to St Martin. St Barths was lovely. Beautiful beaches and we had some coves all to ourselves but it was late Oct before cruising season.
Puzzled- adding, We did not spend time in Belize City. Most just fly in and out. The regional airline in Belize is Tropic Air. They have a website.
Just checked Sunsail does charter out of belize
<a href=“http://www.sunsail.com/yacht-charter/destinations/caribbean/belize/belize[/url]”>http://www.sunsail.com/yacht-charter/destinations/caribbean/belize/belize</a></p>
<p>Oh yikes, we’d need a crew for sure. My H hasn’t sailed since he was in high school and I never have. But thank you anyway.</p>
<p>Puzzled88- With Sunsail you can hire a skipper. You can also hire a cook.
This will be our first land based beach vacation. H is being a good sport. He loves having the freedom of your own boat. Making your own schedule and snorkeling where it is not crowded before or after all the day chartered and snorkeling boats have gone home. Having a beach to yourself. Also there is something to be said for being able to get to beaches and coves that are only reachable by water.
It also is a wonderful vacation for family time. For our kids it was a time to just relax and be together without any distractions. No TV, phone or friends. They played cards, jumped off the side of the boat, painted and just had vacation time like they had with no other type of trip.
That being said a sailboat charter is a costly vacation. I always tease my H that we are spending a lot of money and I still have to cook and wash dishes.
Next shock is how expensive airfare is over Christmas and New Years.</p>
<p>Although it’s a bit less tropical, San Diego has the most beautiful weather I’ve ever experienced.</p>
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<p>My husband and I did the same in both St. Thomas and St. John. Both trips were absolutely fabulous. I didn’t go direct to an owner, but used a reputable leasing agency which specializes in private villas.</p>
<p>Still looking…</p>
<p>What do you all think of this place in Belize:</p>
<p>[Belize</a> Resort & Belize Villas - Hopkins Bay Villas](<a href=“http://www.hopkinsbayresort.com/]Belize”>http://www.hopkinsbayresort.com/)</p>
<p>Finally completed all of our reservations yesterday!</p>
<p>Drum roll…</p>
<p>We’re taking a cruise on the Celebrity Solstice - 8 nights, and includes San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and St. Kitts. My only concern about the cruise is that, as of now, they show us arriving in San Juan at 3PM (after spending a day at sea after departing Ft. Lauderdale) and departing at 11PM. Since the sun sets before 6PM, we won’t have much daylight in San Juan. At all the other ports-of-call, we arrive at 8AM and depart at 5PM, so that gives us much more time to explore if we want to disembark.</p>
<p>Anyway, we went with two cabins and got a connecting room; each room has a nice little veranda as well. The girls seem pretty happy with the choice, as neither one of them has been on a cruise, and it’s been 27 years since H and I have been on one.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Teriwitt – it’s a big task to put these sort of vacations together. Sounds fabulous!</p>
<p>Sounds divine! I wanna come! Need a personal assistant to carry your bags?</p>
<p>Teriwtt:</p>
<p>You’ll love the cruise. We just booked our 5th cruise (in the last 7 years) going to the Southern Carribbean. We’ve been to the islands you’re going to. Too bad about the short time in San Juan, it’s very seeped in History. There is a big Fort that everyone sees, I’m forgetting the name at the moment, but it’s worth touring.</p>
<p>We’ve taken our kids before, but this time it’s just hubby & me, celebrating our 25th anniv!</p>
<p>We actually prefer cruises over going to just one island, because my H doesn’t enjoy sitting in the sun all day, he’d rather go explore each island…I like doing both, sitting & exploring, which is very conducive on a cruise. We’ve cruised around Alaska, Hawaii, Eastern & Western Caribbean, and now Southern Caribbean. </p>
<p>I must admit I’m getting a bit “cruised out”, but it’s a great deal for the money.
Enjoy!</p>
<p>Remember San Juan is in Atlantic standard time zone and that daylight savings time is not observed in Puerto Rico. We arrived in San Juan airport once on the day of time change in states and there was confusion at San Juan airport car rental stand when we went to pick up car. The locals were even confused what time it was and the car rental stand was unattended for an hour because they were mixed up with time!</p>
<p>Teriwtt- Congrats. I know how hard it is to make travel plans for multiple family members.
My D’s would love a “real” cruise but I am never going to get H to agree to one.
My arrangements are also about done. Decided on Belize. Air tickets and hotel all booked. Now just need to decide on some excursions. I have learned my lesson. I am just going to book what looks good to me. I will tell the rest of the family what we are doing once we are there.</p>
<p>For those discussing St. John - renting a house is the common way to visit there. Since so much of the island is National Park there aren’t all that many hotels (actually I think there are only 2). It’s easy to find houses to rent, just google it and you’ll find lots, and an agent to arrange the whole thing. They also stock your house with foods you request. It usually includes housekeeping a few times a week and you can also arrange for a cook to come and make dinner one night for not a lot more than going to a restaurant and a lot more relaxed. We love the idea that we have a full refrigerator and don’t have to wait for everyone to wake up and have to go out to breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s just a much more relaxed way to vacation, we think!</p>
<p>Would love to rent a house on St John or St Thomas or St Anyone! My sense is that it is horribly expensive at Christmas though. Can you recommend a good rental agency?</p>
<p>We have been to St. John a number of times and we stay at Maho Bay. It is an eco-community with tent/cabins as well as cabins that are more like hotel rooms with their own bathrooms. It isn’t for everyone, but it is an awesome way to experience St. John. The beach at Maho is great and they will arrange all the excursions (sailing, snorkeling etc) for you. The dining pavilion at Maho is excellent, or you can take your jeep and go to the other restaurants in town.</p>
<p>Maho Bay is for sale for $23 million.</p>
<p>[The</a> Winter Season of 2011-12 Will Likely Be the Last for Maho Bay on Arthur Frommer’s Blog - Travel News & Advice | Frommer’s](<a href=“Frommer's”>Frommer's)
“In a somewhat dejected message to former guests of Maho Bay Camps, the unique ecological resort on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Maho Bay’s founder and president, Stanley Selengut, has warned that the forthcoming high season (December through May of 2012) of Maho Bay may be its last. Negotiations for an extension of the resort’s lease have thus far been inconclusive, and reservations are no longer being accepted for periods later than May of 2012. The owners of the land on which Maho Bay sits – a breathtaking expanse enjoying one of the most enthralling views of the island-dotted Caribbean – have placed those grounds for sale at a proposed price of $23 million. Obviously, the operators of Maho Bay Camps are unable to make that purchase, which seems obviously intended for a residential development of luxurious estates…”</p>