Hey
travel babies!!!
It’s
that time of year again. We’re winding down the summer, the kiddies
are back in school (thank GOODNESS) and it’s time to look forward to
the harvest holidays.
I
can hear you now, “Already?” Yep, before you know it, you’ll be
scrambling for a Halloween costume & dodging auntie “so & so’s”
pumpkin pie. You’ve got to plan ahead to maintain in that kind of
madness. In other words, you’ve got to plan your getaway Now!
And
for that, I’m here to help you get there. First, let me tell you
that the earlier you start the better your chances are of getting
good deals. Now, where should you go? Honey, let me tell you, if
you’re trying to have a relaxing vacation, then you need to be in
St. Croix, USVI! It’s the largest of the three islands. It’s truly
an American Paradise! All the desires of a Caribbean getaway with
all the American comforts.
Anywho, St. Croix has a much slower pace than your typical Caribbean
island. All the same, there’s plenty to do … restaurants, great
golf courses, beaches, etc. I don’t do much shopping while in St.
Croix, but a trip to Sonja’s is always in order. Drop by & get
you’re “official St. Croix Hook”. One Company Street, Christiansted.
877-766-9284.
The
Purple Papaya has the largest selection of gifts for me and friends
and family. I always make a stop before returning home. 39 Strand
Street. Christiansted. 340-713-9412.
Read
on for a few of my favorites:
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Click On Photo To Enlarge
Hotels & Beaches:
Hotel on the
Cay [pronounced: Hotel on the KEY] – it’s on an island in the middle
of Christiansted Harbor. Babies, you have to take a private 2-minute
ferry [$2 for non-guest] to access the island. It’s not lush or
fussy, but it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a basic,
clean, and comfortable hotel with an awesome view and it’s own
beach! Honey, if you’re like me [a bit lazy & prefer not to lug
everything to the beach-chairs, beverages, etc.], the Hotel on Cay
is perfect. There’s a full service restaurant right on the sand and
when my lazybones really set in, their lounge chair order/delivery
service is the “bees knees!” The room rates are really reasonable
too. I’ve gotten a room around $120, even during high season. A
word of caution about using the ferry late at night, take the
hotel’s number with you so you can call & wake the ferry driver if
you arrive in the wee hours of the am. You might want to give them
a heads up before you step out too. Otherwise, you’ll be stranded,
LOOKING at your cute little island home away from home.
800-524-2085.
Cane Bay
– It reminds me of Hawaii …well, the pictures I’ve seen. It’s still
on my to do vacation list. The beach is beautiful, flat with shady
palms [and a few too many sand ants for my taste. They’re harmless
& no one else seemed bothered by them, …what can I say; I don’t have
any love for little bugs, YIK! There’s is a small reef near shore
perfect for snorkeling, and a big drop off (underwater) where
there's a bunch of neat fan coral. Many scuba enthusiasts frequent
this beach. You won’t find any grub directly on the beach here
though, but there are several places nearby, The Wave, Bogies and
Off The Wall. Bogies serves up some very nice dinners (steak,
lobster, prime rib, etc.) in the $20-$25 range.
Carringtons Inn
also comes highly recommended. I haven’t stayed there personally,
but I hear it’s absolutely Copasetic. They only have 5 rooms and
the atmosphere is so much more relaxed and casual than the bigger
touristy hotels. Also, it’s well within the “vacation that didn’t
crush my pockets” budget. The most expensive rooms at Carringtons
range between $120-$150 per night. 877-658-0508.
Honey, let me tell you what I heard about this charming B&B
overlooking Christiansted.
The hosts, Roger & Claudia, are said to be very friendly and
welcoming. There’s a pool and the Inn is only a few minutes outside
of Christiansted. The rooms have private bathrooms, which are huge
and breakfast for everyone is served every day in the common dining
area overlooking the pool. From what I hear, you’ve got to try the
rum-soaked French toast!
If you’re into
the swanky, the Buccaneer is the place for you. It’s an
independently owned property with all the luxurious comforts of any
5 star hotel. The rooms at the Buccaneer during low season [May thru
mid December] will run you around $250/night, $350 for a family
cottage, and $450 for a double suite. To soften the sticker shock,
the room rate includes a buffet breakfast, which can save money in
the long run. The restaurants are a little pricey, but you’ll be out
enjoying other parts of St. Croix and can just eat elsewhere.
800-255-3881.
Things to see and do:
Honey, without a doubt, you MUST go snorkeling off Buck Island when
in St. Croix. For anyone who likes diving or snorkeling [beginners
more than welcome], it’s the place to go.
The Buck Island Reef National Monument
lies 1.5 miles off the northeast coast of St. Croix. It’s surrounded
by 704 acres of water and coral reef system. The deep grottos and
labyrinths are perfect for experienced scuba divers to explore.
There are several companies that sell tours to Buck Island, but Big
Beard’s is most popular. The Big Beard boat does not actually dock
at Buck Island, it anchors about 20 feet from shore and you have to
wade to shore. So, needless to say, take only what you need for
this trip.
The
attraction to Big Beard is mainly because of Captain John Macy,
a.k.a. Big Beard. He's the gnarly old sea captain who really does
have a big, bushy gray beard. You’ll finish the trip with a tasty
barbeque lunch with rum punch, regular punch, chips, hot dogs,
hamburgers, and fish. You can do a full day trip, which includes the
barbeque for about $75 per adult, or a half-day trip [which does not
include the barbeque], for about $50 per adult. The cost for kids
[12 and under] range between $55-$15 respectively. 340-773-4482.
Point Udall is
awesome with its glorious views. It’s the eastern most point in the
United States and is about a half- hour's drive from Christiansted.
For those folks with all that adrenaline adventure running through
their veins, I’m not one of them, you can hike down to the beautiful
beach below. Just remember, you’ve got to hike back up. Check out
the “Castle” on your way to Point Udall. Honey, it depends on who
you’re talking to, but the Castle is home to an extravagant recluse
only known as the Contessa and it’s said that the Contessa’s husband
died years ago, he left her for another woman years ago, or she
killed the man. Nonetheless, it surely is a sight to see. Believe
me, you haven’t seen anything like this on MTV Cribs.
Another fun time, the best time depending on whom you ask, is the
Cruzan Rum Distillery. The
tour costs $4 per adult and includes a guided 20-minute walking tour
through the area. You’ll get to see the rum- making process from
soup to nuts, starting with the simmering of the molasses to the
shipping and distribution. After the last stop on the tour, the
guide turns into the bartender and begins serving ample samples of
the various rum blends. Also, Don’t buy your rum there. It's
cheaper at Kmart and you’ll get a neat carrying box that makes easy
carrying on the plane …if your rum makes it that far. 340-
692-2280.
Bringing the kiddies?
Most
activities in St. Croix are family friendly, but if you find
yourself needing a baby sitter for a few hours, you can expect to
pay between $12 - $15 per hour. The visitor’s office can help you
select an agency with a good hiring and employee screening policy,
800-372-USVI.
Is St. Croix safe?
There’s been much talk about crime & personal safety in St. Croix.
Honey, let me just say this, many folks, myself included; visit St.
Croix again and again. Yes, there is crime in St. Croix, just like
everywhere else, and taking sensible precautions is smart regardless
of where you visit. Too many people have an idealistic concept of
what a Caribbean island is and are surprised to find that bad people
live in paradise too.
Angela Taylor
Click On Photo To Enlarge
Getting there:
Personally, I
love to visit right after Christmas during the Crucian Christmas
Festival. I most enjoy the Old Year’s Night [New Year’s Eve] party
at Villa Morales, the full costume masquerader parade, calypso and
reggae shows, and the very tasty treats from the Festival Village.
The Festival usually runs from December 26 to January 6. The dates
may shift slightly from year to year.
Airfare to St. Croix usually tops out around $600. You can
certainly find cheaper flights if you plan ahead and get creative.
My flights [during Carnival season and summer months] have averaged
around $300.
There aren’t many direct flights into St. Croix and I’ve gotten
creative to accommodate my schedule as a result. I’ve flown into
St. Thomas & taken the ferry over to St. Croix. Roundtrip fares on
the ferry range from $50-$65. I haven’t tried the seaplane yet, not
sure if I’m game for landing in the water. Tickets average $85
roundtrip, if you’d like to try it.
Word
to the wise, be careful in your travel creativity. Sometimes cheap
is what you get. I know of a traveler who got a cheap ticket online
that saved over $200.00 per ticket. However, the trip took 10 hours
instead of the usual 6-8 hours. Yeah, they saved money, but burned
precious sunshine & beach time.
You
do not need a passport to visit St. Croix, but if you have one,
bring it. You’ll need to verify your citizenship upon departing for
the mainland. St. Croix is a point of entry for the U.S. If you
don’t have a passport, your birth certificate and a photo ID will
suffice. You can use cash, traveler’s checks or credit cards in St.
Croix without any problems, plus there are banks and ATMs if you
need more cash. I have Verizon cell phone service and other friends
have Sprint. Both work fine.
Where to eat?
St.
Croix offers dining for many tastes. You’ll find world- class
cuisine to family style, from international to Caribbean style. I
like to keep it local. When in the Caribbean. My favorites
include:
Duggan’s Reef -
It’s said to have the best seafood
on St. Croix, but you be the judge. It’s an open-air restaurant
with a great view of Buck Island. It’s not open late though, dinner
is served 6p-9:30p and they have a Sunday brunch from 11am – 3pm
with $2 mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. Can’t be that! 340-773-9800.
I
like STIXX on the
Waterfront. It’s a laid-back 2-story bar and restaurant in downtown
Christiansted. The menu includes steaks, pasta & fresh local
seafood. The best part is you can order pretty much anything on the
menu all day long, it’s moderately priced and it’s open until
approx. 10pm. The Friday Crab races are the best! 340/773-5157.
In
Christiansted, you’ll find many restaurants to stroll by, look at
the menus and decide what you like. Many places have music in the
evening too.
Well
babies, that’s all I have to share on St. Croix for now. There’s a
lot more to know, so visit
www.gotostcroix.com and plan that getaway. The Crucian
Christmas Festival is only four months away. See you there!
Angela Taylor is owner of
A. Taylor PR
in Washington, DC and owns an online travel site to support her
vacation habit.
Angela@ATaylorPR.com.
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SOURCES:
Fodders, friends, family & my own travel experiences.
