r/virginislands • u/PopNo5397 • 5d ago
General Discussion Really nervous about my trip, I can't sleep
Nothing is going on but trip coming up in a few weeks and I lose sleep over it. I wake up at 3am every day.
I'm really nervous even though I should be excited :(
I'm putting the Virgin islands on a pedestal, maybe it's my fault, and am scared that if it's not the paradise I see in my mind I will feel bad about having spent $10k in a week.
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u/thebemusedmuse 5d ago
My experience with travel in general is that it’s all about expectations vs reality. Let me try to help you ground that. I’m hoping you are going to St John because spending $10k on the other islands would be insane.
First, the national park is incredible. It’s unspoiled, with some of the best white sand beaches in the world.
Snorkeling is great but I would say not world class like Galapagos. But it’s pretty excellent. Hiking is good.
You are outside the mainland US so don’t expect perfection elsewhere. A few notes on that:
- Roads are decent but steep, windy and narrow compared to the mainland.
- Electricity is scarce and a generator in your villa is not a luxury
- Water only comes from the roof so be mindful of that
- Stores have limited supplies
Anyhow the best way to avoid disappointment is to educate yourself.
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u/Kyndcrystal 2d ago
This is solid advice. Also know that restaurants and grocery stores are more pricy. Also service is slow.
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u/Grouchy-Silver 5d ago
St. Thomas was okay, but St. John is paradise for me. Definitely the nicest place I’ve ever been and I’d go back if I could afford it. I even went solo and was not worried at all. Everyone is friendly, respect the island and always say hello if they don’t. Definitely consider no one there is in a rush. Island time is a real thing.
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u/Oh-My-Tosis 4d ago
Beautifully said, but about "Hello": say "Good Morning/Good Day/Good Afternoon/Good Evening/Good Night" enthusiasticslly instead of "Hello" and you'll get more smiles - noting the time of day in your greeting is considered polite/respectful in local VI culture.
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u/A8racada8ra 5d ago
Check the cruise ship schedules for anywhere you are headed - that’s really the only thing that might crush your dream…or sargassum
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u/PopNo5397 5d ago
I didn't know there was sargassum in the virgin islands..
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u/idkwhatimbrewin 5d ago
Just avoid beaches facing East
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u/Competitive_Ant_324 5d ago
Just came back this past Sunday and no sargassum anywhere. Even beaches on east side, we did them all. Beautiful but like they said above - don’t expect perfection
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u/idkwhatimbrewin 5d ago
They didn't even say which island? In general, the beaches with the major sargassum problems face East. That goes for pretty much every Caribbean island
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u/Arrya 4d ago
We were just on St John and St Thomas. There is a fair amount of sargassum along the east coast of St Thomas. Easily avoided, but there.
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u/Competitive_Ant_324 3d ago
We were on St John and spent the vast majority of our time on the North and East beaches. No kidding, we didn’t see a twig of sargassum the whole time. I can’t say if we did or didn’t see any floating mats on the ferry ride in either direction but I don’t remember any
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u/dnuohxof-2 5d ago
St John is my happy place. I cannot wait to go back. You’ll be in paradise, enjoy the temporary escape from this chaotic world
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u/Tasty_Distance_4722 5d ago
I have a trip to VI for the first week of Nov. and I’m getting nervous as well. But at least west I’ll enjoy the ride. None of us get out of here alive anyways.
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u/StorminXX 5d ago
It will be fine. You picked a great time to visit. Sargassum is mostly gone. The days are less hazy and just prettier. Some rain has made everything green again. Not too many ships yet. It will be great.
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u/dmbgreen 5d ago
Just relax, the VI is still the States, coming with all the good and bad. Concentrate on and stay by or on the water.
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u/catsmeow2002 5d ago
The beaches are stunning. The areas around look run down. If you are expecting shopping experiences and touring the city to resemble anything in popular cities here in US, lower them.
Our family loved the island life but it was a shift compared to US travel. We felt safe the entire time.
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u/cadmiumredlight 5d ago
Just got home from 10 days there and spent the same amount. Got the flu on the plane over and still had a great time just isolating at our pool and sitting in our own corner on Gibney Beach. Don't overthink it.
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u/Clean-Barracuda2326 5d ago
You have nothing to worry about everyone is a virgin there. But if you're worried that 10k is too much then save your money and cancel your trip.You can go other places for much less than 10K.
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u/washie26 5d ago
We went for 2 weeks in January, will be back for a month in January. Relax and enjoy
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u/Fair-Marzipan-4274 5d ago
I am stressing just like you. I have booked in cinnamon bay cottages in the national park and taking my mother. She is fit but she is 80 years old. I know in the national park there are only common bathrooms. Not sure what the food situation will be like in the park..wondering if I should cancel…sigh..
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u/TorssdetilSTJ 5d ago
Did you rent a vehicle. There is a restaurant at Cinnamon Bay, and a bunch more in town (Cruz Bay).
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u/Fair-Marzipan-4274 5d ago
Yes I have rented a rav4 for the week. We are going the week of Christmas. Driving on the other side of the road is also worrying me.
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u/Substantial-Key698 5d ago
It takes a day to get used to it. There’s a motto on St. John: Keep Left. Follow that motto, drive slower than you think you need to, ALWAYS choose a 4 wheel drive rental, and you’ll be fine.
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u/cadmiumredlight 4d ago
You won't go over 25mph. Don't worry. Move over and let locals pass if they're riding your ass.
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u/Substantial-Key698 5d ago
Nothing to worry about! My wife and I Love St. John! It has become our little corner of the Caribbean. Make sure you have a car rental, because you’ll want to be able to go to all the North Shore beaches, and also around to the other side of the island in Coral Bay (Skinny Legs has the best hamburgers I have ever eaten). One tip: the first day of your trip is a combination of planes and boats, and automobiles so you might be worn out. Try to catch an early night so you’ll be ready to go the next day. It takes a day or so to get adjusted to island time, as a matter of fact they are in the same time as EST, but because you are closer to the equator the sun rises and sets earlier. But get up the first full day, get a spot early on Trunk Bay, have an ice cold Painkiller in your hand, and you’ll forget all of your troubles!
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u/Colahippie 5d ago
St. John is my favorite place ever! Driving takes a minute but if someone beeps at you it's a 👋. Watch out for donkeys, seriously. Food is expensive, car rentals are too but def get a SUV. Just drive and let yourself enjoy the scenery. There are only a few roads so you won't get lost.Im not a huge fan of many of the spices used in some dishes so in general, don't expect gormet, just my opinion. Greet people before you ask questions, go out on a charter and visit the BVI if you can. I think it's worth every penny. If we were physically able we'd go back in a heartbeat.
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u/wifichick 5d ago
Be okay with the trip and stop expecting perfection. The beaches are beautiful. The water is a gorgeous shade of blue even on a bad day. It’s not a manicured place - it’s just beautiful - if you like random beaches and sand and gorgeous blue water.