News of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Ferry fare increase a done deal

UPDATED Friday: The St. John Source reports a $1.10 "fuel surcharge" will be added to the $5 ticket price for ferry runs between St. Thomas and St. John beginning July 6.  The companies are also reducing service and raising the luggage fee 50 cents for runs from Cruz Bay to Charlotte Amalie.  Read the Source story at http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1212899436

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Earlier story:

An attorney for the two franchised ferry companies issued a statement last week saying the companies are being torpedoed by rising fuel costs.  They want to boost ticket prices $2 and reduce service, according to the report by the Virgin Islands Daily News.  Read it here: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17625758.) 

When you add on the baggage charge that the companies also make, it could cost you $9, per person, each way across Pillsbury Sound.  Naturally, this only makes St. John a more expensive destination especially for families.

The Daily News characterized the companies’ demand as “frantic,” and the Public Service Commission sounded a sympathetic tone in announcing it may consider the request at a meeting this week. 

The companies’ attorney, Claudette Ferron, said their goal is to maintain a schedule which most benefits residents, according to the St. John DSource. They propose to eliminate the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m, Red Hook and reduce Cruz Bay to Charlotte Amalie schedule to three trips a day, morning, noon, and night - which will mean visitors with planes to catch may well end up spending more downtime on St. Thomas, waiting for flights to depart

How to avoid airline luggage fees

Angry about the airlines’ new bag fees? Here’s a way to use some of those frequent flyer points to save some cash ... if you’re the type who plans ahead.

You can use Marriott Rewards points to get your stuff from here to there ... maybe.  A company called The Luggage Club will pick it up ... from roll-on's to surfboards and deliver them as soon as next morning. A 70-pound suitcase, picked up in Washington and delivered to Boston, delivered in three days, will cost about $80.  The 'next day" price is $301.

But you can avoid paying the fees if you’re a member of Marriott Rewards.  “This is a service that we think will be extremely valuable to our members who spend many of their days navigating airports," an executive with the hotel chain said.  Marriott Rewards members can pay for Luggage Club services at the rate of 10 points per dollar.

The only glitch maybe that this service doesn’t work to the VI's.  An “instant quote” test order, to Cruz Bay, Zip Code 00830, returned no price chart, but there is a phone number for international rates, 877-231-5111.

Here's the Marriott announcement: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080623/nem092.html?.v=48

Cruz Bay voted World Class destination

TripAdvisor.com, the international travel Web site, has named St. Thomas and Cruz Bay to its first annual list of 2008 Travelers' Choice World Destinations.  In fact, Charlotte Amalie was ranked in 6th place, and Cruz Bay was 7th.  The selections were made b y millions of TripAdvisor.com users.

“These awards emphasize the importance of ensuring that we consistently deliver a positive and memorable tourism experience for all our guests,” Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the VI’s Tourism Commissioner said, in a statement reported by Caribbean Net News.  “It is not only the job of our hospitality and tourism professionals, but also every member of our community.”

Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor, said in a statement the company’s awards “are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travelers and keep them coming back.”

Charlotte Amalie was described as “Clean, friendly, full of great shopping and quiet little spot.” Cruz Bay was described as “Very beautiful…a quaint little town.”

Hotel group fights for liquor boxes

The next time you bring back a box of duty-free liquor or rum from the islands, it may not be much of a bargain. 

Indications are that American Airlines, and perhaps others, will consider that box a second piece of luggage, and fair game for the new $25/per bag charge being levied by air carriers. 

Beverly Nicholson Doty, the VI Tourism Commissioner, told the St. John Source, the department is asking airlines for help, but so far there's no offer of a waiver.  She added her energies now will have to be focused on generating increased travel to the Territory, to make up for gross receipts taxes that will be lost through lower liquor sales. 

A vice president of A.H. Riise, the islands' largest duty-free retailer, told the Source AA's baggage fees make for what he called a 'challenging retail environment."  Read the Source's story here: http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1212898195

An e-mail worse than spam

Last week, I urged you to book airline tickets for fall 2008 and 2009.  I figured the American Airlines announcement of layoffs and service reductions can only mean trouble for VI-bound visitors.  The number of AA flights to Puerto Rico is being cut in half, and there are undoubtedly cutbacks coming for St. Thomas service.

That e-mail header above is proof the VI's will be hurt. 

Following my own advice, I booked for next February, last week.  Within 10 days, I got the e-mail saying my return trip would now get me home two hours later than originally planned.  The connection also will not be through San Juan, but rather Miami.

Frankly, I expect more schedule changes before we take off in seven months.

Things to do this week

• St. John Arts Festival, through Thursday, in Cruz Bay Park. The Artists Association's gallery at the Lumberyard has a related exhibition.  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  A children's art exhibition can be seen at the gallery on the balcony.  Web site: http://stjohnartsfestival.org/schedule.htm
• La Lee's art is on display and available for purchase at the Westin Resort, Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Web site: http://laleeart.com/
• Bajo el Sol gallery at Mongoose Junction is featuring Deborah St. Clair's oil paintings and Gail Van de Bogurt's ceramics.  Web site: www.bajoelsolgallery.com.
  
• 10 Days left before 8 Tuff Miles road race. Web site: http://www.8tuffmiles.com

Buy tickets now or later?

Darn!

A Web site which tries to predict the best time to buy an airplane ticket has expanded its coverage, but apparently uses a different map of the globe than I do.

In a news release last week, Farecast announced it was extending its free service, utilizing historic pricing data to project the best time to buy a ticket, to "the most popular destinations in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada."

Well, Farecast's Caribbean doesn't include the U.S. Virgin Islands! 

"Farecast.com offers predictions for over 108 Mexico and Caribbean markets including: Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico City, Nassau, Bahamas, Bermuda, Aruba, and Jamaica," the company said.

    BOOOO!

    How about visiting the site and telling them you'd like to see St. Thomas included: http://www.farecast.com/addMyCity.do.

Conde Nast Traveler readers like St. John

St. John has been voted by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine as one of the top islands in the Caribbean/Atlantic region.  While first place in the 20th annual Readers Choice Awards polling went to Bermuda. St. John placed second, ahead of  St. Barthelemy. In last year's survey, Bermuda and St. John were also at the top of the list, while third place went to the British Virgin Islands.

Hopefully, Conde Nast will someday freshen its Web site's info on St. John.  The island is lumped into a Virgin Islands section. Only one island restaurant is recommended, Skinny Legs.  The only nightlife in town, according to CN, is at Duffy's Love Shack - which isn't there anymore - but the space is for lease.

The full awards report is in the magazine's November issue, on newstands Oct. 25th.

Villa Greeters: few tips for you

Three out of four visitors to St. John who participated in our latest poll said they do not offer a tip to the Greeters who meet them at the ferry dock and take them to their rental villas. 

"By the time I get to St. John, I've already given every dime I have to US Airways," said Jesse in a comment on the survey.  "We do not think a greeter should get tipped unless they go out of their way to accommodate you, such as stopping for groceries," added Joe P.

Even while a majority of people say they don't tip Greeters, more than a dozen comments came from people who do.

Lime Inn tops for moderate budget dining in Cruz Bay

The Lime Inn is the best bet for a reasonable night out for dinner with your sweetie and/or the kids, according to results of our week-long poll on Cruz Bay restaurants.Specializing in seafood, Caribbean lobster, and known for its Wednesday night Shrimp Feast, the Lime Inn has been an island favorite for almost 20 years.

Other old reliables finishing near the top of the voting included Morgan's Mango, featuring South American spicy specialties; Rhumb Lines, known for 'Asian fusion'; the Fish Trap, specializing in, what else?, fish and some imaginative Asian-inspired treatments of old favorites; Banana Deck and its solid bar food, and Cafe Roma, serving up pasta and pizza.

Here are the results of our poll:

• Lime Inn  24%
• Morgan's Mango 13%
• Rhumb Lines 13%
• Fish Trap 13%
• Banana Deck 11%
• Café Roma 10%
• Sun Dog Café 4%
• Inn at Tamarind Court 4%
• Happy Fish 3%
• Compass Rose (Pastory) 2%
• Satyamuna 1%
• China Shack 1%

Vote for favorite Coral Bay restaurant

While Coral Bay is rapidly developing ... 'cause that's where the available land is ... it's still kind of laid back and relaxed.  Which explains why its choices for a meal are all over the map. From a fantastic budget breakfast at the Donkey Diner to a moonlit, waterside dinner at Miss Lucy's, the variety is broad.

Frankly, Coral Bay is often a state of mind.  Its restaurants range from tacky to white tablecloth.  Enjoying Coral Bay is easy to do.  Sometimes you're in a rock-and-roll state of mind, other times you're looking for smooth and relaxing. So, in choosing a Coral Bay restaurant or bar, vote for the one where you have the most fun and the best memories.

Yapta: your new best online friend

About a month ago, I signed up with Yapta.com, a free service which watches airfares and alerts you when they change. 

Its main claim to fame is alerting you when the price of a plane ticket you've already bought drops enough that it makes sense for you to rebook the trip and get a refund, even though you'll have to pay a "change" fee.

So, I was watching Washington/Dulles to St. Thomas for next winter and Yapta e-mailed me when the fare dropped - to a price $100 less than I paid last winter.  I jumped on the deal. 

This weekend, just for grins, I checked Yapta to see where the price is now.  Whoa!  The graphic, at left, tells the story. The price more than doubled in less than a week.

If you haven't booked for next winter, but perhaps even more importantly, if you already have ... it's a good idea to put Yapta to work for you now.

Where to get wired on St. John

Back in April, we ran a survey asking people whether they bring their laptops. Hundreds of people said they did. Villa agencies are also reporting renters are often asking where can find Internet connectivity. One source estimates as many as 40% of villa have Wi-Fi, and both the Westin and Caneel also offer connectivity).

Here's a guide to Internet access spots if you're out and about.  If you know of other spots, please add them as a comment.

• Surf da Web, at the Marketplace.  Eight PCs, 1 Mac, Wi-Fi. http://www.surfdaweb.com
• Computer Express, upstairs from I Scream in Cruz Bay, and across from Fred's.
  $3 for 15 minutes on their PCs, $5/day on your laptop. http://www.computer-express.vi/
• Quiet Mon Pub, above La Tapa and next to Woody's. http://www.quietmon.com/
• Bringin' the Fun, next to Banana Deck, near Wharfside. Bringin' the Fun.
• EveryTing, gift shop/convenience store/snack bar at Gallows Point.
• The Tap Room, at Mongoose Junction.  Free access. http://www.stjohnbrewers.com/
• Keep Me Posted, Coral Bay, at the Coccoloba Shopping Center. http://keepmepostedstjohn.com/
• Connections, downtown Cruz Bay at Skinny Legs in Coral Bay. http://www.connectionsstjohn.com/