We have plenty of coconut water to keep our great staff going to get the Villa back up and running! Thanks #lovecitystj for pix and Steve and Erickson (and crew) for an amazing job clearing up the debris scattered around our property as the result of not one but two Category 5 hurricanes, first Irma and then Maria, in as many weeks !
Great Expectations and St John is braced for Hurricane Irma
Great Expectations should be okay; the Villa is constructed of 8-inch thick reinforced concrete and all our outdoor furniture, hammocks, pool floats, hot tub covers and 21 hurricane shutters have been secured, thanks to our great staff, for Irma's arrival tonight! [button title="Live Webcams" icon="" icon_position="" link="/webcam" target="" color="" font_color="" large="0" class="" download="" onclick=""]
building 3 closed
closed room closed
pools closing up
pool closing up
Here are a few ways to help those on St John who will need assistance after the hurricane passes:
donate
St John Rescue:An all-volunteer non-profit organization on the small island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands dedicated to providing emergency rescue and medical support services to the St. John's EMS, Police, Fire, National Park and Health Clinic personnel.
donate st john foundation
St John Community Foundation: Created in 1989 after the devastation of Hurricane Hugo, the St. John Community Foundation has successfully been carrying out the mission of providing services and supporting programs that positively engage people, build resources and strengthen the St. John community since 1989. They continuously look for ways to fill service gaps and cultivate community assets including people, organizations, programs, and resources to effectively respond to changing needs of the community now and for future generations.
donate animal care center
St John Animal Care Center: The Animal Care Center (ACC) of St. John is located in Cruz Bay, near the library. The ACC addresses the problems of cruelty to, neglect and abuse of the island animals. The shelter provides kennels for homeless dogs and inside cages for a limited number of homeless cats. The ACC has volunteers across St John who establish and maintain feral cat feeding stations. At these locations, feral cats are trapped and taken to the local vet who tests for disease and if clear spays or neuters the cat.
Great Thanksgiving Day Topic --- Plan your next St John vacation & we suggest you skip the politics!
Start the New Year on St John where green magically becomes red fireworks!
Hawksnest beach (above) captured by Yelena Rogers
st john fireworks
Cruz Bay Fireworks captured by Steve Simonsen
We have another special:
Great Expectations is available for New Years Eve. The Villa is available from Saturday, December 31 through Sunday January 22nd for 20% off our standard weekly rates.
Let us know if you want to end the 'old year' and start the new one by enjoying the beauty of St John.
Contact us directly to start 2017 on St John
Get on Board with our newest Charter Boat Partner
island girl
The owners of Island Girl, a well equipped 35 foot power catamaran, are offering guests of Great Expectations a fabulous discount of 20% off their published rates. Island Girl has the capacity to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in shaded or sunning areas. They are stepping it up and adding in some nice extras that most of the other power boats in the area do not provide. This will include an Open bar, light breakfast, snacks and a gourmet lunch cooked onboard for local waters full day trips! St John Boat Tours offers sunset trips as well as either 1/2 or full day trips to the British Virgin Islands or locally around St John. You decide for you are 'the Captain' for your trip!
st john beach
To mark the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, The Boston Globe is highlighting some of the most beautiful ones and recently published 'St John, where you'll want to park it'. The article is definitely worth the read. St John is fortunate to have 2/3's of its land mass and the waters around those areas earmarked as part of the National Park and, therefore, will be forever green and protected.
ZoZo's on 'Best Fine Dining in the Caribbean' list
zozos
Taking the second spot on the top 10 list is ZoZo’s Restaurant in Caneel Bay, St. John, U.S.V.I. the beautiful island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. This restaurant is just minutes from Cruz Bay and located within the ruins of a sugar mill built in the 1800’s. Among the stone walls and high-timbered ceilings, you will be able to watch the sun sink into the Caribbean as you enjoy some of the most highly rated food on the island. Chef Michael Fortino draws influences from recipes of his own Italian family and from the regions of Northern Italy, as well the Caribbean. Chef Michael offers fresh local fish and produce, and imports cheese, meat, spices and ingredients from around the globe to ensure all flavors are best expressed. The most popular dishes are the Fresh Pappardelle, Pistachio Crusted Local Mahi Mahi, or the Osso Buco.
We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and hope that you will let us make memories for you this coming year by visiting St John and Great Expectations!
Warm Island Regards, Kristin & Chuck, owners Great Expectations
St John -- Always Something to Do?
Enjoy our September Newsletter: A lot of people ask us what there is to do on St John. If you are an active person and always need to be on the move well, fret not, there are lots of Things To Do on St John from boating to fishing to hiking to snorkeling to paddle boarding to kayaking to...well, you get the point. Most all of our 'activities' involve the great outdoors and why not, since St John is such a beautiful island to explore.
pool float with a book
Or, you can spend your entire St John vacation right at Great Expectations floating in our pool watching the clouds float by or reading while floating around our pool, or enjoying one of our many hammocks and private patios giving you your own piece of paradise to enjoy:
Contact the Owners of Great Expectations to reserve your time on our pool float!
skippers brit pub
The Brits Have Invaded St John (and brought plenty da rum with them!)
We welcome the ‘Brits’ to Coral Bay with the opening of Skipper’s Brit Pub. They pride themselves in carrying more rums — 60 + different rums! — than any other St John restaurant or pub and great local beers (St John Brewers and Drunk Bay Brown). Located in the waterfront site of the former Sweet Plantains, get ready for a casual pub experience with great pub food.
SUP St John
Great Expectations Partners with Paddle Board & Power Boat Charter Companies
We are always looking for great new partners who will provide great service for guests of Great Expectations and this month we would like to introduce you, at least virtually, to an outfit -- SUP St John -- that offers Paddle Board rentals delivered directly to Great Expectations (lessons, if desired, including Paddle Board Yoga in our pool at Great Expectations!), and Power Boat Charters, Rockin Hoppin, on their pretty spiffy Regulator with Twin Yamaha 250s (yes, this is a fast boat!). It is 32 foot long and has forward-facing, cushioned seating and provides a comfortable, stable, usually dry ride from rock to rock. Their powerboat has plenty of space and extras like colored exterior lights, sound system with iphone connector, GPS, chart plotter etc. They offer great discounts for guests of Great Expectations which makes a great day on the water even sweeter.
rockin hoppin
We have had a wonderful summer on St John at Great Expectations celebrating marriages, 50th anniversaries, and significant birthdays. Let us make memories for you this coming year!
Warm Island Regards, Kristin & Chuck, owners Great Expectations
Santa Should Bring You a St John Villa Trip for Christmas
No Reindeer required to get Santa to St John
We hope Santa brings you a trip to St John
Play Santa yourself and give as a present to thoseyou love a vacation at Great Expectations. Take a look at our calendar and let us know when we can host you next! We have only one week still available (April 8 - April 16, 2016) between now and August so plan now for a 2017 holiday on St John (Christmas, New Years, Presidents week, 4th of July Carnival are all still available). It is 85 degrees year round on St John so no time is a bad time to come for a visit!
December St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
Caribbean Journal highlights the '9 Best Beaches on St John' listing Maho Bay, Trunk Bay, Oppenheimer, Denis, Hawksnest, Cinnamon, Francis, Salt Pond, and Lameshur as their picks.
Some of these beaches offer great snorkeling opportunities, but since they are all within the National Park where shell and coral collecting is prohibited, if shell and coral collecting is your thing you might want to head over to Hart Bay beach. Hart Bay is on the western most side of Rendezvous Bay and is accessed only by a couple of trails (one being only a 5 minute walk from Great Expectations). The other day our son-in-law found this beauty while taking a walk along the Hart Bay beach.
Ready to retire to someplace warm and laid back? Here is an article for you: The 10 Coolest Places to Retire in the Caribbean. The #1 spot went to St John: A haven for artists, creative types, beach lovers and sailors, St John is an eclectic place with beautiful beaches, a massive national park system and a very artsy, funky vibe. It’s also in the US, meaning Americans simply have to buy a plane ticket and find a house. It’s not cheap, but you’re paying to be a part of a very unique community.
Now that TSA and the airlines are requiring people to be at the airport 2 - 3 hours before departure (American is requiring people checking bags to check in at least 90 minutes before departure), there is something to do other than mill around, buy liquor or perfume, or have one more west indian meal and that is to take advantage of free WiFi at the St Thomas airport! This is thanks to the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. All you have to do to log on to the free WiFi is to complete a short survey about your stay in the Virgin Islands.
Contact us directly and we will help make your vacation a trip to remember!
The Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Table Conversation Topic -- St John!
Winter 'Soon Come' to St John
Your beach chairs await
What better topic to have during Thanksgiving with friends and family than 'when do you want to go to St John?' It is a great time to plan your next trip to Great Expectations. Take a look at our calendar and let us know when we can host you next!
November St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
The Crucian Contessa recently posted a great write-up about salt harvested from St John's very own Salt Pond which produces salt crystals due to its proximity to a windward bay and its distance from any rainwater runoff. The posting tells of how salt forms and is harvested. The salt actually grows from the bottom of the pond and has a pinkish hue that comes from the brined shrimp in the water.
Roaming around Cruz Bay is getting a bit easier with a new, convenient parking lot coming in the former location of First Bank on the corner across from Connections and Woody's. Island drums (aka, local rumor) has it that a paid parking lot will be available on the same space, until permanent plans for the space are determined.
We look forward to hosting your family reunion, birthday or anniversary celebration, wedding celebration, or your friendly get-away. Contact us directly and we will help make your vacation a trip to remember!
Preparing for Fall & Winter - You compared to St. John
How do you want to prepare for Fall and Winter?
snowblowers and rakes
or
paddle boards and pool floats
What's your choice?
Fall has officially arrived and sweaters are at the ready. We have noticed that Christmas decorations are already for sale at the stores so the winter's snow cannot be far behind! Fear not, there is relief available -- plan your next trip to St John. Just having a reservation 'in your pocket' will warm your hearts and help get you through those long, cold nights. Contact ustoday to find out about availability at Great Expectations, rated the #1 villa on St John. We only have 3 weeks available this Winter and 4 weeks available next Summer. If you are planning to come with a large group you might also want to schedule time now for 2017! It is never too early to reserve time at Great Expectations.
October St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
The federal government is making flying out of the St Thomas (STT) airport a tad bit easier. We understand that passengers are no longer required to fill out Custom Forms when going through US Customs. Mind you, passengers still have to go through Customs and the Customs official will ask you the same questions that are on the form. We guess the Government just wants to save a few trees in the process.
Having saved a moment or two by not filling out a form, American Airlines is taking it from us! We understand from the same source (On-StJohn) that if you are flying American Airlines and are to check a bag departing the St Thomas airport, American Airlines is advising all their passengers to arrive at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. Starting this month their ticket counter will reportedly close 90 minutes prior to the flight departure time! Bring that good beach book with you so you can occupy your time waiting for your plane to depart and try some of the great local dishes available at the restaurant in the airport waiting room or do some last minute duty-free shopping for liquor, perfume, or jewelry in the waiting area shops.
Speaking of great eating and shopping, News of St John reports that two new restaurants and a new store have opened in Cruz Bay on St John. They are:
The Dock - Located at the former Cafe Livin' and will be operated by the popular High Tide Restaurant
Extra Virgin - Located at the location of the former Fatty Crab Restaurant. Extra Virgin will offer small plates, salads and entrees ranging from $32 - $38. They will also emphasize fresh herbs and ingredients.
Just Beach - Located in Mongoose Junction Just Beach has all your 'go to' beach items including snorkel gear (to purchase or rent), sunscreen, sunglasses and, of course, practical beachwear. The owner is a long time St John resident who also owns and manages several other successful retail outlets including Island Fancy and Bougainvillea Shop.
7 Nights on St John for the Price of 5 and Hundreds of Dollars of Gift Certificates (for dining and rental cars)
Enjoy our September newsletter and check out these savings!
2 free nights and up to $500 in discounts at shops, restaurants and car rentals this fall!
St John's waters are crystal clear and the beaches pure white as captured by Steve Simonsen
Great Expectations, the #1 vacation rental as rated by travelers on Trip Advisor, has partnered with the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism to offer our guests great deals this Fall.
For any new reservation made this month to stay at Great Expectations from September 1 to November 15, 2015, we are offering 7 nights for the price of 5 and the Virgin Island's Department of Tourism will provide up to $500 in retail, dining, and car rental certificates!
Some of St John's best restaurants are participating in the Tourism VI NICE promotion including: High Tide, The Beach Bar, The Tap Room, and Caneel Bay's Beach Bar & Grill, Beach Terrace, Equator and Turtle Bay Estate. Other St John shops and stores for whom the Department of Tourism is also offering certificates are: Virgin Islands Ecotours, Little Switzerland, Brewtique, The Beach Bar Shop, and Hot Look Sunglasses. Last, but not least, you can even receive certificates through this Department of Tourism program for car rentals from Budget and Discount Car Rental on St Thomas.
Come this Fall to swim in the beautiful waters of St John or lounge in one of the pools (we have 3 plus a wading pool for the little ones) at Great Expectations:
September St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
St John made Yahoo Travel's '10 National Parks that have the Best Beaches' list. This is not a surprise to anybody who has already visited St John since one beach is more beautiful than the next! With over 30 beaches on St John, the toughest daily decision is which one to visit!
Summer make-overs have been in the works at several St John businesses. The Morgan Mango Restaurant, which was gutted by fire this past spring, is being totally rebuilt. Dolphin Market is being upgraded with new coolers and freezers as well as additional space for fresh vegetables and cheeses.
Tropical Storm Erika almost came directly over St John this past week but, fortunately, at the last minute she jogged to the west and went significantly south of us dropping essentially no rain but 60 mile an hour gusts. You can watch weather come and go live on our St John webcam. It is the same view looking east over Rendezvous Bay, the Caribbean Sea and Bordeaux Mountain as our guests have from our Great Room.
Check Great Expectations' availability calendar for 2016. We have only 3 weeks available this coming winter and 5 weeks available for next summer. Contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or exceed, your expectations!
Best,
Kristin & Chuck
owners of
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For your car:
For your reading pleasure:
For your listening pleasure:
New Years eve on St John in the middle of the summer?
Exclusively for our newsletter subscribers -- a rare opportunity to spend New Year's Eve on St John!
St John's Steve Simonsen captures the beauty of St John including traditional fireworks on New Year's Eve (and did we point out, no snow, no ice, no cold)!
Great Expectations rarely gets a cancellation, but we have just received one for this coming New Year's week from Saturday, December 26 - Saturday, January 2, 2016. The rental rate for New Years week is $21,000 (plus tax and security) for up to 16 people; contact us for details. What better way to end a year or start a new one than on St John?
Maybe Santa has a Christmas present waiting for you on St John this year!
Summer St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
St John makes the '10 Best Caribbean Islands' list of Travel & Leisure and says "once visitors arrive, they’ll find gorgeous, sun-baked beaches, a massive national park that covers nearly two-thirds of the island, thriving coral reefs and friendly locals. Travel to St. John for a taste of the good life and look at the epitome of Caribbean beauty".
New hot sauce on St John? Sure sounds like it, but 'Kick 'em Jenny' is actually an active submarine volcano on the Caribbean floor near the Grenadines (not to worry it is some 500+ miles south of the Virgin Islands) which has recently been rumbling again worrying scientists that it could cause havoc to local ships and waters. The volcano's recent activity has caused authorities to raise the alert level to Orange, which is the second-highest rating.
Speaking of Christmas presents that represent St John, here is a link to St John photographer extraordinare Steve Simonsen's 2016 St John calendar which is filled with one luscious photo after another from sea turtles to aerial shots of St John each picture will leave you yearning to return (or come explore for your first time).
Check Great Expectations' availability calendar and contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs as best we can. Our goal, always, is to meet or exceed, your expectations!
Summertime is Time to Plan Your Winter Trip to St John!
Enjoy Summer? Plan your Trip to St John this Winter!
The Warm Waters of St John will be waiting for you
We are actively planning our winter and spring seasons and Great Expectations is already getting pretty booked so the time is now if you don't want to be left out in the cold next winter! We have a couple of weeks currently available in mid-January, about 10 days in March, and a couple of weeks in April.
June St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
$300 in savings! Yes, reserve your trip during the month of May at Great Expectations and not only do you get a wonderful villa at a great value, but because we are partnering with the US Virgin Island's Tourism Department you will be eligible for $200 worth of dining certificates and $100 certificates for St John (or St Thomas) shopping. Travel has to be completed by October 31, 2015.
Great Expectations has partnered with Aqua Blu Car Rental to provide our guests rental cars at a great value (read for that -- at a discount!). This multi-generational family owned firm has a wonderful reputation for providing great service. They also provide taxi service so why think about driving to or home from dinner when you can arrange to have your own driver! Check them out and we think you will be pleased.
If you have wandered around St John before you inevitably have 'met' some of the wild donkeys that roam our lands (and roads). As you can imagine, as with any type of creature, they often need help whether it is a broken bone or nutrition. Recently it has been unusually dry and the need has been as simple as getting them water. If you want to help our donkeys please consider sending a contribution to the St John Animal Care Center (and earmark your contribution to the 'donkey fund'), or to Diana Bartlett of Carolina Corrals who volunteers her time to rescue and feed donkeys. She is in desperate need of a truck and has established a Go Fund Me site to help raise money for the truck.
Speaking of donkeys, Carolina Corrals will soon be offer St John riding lessons. Diana Bartlett has been working hard to build a 60' x 120' riding arena where she will offer horse -- and donkey -- riding lessons. This should provide fun for children as well as adults.
If you are looking for an off-beat thing to do while on St John, think about heading out to Salt Pond in Coral Bay to harvest some sea salt. Yes, people are actually doing just that on St John these days and using it on their food and it tastes just like...salt! This is not an every day occurrence since the waters need to be low in order for the extra salt to accumulate along the shoreline so take advantage of this phenomenon until the rains come and replenish our waters.
Check our availability calendar and contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or ideally, exceed your expectations!
April 2015 News from St. John
Rx to Survive Winter
Enjoy the winter winds -- St John style
Congratulations - you survived the winter of all winters. Spring has finally sprung in most places in the country. Now is the time to reward yourself for having survived the 'winter that would not quit' by planning a trip to St John for this year or even better, next winter. As a reward, we are offering a 20% off discount for our June openings; check our currently availability to secure your piece of mind.
We recently received this photo from a recent guest (who has already booked his return trip). He captured this picture at Great Expectationsthe morning of his 50th birthday. We sure think he found his pot of gold on St John. Hopefully, you will as well!
March St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
St John's Honeymoon beach made the Condé Nast's 'Top 10 Beaches for Chillin' by saying: Located within the Virgin Islands National Park, Honeymoon Beach is one of the seven beaches that make up the Caneel Bay Resort. It's arguably the loveliest and also hardest to get to; the only means of access is via boat or a mile-long hike. But it’s worth the trek: Besides the requisite ivory sand and crystalline waters, you’re rewarded with views of St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands.
ABC News reported that St John's Maho Bay made Trip Advisor's 'Top 10 Traveler's Choice Caribbean Beaches' A TripAdvisor reviewer said, "The snorkeling is absolutely amazing. Huge sea turtles, schools of fish and stingrays are just some of the sea life found regularly here in Maho Bay. It's a postcard like setting with some of the coolest palm trees you'll find anywhere in the world. In my opinion this is the best place on the island to take pictures. Don't visit St. John without checking out Maho Bay".
One of St John's most important volunteer groups is asking for our help. St John Rescue is often the first on the scene to help a victim of a car or boating accident, a lost or injured hiker, or just about any other sort of emergency one can think of happening - day or night. A couple of weeks ago they were at the scene of a very bad accident and rescued a truck driver, by cutting open the bottom of the truck with their Jaws of Life, saving his life. Unfortunately, during the process the Jaws of Life was destroyed. The St John community is rallying together to help raise monies to fund a new critically needed Jaws of Life for St John Rescue. Please consider supporting this initiative by donating on-line through Go Fund Me.
St John Blues Blowout Festival is ON! March 28th will bring lots of music to Cruz Bay's Winston Wells Ballpark. All proceeds to benefit the St John School of the Arts and the Sprauve School
Check our availability calendar and contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or ideally, exceed your expectations!
St John Where The Swimming is Great For All...Winter or Not!
Please enjoy our February newsletter.....
Hitching a ride -- St John style (photo by Steve McKibben)
There is no denying it -- this has been the winter of all winters! Historic snow in the northeast, ice storms throughout the midwest and northeast causing much of Niagara Falls to freeze, and record cold throughout much of the country including Georgia, South Carolina and even Florida. Nasty stuff!
Here is a great way of surviving the rest of the winter -- plan a trip to St John for this spring. Great Expectations is currently available from May 25 through June 13 of this year for 15% off discount!
Or, plan now to enjoy a week on St John next winter. We already are reserved for several weeks next winter, but we still have some choice dates available. There is nothing better than lounging by the pool or enjoying the clear, warm waters of St John when it is bitter cold -- back home.
If you have never been to St John before, you might enjoy the video we recently received from Don Hyde who stayed at Great Expectations with his family this past Thanksgiving. Even if you have been to St John before you, too, will enjoy the video, and feel the fun they had on St John:
Watch and smile...how can you not?
February St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
On-St John recently posted a video of Hart Bay. The relatively unknown beach is only accessible by foot so often you will have the beach all to yourself. It is a great location to just sit and be mesmerized by the sound of the lapping waves or do some shell collecting. Hart Bay is just a 5 minute walk from Great Expectations. On calm days it is a good place to paddle board or swim and on rough days we often see surfers braving the waves.
Last month St John's Mongoose Junction experienced a horrible fire. Luckily no one was hurt. However, the popular Tap Room was totally destroyed and significant damage was done to the North Shore Deli and the Ocean Grill. St Johnians came together to help out and within days both the Northshore Deli and Ocean Grill were up and serving food again. The owners of the Tap Room never lost their spirit or determination to rebuild. They are already set up in a temporary spot (parking lot of Mongoose Junction) as The Temp Room serving their great brews and music offerings and building out a temporary spot until their burned out space is totally renovated. They project the new improved Tap Room will be ready for next season.
St John Blues Blowout Festival is ON! March 28th will bring lots of music to Cruz Bay's Winston Wells Ballpark. All proceeds to benefit the St John School of the Arts and the Sprauve School
Check our availability calendar and contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or ideally, exceed your expectations!
Best,
Kristin & Chuck
owners of Great Expectations
PS Make sure to ask about our special $100 worth of dining and activity certificates from the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism when you reserve a week or more at Great Expectations!
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news about Great Expectations specials & St John activities
What Is It Like To Spend a Week On St John? Check Out: 'One day -- St John'
We often are asked 'what is it like to spend a week on St John?'
Well, this video is a great answer! It was recently sent to us by a guest who stayed at Great Expectations over this last Thanksgiving. Luckily for us, our guest Don Hyde, is a principle of EVP Marketing & Media. Check it out, I think you will feel the love and fun they had on St John:
November 2014 News
St John Offers Amazing Sunset Views
The Sun and Clouds Melt into the Pool at Great Expectations
It is often said that "a picture is worth a thousand words" and that could not be more true when talking about St John's vistas. No one captures them better than the award winning St John photographer Steve Simonsen. This past week Steve and his wife and partner Janet Simonsen spent several hours at Great Expectations capturing some of our views and taking photographs of the Villa. We will soon be adding these photos to our website, however, we thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of his photos.
We understand that all 50 states experienced freezing temperatures this week (and the Buffalo area a record 7' of snow) so we hope that these pictures warm you and motivate you to contact us today to reserve your spot (on your lounge chair) in the sun.
Come join us as we Watch the Sun Set
November St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park's 6th Annual On-Line Auction opened on November 15 and will be available for bidding until December 7 at 9 PM. There are over 70 items including great meals, artwork, boat trips, and lots of other great items to bid on all while supporting one of St John's great organizations.
St John Tradewinds reports that the newly opened North Shore Deli (in same spot as the very popular Deli Grotto) is serving up some mighty fine looking and tasting sandwiches including mouth-watering slow roasted meats, vegan and healthy options are also on the menu as are the old time favorite homemade breads and coconut bars (so yummy they are called 'crack bars').
The 8-Tuff Miles Race has now partnered with the St John Cancer Fund and it has morphed into the 8-Tuff Miles Festival Week starting on February 21 with an all night 'Light Up the Night' family event followed the next weekend with a Pasta in the Park feast at Cruz Bay Landing on the eve of the race which is scheduled for 7:15 AM February 28. Join in to celebrate all who walked or ran at the awards ceremony at 5:30 PM at Mongoose Junction. The Festival Week will be capped off on March 1st at the Oppenheimer Recovery Party. Proceeds from the Festival will support the St John Cancer Fund.
Getting ready to reopen is Joe's RumHut at Wharfside. More seating and an expanded menu will make this spot even more popular this winter.
Joe's Diner has closed and will be reopened this winter. The new incarnation will be The Longboard. The owners describe their menu offerings as "coastal cantina" which is best described as Caribbean meets SoCal. According to the owners, they will offer 'affordable' craft drinks and a fresh, healthy and affordable menu and lots of open seating along the street for great people watching.
Lets talk turkey! As you gather together with your family and friends this holiday season it is a great time to start planning your next trip to St John. Since Great Expectations is completely booked this winter it is never too early to plan your next trip. Check our availability calendar and contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or ideally, exceed your expectations.
Summer Over? Never on St John
Our October Newsletter is published for your reading enjoyment:
St John Offers Amazing Views Both Beneath and Above The Caribbean Sea
This Fabulous Photo is courtesy of Sail Pepper
The Virgin Islands is often called 'Candy for the Eye' and understandably so.
As the above picture illustrates, snorkeling around St John is full of colorful (and friendly) fish. Virtually every one of the 30+ beaches around St John offer great snorkeling opportunities and, if you want to get out on a boat, you are in for a extra treat since most every captain knows 'hidden' snorkel spots only accessible by (just their) boat. Great Expectations has arranged special discounts for our guests for some terrific sailing or power boat options.
There are wonderful views and colors above the waterline as well. A recent guest sent us this picture he took from Bordeaux Mountain of Coral Bay in the foreground and the British Virgin Islands in the distance:
As another former guest said, when she first saw this view, it struck her it was what she imagined Peter Pan's Never Never Land looked like
October St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
The St John community is wonderfully supportive as are the people who visit our island. If you are going to be on St John Sunday, November 2 head on over to Maho Bay to support the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park's 2nd Annual 'Paddle in the Park' Race. You can either participate yourself or root on others, either way it is sure to be a great day.
It's on! The 2nd Annual Rib Cook Off to benefit St. John Rescue is happening on Saturday, November 8 at the Coral Bay Ball Field. The event will kick off at 4:30 pm with 10 competitors for the honor of Best Ribs On St. John. Music, drinks, games and YES, THERE WILL BE RIBS! There might be no more important community volunteer organization than the St John Rescue folks. They literally save lives, often at the risk of their own. Show your support for them by eating ribs if you are going to be on-island (not a hardship!) or donate on-line.
North Shore Deli opens (in same spot as the very popular Deli Grotto) and reports as of this morning have been fabulous! Yes, they have the same yummy breads that made the Deli Grotto the 'go to' place. Check them out when you are next on St John -- and, say hello DJ, the proud new owner.
Seaborne Airlines adds United Airlines to its Partner list making getting to St Thomas/St John even easier. United joins Seaborne's other partners -- American, Delta, and Jet Blue.
St John's Trunk Bay claimed the #1 position on the Islands 'Best Snorkeling Beaches in the Caribbean Islands' list saying in part "Trunk Bay's beach stretches for more than a quarter-mile, with white powdered-coral sand backed by palms and sea grape trees. A spit divides the bay and points directly at Trunk Cay, a rugged little isle that's a short swim from the beach. The entire bay is part of the Virgin Islands National Park and offers full facilities, including showers, a snack bar and a shop where you can rent snorkel gear, beach chairs and umbrellas."
Halloween will be kicked up a bunch this year with addition of theMongoose Monster Ball. Virgin Fire and The Sun Dog Cafe will be co-hosting a blow-out party featuring great food, music, and lots of prizes so get your best, funniest, wildest costume on and go for the prize.
New partner - Kids Night In! St John has a great relatively new resource (for both parents and kids alike!) in Kids Night In. Just as the title hints, this is a child care (much more than babysitting) service offered by Leslie McKibben, a physical therapist who has specialized in pediatrics for nearly 30 years. Leslie engages the kids with artwork, cooking (if parents allow), reading, and games of all sort. Kids have a blast and parents can enjoy a night on the town (it is your vacation after all).
Winter 2015 is Completely Sold Out! Great Expectations is already totally reserved this coming winter season as well as much of the 2015 Spring and Summer season. We never want to disappoint previous guests -- or potential new ones -- so please contact us as soon as you can when you start your trip planning. Please check our availability calendar and contact us today to secure your reservation! We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or ideally, exceed your expectations!
All Roads Lead to St John
Enjoy our September newsletter:
The views go on forever and ever
St John's remote East End
If you are a beach goer, St John can be your slice of heaven or, as many say, your happy place. Take your pick of nearly 40 beaches around the island and place your towel down for the day. But, even if you are not a beach goer, St John can be your happy place as well. In addition to (or instead of) lying on the beach, there are so many things to do on St John it might just make your head spin. Our fabulous property manager, Coby Cooper, having lived on and sailed the waters of St John for many years is a wealth of information and ideas of activities and can advise you based on what you and your group might enjoy. Here are just a few ideas for filling your day...
Take a road trip out to the East End of St John. As Steve Simonsen's photo (above) depicts, the vistas are magnificent and the roads are windy, but fun to drive as long as you watch out for the donkeys and goats that freely roam the roads. Plan on stopping by Vie's Snack Shop for some of her scrumptious fried chicken and Johnny Cakes or conch fritters, then keep on heading east to stop by Sloop Jones to browse his magnificent wearable art which reflect the wonderful colors of the Caribbean. If you want to try your hand at creating your own 'Sloop Jones' piece of wearable art, plan on attending one of his workshops. On the way back to Great Expectations, you might want to stop off in Coral Bay at the Skinny Legs complex to play a game of horse-shoes or just hang out in a Jimmy Buffett environment.
Take a boat trip. There are tons of options from renting a paddle board, dinghy, or kayak to being chauffeured around the waters of St John in one of the many charter sail or power boats. We have arranged with a number of the charter outfits to give our guests a discount so check out the outdoor activities and have a great day on the water.
Take a hike. If you are too antsy to sit on the beach, bring your hiking shoes to St John with you and head out to any one of over40 hiking trails. Some of the hikes are quite challenging and others are just downright breathtakingly beautiful! One of our recent guests e-mailed me this photo taken while they were hiking the Reef Bay trail proving that St John is even beautiful when it rains:
Rains last month from Tropical Storm Bertha created fabulous waterfalls
Or, just take the day off and do nothing at all! Hang out at the Villa - lounge in the infinity pool, arrange to have an afternoon massage (no need to leave the villa for that!), and take a nap. Vacation time should be time to relax and recharge and St John is the perfect venue for doing just that!
September St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
Islands Magazine included St John's Maho Beach in their '20 Beach Photos That Will Make you Were There Right Now' as well as their '7 Easy Three-Day Getaways Every Traveler Needs to Take' lists. Why is it easy? Islands reports that there are 10 airlines that fly daily non-stop to St Thomas where it is then breezy (literally and figuratively) ferry ride from Red Hook to St John. Why Is St John Exotic? Islands reports that this Virgin isle is small on development and big on nature: Its national parkland covers two-thirds of the island. Jungle trails wend past petroglyphs and hermit crabs unfazed by curious guests. The park even extends underwater for 5,600 acres — see 225 yards of it on Trunk Bay’s snorkeling trail, where damselfish slide through sea fans and parrotfish glow almost neon. Afterward, nearby Cruz Bay awaits with coconut shrimp and mango coladas (made with local Cruzan rum) at Morgan’s Mango.
Life Cheat Sheet named St John on their 'Forget the Passports - 7 Best US Islands to Visit' list.
Destination Weddings named St John's Trunk Bay one of the '12 Best Caribbean Beaches for Weddings' list.
New partner - new savings! This month we partnered with another wonderful charter boat to extend our guests a 10% discount. Sail into yesteryear on this magnificent 84' foot 'pirate' ship aptly named Goddess Athena. She is large enough to take your whole group out for a sunset sail or a full day on the waters. Check her and some of our other wonderful sailboat options for a wonderful day on the waters.
Special savings of $2,876!Great Expectations is already totally reserved this winter season with the exception of the last six nights of 'High Season': Sunday, April 12 - Saturday, April 18, 2015. To celebrate spring ('soon come') we have decided to offer this six night period for 'Low Season' rates saving you $2,876! Contact us today to take advantage of this savings!
As you can see from our availability calendar, Great Expectations is already reserved for almost all of this winter (with only 6 nights remaining available) and much of next spring and summer. We never want to disappoint previous guests -- or potential new ones -- so please contact us as soon as you can when you start your trip planning. We will be happy to work with you to, as best we can, accommodate your needs. Our goal, always, is to meet or ideally, exceed your expectations!
Trip Advisor Awards St John Villa Great Expectations their 2014 'Certificate of Excellence' Award!
TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, has just announced their 2014 Certificate of Excellence award recipients. Now in its fourth year, according to Trip Advisor the award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on Trip Advisor. Winners of the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the Trip Advisor website, with only the top 10 percent receiving the award.
Winners of the prestigious award include accommodations, eateries and attractions of all sizes. As of this year, vacation rentals are now eligible to receive the Certificate of Excellence.
"Trip Advisor is pleased to honor exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence," said Marc Charron, president of TripAdvisor for Business. "The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers. From Australia to Zimbabwe, we want to applaud exceptional hospitality businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience."
is honored to receive this designation, especially in the very first year Trip Advisor has included vacation rentals in their award program. We view our guests happiness as our #1 priority and are thrilled that our guests have, in turn, recognized our efforts and written wonderful reviews of their stays at Great Expectations. As a result, Great Expectations has consistently been
rated #1 by travelers on Trip Advisor
out of more than 600 vacation rental villas on St John.
Great Expectations has become a popular choice for families and wedding groups. Because our rates are based only on the number of bedrooms actually used, Great Expectations is affordable for as few as 2 people (as is the case this week) or a group of 16 looking for a large villa with plenty of space to spread out. Take a look at our
(note: because of a rare cancellation we are currently available from June 29 to July 7 for this year's St John Carnival) and let us know when we can host you and, of course, we will work hard to meet and exceed your expectations!
St John Carnival Special!!
St. John Carnival Week for 8 nights from Sun, Jun 29 to Mon, Jul 7 is available at
due to a last minute cancellation — pay for one week and get the 8th night for free!
USVI Carnival 2014
Carnival is alive with brilliant colors & music
St John's Carnival season begins early next month and culminates with an all night party (J'ouvert) and a wonderful parade through Cruz Bay on July 4th complete with moko jumbees, and fireworks over the harbor. The entire month is filled with music, food, activities such as bike and boat rides, Children and Adult parades, and, did we mention food?
And, of course, great local food:
So, what is not to like?
Great Expectations has had a cancellation (a rare occurrence for us!) for Carnival this coming 4th of July week from Sunday, June 29 - Monday, July 7. What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than right here in our pool (after a hard day at the beach or watching the parade)?
April & May St John news flashes & fun St John clips:
CNN reported that St John made the Condé Nast Traveler list of 'Top 10 Islands in the Caribbean & Atlantic'. Their readers found: the "natural beauty" of St. John to be unparalleled. Most of the island is a preserved national park, allowing visitors to enjoy the "emerald green beaches" and exotic "native fauna and flora." Bounce around the numerous cays in a kayak, or snorkel at Trunk Bay, where you might end up swimming "with a hawksbill turtle."
AirfareWatchDog just announced great airfares to St Thomas (STT) this spring and fall! Fly on American or US Air starting June 4th and on on either Delta or United for travel between September 2 and December 11 and get super deals. Many US cities (Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Cleveland) included. Hopefully, as usual, Jet Blue will drop their fares to match!
On Saturday, May 24th get your bathing suit on and head to Maho beach for the Saturday for the 11th annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim in support of the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park fundraising supporting their 'learn to swim' program among several other great initiatives. Even if you are not a swimmer you can help by volunteering on land or sea (in a kayak)...or from afar by donating on-line.
Woody's Seafood has become quite a fixture on St John and this month is celebrating its 25th anniversary and, more importantly (we feel) their 20th year of hosting its Block Party which has raised over $20,000 for the St John Cancer Fund.
St John Historical Society (SJHS) celebrates 40 years of support and encourages the preservation and protection of objects, structures, traditions, and features of historic, cultural, or archeological value to the island of St. John. Their mission is to increase the knowledge, awareness and understanding of St. John’s history and cultural heritage by such means as lectures, seminars, field trips, hikes, consultations, special educational programs and events. Just this month they have uncovered and been restoring the historic 'Cruz Bay Free-Colored Cemetery'.
April was the month of family gatherings at Great Expectations small and large. We were delighted to host - for the 4th time - Frank from MA who came with his cousin as well as to welcome for the first time Gretchen's family of 8 adults and 8 children who told us 'the house was perfect. The views, the pools and the layout made an ideal getaway for our families. Hoping to return soon.' It sure makes our day when we meet and exceed our guests expectations!
St John Makes the Destination Weddings List for 'Best Caribbean Islands for Perfect Wedding'
names the Virgin Islands one of the 10 Best Caribbean Islands for a Perfect Wedding'.
What Makes it Unique The USVI is a triple threat: three isles, three styles, all accessible without cracking open your passport.
St. John
is accessible only by ferry from St. Thomas and is two-thirds national park, with winding trails leading through marine forests populated with wild burros and dazzling lookouts (some topped by stone ruins) over quiet beaches. Hold your reception in funky Cruz Bay, the isle's walkable main town lined with eclectic waterfront eateries and bars. They say that the Virgin Islands also makes the list because of its beautiful vistas at every turn, its relaxing and casual environment, and last but not least its sensual delights! We quite agree!
Whether you are interested in a formal wedding or a beach setting there are wonderful options for each and every couple. This couple chose a villa wedding with a catered reception and we were honored to host them at Great Expectations.