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."

Great Expectations

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 

availability 

 (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!

Best St John Snorkeling Pictures

'Isabel Traveler' captured this fabulous turtle photo last month

St John is fortunate to have a number of professional photographers who are able to capture the incredible vistas and vibrant underwater sea life, however, we also often have visitors who also capture very special pictures. Yesterday, I read a Trip Advisor posting by 'Isabel Traveler' who was on-island this August. She is a pretty frequent visitor to St John but, before this trip, she had only come during January. She was pleased to find even more sea-life during this trip than her previous winter vacations. Her pictures are stunning! She captured lots of pictures of turtles and even has a turtle movie on her photo stream so you can really feel as though you are truly swimming along with the turtle.

The colors and variety of fish (including lots of sharks, octopus, and tons of starfish) are really amazing. 

What a colorful fella!

When 'Isabel Traveler' dried off and was above sea level for a bit of the week she captured some fun shots of new life on St John.

Doesn't this little guy look like he is smiling and pretty happy to be hugged?

St John newsletter - March and April happenings around the island

Our monthly St John newsletter for April which we distribute to all those who love St John and want to be kept up-to-date about happenings on and around our wonderful island. If you would like to sign up for the monthly newsletter, there is a 'sign up' box at the bottom  of the blue column on the right of this page. Enjoy!

Trip Advisor names St John as one of the
World's 10 best islands

I took this picture of Trunk Bay while attending one of world-renowned
Steve Simonsen's photography seminars (highly recommended!) 

What do Bora Bora, Santorini, and St John have in common? Well they are all islands, but there are literally millions of islands in the world so that is not it. These islands, and 7 others, made the coveted list of Trip Advisor's 2013 list of the 10 Best Islands in the World! Not too shabby! Those of you who have been to St John understand why we made the list. Those of you who have not been here yet, will see for yourselves when you step on the island for the first time. The beauty of St John is ever-present. Our mountainous topography offers a wonderful vista around every bend. Our crystal clear, warm, turquoise waters are magically beautiful. And, it is just as pretty underwater as it is above.  I believe, though, we also made the list because of what we do not have. Two-thirds of St John is part of the US National Park system so we will be forever green and those lands should never, ever be developed. We also do not have casinos, movie theaters, airports, cruise ships (well, yes, day trippers come over from St Thomas, but no huge cruise ships can get close enough to dock in our harbors, just sailboats and small power boats).  Trip Advisor writes that "Ecotourism is alive and kicking on St. John. There's more than enough to do on land, from watching for wildlife in the national park to hiking miles of trails or strolling sandy white beaches. Hit the water for amazing snorkeling, swimming, even underwater photography—of course. This is the Caribbean, after all."  Trip Advisor lists 48 'Things to Do' and if that is not enough our wonderful Concierge, Coby, can add to that list for you!

April St John news flashes & fun St John clips:

• One of the reasons St John made the 'Best Islands' list this year is the commitment we have to the environment. Virgin Islands Ecotours is the leading eco-tour company offering a variety of tours many of which start off at their new Honeymoon Beach location at Caneel Bay, in the Virgin Islands National Park on St John. There are also private tours for families or wedding parties.Their award-winning tours combine kayaking, hiking, and snorkeling into a unforgettably fun and educating experience emphasizing our leave no trace style ecotourism. Experience it for yourself first through their video and then for yourself when you next visit St John. 

• April is Carnival Season on St Thomas and this year is every bit as festive and fun as the first St Thomas Carnival over 101 years ago in 1912. This year's Carnival officially began on March 31 and ends on April 27th. The St Thomas's Festival (aka Carnival) is filled with music, food, and parades as are all the Virgin Islands Carnivals, but, somehow this one is more rambunctious and wild than the others. If you want to experience a Caribbean Carnival, but do not want to be overwhelmed on St Thomas come to St John during our Carnival season which is calmer, but still colorful (mid-June to July 4th). 

• Spring also brings sailing regattas to the Virgin Islands. The 40th Annual International Rolex Regatta was held last month with St Thomas Yacht Club hosting the races. The weather during this year's race was picture perfect as many of the  local photographers captured in dramatic ways. The weather during the recent British Virgin Islands Spring Regatta was not as blue, but the strong winds and rain (yes, rain) made for dramatic sailing and some wonderful pictures as well. 

• If you want to keep up with All Things St John  there is a great app for you. News of St John Blog reports that the app, My Virgin Islands, is new and improved and now provides information, by island, about beaches, shopping, services, events, accommodations (and yes, you can find our villa,  Great Expectations, which is the only villa rated with 5 stars!), and restaurants. Given the popularity of this app I sure would put it in your 'favorites' and check back often for updates. The app is iPhone, iPad, iTouch, and Android friendly and best of all, it is free!

• Great Expectations has a few openings this spring and summer. What better way of ending the winter than enjoying the warmth of the Caribbean? Contact us today to take advantage of our last minute specials this May and June.
   

Best,

Chuck & Kristin

owners of Great Expectations

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news about Great Expectations specials & St John activities

Trip Advisor names St John as one of the World's 10 Best Islands!

Trunk Bay St John, one of the most photographed beaches in the world

With views like this how could St John not make the list! Take a look at Trip Advisor's 2013 list of the 10 Best Islands in the World. Trip Advisor says that "Ecotourism is alive and kicking on St. John. There's more than enough to do on land, from watching for wildlife in the national park to hiking miles of trails or strolling sandy white beaches. Hit the water for amazing snorkeling, swimming, even underwater photography—of course. This is the Caribbean, after all."

Hardly a month goes by when St John or one of our beaches or dive spots does not make some sort of 'best of' list, but this one is especially sweet. 

October Newsletter: St John has a new swimming pool!

Clouds reflecting off the water of our new pool in the early morning
overlooking Chocolate Hole harbor and, in the distance, Pillsbury Sound 

 

We have been hard at work over the summer adding a new swimming pool and patio for the Main Villa at Great Expectations.

 Our new patio area provides a great area to relax with lots of shade

Great Expectations now has a wading pool, dip pool and swimming pool
overlooking  the Caribbean Sea

We just received an e-mail from our current guest who has stayed at Great Expectations several times over the past 10 years:

"The new pool is absolutely amazing, seems like it was always here. Just a perfect addition to an already perfect place. I know we'll have lots of fun stories to share, but I wanted to just thank you and Chuck now for this week and everything you did to make it happen for us.  It's going to be unforgettable!"
 

October St John news flashes & fun St John clips:

• St John rental car fleet to double in size! The current limit for the entire St John rental fleet of 625 cars has not increased since 1994. Doubling the limit is great news especially for visitors who wait until the last minute to try to rent their vehicles!  The VI Motor Vehicle Bureau has indicated that it will also allow new rental company operators to set up shop on St John.
   

• The Terrace Restaurant opens facing Cruz Bay harbor, the Ocean Grill gets a make-over, and Skinny Leg's adds a smoker. If you miss The Stone Terrace restaurant you will be happy that The Terrace Restaurant (located in the same spot as The Stone Terrace) will offer similar high-end French inspired fare.  The popular Ocean Grill is kicking things up a notch with home-made sausage for its gumbo, a smoker for salmon, lots of vegan choices, and an interesting new paint job. Skinny Legs has added a smoker so Uncle Joe's BBQ will have a rival on the east end of the island! Here is Pauly smoking some pork shoulder, brisket, & oysters - yum!
   
• Another St John beach takes top honors! Cinnamon Bay joins Trunk Bay and a select few others world wide to be awarded the coveted 'Blue Flag' by the Foundation of Environmental Education.
   
• 8 Tuff Miles Race Registration is open and spots are going like 'hot cakes' with over 400 people having signed up so far. The February 23 race still has 200 spots for 'off island' folks who want to make the Cruz Bay to Coral Bay race their reason for being on St John during the height of winter (not that anyone really needs an 'excuse').
   
• St John waters are filled with beautiful fish, turtles, dolphins, and - even - deer! Yes, deer!  On his way from Cruz Bay (to his home on Lovango Cay) our friend Dan Boyd captured this great photo of a deer swimming in Cruz Bay harbor!

• Trip Advisor is always a great source for learning about what is hot on St John. Recently a forum guest, a first-timer to St John, asked a simple question - 'What are your favorite beaches, restaurants, bars'? Well, a flood-gate of information and suggestions came foreward proving people are passionate about St John! Oh, did we mention that Great Expectations is rated #1 on Trip Advisor by travellers out of 500 vacation villas on St John!

Come to St John - and Great Expectations - to enjoy our brand new swimming pool & patio and discover your 'favorite' beach, restaurant, and activity.
 

Best,

 

Chuck & Kristin

owners of Great Expectations

P.S. Check out our availability; while we are already booked this winter we have a few weeks available this coming spring and even a couple of weeks available next month (November - check out our last minute special discount!). It is not too early to reserve your time for winter 2014!