Tips for visitors Archives | News of St. John

A Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach

February 27, 2023February 27, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

Good morning! Peak season is upon us, and I know most visitors will be looking for some unique, outdoorsy activities to do on St. John. I went crystal kayaking at Maho a few days ago and highly recommend it!

Having lived on St. John for two years, you would think I’ve done everything this beautiful, small island has to offer a million times over, and yet I am still pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun activities that I find on my days off. Recently, I spent the day at Maho, one of my favorite beaches, and tried the crystal kayaking and paddleboarding offered at Maho Crossroads.

News of St. John Villa Rentals Has Launched!

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 by News of St. John

News of St. John is thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new service! News of St. John Villa Rentals is a website to showcase short term rentals and connect renters with property owners at no cost. Check it out at Newsofstjohnvillarentals.com or access it from the navigation menu on News of St. John.

USVI Taxi Rates Increase

November 4, 2022November 2, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Last month when Teddy and I flew to Puerto Rico to bring Asante home for the season, we were a bit surprised when the taxi driver requested $50 as payment upon drop off at the airport. We didn’t say anything about the higher-than-normal requested rate that usually is about $20 per person, but the silent exchange between our glances must have been apparent. The driver explained that if we had got a ride a few days earlier it would have been less. But the rates had just gone up. I recalled seeing a headline about this at some point and thought, “Aha, the rate increase went through…” So, in order to keep all of you from being a bit taken aback on your next trip, I wanted to share the details on these new rates with you!

Travel Tips- Planning Your Love City Winter Getaway!

September 26, 2022September 26, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! I hope that all of you had a spectacular weekend as the chilly fall temps begin to cast their shadows on some of the cooler areas of the country. As the fall and winter winds begin to blow, a lot of you are probably starting to set your sights on travel plans for a winter escape to bluer waters and warmer breezes here on St. John. So, I wanted to take a moment today to get you a few travel tips and guides for getting your Love City vacation planning knocked out as the days at home get shorter and cooler.

What To Do During the Slow Season on St. John

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! It’s the sleepiest time of year on St. John…But that doesn’t mean your vacation has to be. We all know that A TON of businesses are currently closed for the off-season and that you can definitely expect lighter crowds and less coordinated activities during this time of year. But, if you are lucky enough to be visiting during these sleepier months, you might happen upon some fun that you just didn’t expect. Aside from the emptier than normal beaches, hiking trails and parking areas that we should ALL be taking advantage of, there are many businesses that are remaining open during these slower months. And, today, I want to touch on those establishments AND some fun activities that you may have never tried before!

NOTICE: Adjusted Temporary Ferry Schedule & Mask Mandate Update

April 22, 2022April 19, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

UPDATE- 4/22/2022 – The ferry schedule went back to normal for, seemingly, a few hours on Wednesday. BUT, yesterday, many commuters between St. Thomas and St. John posted about continual disruptions in the regular schedule. I am on the hunt for more details, but in the meantime, expect delays and plan accordingly to be on island time. Again, the downtown ferry and crown bay ferry are running on schedule. If you are flying in or catching a flight out this weekend, see below for those links.

Good Morning! I have a real quick update today for all of you current travelers out there. Due to some mechanical issues with one of the Cruz Bay/Red Hook people ferries, the ferry companies are operating with one working vessel for at least the duration of the day, possibly longer.

Island Update: Love City Easter Weekend Festivities, Parking & Beach Tips and More!

April 15, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning and Good Fri-YAY from Love City! Today kicks off a four day weekend for many professional workers and government employees in the US Virgin Islands (YES, Easter Monday is a thing). Here’s a couple of quick updates about the weekend and island goings on that you may want to know if you are visiting us!

Lovango Resort + Beach Club: Phase Two Sneak Peeks

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

On Monday evening, Teddy and I were graciously invited out to Lovango Cay to preview some of the upcoming expansions to the overnight accommodations, retail village, dining options and beach club. And, although, they still have some work to do this week, the “WOW” had to have been all over my face as project manager, Matt Snider, escorted us around the property to show us the future of these new expansions. I can’t WAIT to share the full story with you all after the official re-opening of the resort on December 20! But take a look at what they have in store for us…

Planning Your Trip to St. John – A Timeline

November 15, 2021November 15, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

Happy Monday! We just wrapped up another spectacular weekend here on St. John. On Friday, we did a little happy hour at Lovango Rum Bar with Kenny Floyd on stage and then headed over to The Beach Bar for an incredible night of music from a superstar lineup. There were so many good people around and we got to get some masked up dancing in…Which was a true highlight! It was relatively quiet in town on Friday night…But, on Saturday we went over to St. Thomas to pick up some boat parts and stock up on produce at Moe’s and the ferry ride home was ANYTHING but quiet. It was PACKED. Like, literally standing room only. And the holiday check ins don’t really start until next week. Which leads me to the purpose of this article….

Planning Your Trip to St. John - A Timeline 12 — Two of my favorite guys on the planet: Captain Teddy and Kenny Floyd enjoying pizza and good times at Lovango Rum Bar.

WAPA Construction Continues in Cruz Bay

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

Do you remember my mentions of the underground power line construction in front of Mongoose Junction and Grand Bay last month? Well, that construction is hitting the road…and moving to another part of town just in time for the holidays.