St John — Local services in Saint John

BVI was a stop on a recent cruise. We did a day trip to St. John, then a tour of the island.

Honestly, when you've seen one Virgin Island (whether US or British), you've seen them all. The terrain is basically identical.

Unfortunately, a lot of the houses and businesses are still in disrepair after the hurricanes of a few years ago. I can certainly understand this as getting anything to these islands is a difficult, expensive task, not counting how expensive basic building materials are in the first place.

The nicest thing about any of these islands is the water, which is why the majority of people go there. It is stunningly beautiful. The white sand beaches contrast with the multi-hued water, ranging from a gorgeous green, to aqua to light blue to dark blue. And, the water is crystal clear. No wonder these islands are a divers (and snorkelers) paradise.

Don't waste your time on island tours, there's just not...

I have a home there and I would like to say it's a horrible place, but tourism is s big part of the local economy. I have been all over the world and St John is the second most beautiful place in the world to me. The only place that is more beautiful that I have seen is Bora Bora. St John is not your typical tourist trap. No airport, but there is a helipad. Most take a ferry ride from St Thomas. If you would like to find untouched paridise close to the states, St John is your place. The majority of the island is designated national park so it will never become your typical tourist trap. Fly into Cyril E. King on St Thomas and take a ferry over. Because it's a US territory NO passport is needed. Oh yeah, you can even purchase your Powerball tickets...

St. John was one of the best Caribbean islands I have visited.

Pros: St. John has amazing beaches. Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay is amazing for snorkeling right off the beach. Maho Bay is amazing for snorkeling with sea turtles. Each of the beaches are located in bays, so the water is nice and refreshing and warm.

Cons: If you want to go out to eat, it can be pricey. To combat this, I would suggest going to the Dolphin Market grocery store and buy food for breakfast and lunch. Most of St. John is a national park, so if you are not there to hike, snorkel or hang out on the beach, it might be disappointing.

I went to St. John in early January, and the weather was 80-82°F with high humidity. It rained every night, however it was a...