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On a budget in St. Thomas

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On a budget in St. Thomas

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(@Johnny)
Posts: 1
 

My wife and I are going for the 1st time to St. Thomas, and need some help about how to be there for 5 days on a tight budget - great, but cheap resturants, things to do (St. John?), best beaches, how to travel around. We're staying at Secret Harbor Beach Resort Aug. 25-31. I would really appreciate any help and referrals to info web sites.

 
Posted : August 15, 2005 5:53 pm
(@ellen-prasse)
Posts: 37
Eminent Member
 

We have stayed at Secret Harbor the last couple of years, we love the laid back lifestyle. I would also suggest you bring your own snorkle gear and rent a car. I pack a duffle bag, the kind with handles, with snorkle gear, two beach towels, paper towels, ziplock bags with coffee, filters, napkins, small bottle of dish soap, salt and pepper containers, sponge and two larger ziplocks for wet bathing suits on the way home. I do this more for convenience, but it does save time and money. We stop at Walmart on the way to the resort for liquor and then into Red Hook , and a stop at Marina Market for some munchies. Since we get into St. Thomas late afternoon we are most interested in getting into beach attire, getting a drink and doing some serious vegging. Always a order a pizza delivered the first night. Lots of reasonable places to eat on the island. Do spend the money to take the ferry to St. John, you’ll love the beaches.
Land Locked Beach Lover, where is there really good pizza in West County?

 
Posted : August 21, 2005 1:36 pm
(@east-ender)
Posts: 2023
Noble Member
 

Ellen: Do you stop at K-Mart or Cost-U-Less? We don't have a Walmart!

 
Posted : August 21, 2005 1:56 pm
(@ellen-prasse)
Posts: 37
Eminent Member
 

Sorry, brain dead, K-mart

 
Posted : August 21, 2005 2:43 pm
(@east-ender)
Posts: 2023
Noble Member
 

I was hoping there was a Walmart out there that was built since Friday! 😉

 
Posted : August 21, 2005 3:13 pm
(@natalie)
Posts: 10
Active Member
 

My husband, son and I just returned from STT and we dined out most lunches and dinners. Here are some of my reviews for what they are worth:

Fast Food: Hey I had to give into the kid a few times. Generally a little more expensive that stateside, but not too bad.

Wendys and McDonalds same quality of food as on the mainland. Service not so good. But not expensive by island standards.

Pizza Hut by Havensight. Believe it or not the quality of the pizza was MUCH better on STT. Service was horrible, but pizza and prices were good.

Others:

Charlotte Tameles - This was very reasonably priced. Being from the Oklahoma/Texas area I'm pretty picky about my Mexican food, and this was a great little place. They have some huge burritos for around $8.00. It was plenty for lunch or dinner. The place was a little hard to find because it's behind some other buildings. It's in Havensight across from the cruiseship dock. Look for the little red sombraro. This is a no frills place, but good food and the people are friendly.

Caribbean Saloon at Red Hook. I thought it was moderately priced for the amount of food, and the quality was ok. Drinks there were good also. Service was ok.

Jacks - We ate at the one on the way to Redhook. We had dinner and drinks for less than $50.00. They have some great burgers and wings. Service was ok.

East End Cafe - The food was some of the best I had on the island (I had a coconut grouper), but it was one of the more expensive dinners we had at around $25-$30 per person. Service was pretty good.

Cuzzins - The food here is very good, and prices weren't too bad. I was surprised by the poor service of the waiter, but oh well it's the islands.

The North Drop - This was my favorite place at around $20 per person. The food was pretty good, but the view and staff really make this resturant! We were going to go back on Monday, but they were closed :-(.

Not to leave out STJ we ate lunch over there for our day trip. Island Blues Cafe over at Coral Bay was a GREAT bargin for STJ. Staff was friendly and the view was great. Great burgers, chicken, etc. I think is was around $10-$12 per person.

 
Posted : August 21, 2005 6:33 pm
(@Mercy)
Posts: 1
 

I concur on Marina Market in Red Hook. If they still have the crab salad at their deli, you get the best crab salad sandwich for cheap compared to eating at a restaurant. Any of their sandwiches keep quite well.

I also concur on Caribbean Saloon. Normal bar fare but good. Good place to catch up on your sports, too.

If Latitude 18 is still there, I would highly recommend it. Anyone there can tell you how to get there - it is across the water from the Red Hook ferry dock. Not too expensive and it is the ultimate island bar with bugspray at every table!

Sounds like Grateful Deli may be under construction, but they had stellar, reasonably priced sandwiches.

Have a great trip!

 
Posted : August 22, 2005 9:22 pm
(@on-island-time)
Posts: 319
Reputable Member
 

Latitude 18 closed about 2 years ago, theres a new restaurant in it's place called NIPA...can't give any kind of review, we haven't eaten there yet. ANY body?

 
Posted : August 23, 2005 8:37 am
(@Trayc)
Posts: 1
 

Johny-

We are going just when you get back, if there is anything outstanding you saw or did, let me know!

We are staying all inclusive so food and drink are little to our minds, but we are looking for other great things.

LandLockedBeachLover- STL here as well! Right there with you on the Imo's...yuck! Going to hit a couple places you suggested just to see how it compares. Any tips you got, pass along, we are open to most.

 
Posted : August 23, 2005 3:02 pm
(@LandLockedBeachLover)
Posts: 1
 

So jealous! When and where are you going? Definitely the right thing to do an all-inclusive, especially for "us St. Louisans" who know how to drink 🙂

Since you are saving some $$ by eating/drinking on the resort, I would definitely spend some time and money to see the rest of the islands. We chartered a power boat & captain (both times at Nauti Nymph in Red Hook) for the day to take us to Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, Virgin Gorda and some other neat spots. Definitely hit Willie T's for happy hour - - be prepared for an "eye-popping" good time!! It'll run you about $500 once you get the captain, pay for gas, oil, boat, etc. But SO worth it to set your own itinerary! If not, I suggest the Breakaway from New Horizons. I think $120/pp for a set trip to USVI/BVI. SO BEAUTIFUL - - not like Lake of the Ozarks...

Definitely hit Sopchoppy's in Red Hook (awesome pizza, my opinion).
Nicer restaurant is Oceania in Frenchtown. Great bars - - Duffy's Love Shack in Red Hook and Woody's in St. John.

Again, SO jealous! Let me know how it goes!

 
Posted : August 23, 2005 5:40 pm
(@Trayc)
Posts: 1
 

We are heading out saturday morning! (Sept 3) Just in time to not have to worry about filling our gas tanks...thank goodness!

We are renting a car and plan on seeing as much as we can in the time we have. We will be there for 7 days however 5 of them we are going to get in as much scuba diving as possible.

Thanks for all the great advice, I am sure we are going to hit a few of the recommended places. And how right you are about the STL's being able to drink. Nothing like having good german blood in us...or is that alcohol that keeps us moving? 🙂

Any other ideas, please post or email!

Thanks again!!!

Trayc

btw, we may be able to fit you in a suitcase if you want to come along 😉

 
Posted : September 1, 2005 3:31 pm
(@lauriebugg)
Posts: 24
Eminent Member
 

Hey we were at the Greenhouse last Tuesday! I couldn't believe the frozen drinks were also 2 for 1. Great deal!!!!

 
Posted : September 1, 2005 5:34 pm
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