Flip-Flop Mom: St. John Trip Report Day 2

Thursday, November 15th: Breakfast, Pool at the Ritz, Bye Bye STT, Hello Hale Lani and an Evening in the Pool

Good Morning Beautiful Pool!

We were up early & into the pool to enjoy our last morning at the Ritz. Mini Flip-Flop was dying to hit the pool again so we headed there first thing. A very nice way to start the morning. After a couple hours of floating and playing we headed back to the room to clean up and get ready for breakfast. Breakfast at Bleuwater was also included with our package and was wonderful. The nicest breakfast buffet (you could also order off the menu) I have seen. Omelets to order, a full pastry spread, bacon, mini egg soufflés, fresh cheeses meats and caviar, fresh fruit and juices and rich, dark coffee. YUM!

A little nap before we go. Don't you love the chubby toes!

Bye Bye Ritz Carlton

I arranged for Dohm's to meet us at 11:15. We grabbed a cab to the National Park dock in Red Hook (not to be confused with the Red Hook dock or the Water Taxi dock!). Dohm's was there waiting as we pulled up and we enjoyed a quick, VERY quick, 15 minutes over to St. John. With our 5 big bags of luggage, 3 carry-ons, and the 5 of us, I was GLAD I had arranged Dohm's. We could have done it on the regular ferry, but it would have been a painful process. The great thing about Dohm's is that you pull up and they are waiting for you. You load up and you go. No waiting. No fuss. There is a bad thing about Dohm's too ... but you'll have to wait until the last day for that.

Bye St. Thomas

Hello St. John!

So....15 minutes across the water and we are at the National Park dock in Cruz Bay.

I put in the call to Destination St. John on our way over and Leslie was there to meet us when we arrived. Everything was working like clockwork. DSJ is always great! We were so excited to get up to the house and get settled. Leslie was able to fit us and our luggage in her rodeo and we were off to Conrad Sutton's to get our jeep liberty. I had contacted Carmen a few weeks early to see if we'd be able to pick up our jeep a bit early and it was there ready and waiting. I know there are varied opinions of Conrad's operation but I love them.

Settled into our jeep, we follow Leslie up to Hale Lani, very eager to see what it would be like. In less than 1 hour we had gone from the Ritz on STT to being on our way to our home away from home for the next week or so.

Hale Lani is a great house. Not luxury but very comfortable and nice. Like home. Those of you who followed our saga know that I was slightly (ok, majorly) indecisive about our house. We started with Le Virage, changed to Drake's Outlook, and finally intimidated by the driveway at Drake's, switched to Hale Lani. Thanks to Destination St. John for putting up with me!

Hale Lani is not the most or least expensive place we've stayed, but it is the only one I would ever consider staying at again. It is a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath house with amazing views. It is located on Maria's Bluff off of Great Cruz Bay Road (the first right after the Westin, and 6 speed bumps later). Approximately 10 minutes from downtown Cruz Bay, but a world away!

We pull up the steep but very manageable driveway behind Leslie and enter the house as the cleaning ladies are finishing up. The house far exceeds my expectations and the photos on the website just don't do it justice.

This house is all about the views!

I was amazed that so close to Cruz Bay we had a completely unspoiled view. Not another house to be seen! Upstairs you can enter the house through one of two doors.

One leads into a entry foyer with a 1/2 bath, laundry closet and sitting area.

The other entry is directly into the open air lanai and pool deck and amazing views. The pool is down 3 steps and is very adequate for 6 adults and kids.

To the right of this entrance is the master bedroom we chose for its privacy and quietness.

Our View

Our room had a king (two twins connected which in the interest of full disclosure were a little uneven but still quite comfy), a private bathroom, outdoor shower, huge walkthrough closet and this other little cubby of a room that was PERFECT for the baby boy's crib.

If you go to the left upon entering the lanai you enter the living/kitchen/dining area. This area was way larger than I had imagined from pictures, with sliding glass doors and screens on three sides.

The Living Area

The View

The Kitchen

The bedrooms are all air conditioned the main living areas are not but enjoyed amazing breezes. There are ceiling fans throughout, 3 in the living area and at least 1 in each bedroom. The kitchen was well equipped, and opened to the living room. Walking through the main living area you exit onto the wraparound deck to the other real master bedroom.

This room went to the Barbos, it had almost the identical layout of the other master but was less private and near the drive. The views were AMAZING but I imagined it would get full morning sun and with the baby I wanted quieter and darker in hopes he would sleep in (HA!). Also, the extra nook in this room has a built in desk making it unusable as a makeshift nursery. You are welcome, Barbos! They deserved it & appreciated it very much.

From the driveway, there is a curved stairway to the lower two bedrooms.

This area of the house seems to be relatively recently completed. Very clean, very nice details, tons of storage. Nothing fancy, but perfect for Gram and the Mini Flip-Flop and Jo when she arrives later in the week. I would not put little kids down there by themselves or two couples. One room has a very comfy queen bed & is connected to the other bedroom by a bathroom on one side and a pocket door on the other twin bedded room.

I would not put two couples down there as they would not have great privacy. Still, for what it was it was very nice.

The twin room

I loved the house. I could not believe the views especially considering we were so close to town. We've stayed in Chocolate Hole (lower and hillside) and Fish bay in the past and I was a bit concerned we would be too close to the activity, but I was pleasantly surprised to find we could not see a single solitary house ... unless you count the one on the private island across the sea. If no tan lines homes are on your list, I would definitely say Hale Lani is a safe bet. We also were relieved to have no construction noise at all.

The drawbacks of the house or things I would like to see changed....

1. BETTER pool deck furniture. There was only 1 decent lounge chair on the pool deck, along with 3 or 4 cheap plastic table chairs.
2. Better décor in the 2nd master we stayed in (but only because I am hard to please in this area).
3. New towels that are more cushy and absorbent.

That's it. I can't think of another thing I would change.

Great things about the house...
1. Absolutely private.
2. Amazing unobstructed views all the way to St. Thomas and beautiful sunsets.
3. Well equipped kitchen.
4. Very open and comfortable living. Even though the main living space wasn't air conditioned the fans and breezes made it very comfy.

I was told that this house is owned by someone who owns other rental properties on the island, but that this has been held back off the rental market as his private retreat. I can completely see why. However due to illness in the family it is now being rented to visitors. It is a great addition to the rental market and I was so relieved that it was such an awesome find!

So back to our first day on STJ! It was now about 1 pm and we began to unpack and settle in. I was also waiting for Christy's to show up with our rented baby paraphernalia. I had arranged to have a full crib, exersaucer and car seat delivered. The boy enjoying his exersaucer, he's not compeltely nekked, I swear. Not yet, anyway!

By 2 pm the crib was in place and Mr. Flip-Flop was installing the car seat for the baby boy. Ahhhhhhhhh...................2nd deep breath. A quick round of unpacking ...

You thought I was kidding about the flip-flops, I know its an illness but at least they don't weigh much. Note not a SINGLE pair of practical shoes for the planned Ram's Head hike ... stay tuned for that one.

Before the Barbos arrived around 4pm I wanted to hit the store and stock the house, so Gram and I headed off to Starfish leaving behind a napping boy and the mini Flip-Flop. $269 later we headed back to the house! I did take a peek into the new Gourmet Starfish and was impressed! They had most everything I could think of!

My typical routine is to stock up at Dolphin or Starfish and then supplement with Pine Peace through the week. I KNOW we overpaid for lots of things but its vacation. Who really cares?! Back to the house, groceries sorted out and its time to head to the ferry dock and meet the Barbos, take them to Conrad's and pick up their jeep. Back at the house, they dropped their things, we mixed a few rum & cokes & hit the pool as the sun began to set on our first day.

A Beverage

Our First STJ Sunset

Happy Girls

At Starfish, I picked up dinner supplies and Mr. Flip-Flop got to work at the grill. My husband is the grill master.

Beef, it's what's for dinner!

He can't cook much but my GOD the man can grill a mean steak. Working with limited resources and a very hot grill, he fired some lovely meat for us all, with Jim & Mini Flip supervising and providing lighting!