island – Page 4 – Snapping The Globe

Island to Island…By Car

Going to St. John while on St. Thomas is an absolute must!

But, how do you get there?

Yes, there is a passenger ferry that operates from St. Thomas’ Red Hook Harbor every hour. This entailed parking our car and paying the daily parking rate of $5 as well as the ferry fare for the four of us…$6.00 per person, each way, plus a luggage surcharge for carrying our cooler and beach chairs.

After our arrival in St. John, the question remained…how would we get around?

We could walk from Cruz Bay to the nearest trail and then hike to the nearest beaches, Solomon or Honeymoon. If we chose this option, however, it would mean only bringing snorkel equipment and a towel. No cooler…no chairs.

We could rent a car…approximately $80-$100 for the day.

Or…we could hire a taxi. We knew we wanted to visit Trunk Bay, which would cost $6.00 per person, each way. We also wanted to visit other beaches, adding to the overall cost and eliminating spontaneity.

So…the grand total for taking the passenger ferry for the day would be well over $100-$150, depending on the method of transportation and number of destinations.

There had to be a better way.

We already had a car on St. Thomas…was there a way to take it to St. John?

Love City Car Ferries to the rescue!

Thankfully, we investigated this option early on in our trip. Love City Car Ferries, takes reservations for cars and trucks up to three tons and must be booked three days before your trip. The total cost for the car, its occupants and luggage is $50, plus a $3 port fee. That’s it…we drive on…we drive off.

The day of our trip, we were up early and arriving in Red Hook Harbor, following the signs to the car ferry loading apron. Directed to back into lines for organized loading onto the ferry, we realized that we were actually a bit early. After asking the attendant if the ferry we were about to back onto was Love City’s 9:00 am ferry (it was currently 8:15), we were informed that we needed to move to another line. The ferry we were in line to board was Boyson’s Inc.’s Mister B.

Moving to the first line, we watched cars, delivery vehicles and even a dump truck back onto Mister B. We definitely learned what to do and what not to do!

Finally, Mister B departed and Love City’s Captain Vic pulled up to the loading apron. Being the first to back onto the ferry was a plus as we only had to watch out not to back into the ferry, not other cars. Slowly, other vehicles filled the ferry and it was time to depart.

Mister B’s Ferry, unloading before we backed on

Though my husband and children opted to stay in the car for the ride over, I climbed to the top of the wheelhouse and watched Red Hook Harbor grow smaller and the neighboring islands pass by…Great St. James, Little St. James, Dog Island and finally Steven Cay as we pulled up to the Car Ferry Dock at Enighed Pond. The trip was a mere twenty minutes.

Departing the barge was a less complicated affair since all we had to do was drive forward off of the boat and make our way onto the island.

When we booked our trip, we had elected to return on a 7:00 pm ferry. Around 3:00 pm, we were getting tired from being in the sun all day and checked the ferry schedule. It appeared that there was a 4:00 pm and then a 6:15 pm departure time. Not seeing the 7:00 departure that we had booked (and was on our reservation), we were a little nervous about waiting and not making it off of the island. We all agreed that we would make our way quickly back to the car ferry dock and inquire as to whether or not we could take the early boat.

Thankfully, we did not wait until 7:00. Apparently, Love City has an agreement with Global Marine ferries and travel with the two companies is interchangeable. On this day, however, Global Marine was not operating. So, our only two options were 4:00 pm and 6:15 pm and there was no problem with our taking the early ferry.

Once again, we lined up and backed our car on to the ferry…my husband was becoming quite proficient! This time, we all stayed put inside the car and luckily for us we did…it started to rain!

A short time later, we were back in Red Hook Harbor and ready for dinner!

Although it was quite difficult to figure out the ferry situation in St. John, we are glad that this is the way we approached it. Though we were only able to contact and book with Love City Ferries, it appears that Boyson was operating regularly at the time. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to reach Boyson for their schedule and procedure to book, we decided on Love City. A bit confusing, it seems that Love City has been the only operator that has offered reliable service over the past few years.

If you decide to utilize the car barge for a trip to St. John, I would suggest taking a trip to the ferry pier prior to your trip to inquire as to the ferry schedules and operators. I understand the Boyson may be a bit cheaper, but whichever company you decide to use, be sure to ask the attendant for scheduled departure times for your return trip later in the day.

Have a great time!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

St. Thomas to St. John Passenger Ferry

https://www.usvi.net/information/transportation/ferry-schedules/st-thomas-to-st-john-ferry-schedule/
Departure points: Red Hook Harbor, $6.00 per person, each way. Charlotte Amalie dock, downtown, $12.00 per person, each way.

Love City Car Ferries

http://www.lovecitycarferries.com/
Departure point: Red Hook Harbor, $50 per vehicle, plus $3.00 port fee.

Boyson Inc.

http://boysoninc.com/
Departure point: Red Hook Harbor, $50 per vehicle, plus $3.00 port fee.
Schedule: Enighed Pond, St. John, Mondays-Sundays 0600, 0730, 0930, 1130, 1230, 1430, 1630

Enighed Pond, St. John

6:00am
7:30am
9:30am
11:30am
12:30pm
2:30pm
4:30pm
6:00pm
Red Hook, St. Thomas

6:30 am
8:30am
10:30am
12:05pm
1:30pm
3:30pm
5:30pm
6:30pm

SUNDAYS

Enighed Pond, St. John

7:30am
9:30am
11:30am
1:30pm
3:30pm
5:05pm
6:00pm
Red Hook, St. Thomas

8:30 am
10:30am
12:30pm
2:30pm
4:30pm
5:30pm
6:30pm

Cruising Around Cozumel

Some arrive in Cozumel by cruise ship.

Some by air.

Some by ferry.

No matter your method of transportation into Cozumel, make sure you’ve arrived by checking out all that the island has to offer!

My family and I have been to Cozumel many times over the years. Most times we have arrived by ferry, a couple of times by cruise ship, but this time, my son and I arrived by air. Honestly, I am a flight attendant and I should know these type of things, but I don’t think I realized that Cozumel had an airport…as I’ve only ever talked to people who have flown into Cancun and gone to Cozumel by ferry.

School had just let out and everyone in my family was busy with work and other obligations except for me and my youngest son. An adventure was in order! We had no idea where we were going to end up. We were going to go to the airport, with suitcases filled with clothing for any climate and get on a flight…any flight…and see where we could go.

After miraculously getting seats on an oversold flight to Atlanta, we had to devise a plan. Grabbing breakfast and a seat at McDonald’s, we opened up my computer and began checking which flights from Atlanta had seats to and from the destination. Sunny Cozumel was the winner! (Or so we thought…) A few hours later, we were touching down at the Cozumel International Airport. We couldn’t wait to lay by the pool and get some much need sun and relaxation.

To our dismay, no beautiful, sunny skies were there to greet us…only gray clouds and wet pavement. How can this be? We were arriving at a tropical destination…a resort…don’t they order up beautiful weather for the tourists? Surely this was just a passing rain shower!

After arriving at our hotel, the El Cozumeleño, we donned our bathing suits and headed out to the pool. It was raining again. No good. Time to pull up to the bar.

It continued to rain…all night…and after a text to my dad, I realized that because I don’t watch the news regularly, I had failed to comprehend that it was hurricane season and a tropical storm was causing havoc in the Gulf of Mexico. Ugh…

The next morning, with high hopes, I pulled back the curtains in our room, hoping for sun. Nope. No sun again. Those same gray clouds and a light rain greeted us.

Well, we were in Cozumel. Rain or not, we were going to see what was out there, even if we had to buy umbrellas and rain slickers. It was time to make the best of it!

After renting a Jeep Patriot (great for driving through floodwaters) we headed out. Navigating the narrow streets, we drove slowly, through the pouring rain until we reached the main highway that cuts through the middle of the island (Transversal de Cozumel). The rain had slowed and we were soon arriving at San Gervasio archaeological site. Thankfully, the rain soon tapered off and we were able to spend some time investigating these interesting ruins.

Heading east again, we soon spotted the end of the road. Only two ways to go…north or south. Since we had been warned by our rental company that traveling on the dirt road to the north would void our rental contract, we decided that it was southbound for us!

This part of the island has some amazing beaches and breathtaking scenery and at the turn in the road, a very cool bar and restaurant…Señor Iguanas. Years ago, I remember coming to this part of the island and there only being some small fisherman’s huts and small shacks that sold tacos and beer. Although we would have loved to hang out at Señor Iguanas and enjoy the views, the ambiance and the forty mile per hours winds whipping through the establishment, we decided to get some food to go and continue on our way. After all, we now had a break in the rain.

The waves were quite large and for a while, we stopped to watch a group of surfers ride the massive crests toward shore. If there had been more of a gentle swell, my son would have considered taking a lesson at one of the many venues along the way that offer private instruction.

As we continued on, we stopped often to admire the spectacular coastline, shop at the many vendors that line the roadway and just enjoy our drive and time being away from the resort.

As we rounded the island’s southernmost tip, we headed west and made our way, past many resorts, to the village of El Cedral which boasts the first church on the island and a Mayan ruin. I especially enjoyed driving around the town’s back streets…lots of cute homes and artwork line the streets!

With the rain still at bay, we drove through downtown (vowing to make our way here the next day for shopping), past a tall lighthouse and on to a place we had seen on our way to the hotel.

Bam No. 4 Military Base (Base Aérea Militar No. 4) offers some great photo ops with some old military planes displayed out front. In addition, there is a war memorial, honoring some of the defenders of the nation.

Leaving our car parked in this location, we made the short walk back towards town to a small square located between the roadways. Here, there is a replica of a Mayan temple with statues depicting ancient Mayans.

As the day was drawing to a close, we made our way back to our hotel and our dinner reservations, ever thankful that we were able to see what Cozumel had to offer even though the weather wasn’t up to par.

Pulling back into the El Cozumelena, with not a moment to spare, we parked our car as the skies opened up again and we made a mad dash inside! Time to head to the bar…

Cozumel is a lovely destination for anyone who loves islands or is a diver or snorkeler (thousands of dive sites lie just offshore). There are many delicious food options throughout the city and various types of shopping in the central plaza and throughout the island. And…if you run out of things to do in Cozumel, take the ferry (located downtown) right on over to the mainland and Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera. You will find many other things to do there as well!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

San Gervasio Archaeological Zone

http://www.inah.gob.mx/es/zonas/101-zona-arqueologica-san-gervasio
Address: Kilómetro 7.5, Carretera Transversal, Centro, 77600 Cozumel, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: Daily, 0800-1630.
Admission: $9.50 (US dollars)
Bring comfortable shoes, water and bug repellent.

Senor Iguanas

Address: At the intersection of Transversal de Cozumel and Quintana Roo C-1

El Cedral

Address: Off of highway Quintana Roo C-1, near Playa Palancar
Admission: free

Bam No. 4

Address: On Avenue Rafael E. Melgar, just past downtown, heading north
Admission: free

Ache-y Wave-y

Teenagers always keep you on your toes…and sometimes hobbling along after you’ve gone along with their adventurous plans!

Our sons were extremely interested in going jet-skiing while on vacation in St. Maarten. They have watched many people ride in our local lake while out boating, but they have never had the opportunity to try their hand.

After checking out many websites, we were a bit dismayed to find that most operations only allow renters over the age of 18 to ride solo. Since both of our boys were under the age of 18, we would have had to rent two jet-skis and my husband and I would have had to each take one of the boys as a passenger. Of course, they would hear none of this! They wanted to experience the exhilaration of piloting their own watercraft.

Finally, after many hours of perusing the internet, I happened to find Jet Extreme Watersports, which not only specializes in Jet-ski tours, but also Hoverboard, Flyboard, Wakeboarding and Waterskiing. They also allow riders to ride solo from the age of 16. Okay, so we had a 15 1/2 year old and a 17 year old…we fudged just a little for my youngest!

Booking on our last day, we scheduled an 11:30 am Terres Basses/Lowlands Tour which was to last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Scheduling the trip that morning and finding the location (at the Mercure Hotel) was quite easy and we arrived a bit early than planned. The staff was extremely friendly, helped us to fill out our paperwork, let us watch the required video and then sent us off to the pool to relax a bit before our tour.

After the arrival of our tour guide, we were soon ready to depart, each of us on our own Jet-ski. Luckily, no others were booked on the tour, so it was as if we had our own personal trip! Strapping on a Go Pro, which we rented from JetExtreme, we planned to document our adventure and we set off through Simpson Bay lagoon and out to Nettle Bay on its north side.

After departing Nettle Bay, we rounded the western point and cruised near Baie Rouge, known for its famous color, then past Plum Bay, Baie Longue, Cupecoy, Mullet Bay, Maho Bay, Simpson Bay. Our guide pointed out areas of interest, including Donald Trump’s vacation home in Plum Bay and then allowed us to have a swim stop and rest near the cliffs of Cupecoy Beach. We then continued on to Maho Bay where we watched a couple of planes land from a much different vantage point. After passing our condo at Simpson Bay Beach, we reentered Simpson Bay lagoon, crossing under the bridge we traversed many a night dining in that area.

Riding the jet-skis was much different than I had imagined as I think I had only ridden a couple of times with my husband many years ago. The jet-skis were easy to operate and riding in the bays on calm water was a lot of fun since you could go quite fast. When we headed out to open water, however, it was a completely different story! A bit windy around this part of the island, you could not head full steam ahead unless you were prepared to be jumping waves! Maybe my boys cup of tea…not mine. I managed to sort of ride a bit in the standing position which helped when I did come down hard.

After finally returning to the Jet Extreme location, I was amazed to find my legs a bit shaky when stepping back to shore and my arms quite sore! Of course, my boys thought it quite funny…it’s always much easier when you are young! My husband was in the same shape as me and for the next couple of days, I have to say, we were both had a hard time moving around.

The location provided showers for us and also allowed us to use the pool for a while as we waited for our Go Pro footage to be downloaded. Take a walk around the premises, there are lots of sculptures and while you are down at the water’s edge, keep your eyes peeled for the cool jellyfish that hang out in the shallows.

A very fun time, indeed, my boys say that they would like to come back and try the Around the Island Tour. Lasting about five hours, it sounds like a lot of fun, but it also sounds like I might never be able to walk again if I try it!

Check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe for more pictures.

Jet Extreme

http://www.jetextremesaintmartin.com/
Address: Hôtel MERCURE – Baie Nettlé, 97 150, Saint-Martin
Hours: Open daily, 0830-1700
Terres Basses Tour/Lowlands – $120 per person, 1 hour 15 min

A Day in Anguilla

There are many islands in the Caribbean, but none with beaches as pristine and white as Anguilla!

Anguilla, a British territory, lies to the north of St. Maarten and consists of the main island of Anguilla and much smaller unpopulated islands and cays. Only 16 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point, it is widely known for its beautiful beaches, sailboat racing and outstanding dining experiences.

Easy to reach by ferry while visiting St. Maarten, you cruise into the Blowing Hole Ferry terminal after a quick 20 minute ride. Hoping to make the 0945 ferry, we arrived at the Marigot terminal, found a parking spot (an almost impossible feat!) purchased tickets, cleared immigration and actually made the 0900 ferry instead.

Planning to rent a car once we had reached the island, we were approached by one of the stewards on the boat who offered a car for $55, taxes and fees included. Since I had already checked out the list of car rental agencies and their prices before we had departed, I knew that this was a fair price. We were able to fill out the paperwork on board the boat, saving time once we arrived. After clearing immigration, we met the steward after exiting the building and was escorted to the car which was running and ready for us a few feet away.

Not quite knowing what the island entailed, we took a quick look at our map and quickly tried to decide which part of the island to explore. Heading to the west, we decided to bypass Rendezvous Bay since it was so close to the ferry terminal and instead drove to Shoal Bay West. Spying a beach covered in seaweed and rough seas, we decided that this was not the place for us. Crossing over to the north side, we tried Mead’s Bay which was calm, clear and beautiful. Everyone being quite hungry, however, decided that we should return to this location after exploring a bit more and finding something to eat.

Continuing eastward, we headed down to the area of Sandy Ground since it appeared to have more hotels and eateries. Driving down the inclined road, there is a beautiful view of Road Bay and the pink-hued salt pond on the right. When we arrived, however, it seemed that things were just being set up on the beach. The bay was full of moored boats and it didn’t seem like a place we wanted to hang out for a while.

During our journey east, we continued our search for lunch in the island’s capital, The Valley. There appeared to be a street fair and some lolos (barbecue stands) being set up in the town area, but nothing more than a Subway, which everyone decided was against the rules (you can’t eat American fast food on vacation in another country, unless it is an emergency!). By this time, the boys were wanting Jamaican patties, so we drove around a bit more looking for a place selling the delectable pies. Unfortunately, the bakery which would have sold them, was closed, strange, being that it was a Saturday. After a bit more driving, we finally decided upon a food truck for our lunch. Food was a bit mediocre, but it got the job done.

During lunch, after reading up a bit in the tourist magazine I picked up on the ferry, I discovered that Shoal Bay East was a beach that was highly recommended. We were not extremely far from this location so we decided to give it a try.

Upon our arrival, we noticed a few taxis dropping lots of tourists off and a couple of parking lots available. We paid five dollars to park and made our way down the road in the direction of the beach. A middle-aged islander sidled up to us and offered to set us up with chairs and umbrellas. We agreed on two chairs and an umbrella for $10, since the boys never sit still. The chair pads and umbrellas were a bit worn but, did the trick.

Taking a look around, I had to admit, this was truly one of the most beautiful beaches I had ever seen. Clear, turquoise and calm water extended out before us and our feet sunk into the soft, white sand. Very few resorts or restaurants were on this long stretch of beach and it was not extremely crowded.

We decided that since we had driven most of the island already and seen what there was to offer, this was where we would spend the afternoon before heading back to the ferry for our return journey.

A relaxing and beautiful day, we hung out, swam, snorkeled and took a walk on the mile-long beach down to the eastern end, where it concludes at the point. At this end, we discovered an extensive protected marine park, which offered up an amazing snorkeling spot.

There were a couple of restaurant’s offering food and some souvenirs…Eric and the boys found some great t-shirts and I got a cool hat!

Finally, we decided to end our day and head back toward the ferry terminal to make the second-to-last ferry (we didn’t want to risk the last one) stopping along the way to grab some drinks and topping off our gas tank.

Overall, we enjoyed our day in Anguilla, however, the burning question remains…would I go back and stay on Anguilla on a future vacation?

Happy to get another stamp in my passport, it was an enjoyable and different way to spend a day on our trip. Originally, I had run the idea by my husband to go straight to Anguilla when we arrived in St. Maarten, stay there for 2 or 3 nights and then return to St. Maarten for the remainder of our vacation. After visiting, however, we realized that the island is very quiet and probably more suited for honeymooning couples rather than a family with teen aged boys seeking continual entertainment. There are apparently some top restaurants located on the island, a plus for foodies, but not for us who enjoy a good meal, but would sometimes just rather have a pizza or a Jamaican patty. During my investigation of the island, I did find that there are some great nightlife spots in Sandy Ground, with bands and dancing on certain nights. Overall, I think that if my husband and I would return, maybe we could enjoy a couple of nights on the island, however, I think a day via ferry was perfect for us at this time.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Anguilla

http://www.anguilla-vacation.com/
http://ivisitanguilla.com/
Ferry Fares (each way): Adults, $20, Children (under 12), $10
Departure Taxes and Security Fee from Anguilla for Day Trippers, Adults, $8
Departure Taxes and Security Fee from Anguilla for Tourists, Adults $23, Children (under 12) $3
Ferry To Anguilla Schedule (from Marigot)
- 8:15AM
- 9:00AM
- 9:45AM
- 10:30AM
- 11:15AM
- 12:00PM
- 12:45PM
- 1:30PM
- 2:15PM
- 3:00PM
- 3:45PM
- 4:30PM
- 5:15PM
- 6:00PM
- 7:00PM (last ferry)
Ferry To St. Martin Schedule (to Marigot)
- 7:30AM
- 8:15AM
- 9:00AM
- 9:45AM
- 10:30AM
- 11:15AM
- 12:00PM
- 12:45PM
- 1:30PM
- 2:15PM
- 3:00PM
- 3:45PM
- 4:30PM
- 5:15PM
- 5:40PM
- 6:15PM (last ferry)
Note: There are charters available to Anguilla from other parts of St. Maarten, both Dutch and French sides.

Oh…Koh Samui

Since our next day was a travel day, we were up early and out the door, heading for Don Mueang airport.

Although we were only in Bangkok for two “half” nights (arrival after midnight and leaving hotel at 3:30 AM) I was sad to leave the Ibis Nana hotel. Last time I was in Bangkok, I stayed at the Mercure at the Skytrain Stadium stop. It was an extremely nice hotel that I booked thru Delta Perks, a site that offers us airline discounts with certain hotel chains. I absolutely loved this hotel and its location! This time, I decided to try another Accor hotel, the Ibis Nana. The Ibis offers clean, Scandinavian style rooms. Our price was around 30 dollars per night, more than half of the Mercure’s price. Since our stay was short, this seemed like a more reasonable choice.

What I liked most about this hotel is that there are lots of restaurants and bars in the area, so after a long day of sightseeing, you can go back to your room, freshen up and then you don’t have to go very far for a good meal or for nightlife.

Our flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani was booked with Nok Air. There are many discount airlines to choose from and most operate from Don Mueang airport which is closer to the city of Bangkok. Our flight was a steal at $67.
The good thing about booking a flight that departs at 6:10 AM is that there is no traffic at that time of the morning. Our cab driver was not happy when we had him turn on the meter…I suspect that he hoped to charge us a much higher fare than the 300 baht that was showing on the meter when we arrived.

Nok Air does not allow you to carry on your rollaboards, however, they do not require you to pay to check your luggage. The excellent thing about this is that with hardly any luggage being brought on board, the boarding process takes hardly any time at all.
The plane was impeccable and the bathrooms were immaculately clean.
On this short flight (1 hour) the flight attendants served a small breakfast snack, did a coffee service and even sold Nok Air products. Grant it, we were not full, maybe 2/3, but they were amazingly quick and efficient.

When we arrived, our bags were quickly delivered to the baggage claim.
We had booked the plane-bus-ferry option. It wasn’t long before we were loaded onto our bus and driving towards the Lomprayah ferry.

At the Lomprayah ferry terminal, we purchased the transfer option (150 baht) to take us from the arrival ferry pier to our hotel. The ferry was very nice and there was s snack bar for purchasing food, drinks and food.

After our docking in Koh Samui, we were met by the Lomprayah agents and escorted to our bus. 30 minutes later, we arrived at our hotel, Montien House.

We were told that our rooms would be another hour, so we went off to have lunch. Before long, we were checked into our rooms. I had specifically requested a room near my friend’s and facing the beach side of the property however, neither request had been met. In addition, someone had spilled something all over one of the walls and the room generally did not seem clean.
I went downstairs and explained what had happened. Thankfully, they were able to move me to the room across from my friend’s room, although it wasn’t beach facing.
Although I was unsure about the hotel at first, it quickly grew on me and I came to love the staff. Every day, they wanted to know my plans and when I came in, they wanted to know how my day was. The room was always cleaned very well and if there was something I needed, it was quickly taken care of.
The hotel was conveniently located near many shops, restaurants and nightlife.

On my last night, I went downstairs to go to the beach to release my lucky lantern. I was alone and the front desk was occupied by one of the young men who worked at the hotel. He saw my lantern and asked if I needed help with it. I asked him to show me what to do. He explained that it was easier if there were two people. I responded that my friends were not there to help me. What he said to me, was very touching, especially since I had had such a trying day. “The staff here can help you. We are your friends too!”

Maybe it wasn’t the most luxurious hotel, but little things like that mean so much to a customer!

Ibis Nana

www. accorhotels.com

Nok Air

www.nokair.com

Montien House

www.montienhouse.com