For 500.00 Jet Blue will let you fly to any collection of their destinations as many times as you want between September and October!

But don’t waste time reading about it here- get to the Jet Blue page a book your adventure before the offer runs out: http://www.jetblue.com/aycj/?intcmp=HPHero1Eng_AYCJ2010

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One of our contributing writers, Bibi Jordan, was recently published in ZajiGirl travel blog. Her piece details the work of So Elsewhere’s Virgin Bloggers Bootcamp in the Virgin Islands, run by our consulting firm, So Elsewhere Consulting.

ZajiGirl, a hip travel and style e-zine, picked up one of my travel stories from flashnomad.com… what’s really fun is to see how they jazzed it with the help of their super flash designer. First, check out the story here in May and June posts. Then, visit ZajiGirl. Now, here’s where it helps to have a ‘traveler’s tip’ to navigate: click on the link for the full article, and then when you get to the home page if you want to skip the rather long intro, click on ’skip’ on the lower right, and then you’ll see where to click on the article. It’s really fun to see their cool layout. Thanks, ZajiGirl for Zaji’ing me up!

Bibi Jordan, Contributing Writer

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Los Angeles is full of interesting housing accommodations and yet I have found that they are incredibly difficult to find. Luckily we have stumbled upon a reasonably-priced, wacky and spiritual space just 15 minutes (by car) from the beach. Welcome to The Circle.

The Circle, owned by the fashion designer, Sanni, is a spiritual and artistic bazaar of a B&B. For those seeking to relax, you have come to the right spot.

Though I have never met Sanni in person, she comes off as an artist who is both down-to-earth and incredibly business savvy. Take a look at her site and you will understand what I mean.

Everyone has access to the main house living room, kitchen and dining room. You may also enjoy the makeshift outdoor fire pit, avocado trees and delicious plums and nectarines that decorate the backyard. If you happen to have a lot of time on your hands, pull out your bathing suit and sunbathe by the large koi pond.

Like a hostel you may find yourself completely alone or surrounded by people from all over the world. We lived at The Circle for four months and lived with a twenty-something year old from Ireland, a 60+ year old woman who prided herself on being an “actress back in the day,” an insightful lesbian woman from Australia who worked for an LGBTQ group, a photographer, a practically invisible Canadian (he was never around), an auto car dealer/theft, and a wonderful woman whose serious case of wanderlust forced her to move to Bali and leave all of her things behind.

…This is by far a space that you will never forget.

THE CAVE
If you are daring and take pleasure in confined spaces, perhaps you should try out the Cave. The owner must have converted this pool with the intent of creating the ideal playroom for her young children. Perhaps it was even prepared to reflect a meditation cave. Either way it surely is an interesting initiative but, to be honest, I would never put anyone that I truly cared about in such tight quarters. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t give it a try for a few nights. If you freak out about the spiders, you can always sleep in the main house.
Price per night: $45

THE TREE HOUSE
The Tree house is the most affordable and unique space at The Circle, maybe even in Los Angeles. Located in the back of the property, the tree house hovers harmoniously over the Koi pond. Though the space is a little tight (2 people max.) you always have the option of lowering the side wall/deck to let some air in (and sunbath).
Price per night: $65

THE FLOATING BED ROOM
At first glance the floating bed is enticing. You quickly imagine being rocked to sleep in this contraption… among other things. This space is the largest offered at The Circle, with a private backyard, which also doubles as the owner’s design studio. The only downside, as the owners designs are housed in this space you will have to be creative about where you store things during your stay.
Price per night: $85

THE MAIN HOUSE
And then there is my personal favorite room, the main house which comes with a private bathroom. This is one of the smaller spaces and yet it reminds me of a true home, a nice stable bed, a window to let air in, no clutter, and direct access to the main house kitchen, living room, and dining room.
Price per night: $100

The Greyhound Bus
Do you miss road trips on Greyhound buses? Sanni has converted a massive 40 foot bus into a functional living space with two bunk beds and a futon. Though the space emits less light then the other rooms in The Circle, it is the perfect place to hang out and watch a movie… There is a movie projector hook-up inside!
Price per night: $85

You will be happy to know that the owner, Sanni, is incredibly generous and flexible with the cost of each room. If you are planning on staying for an extended period of time (a week or more), don’t hesitate to ask for a better deal. This is one of the major highlights of staying here.

There is no shortage of things to do at Maho Bay Camps.

To navigate through the list of possibilities visit the activities kiosk by the check-in desk. There you’ll find brochures, schedules, and a helpful staff member to get you started.

If you’ve always wanted to get a closer look at the ocean floor, consider getting your P.A.D.I. scuba diving certification. Full training is $425 or, if you’re already certified, go on a day trip (starting at $65).

One of the more original water sports options is guided night snorkeling, but there is also kayaking ($35 ½ day), wind surfing ($75/3 hours or $95/2 hour lessons), and sailboat rentals ($150/day).

If you want to stay dry, start your day with a yoga class ($15) and follow-up with one of the art programs. You might be interested in the popular glass blowing class ($70) where you’ll have the opportunity to make several glass sculptures.  Other classes include a fabric batik class ($65), kids watercolor ($35), and ceramics ($45).

Self-guided (low cost) options include swimming over to Francis Bay where you’re likely to see sea turtles, or a hike on one of the surrounding trails (check out The Trail Hiking Guide to The Hiking Trail).  Then come back by 5:30 for $2 beers, free popcorn, and the best sunset viewing around.

Where to Eat
There are three dining options at Maho: self-catering, the camp restaurant, or town restaurants.

One great idea came from savvy Maho veterans we met. They arrived with extra suitcases and coolers filled with purchases from their home-town gourmet markets. Another group  of extrovert baby-boomers from Florida set up party headquarters whipping up cappuccinos with their own espresso machine and knocking down margaritas from their own blender.  This approach works best if you’re traveling in a large group that with people who can help transport provisions up innumerable steps.  Or, alternatively, you may reserve cabins in the ‘A’ section along the lower walkway.

Faced with a climb up 167 steps to our cabin, we relied on compact and nutritious stables – rice and beans.  The camp store enhanced our menu with a standard selection of tinned food, frozen meat and fish, and fresh vegetables, eggs and breads.  Prices — twice as much as back home – were about the same as we found at the town grocers (see What To Bring).  The store was also was well-stocked with toiletries and beach clothes.

The camp restaurant, however, was enticing for various reasons.

First, the kitchen set-up in the cabin was decidedly tent-camping standard.  Water needed to be hauled up several flights of stairs; counters had to be maintained spotless to discourage midnight visits by un-welcomed intruders; and the stove had to be kept closed against rain blowing in through the kitchen’s unshuttered screen windows.

Secondly, the camp restaurant served cuisine that was generally acclaimed as delicious and reasonable.  Each night four or five entrees, including a vegetarian dish, are offered according to the day’s theme (Caribbean Cafe, Asian Delight, and Prime-Rib Night, etc.)  Dinner entrees including salad bar, bread and tea range from $14- $22.  Breakfast and lunch are also served.  But, most importantly, the Restaurant Pavilion, like the beach, proved to be an easy relaxed location to enjoy the ocean panorama and to meet fellow campers.  Substituting for a common campfire, the Restaurant Pavilion drew campers together in conversation and contemplation of the sunset and stars.

By dusk, the third option – dining in town – invariably seemed a stretch too far.  However, it would have been an easy foray on Fridays and Saturdays when Hamilton’s Taxi Service transports a load of campers in his trolley truck into Cruz Bay at 5:00 just in time for Happy Hour and back to camp by 10:00 in time for lights-out.  Had we stayed longer than three nights, we would have taken the $15 ride (or a $30 RT taxi) to try the town’s restaurants.

What to Bring
Pristine uninhabited beaches and serene wildlands bound St. John allowing nature to provide fruit to its inhabitant. Right? No. St. John is an island with few natural resources meaning most things will cost ten times more then on the mainland. Here, one is faced with the challenge of bringing whatever they can from home without bringing too much.

Nothing is more expensive on St. John or at Maho Bay Camps then food so bring a heavy stash of non-perishable provisions (beans, rice, pasta, etc.). You might want to pack an old suitcase full of food items from your local Costco or $.99 Only store.

Maho is illuminated only by handful of solar panels at night so a flashlight will be an essential packing item. Don’t forget rubber-soled shoes to keep you from sliding down the slippery deck.

For most guests, the nearest drinking water will be down a few flights of stairs. While this will make for a nice workout, others might want to consider bringing a recycled bottle to make the trips fewer and farther in between.

If you happen to suffer from deliciously sweet skin like the writers of So Elsewhere, make sure to bring deet-free bug spray and a mosquito net. You might also want to consider bringing a couple of sarongs for the beach that will double as a scarf, and drapery to cover up some unattractive spots in the “rustic” cottages.

Remember to bring a lock to keep all of your inexpensive but revered items safe in your cabin!

How To Get There
Once you arrive in the US Virgin Islands you’ll have little problem getting to the island of St. John and Maho Bay Campground.

From the airport take a taxi to Red Hook (45 minute ride) or Downtown Charlotte Amalie (15 minute ride) and one of the hourly ferries to St. John. The Red Hook ferry is the most frequent (one every hour) and will get you to St. John in twenty (20) minutes.

We you arrive to St. John, look for Mr. Frett. He owns/owns his own taxi shuttle between Cruz Bay and Maho Bay. Call Maho Bay Camps (340-776-6240) to find out what his schedule is.

If you happen to miss Mr. Frett you can take any of the other taxis to Maho. However, if you don’t have to rush we recommend hanging around Downtown Cruz Bay as Mr. Frett has the best rates.

Alexandra Garcia, Editor/Writer
Morgane Veronique Richardson, Editor/Writer
Bibi Jordan, Contributor

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Like Thoreaux’s Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, Concordia Eco-Tents is a place to immerse yourself in nature.

Surrounded by the Virgin Island’s National Park, Concordia offers many options for exploring by foot, fin or 4-wheel drive.  Contained in each cabin is a concise guide to island trails, beaches and roads by Pam Gaffin who also guides small groups of six around the island.

In the spirit of sustainable energy, we opted for foot-powered transportation and never ran out of options.

Salt Pond Beach, a long wide white sand beach considered one of the island’s best snorkeling spots, is a quick hike down a well-maintained goat trail through groves of cactus and mangroves.  On the right side is coral and reef teaming with colorful fish.  In the middle is sea grass, attracting turtles, conch, and sting ray.   The abundance of fish attracts flocks of seabirds, in particular pelicans providing constant entertainment as they feast on schools of minnows on the water’s edge.

At the far end of the beach, two diverging trails give way to two different hikes. A 15-minute walk from Salt Pond Beach is Ram Head, the island’s most ancient rock (90 million years old) with breathtaking views.  The other path leads first to Salt Pond where locals gather natural sea and then continues to Drunk Bay.  With no protective reef, Drunk Bay is pounded by waves that roll unbroken all the way from Africa to these rocky shores.  This site is NOT suggested for snorkeling but it is superb for beach-combing.  Look for the coral menagerie – large (4 feet and up) silhouettes of people and animals created over the years by fellow explorers.

Further ramblings along 4WD roads or into the little town of Coral Bay are options for those with rented cars ($60/day from St. John Car Rental Cruz Bay, (340) 776-6103.  Or, wave down the hourly VTRAN bus ($1.00) and tell the driver where you want to go.

Where To Eat
The question here is, “where to start?” The closest and easiest stop is the Concordia Café with a beautiful view of Salt Pond Bay. The café is open from 4:30-8:30. To begin, try the “Small Bites” menu served during happy hour.  The pear and gorgonzola flatbread ($14) is delicious but definitely won’t be enough to fill you up.

Open 11 to sunset, the Tourist Trap is a perfect lunch stop.  Larry, chef and owner, offers a menu inspired by his previous life in the Hamptons and his current Caribbean location.  The lobster role ($11) is a popular choice and we loved the blackened grouper sandwich ($12).  To wash it all down, get a Keep Left (as in Drink Right, Keep Left), Larry’s original drink made in homage to the many Cruzan rums available in the area (and the mainlanders’ confusion when it comes to driving on the “wrong” side of the road here).

Other well-regarded eateries include Miss Lucy’s and Skinny Legs.

Miss Lucy’s has a full moon pig roast that usually attracts a small but lively crowd and has a long history on the island (Miss Lucy’s was one of the original St. John hangouts and party spots as was the site of Tourist Trap).

Skinny Legs is the place to go for a good burger and local music.

What To Bring
Don’t even think about bringing any of your fancy electronic appliances to Concordia. You won’t find any outlets in your cabin as they all run on solar power.

If you must make phone calls invest in a calling card. The nearest vendor is a 15-minute drive away and most cellular phones don’t pick up service here.

If you are traveling during the rainy season we highly recommend bug spray, a long sleeve shirt, thick pants, and a sweater or light jacket. Oh, and pack some light colored clothing… mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.

Make sure you bring a towel or a sarong that you can take with you to the beach; Concordia does not provide you with one. This can also double as a mosquito swatter!

As for toiletries, Concordia supplies you with eco-friendly soap (if fact, they request you use it instead of your own) but you might want to bring conditioner and shaving cream.

Finally, if you plan to eat in town note that there are no ATM’s in the vicinity, so bring cash! You don’t want be five drinks in and realize that you need to hitch a ride to the nearest money dispenser.

How To Get There
If you are “rollin’ in dough,” take a taxi from the airport to Downtown Charlotte Amelie and catch the 45-minute ferry to St. John, Cruz Bay. This will cost you $16/person. When you arrive on St. John rent a car suitable enough (approx. $60/day) to drive through the wondrous switchback roads to Concordia. Warning: you might run into donkey’s!

For all those recent job-less alumnae and money-pinchers, your route will be longer but unquestionably cheap(er). When you exit the airport ask for directions to the $2 taxi to Red Hook. You should expect a 15-minute walk from the airport to this location so remember to pack light. Note: $2 Taxi will cost more then $2 as you are going into the “country.” They are not trying to take your money.

When you arrive at Red Hook catch the 15-minute ferry to St. John, Cruz Bay.

Once at Cruz Bay you can hitchhike over to Concordia or ask someone for the $1 VTRAN bus – be patient as it runs on island time.  Alas, you have arrived!

Alexandra Garcia, Editor/Writer
Morgane Veronqiue Richardson, Editor/Writer
Bibi Jordan, Contributor

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Let us apologize in advance for the temptation that we are about to generate within all of our incredibly frugal travelers (like ourselves!).

South Shore Villa, located within the US Virgin Island National Park boundaries, is the ultimate private luxury vacation spot for college graduates who have been able to find (and hold on to) a job in the investment world. Perhaps even the New York City public school teacher can afford to splurge on this Caribbean villa… whenever they can find the time!

At $4,600/week for 8 people (off-season) South Shore Villa is a recommended alternative to staying in a hotel when you can muster up enough friends to chip in.

With four private bedroom suites, two outdoor showers, awesome views, an infinity pool, amazing sound system, and a large kitchen/dining space, what more could you ask for?

Unless you are really happy holing up with books, friends, and some wine, renting a car in the nearby Cruz Bay is highly recommended.

You can also save a lot of money if you remember to make a stop at a supermarket before driving up to your mountain top vacation home. Note: Bring an extra bag of dry goods (i.e. pasta, rice, etc) from the mainland. It’s worth the $15 airlines are now charging for extra bags.  Plus the $o.99 only store is phenomenal!

So bring a designated driver, a “chef” friend and some chill music and get ready to have an amazing time.

An Interview with South Shore Villa owner, Larry Pruss
Interviewer: Bibi Jordan

BJ: St John is such a perfect location that it didn’t take long for me to start fantasizing about have a home here. Can you tell how you ended up with this magnificent home on this enchanted island?

LP: We are from Pennsylvania and our passion started about 9 years ago on a trip with some relatives to Maho Bay campgrounds. We fell in love with the island and on our second trip we bought the land. They say that if you visit more than three times to St John you end up living there at some point in your lives. We travel to St John a few precious times a year.

BJ: How did you go about designing and building a villa here?

LP: Our home is about 5 years old and took us 14 months to build (probably an island record). We had a wonderful builder and architect who were both local to the island. Prior to building we spent a lot of time on the lot sleeping in a tent on the site and dreaming what a home might look like. We have lots of fond memories of eating pizza along the road at the top of the hill. The site at the time wasn’t much to look at, and very overgrown; but a hike out to the center showed the potential with views of the white cliffs looking out the Ram Head. My wife loves those cliffs and apparently a lot of lime was mined from along those hillsides and used in the sugar mills for processing rum and sugar. The views out the East are over the National Park land (most which was donated by Lawrence Rockefeller) and thus will likely never change.

BJ: The villa harmonizes so beautifully with the surroundings. How did you accomplish that?

LP: When we cleared the lot we tried to minimize the impact to the surrounding environment and we utilized as many local and natural materials as possible. We also ultimately bought the lot next door to make sure that the hillside stayed as green as possible. All of the stone work in the house came from on site and all of the lights were bought from a local artist. Everything in the house was handpicked and planned ahead of time. We loved the thought of showering under the stars and thus the outdoor shower.

BJ: I found the outlook and the ambience so perfect that we never left the house for three days! I loved lounging in the horizon pool. What about you – do you have favorite room in the house?

LP: Our favorite place in the house is the great room, and we love the evenings utilizing the screen doors and watching the cruise ships off in the distance. I don’t know if you noticed, but on a clear day you can see St Croix out to the South and on a very clear day you can see Puerto Rico from the road above the house.

BJ: It was a treat to stay in a home with so many tasteful personal touches. Can you tell me about your approach to decorating your home?

LP: I’m a fan of maritime art and just about all of those paintings in the house are originals and most older than 100 years old. We tried to pick eclectic furnishings and tried to stay with natural materials. Much of the stone carvings and decorations are ancient pieces from the Middle East and Asia. The color of the home was picked by trying to match the paint to the rocks on the hillside and the paint was mixed by hand. It’s actually not paint, but a lime wash imported from France and is the same stuff utilized in the old towns of France and Italy.

BJ: Your home is itself a work of art! Do you feel it is perfect or are you still refining it?

LP: Last year we moved to supplementing out hot water utilizing a solar collector in an attempt to start going green. When we visit we are constantly fighting the elements and doing minor repairs to keep the place in top shape for our guests. As you can imagine on the top of the mountain we get some crazy weather and intense winds. Fortunately, the 2 foot thick stone walls help to hold the place together though the hurricanes and occasional minor earthquakes.

BJ: The villa was certainly in perfect condition when we arrived there. Your agent, Mark Shekleton of Seaview Vacation Homes, also couldn’t have been more helpful and professional. Thank you for giving us the chance to see St John from another angle… one that I think anyone would love to experience!

For more information or to make a reservation please contact South Shore Villa’s property management company:

Please mention to the property management company that you were referred to them by the “So Elsewhere” web-site (www.soelsewhere.com).

Sea View Vacation Homes
PO Box 644
St John, USVI 00831

Attn: Mark Shekleton
Local: 1-340-776-6805
Toll-Free: 1-888-625-2963
Email: seaviewhomes@islands.vi
Website: http://www.seaviewhomes.com/

Morgane Veronique Richardson, Writer/Editor

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Modern high-tech structures provide Eco-conscious guests with a comfortable place to relax their body, mind & soul at Concordia Eco-Tents.

Concordia’s newly built Eco-tents radiate as they hover over the sea’s edge producing a gentle sense of peacefulness within the self. This is the place to be if you are ready to surrender to nature but have yet to become a treehugger, if you ever get there…

So Forget about your curling iron and iPhone… you will find no outlets in your room to charge them. This is about reconnecting with those around you and not via Twitter, Facebook, or CurrentTV.

At $185/night for double occupancy during high season (they charge $15 extra per person), Concordia might be a bit of a stretch for our frugal travelers and so we recommend Concordia for the bankers and the newlyweds who have a reason to splurge!

Morgane Veronique Richardson, Writer/Editor

Somewhere along our travels in the Virgin Island we heard about the Trail Bandit. His handy work, a self published map of the island’s trails, was to be found in some of the local shops. It was an intriguing title and a great map, so I shot him an email with a few questions and this is what he had to say:

“I am Bob Garrison from Henniker, NH… I have been going to St. John since 1964 and really like the place. In hiking around, I discovered a lot of old roads, trails, and ruins that were not on the map that the Park Service handed out. Also, their map really was pretty bad.”

(and this is were I would have given up, but Bob took things a step further)

“I purchased a GPS and started making a map for my own use and finally… I approached the Park service and offered to put a better map together for them, but they were basically not interested”

(again, Bob apparently has quite a bit more tenacity than I would…)

“I went ahead and published a map on my own. The rules I had were that it had to be accurate, show all the trails I knew about, and be waterproof so it would stand up to a vacation or two in the tropics.”

(wow! Not only is he persistent, but practical too!)

“The Park Service has been against my efforts in general. National parks have a set of rules and guidelines about how to go about clearing an old trail or road. In short, you need to get permission. This is reasonable, however, for years, the Park Staff on St. John either didn’t respond to requests, or had a list of all the things that “May be required” to get approval to clear a trail. In trying to work through the list of “May be Requireds” I found that the Park staff eventually just didn’t answer. They liked things the way they were and wanted no changes.”

“The name Trail Bandit came from an article in the AMC monthly magazine…They were complaining about people reopening old abandoned trails, without permission. They called them “Trail Bandits.”

(hmm, so it seems Bob is a bit of a rebel at heart)

“The biggest challenge to actually making the map was that I had never made a map before… The second edition of the map, which is the current version, came out a lot better ”

(and of course I had to ask …)

“My favorite trail on St. John is the Tektite Trail and the spur out to Cabritte Horn. I may be biased because I, with help from friends, located the old road out there and worked a lot of hours to clear it. Many others have been out there and agree that it is a beautiful place.”

So that’s the gist of the man behind the map, if you’re interested in reading the full interview you can check it out on our “Interviews” page.

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Last we wrote about Maho Bay, we described it as a summer camp for baby boomers. But since then we’ve discovered a parallel universe of Maho. Same great location, but the housing is free, the food is 40% off, the yoga classes are free… and the average age is somewhere between 20 and 35.

It turns out that Maho has a program where volunteers can come work around the camp for four hours a day in exchange for room and discounted food. And if you’re really serious about spending some time on St. John, say you really want to become familiar with the 67% of the island that is National Park, you can apply for a job and get food for free, way better housing than the guests do, and a free yoga and art classes (plus a discounted glass blowing course). The point is, you could actually afford to spend time on St. John and meet some really cool people.

When we first went back to the employee area Maho Bay camps it had the air of a college setting- mainly because of the feeling that there was a tight community of like-minded people. The only difference: what made these people like-minded was that they had a certain amount of wanderlust and a taste for adventure.

Point being, unless you’re traveling with your parents, go see St. John for cheap. Volunteer at Maho. Take your own snorkel, chill with the employees, and go into town with the locals.

Alexandra Garcia, Writer/Editor

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So, you haven’t been able to rent a car during your stay on St. John, nor have you spent time away from your campground.  Don’t fret, ask for Hamilton Eugene!

Hop on his beautifully decorated taxi and enjoy a historial tour of St. Johns and an hour of guided snorkeling. Hamilton doesn’t just get you to your destination; he takes you on a journey.

If that isn’t enough, Hamilton’s soulful and polite spirit illuminates the ride, giving you a true sense of this place.

Note: Ask Hamilton about renting his house for the week in Cruz Bay. We didn’t get a chance to visit, but it surely might be the cheapest accommodation on the Island of St. John.

Hamilton’s Taxi & Island Tour
Hamilton Eugene
P.O. Box 872
St. John, USVI 00831-0872
Home: 340.776.6259
Cell: 340.473.6136

Morgane Veronique Richardson, Writer/Editor