Local STX Festivals Late Summer or Early Fall?

there is a summer jump up but cant remember when maybe july??? not really sure. there is also the christmas jump up but thats in november. you sure you dont want to change the dates of your trip? i think there will be a tool time in october. even now would have been a good time as we just had a jump up, the triathalon is sunday, tool time is next friday, mango melee is coming up, bartender olympics are coming up. maybe other posters will have more info.

You're coming in serious hurricane season time, so I can think of any events planned either. The island is fairly hot and quiet then, bring the bug spray too. 🙂 The only thing I can think of is Halloween, there's always a big Halloween party at one of the hotels to support HIV research.

Try gotostcroix.com
There you can see the event calendar for all the up coming festivities.
There is a Jump Up in July....Alexander Hamilton, but not sure of the date.....but the above site should have what you need.
This site is also good to gaze at the web cams & other useful island info.

Thanks for the feedback. We wanted to try and plan the pmv for a quieter time as far as tourists are concerned so we can feel things out carefully and honestly. Plus we are too excited to wait much longer! I will check out the calender on the website...thanks islandtyme.

Also...anybody ever stay at Villa Margarita at Salt River Bay? Is it as nice as their website shows? Looks like a great value. The idea of cooking in a kitchen a couple times and not just going to restaurants appeals quite a bit and seems essential for the pmv.

Truly buying a week's worth of groceries is an eye opener! 🙂 Not just the cost but also the shuttling between stores. For example toilet tissue,paper towels, OTC medicine, shampoos, etc are usually much cheaper at either kmart or cost u less. Whereas plaza is usually the cheapest for food, unless you want and have the room for bulk (many cruzan homes are storage challenged). But if you need something a little special or a certain spice you may have to go to pueblo, food town and schooner market before you find it. I would advise to stay out of restaurants as much as possible for a truer pmv, going out to eat twice a week is pretty often for most. The cost of living here is so high we don't eat out anywhere as near as much as we did stateside. But we'll go out for drinks much more often as that is still very cheap. But thats just my opinion.

I've heard villa margarita is nice. My favorite small hotel with kitchens is cottages by the sea. It's totally no frills but its on a amazing beach. But it is on the west end. So it might make driving around the island take longer.

Villa Margarita is really nice, and the owners are wonderful. You won't be disappointed!!! I love the Salt River area!

Again...thanks! We want to make the best of this trip and be realistic. I know that costs will be high for food and restaurants, etc.

A bit about us...we are from Montana. Not posh suburbanites looking to be pampered each step from our doorway. That said, we have lived the last year in Seattle, Wa. Costs are pretty high here! From what I read, costs in USVI parallel costs in more expensive areas of the mainland. Seattle is definitely on that list.

If you had 10 days on a pmv, where would you stay? What balances immersion and practicality with some fun as well?

For a pmv I would bypass Villa Margarita (too nice) and go to cottages. You can cook your own meals there and I think it will give you a better feel for day to day living. Plus, it's on one of the prettiest beaches on STX.

I have a condo its 2 bedroom 2 bath in a Complex called Mill Harbour . It is convenient to everything gated and with a guard. It is also close to a public housing development. All condos on Condo Row are.. It will be available for your pmv. It is fully furnished, view of a lagoon. The kitchen is fully equipped. The Master bedroom suite has a king sized bed. The guest room will have two twin beds that could be pushed together to make a king. Included are cable tv with HBO and internet access. Beach pool and restaurant are on the premises as is a coin operated laundry. Since you would be coming during low season, the fee would be 1500 for the two weeks.
If interested in pics email me
sorceres@optonline.net

Its good you won't have sticker shock at prices but you will probably experience some shock when you see the wages they pay here then. 🙂 You've probably heard this all before though. Cost of living is high and wages are low. Its a double whammy. It can definitely be done. Most experience a honeymoon phase, adjustment phase and then either stay or leave.

IMO a pmv is usually a waste of money because you are in the honeymoon state! 😉 I think its better to save the money to a big nest egg for when you come down and some return tickets.

One of the biggest things people usually, not always, don't realize when they move down here is how much they will miss family and friends. Its pretty expensive to get stateside. If you have kids that can be even more important. Its one of those things most don't consider till they are already down here. I know i didn't. I was used to living far from my family but stateside there's always southwest or some great sale. Here, american owns the caribbean and sales are far and few between and usually aren't that great.

The flip side of that is when they come down and you get to play tour director. I say this with tounge and cheek because I love my family and am always excited months before they come. But at the end of the week I'm exhausted. It sounds simple but its tiring.

I think Villa Margarita is a good choice. I know the owners Adele and John well, and I have met many of their guests, some of who have remarked how clean and affordable it is, how helpful and knowledgeable the owners are about the island, and what a nice location it is. You can also cook in the kitchenettes. Many people have used Villa Margarita while transitioning to the island, and the owners have been a great resource to them.

Jump Ups are my favorite island event, but they're in mid February, early May, early July and late November, not when you're planning to be here. There are enough fun things going on throughout the year, especially on weekends, that you won't be bored.

Reading this msg board is eye opening. It's great that folks are very informative and honest about living conditions on island.
Betty talked about the stages people experience ie the honeymoon stage. That's what is like in Western Montana. It's very hard to make a living here, and most available jobs are low paying service jobs. People move to the area and fall in love with the beauty. They escape from whatever God-awful place they come from.

But as time goes by, the attrition rate is huge. I moved to Mt in 1997 and of all the folks that came out at the same time, maybe 10% remain.

I think that one had to have more than just a desire to enjoy themselves when they move to such a place...they need to make a commitment to the community. That's where the bonds and relationships form that makes a new place a home. Rather than a hideout.