Maho and Some questions

One more question. I am flying out of Chicago and the cheapest flight I have found is $318 on US Airways. Is this a good price or should I wait it out a little longer?

$318 if it's roundtrip & includes all taxes, etc. doesn't sound bad. I don't know what time you arrive but you could check out the Charlotte Amalie ferry which is a shorter/cheaper taxi fair but the ferry costs more so it's sort of a wash. The dollar/2 dollar safaris don't go by the airport.

Here are all the ferry schedules:

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/interisland_ferry/

You should be able to hit all the BVI's since you're staying that long & all are different. Probably the cheapest hotel by the airport is Carib Beach Resort which you could walk to/from the airport. www.caribbeachresort.com

Best of luck!

Good morning, ReggieBird -- congratulations on getting hired at Maho!

(1) - Nope, unless you have a friend to pick you up at the airport, the taxis are it. It's about $15 plus $2 per suitcase.

(2) - "the best to visit" -- it all depends on what you're looking for. The ferry runs only on weekends; charters go during the week -- check with Connections or the dive companies (Cruz Bay Water Sports or Low Key Water Sports). Better yet, make friends with some boaties and go anytime. 🙂

I'll respectfully disagree with Trade about having plenty of time to hit all the BVIs. It's certainly possible, but a month on St. John is going to go by pretty fast, especially since you'll be there during Carnival. Planning works a little differently on island time, and those weeks will be gone before you know it! A weekend trip to Jost or a day sail around some of the islands will probably be plenty for you.

(3) What do you consider "affordable"?

(4) I haven't worked at Maho but I spent part of Halloween hanging out with a bunch of folks who were just finishing up the program. They said they really enjoyed it but that it was often hard, hard work on some awful hot-humid days. They also said they hadn't been able to enjoy the island as much as they would have liked to because they didn't have their own transportation. If you don't have your own wheels, your options are catching rides with other Maho staff, hitchhiking, taxis, and the bus, which only goes up Centerline and out to Salt Pond.

(5) $318 RT, if including all taxes and fees, as Trade said, is a good price. Although with this economy, who knows what airfares will do? But you're definitely not getting ripped off.

Good luck to you!

Hi and congrats! Glad it worked out for you.

What time does your flight arrive? (By the way, $318 sounds good to me.) You don't have to go to Red Hook to catch a ferry. They also run out of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Money-wise, though, it's about the same. The taxi costs more to Red Hook, but the ferry ticket is less, plus the ferry runs more often and much later out of Red Hook. Be aware, the taxi at the airport will sit and wait until it is full, and will then stop along the way. If you get out in Charlotte Amalie, you will be one of the first out of the taxi. If you go to Red Hook, it can be a long, long, time consuming trip. However, if you have the time, and it's daylight, it's not a bad "island tour". On the other hand, if you would enjoy a nice long boat ride, again in daylight, the ferry from town is great. Not only will the taxi charge for bags, but the ferry will too.

Jost Van Dyke is kind of a "must do", I think. Another very popular day trip is up to The Baths, in Virgin Gorda. You can check all that out when you get here, and fdr's advice was excellent about making friends with boats.;)

Enjoy! Let us know how you like it.

I, too, have heard that it is tough work. You will find many opportunities for BVI trips once you are there. The ferry to Jost is direct on the weekends, but you can go through West End the other days. Also Maho does day trips all over, maybe you can stow away? 😉

3. The Beachcomber Inn is both affordable and nice. Its on a great beach and is pretty much walking distance from the airport.

Depending on what time you are flying in and how much luggage you have, it is quite possible to walk the mile or so up to the main road from the airport. You can catch the $2 taxis from there and ride all the way to Red Hook. Quite the adventure.

I had the opportunity to work at Maho after hurricane Marilyn (yes, I am old) and it was hard work, great friends and altogether an incredible once in a life time experience.

Ditto on the Best Western as the place to spend the last night unless you have made friends with some boaties who will bring you over and hang out in town overnight before you leave.

Pamela

If you get in at night, though there won't be any dollar rides. They stop at around dark or just a bit later.

Thanks for all the help!! It is greatly appreciated! My flight is arriving at 3:25 pm. I think I am going to catch the ferry in Charlotte Amalie and head over to Cruz Bay and then go from there. My current plan right now is to spend my last weekend on JVD. Does anyone have any suggestions for accommodations on JVD? Once again thanks for the help! All the advice has been very useful.

You can't do better than Ivan's on White Bay. When I did the Maho program, I brought my tent, but with luggage costing extra now, you can stay in one of his tents or cabins. I worked more than 4-hr days to have a little extra time there. The work at Maho can be tough and dirty if you're on the maintenance crew, or air-conditioned office work like one of the lifelong friends I made there. Wishing you the time of your life.