Pina Playa Villa guidebook

Like our British neighbors, we drive on the left-hand side of the road, the speed limit is only 10-20 mph, so we have very few mishaps during the year. Drivers need to remember to Stay Left. At our main intersection, coming into Cruz Bay, remember drive clockwise around our roundabout. We have a few crosswalks on St. John, drivers are not required to stop for pedestrians. When you step off a curb, look right! The roads are curvy, narrow and have potholes, so take it slow, but don’t be surprised if a local is in a hurry and passes you on the right. Go slow when it's raining as roads are slick.

When patronizing our restaurants, relax, talk to your neighbors, and enjoy our views. Your food will “soon come.” A “Good Morning,” “Good Afternoon” or “Good Evening” are our traditional greetings; a very nice way to start a conversation and you will receive a warmer response than a “Hi” or “Hello!” Even though we are an island with water everywhere, walking around “town” without a shirt or shorts is prohibited by law. Always cover up when leaving the beach. See-through cover ups are not appreciated.

Our pace is slow. Stopping to talk to someone on the road is frequent, just wait...and traffic will begin soon. Be aware of what might be around the next corner: a speed bump, a pothole, fallen rocks, iguanas, goats (tails up), sheep (tails down), pigs, donkeys, deer, or cows. Also, when the goats and deer scale the hillsides, they tend to send loose rock down into the road. If you see one, watch for the others.

You should never feed, touch, harass any wildlife above or below the water. Do not feed the donkeys even if they beg. Several have been hit and killed by cars when approaching for food, others will bite if you do not have food, and some others are currently sick with Cushing’s disease from humans feeding them. We need to take care of these ambassadors by leaving them be and only taking photos. Keep an eye out for the huge iguanas. They'll often stand in the middle of the road.

Reserve a crib, highchair, pack-n-play, rollaway bed, or other baby gear in advance. Visit the Island Baby website or call 340-998-8327 to make a reservation. Let them know you are staying at Pina Playa Villa in Upper Carolina, Coral Bay and the property manager is Kristen Cox, 340-513-3864. Need a date night out? Contact Leslie McKibben with Kids’ Night In Babysitting service. Best to plan ahead with Leslie.

You will arrive in St. John after a full day of travel. The last thing you’ll want to do with a carload of hungry people is go to the grocery store. Landlubber Logistics is awesome at stocking your villa kitchen before you arrive. With your advance notice, Kristen will coordinate access to the villa for the Landlubber team. Contact Landlubber Logistics at least a week prior to your arrival.

Summer clothes are appropriate, with a light jacket or wrap for those cold, breezy, winter nights at 75 degrees! Try to avoid packing dark colored clothing (they attract any mosquito in the area). In your carry-on luggage, pack all necessary toiletries, medications, at least one change of summer-weight clothes and a bathing suit. Luggage infrequently gets lost, but you don’t want it to affect the start of your vacation. We provide all bed linens, towels, Turkish beach towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Chelsea Drug, located at The Marketplace, is well stocked like the Walgreens.

If you are not renting the house RAV4, here is some helpful information about car rental in the islands. First, secure your car rental immediately as they have been harder to find lately. You must be 25 years or older to rent a car. Rental cars from St. John are not allowed on the car barge to St. Thomas. Most rental cars from St. Thomas are allowed on the car barge to St. John; check with each company before making a reservation. Designated drivers should bring a valid stateside license. Check with your insurance agency regarding the insurance needed for your rental car in the Virgin Islands.

If you choose to rent on St. Thomas and drive your car on the car barge, I highly suggest renting from Amalie Car Rental for a more reliable service experience. With a reservation, they will pick you up at baggage claim and drive you 5 minutes to their rental location. Love City Car Ferries is my most often used service from Red Hook on St. Thomas to Cruz Bay in St. John. You can purchase tickets in advance online. Called the “Crown Bay ferry,” you can board a ferry 5 minutes from the airport and enjoy a longer ferry ride. Costs a bit more, but saves you the long taxi ride across St. Thomas.

Glass containers, smoking and loud music are not allowed at any beach. Only reef-safe sunscreen is permitted. The US Virgin Islands legislature passed a law that bans the importation, sale or possession of products containing Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene, active ingredients in many sunscreens. First-time violators will be fined $1,000. That fine is doubled for repeat offenders. It is best to buy your sunscreen on island, so you know it is legal and safe. Finally, it’s recommended to get off the beaches before dusk as the no-see-ums are vicious.

Don’t leave valuables locked in your car. You should leave the windows up (intermittent rain showers) and the car unlocked at beaches. Some North Shores beaches are very popular, and you may need to arrive early (8-9 am) during high season or after lunch to get a parking spot. All beaches are public in St. John, though some may require boat access or the ability to swim over from another beach. It is illegal to collect shells from beaches in the Virgin Islands; shells are confiscated at airport customs. There are no clothing optional beaches in the Virgin Islands.

If you are traveling to St. John during this time, we highly recommend trip cancellation insurance. You were offered an option when you booked this reservation. This insurance should cover you in the case of a natural disaster; please verify all terms and conditions with the insurance company prior to purchasing the coverage. Squaremouth compares a bunch of companies and policies. Also, Allianz offers Cancel for Any Reason trip insurance which is worthwhile investigating.