A Survival Guide for Vacationing With Friends

What’s better than a St. John vacation? Sharing it with your favorite people! Traveling as a group can have it’s challenges unless you’re prepared so here’s our advice to guarantee you’ll still be friends and ready to go again.

Plan Ahead

By far, this is the most important step. Discuss everyone’s goals and expectations. Some may want to be on the go every day while others are perfectly happy unwinding on a beach. How will you handle transportation? Will you be preparing meals or eating out? What are the must-haves – hot tub, pool, outdoor shower, specific location? Use our villa rental checklist to narrow down preferences. Determine how to handle shared expenses ahead of time so there’s no surprises. If you’re traveling in high season, secure rental vehicles and boat charters before they’re sold out.

Communicate

Consider creating a temporary Facebook group page to share itineraries, ideas and photos before and after your trip. Determine how you will communicate while on island. Have all parties check their cell phone roaming coverage area and make necessary changes before traveling. Group texting works great to pinpoint everyone’s location, but have a backup plan for when cell service is interrupted.

Be Flexible

Discuss each person’s must-see list. Give everyone options and split up when necessary to ensure that everyone gets to spend vacation time how they wish. Give each other space to be alone or time to do their own thing. Remember, you’re on island time so unless required, don’t impose rigid schedules on others.

Choose Quality Over Quantity

A sure way to add stress among your group is to overschedule activities. For example, plan a day of limin’ between excursion days to rest up and recharge your batteries. One of the best things about St. John is the slow pace – chill on a beach, pull up a chair at one of our beach bars, do a little shopping or hang out by your pool. After a day on the water, you’ll appreciate a night off so consider hiring one of our many private chefs to prepare a lovely dinner in the convenience of your villa. (Call us, we’ll hook you up!)

Bonus Ideas for Groups

Make your own souvenir with Sloop Jones.

Let someone else do the planning with an Eco Tour.

Get the inside scoop from a ranger with a guided National Park Service tour.

Charter a boat and go island hopping. (Call us for recommendations!)