First of all, pack light! We were at Maho Bay Camps for 7 full days and all you really need for basic supplies are: a few pairs of swim trunks/swim suits, a few light shirts, bathroom supplies, flashlights/headlamp, sandals (would recommend crocs due the amount of walking you will be doing), hiking shoes/boots, bug spray, and sunblock.
When you arrive at the airport on St. Thomas it's a little crazy (at least for us it was). The cab drivers (which have large vans) were really disorganized and pointed us into three different directions. They also charge per person. To Red Hook (the most reliable and frequent ferry to St. John) the cost was $20 per person. I would recommend taking the ferry out of Charlotte-Amalie if your schedule works for when it leaves. Taking the farry from Charlotte-Amalie will save you a long white knuckle cab ride. The cost of either option is roughly the same.
After you get off the ferry at St. John you will need to take a "taxi" to Maho bay. I would use Mr. Frett's taxi because it is the cheapest. Maho bay camps also recommends his service. The cost is $8 per person each way. Also note that the taxis are lager safari type vehicles. They are big, the road is small, like a roller coaster, and can be nerve racking. Just be ready for a bit of a crazy ride.
After we made it to the camp, we checked in and found that our cabin was a hike to get to (F1). The lady at the desk offered us a ride because we had luggage. This was helpful after a long day of traveling.
We ate at the restaurant our first night. It was good (not great) and was a little pricy. There was a nice guy that greeted us and explained how everything worked at the restaurant. I think he was the manager. The rest of the kitchen staff ware not as outgoing.
Food on the islands is a lot more expensive than at home, and buying in bulk does not save you money. I would recommend bringing as much as you can for dry goods and food in general. Each meal at the restaurant is between $12-25 each, so it will add up fast if you are there for a few days.
They have a good store with prices as good or better than in town. If you need items just shop there. When buying ice go for the block. It will last almost twice as long as cubes. If you want to buy alcohol, get it before you leave town after you get off of the ferry. Maho doesn't sell it. Rum is much cheaper than on the mainland.
We found that the older staff was much friendlier than the younger crew. Overall we had a good experience, but the younger staff acted like it was a 8th grade summer camp. One person that stood out (not in a good way) was the activities guy. I think there was only one guy that was on the activities desk, if not, he is the one with red hair. He gave a good presentation at one of the dinners, but was not very friendly to my wife and I. He always made us feel like if we didn't know what we were talking about already, it wasn't worth his time to explain it. To put it bluntly, he was a bit of a dink (Maine expression).
Maho beach was awesome! We went to a few beaches when we were there, but we liked Maho beach just as much as the rest. If you get there early you can find a premium spot.
I would definitely recommend snorkeling! It was really fun, and great to check out sea life in person. The other activities were a bit pricy. I would figure out what you are interested in ahead of time and calling for prices so you don't go over budget.
If you are a hiker, make sure you do the Reef Bay trail. Great ruins, rock carvings from the first peoples of the island, and a beautiful hike the whole way. You can hike there all the way from Maho to save the cab fare. There is a small trail just off the road heading back into town that connects to the Reef Bay trail. It doesn't add too much time and has some good scenery as well. There is also set of ruins near Maho called Annaberg that is an easy walk. My wife is not an experienced hiker and did just fine on each trip. Both hikes were great! Don't forget to bring plenty of water and snacks. A camel pack is the best idea.
We went into town for one day (Cruz Bay, St. John). It was full of shopping, bars, restaurants, and all of the other things you can expect from a resort town.
Finally, remember that this is camping. There are bugs, you are in the woods of a national park, the showers are cold, and there is a lot of walking with a lot of steps. Again, Crocs are probably the most comfortable, and will not give you blisters like sandals. You will have bugs in your cottage; nothing serious, just be aware. I wasn't as affected as my wife for some reason, but we think the bits she had might have been from the sand fleas (no-see-ems) on the beach. If you are on the beach at dusk, they are out in numbers.
The cottages are getting a little run down. Not to the point that they cause problems, but they could use some work. For us the main issue was the privacy blinds. They had pegs at the bottom to hold them in place when it was windy. Ours were broken in many places, so when the wind blew it was loud and made it hard to sleep.
Overall it was a good trip. If the camping thing is not up your ally, and you still want a more affordable trip to the Virgin Islands, check out Concordia (Maho's sister resort), it has a lot more amenities. We haven't been there, but plan on trying if we make a trip back to St. John.
- Maho Bay
- Maho Bay Camps Hotel
- Maho Bay Camps Hotel St John
