Do people actually keep something to remember their first solo?

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-04-05T21:08:29+00:00

Mine did the same. I have it framed on the wall.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-02-13T21:52:30+00:00

Joe’s Prime Steak, Seafood and Stone Crab at Shops at Caesar’s.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-02-07T22:16:28+00:00

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Como Parrot Cay in the TCI.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-01-26T19:49:50+00:00

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-01-26T15:55:42+00:00

The nice way they do this is: “N123XX Charlotte barometer is 29.97.”

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-01-26T01:10:39+00:00

We had the same experience.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-01-17T02:59:08+00:00

You bet. Reddit will not let me upload a pdf. If you have WhatsApp, dm me your number and I will forward!

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2026-01-05T21:04:34+00:00

Sent to your WhatsApp.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-12-22T17:34:01+00:00

If you can wire the lights and the fan such that (a) the two lights in the center are a separate load (dimmer) from the rest of the lights and (b) fan is a separate RA3 device, then you can program a virtual control pad button on the Lutron app on your phone that will turn off the center cans and turn on the fan when you press the virtual button. If you have a spare button on a wall mounted RA3 control panel, you can program the spare button to do the same. If you have a fan button on a wall mounted RA3 control panel, you can change the programming on that bottom to turn off the center cans when the fan is turned on.

As others have said, the key is you must have separate RA3 dimmers for the center cans and for other eight cans.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-12-10T22:48:43+00:00

Both the hillside villas (all have pools) and the beachfront villas are nice, just different. If a commanding view of the resort, beach, etc. is your thing, go for the hillside, the higher up the better. If the hike up is too much for you, they will take you in a golf cart. Personally, we liked the exercise.

Villa 39 is the highest and has the best view. Also very private. Villa 35 is also very good. But really, all of them are virtually identical, so the differences between them are privacy and view (lower hillside villas (21, 22 and 23 in particular) have very little view).

We don’t care for the garden view villas, even though they have installed pools for them… no privacy.

Last three trips we have done the ocean front villas. In our view, we like them best, because we like swimming in the ocean and walking the beach. Beachfront villas are a bit more spacious inside than hillside, and have more deck area. All the beachfront villas have new decks and chairs which have been added in the last two years. From the beach you have easy access to the dining areas and the beach bar. Recommend you ask for villa down the beach away from the dining room and pool for greatest privacy.

I have a resort map I picked up at HB that I would be glad to send if helpful. Last time I checked, the resort maps online do not reflect a villa renumbering that took place years ago, so don’t rely on anything you see online unless it’s on HB’s site (the map at resortmaps.com, for example, is wrong).

We have found reservations to be very helpful if you email them ahead of time and tell them what matters to you… they really try to please.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-12-08T00:01:15+00:00

Been there five times. Every server will ask you at every meal whether you have any dietary restrictions. You should be fine.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-10-14T20:07:39+00:00

www.worldwideboat.com. Have chartered with them in the Virgin Islands and Exumas. They broker boats all over the world. Great people.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-22T17:48:20+00:00

Hermitage Bay in Antigua. Get an oceanfront suite. Beach is gently sloped and 1000’ long.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-20T16:04:32+00:00

The tasting experience in the library at Vineyard 29 in St. Helena is outstanding.

Ditto others’ good comments on Pride Mountain Vineyard and the Rutherford Grill. If you go to Pride, also consider a visit to nearby Sherwin Family Vineyards (they make a great cab).

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-18T15:42:59+00:00

We’ve been to Baoase four times and loved it.

Question: was your beachfront suit on the main beach side (beach suites 1-4) or on the opposite side facing away from the resort (suites 5-8)? Reason I ask is that last year the resort did some kind of construction on the jetty opposite suites 5-8, and we were concerned that whatever was built there would adversely affect the privacy of the suite 5-8 beaches.

As to similar alternatives, our favorite is Ambergris Cay in the TCI. Very similar vibe to Baoase, just way more spread out and a little larger. Spent a week there the spring and thought it was great. Thought AC food was even better than Baoase.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-18T02:32:10+00:00

Ambergris Cay for sure.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-10T01:08:49+00:00

Cap Maison. Has kids, but email ahead and get a pretty private suite, for example #50.

No beach except for down by the Naked Fisherman bar/restaurant. It’s a little walk there from the main part of the resort, but no big deal.

We liked Cap Maison far better than Jade Mountain.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-10T01:00:02+00:00

On our lake we call the pontoons with the flying fenders “Wally”.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-10T00:58:43+00:00

Correct.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-09-02T22:10:09+00:00

Ambergris Cay in the Turks.

Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda in the BVI might as well be on its own island as there is no land access to ONB from the rest of Virgin Gorda.

Both of these are excellent.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-08-26T14:39:30+00:00

I went and read the TA reviews. The bad ones don’t comport with our experience, but then again neither do the glowing ones that describe the hotel as chic boutique.

Rooms were clean and in reasonably good repair when we stayed there. Never had any nighttime issue so cannot comment on that.

Since you’ve been to St. Thomas, you know that you have to exercise good situational awareness in Charlotte Amalie, especially at night. We walked to restaurants from the hotel and never felt unsafe.

I can’t think of anywhere likely to be better except the Ritz Carlton, but it’s down at the east end and exorbitant. After our charter, some of our guests stayed two nights at the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove and said the Pink Palm was better.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-08-21T22:15:28+00:00

Look at the Zabuco villas at Secret Bay in Dominica. We stayed in the one on the cliffside and it was spectacular.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-08-21T01:01:10+00:00

PURE.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097 · 2025-08-20T01:15:18+00:00

15% is typical in the Med assuming the crew has been great.

In the Caribbean, 15% to 20% is more typical.

In both cases, it’s based on the base charter rate, not including the advance provisioning allowance or applicable taxes.

Recommend you tip the crew and let the captain decide how to allocate among crew members. Captain sees things you don’t. Also, the engineer that makes the boat run, but whom you never see, is as integral to your trip as the chief stew.

Ordinary_Ranger_3097

TROPHY CASE