How to follow the advice found herein. An oft repeated PSA of mine

[JEK]

1. Spend money like it is your own. It is.

2. Do what you like, when you like. It is your vacation.

3. Eat what you want, when and where you want. It is your waistline and (see #1)

4. Drink what you want when you want. If your spouse likes red and you like white, buy one bottle of each. Life is short.

5. Stay in a villa, hotel, or a hole-in-the-wall depending on your whim, desire or see #1.

6. Cook in your villa (if a villa is your desire) if you want to. Go out for dinner if you like.

7. Plan ahead at least a day for dinner, or don't. Experience flexibility.

8. Go to a beach everyday, or stay by the pool at your hotel/villa.

9. Watch US TV at every opportunity, or not. It's your vacation.

10. Seek out the places that sell days-old New York Times, or current Times Fax. Do the crosswords, or don't.

11. Bring you laptop/tablet and surf the web morning, noon and night. Or leave it behind.

12. Make sure your cell has international roaming and call your homebound friends whilst splashing in the surf to engender envy. Or leave the cell at home.

13. Charge everything on your AmEx knowing that you are getting ripped off, or use your debit card at an ATM and pay cash.

14. Wake up extra early and be the first in line at the boulangerie and bring back bread for your spouse. Or take your spouse out for breakfast.

15. Bring your iPod/streaming device and speakers, or listen to the local FM station.

16, Always rent a manual 4WD, or an automatic if you are more comfortable.

17. Bring hairdryers, curling irons and other instruments of torture, or go with the humid breezes.

18. Tip for meals, maids and massages, or not. See #1.

19. Research your villa/hotel selections and gain consensus that you have the best-of-the-best, or book on a whim and enjoy the surprise.

20. Dress for dinner, or wear cutoffs. Nobody will care except your spouse/partner.

21. When you arrive, take off your shoes, take a deep breath and become one with the island, or head out to Match for some shopping.

22. Ride a bike, go for a run or go for a walk. Or, be a beach potato.

23. Pack three checked bags, or carry-on.

24. Take your ti punch with or without ice.

25. But, please, please, please double the cash you plan bring and leave half the clothes at home!

 

[cassidain]

25. Take your ti punch avec ou sans glaçons. Vieux ou blanc.

 

[stbartshopper]

Agree with most everything but some are worth a comment.
Let's see- where does one begin-
When is it cheaper on the island to pay cash instead of credit- in some of the stores on bigger purchases?
Just leave the U.S. tv off period. Don't even think about it.
Read the papers on line or don't. Why drive to get one?
Don't be surprised with a Villa- it is too expensive and precious time to goof!
Why bring a lot of cash- everybody takes credit cards.
Hairdryers are usually supplied in both the Villas and Hotels.

 

[Bart -my real name-]

These two caught my eye:

10. Seek out the places that sell days-old New York Times, or current Times Fax. Do the crosswords, or don't.

11. Bring you laptop and surf the web morning, noon and night. Or leave it behind.


Must have been written in the days before iPads

 

[JEK]

No, most hotels have the Times Fax and you can still buy a NYT.

 

[JEK]

Agree with most everything but some are worth a comment.
Let's see- where does one begin-
When is it cheaper on the island to pay cash instead of credit- in some of the stores on bigger purchases?
Just leave the U.S. tv off period. Don't even think about it.
Read the papers on line or don't. Why drive to get one?
Don't be surprised with a Villa- it is too expensive and precious time to goof!
Why bring a lot of cash- everybody takes credit cards.
Hairdryers are usually supplied in both the Villas and Hotels.

Hop. Read closely -- these are all either or. The point of the list is that there is no "correct" or "incorrect" way to experience and enjoy the island, only your way.

 

[lloyd]

And Hop
if your landlord only takes cash - bring lots!Everybody isn't into credit cards

 

[GramChop]

Agree with most everything but some are worth a comment.
Let's see- where does one begin-
When is it cheaper on the island to pay cash instead of credit- in some of the stores on bigger purchases?
Just leave the U.S. tv off period. Don't even think about it.
Read the papers on line or don't. Why drive to get one?
Don't be surprised with a Villa- it is too expensive and precious time to goof!
Why bring a lot of cash- everybody takes credit cards.
Hairdryers are usually supplied in both the Villas and Hotels.

'Fraid not, Hopper!

 

[bkeats]

Of course it's your vacation and you can do whatever you want, but it would sadden me to hear that someone came to SBH and made these choices.

9. Watch US TV at every opportunity

11. Bring you laptop/tablet and surf the web morning, noon and night

But that's just me.

 

[JEK]

That's why I had the "or". The point of the piece (I wrote it years ago and re-post it periodically) is this: DON'T JUDGE HOW PEOPLE ENJOY THEIR HOLIDAY.


BTW, I read the NYT, WAPO and WSJ online every day on the island without any sadness, so please don't be sad for me

BTWII, my wife watches the Today every day on the island without any sadness, so please don't be sad for her either

 

[cassidain]

The point of the piece (I wrote it years ago and re-post it periodically) is this: DON'T JUDGE HOW PEOPLE ENJOY THEIR HOLIDAY.

Another tried and true good one: DON'T TRY TO REMAKE A PLACE IN ONE'S OWN IMAGE.
aka WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMANS DO.
I think that predates your list.

 

[bkeats]

I read the NYT, WSJ and FT every day too. But I was just commenting about the extreme part of your list that have

"at every opportunity" and

"morning, noon and night"

Wouldn't that be sad in your book too? No issue with keeping up on the news and some daily habits as I do some of that too, but to the exclusion of other things?

ETA: Maybe I read things to literally. :tongue:

 

[JEK]

Those habits never get in the way of the important things of the island. Another twist is we travel a lot and usually stay 3 weeks on the island, so being connected to family and home events is important to us and doesn't take way anything, but adds too it. Some of our Forum members stay 6-8 weeks during the season and being on the go from 7-12 may not be the measure of their island time that is important to them. Again, the list is an extreme either/or and is designed to evoke less judgmental responses from readers. Obviously failing this morning

 

[andynap]

1. Spend money like it is your own. It is.

2. Do what you like, when you like. It is your vacation.

3. Eat what you want, when and where you want. It is your waistline and (see #1)

4. Drink what you want when you want. If your spouse likes red and you like white, buy one bottle of each. Life is short.

5. Stay in a villa, hotel, or a hole-in-the-wall depending on your whim, desire or see #1.

6. Cook in your villa (if a villa is your desire) if you want to. Go out for dinner if you like.

7. Plan ahead at least a day for dinner, or don't. Experience flexibility.

8. Go to a beach everyday, or stay by the pool at your hotel/villa.

9. Watch US TV at every opportunity, or not. It's your vacation.

10. Seek out the places that sell days-old New York Times, or current Times Fax. Do the crosswords, or don't.

11. Bring you laptop/tablet and surf the web morning, noon and night. Or leave it behind.

12. Make sure your cell has international roaming and call your homebound friends whilst splashing in the surf to engender envy. Or leave the cell at home.

13. Charge everything on your AmEx knowing that you are getting ripped off, or use your debit card at an ATM and pay cash.

14. Wake up extra early and be the first in line at the boulangerie and bring back bread for your spouse. Or take your spouse out for breakfast.

15. Bring your iPod/streaming device and speakers, or listen to the local FM station.

16, Always rent a manual 4WD, or an automatic if you are more comfortable.

17. Bring hairdryers, curling irons and other instruments of torture, or go with the humid breezes.

18. Tip for meals, maids and massages, or not. See #1.

19. Research your villa/hotel selections and gain consensus that you have the best-of-the-best, or book on a whim and enjoy the surprise.

20. Dress for dinner, or wear cutoffs. Nobody will care except your spouse/partner.

21. When you arrive, take off your shoes, take a deep breath and become one with the island, or head out to Match for some shopping.

22. Ride a bike, go for a run or go for a walk. Or, be a beach potato.

23. Pack three checked bags, or carry-on.

24. Take your ti punch with or without ice.

25. But, please, please, please double the cash you plan bring and leave half the clothes at home!

26. Buy croissants and baguettes and freeze the leftovers or hire Phil to get up at 6 am and buy them fresh everyday or do whatever you want.

 

[JEK]

1. Spend money like it is your own. It is.

2. Do what you like, when you like. It is your vacation.

3. Eat what you want, when and where you want. It is your waistline and (see #1)

4. Drink what you want when you want. If your spouse likes red and you like white, buy one bottle of each. Life is short.

5. Stay in a villa, hotel, or a hole-in-the-wall depending on your whim, desire or see #1.

6. Cook in your villa (if a villa is your desire) if you want to. Go out for dinner if you like.

7. Plan ahead at least a day for dinner, or don't. Experience flexibility.

8. Go to a beach everyday, or stay by the pool at your hotel/villa.

9. Watch US TV at every opportunity, or not. It's your vacation.

10. Seek out the places that sell days-old New York Times, or current Times Fax. Do the crosswords, or don't.

11. Bring you laptop/tablet and surf the web morning, noon and night. Or leave it behind.

12. Make sure your cell has international roaming and call your homebound friends whilst splashing in the surf to engender envy. Or leave the cell at home.

13. Charge everything on your AmEx knowing that you are getting ripped off, or use your debit card at an ATM and pay cash.

14. Wake up extra early and be the first in line at the boulangerie and bring back bread for your spouse. Or take your spouse out for breakfast.

15. Bring your iPod/streaming device and speakers, or listen to the local FM station.

16, Always rent a manual 4WD, or an automatic if you are more comfortable.

17. Bring hairdryers, curling irons and other instruments of torture, or go with the humid breezes.

18. Tip for meals, maids and massages, or not. See #1.

19. Research your villa/hotel selections and gain consensus that you have the best-of-the-best, or book on a whim and enjoy the surprise.

20. Dress for dinner, or wear cutoffs. Nobody will care except your spouse/partner.

21. When you arrive, take off your shoes, take a deep breath and become one with the island, or head out to Match for some shopping.

22. Ride a bike, go for a run or go for a walk. Or, be a beach potato.

23. Pack three checked bags, or carry-on.

24. Take your ti punch with or without ice.

25. But, please, please, please double the cash you plan bring and leave half the clothes at home![/QUOTE]

26. If you are looking for the old Saint Barth, just go a block off of the Main Street. (credit Wendy Carlton)

 

[amyb]

Well done….

 

[cec1]

. . .
26. If you are looking for the old Saint Barth, just go a block off of the Main Street. (credit Wendy Carlton)

LOL! Merci, JEK! And my advice is that it’s best done on Sunday mornings. Aaahhhh . . . so true to old St. Barths!