From Group Chats to Caribbean Cocktails: Our Escape to the U.S. Virgin Islands

Come along as we explore the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) - Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas and Cruz Bay, St John Island.

In case you didn’t know, the USVI are most famous for their beautiful white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters, and its friendly people.

And, if you don’t believe me … Book it and see for yourself!

No passport required, if you’re a US citizen.

Where We Stayed:

Planning a girls’ trip is easy and picking a place to stay that accommodates six ladies is even easier, said no one ever! First, we were considering a weekend stay at an Airbnb, but then we got to thinking about how we were going to move about, transportation wise, on the island and immediately we realized the challenges we could potentially face before even arriving in Saint Thomas. Not to mention, the Airbnb would require us to make a trip to the local food market to fill the fridge and cabinets for the duration of our stay, which was going to be four days and three nights.

After a brief text conversation, it was decided that we would stay at the Mafolie Hotel, because they had a villa that would accommodate the size of our group comfortably, and breakfast was included in our room rate. It was a win-win!

The Mafolie Hotel, which was founded in 1952, sits at 866 feet above sea level, and it has the most amazing view of the harbor from sunrise to sunset.

Isn’t this view amazing?! Now, imagine waking up to this view every morning - It’s breathtaking to say the least … And, at the end of the day, it was this view that sold us!

My Thoughts on the Mafolie Hotel:

We stayed in their two bedroom villa which came with two king beds and a sofa bed. The villa also came with a full kitchen, dining area, washer/dryer, two full baths, and a balcony that could be accessed by either the front bedroom or the kitchen area. The beds were comfortable and we all got a good nights rest, as there is absolutely no noise to disturb you at night.

We enjoyed our stay at the Mafolie Hotel and the staff was very accommodating making sure we had no issues during our stay.

Please note: If you found this hotel on TripAdvisor, please be advised the pool area does not look like the photos. During our weekend stay, there was no pool bar or tables with umbrellas. They did have the loungers and a couple of tables set up, but if you’re looking for what’s shown in the photos, that you will not see.

Also, if you have issues going up and down steps, this hotel may be a challenge for you.

Places We Visited:

Granted we were there for four days (Saturday to Tuesday), our time to explore the island was cut down to two full days. This was only because we arrived at different times on the island, leaving enough time on day one for a celebratory toast and dinner. And on day four, we had to be at the airport three hours early to clear both customs and the TSA checkpoints at 11 AM. So, this was definitely a super quick girls’ trip!

Before I talk about the places we visited, I think it’s even more important to share how we decided to move about on the island during our stay.

Locals will give you their honest opinion and they’ll highly recommend that you rent a vehicle to explore the island. But, if that isn’t an option for you, there are more than enough taxis/vans to get you to your destination.

I did not do any research on car rentals, because coming from the states, we drive on the right side of the road, and in Saint Thomas and Saint John they all drive on the left side of the road. I didn’t think there was enough time for me to get acclimated to the change in driving conditions.

The USVI does not have Uber or Lyft services available, so you must rely on their transportation system, if you choose not to rent a car. They could offer a flat rate, but the drivers we hired charged us per person at a rate of $9-15. You can easily spend around $60 per person, per day on transportation.

During our stay in the USVI, we visited:

• Coki Beach, Saint Thomas

• Trunk Bay Beach, Saint John

To get to Saint John, we took the ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay, and we paid $9.15, one way. When we reached Cruz Bay, we paid $9 each to take a taxi to Trunk Bay Beach. Round trip total per person, $36.30, plus tip.

Coki Beach, Saint Thomas

Trunk Bay Beach, Saint John

Places We Dined:

One thing about us, we love to dine at the local hotspots! Here’s a list of the places we visited during our stay on the island:

• Mafolie Hotel & Restaurant: Dining at Mafolie’s was a no-brainer, because it was onsite at the hotel — We dined at Mafolie’s during our entire stay. Here we enjoyed their pre fixed breakfast, which included scrambled eggs, a strip of bacon, two sausages, and a couple pieces of pineapple. Unlimited coffee and orange juice. They also had cold cereal for guest on the go! We also enjoyed their mahi fish tacos, garlic bread and tempura style cauliflower with Asian chili sauce.

• Indigo 4: We came across this restaurant while sightseeing in Yacht Haven. Here we enjoyed their lobster Mac & cheese, salmon, and their passion fruit cheesecake!

• Sibs on the Mountain: To get to Sib’s on the Mountain, the ladies and I decided to save our money, and walk the steep, winding road … which was supposed to be about a half mile or so from the hotel, according to the bartender at Mafolie’s. Here we enjoyed their tender BBQ ribs, mozzarella & pepperoni sticks, and chickpea stir fry with coconut rice. Chef’s kiss!

• New Ashley’s Restaurant: Marie at VI Taxi, recommended that we check out this local gem before leaving the island. New Ashley’s is just steps from the airport. Here you’ll find traditional dishes like goat water, stewed chicken, and a wide variety of pates.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

Powerful Alone: A Woman's Solo Journey To Washington, D.C.

On March 30th, I went on a 2.5-hour scenic road trip from Philadelphia to Washington DC to experience their highly anticipated cherry blossom festival, which is also said to be “one of the world’s greatest celebrations of spring”.

The Road Trip:

Leaving Philadelphia at 7:30 am, I relied heavily on Apple Maps to guide me to my first destination in Washington DC, which was a parking spot, so I didn’t have to worry about navigating through that DC traffic or being unsure about how to move about tourist areas with my car. Preparing in advance, I prepaid for a parking spot through Spot Hero, an app that lets you find and reserve parking in 300+ major cities in the US and Canada. The rates are also pretty good, too, compared to what you would pay at a parking garage. Using Spot Hero also ensured a hassle-free start to my day, because it was one less thing I had to worry about on my solo trip.

Once I parked my car, I took a short ten-minute walk to Uncaged Mimosas, a hidden gem for brunch enthusiasts located at 300 Florida Avenue NW. From where I parked, the walk was very walkable, because it was all flat with no obstructions to make the walk there a challenge.

Brunch at Uncaged Mimosas:

I arrived at Uncaged Mimosas for my 11 AM reservation and I was warmly welcomed by the hostess. I was initially seated across from the bar, but after struggling to get comfortable in my seat, India, the bartender, found a spot for me to sit at the bar. And before I move on, let me explain why I had such a hard time getting comfortable. For starters, I have hips, therefore a short seating area with a back, just doesn’t work for me. I found myself constantly sliding to the point where I had to use the table leg, as a way to keep myself up. I must say, if anyone was watching, it would’ve been a sight to see! Luckily, the bar stools did not come with a back attached.

Now moving on, instead of giving their namesake a try, I ventured beyond the mimosa menu and indulged in a refreshing strawberry mango margarita with a sugared rim, made with Casamigos Blanco. The drink was absolutely delicious! Being the foodie that I am, I ordered their shrimp and grits, which were creamy and well-seasoned, and I also tried their grilled buffalo garlic wings, all served promptly and bursting with flavor.

Exploring the Cherry Blossom Festival and Beyond:

After brunch, I requested a ride through the Lyft app to the Tidal Basin on the Maine Avenue side, where the cherry blossoms painted a picturesque scene. The pink and white blooms mesmerized me, setting the tone for a day of inspiring sights. From there, I headed over to the Lincoln Memorial where the sky was filled with colorful kites, in all shapes and sizes. On the stage, rhythmic beats could be heard from the performers' drums, creating quite a vibrant atmosphere. The weather was ideal for both the kites and the leisure walk that I went on to take in all of the sights.

During my leisure walk, I came across the United States Botanical Garden, which was open to the public. I walked through the garden, but there really wasn’t too much to see, and I’m going to assume that was because it’s too early in the spring season. There weren’t too many blooms and the garden itself was pretty scarce.

Wishing that I planned it out a little better, it would’ve been nice to visit one of the museums - But although free, a ticket is required. So, no last-minute tickets were an option on this day! But note to self, secure a ticket or two in advance, if you should decide to visit DC again in the future.

To end my solo adventure in DC, I requested a Lyft ride back to my car, and it was at this moment that my day filled with exploration, beauty, and new discoveries had ended.

But I must say, I truly enjoyed my time in Washington, D.C. I arrived a little before a 11 AM and I was back on the road by 4 PM. From brunch to the Tidal Basin to walking the beautiful grounds, it was all an enjoyable experience, to say the least. There was definitely a crowd and that was to be expected, especially with all of the kites. It was definitely a sight to see and something I can see myself doing again in the future.