Cottage with a 2 year old
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CarrieRhodeIsland
Jul 20, 2008, 1:41:38 PM7/20/08
to Cinnamon Bay
I am hoping to plan a 6 night trip to Cinnamon Bay for my husband's
30th birthday in November. We vacationed in St John on our honeymoon
and stayed at a friends house in Fish Bay in 2006, and our favorite
beach to visit was Cinnamon Bay! I know I will love the location and
the beach, but am a bit nervous about travelling so far and camping,
so we will be staying in one of the Cottages. I used to camp as a kid
but not since I was about 12 years old.
I would appreciate any candid feedback about our possible trip:
1) We have a 2 year old - how smooth will staying at one of the
Cottages (Cabins?) be with a toddler???
2) I could be 3-4 months pregnant at the time of our camping vacation
- Thoughts???
3) How is the food at the restaurant at Cinnamon Bay, with a toddler
in tow, I don't envision us getting to the restaurants in Cruz Bay
more than once or twice, so we will be eating on site for most meals.
4) We were planning on going for 6 nights - too long? too short?
5) Does staying in the Cottages become too close for comfort with the
guests in the cabin next door? these are close quarters and I assume
that these walls are not sound proof... again, concerns with an
overtired vacationing toddler.
6) Is it worth the extra $$ to try and get a beachFront cottage???
Thanks so much for any help! I hope I can make this work for us!
Carrie
Rhode Island
30th birthday in November. We vacationed in St John on our honeymoon
and stayed at a friends house in Fish Bay in 2006, and our favorite
beach to visit was Cinnamon Bay! I know I will love the location and
the beach, but am a bit nervous about travelling so far and camping,
so we will be staying in one of the Cottages. I used to camp as a kid
but not since I was about 12 years old.
I would appreciate any candid feedback about our possible trip:
1) We have a 2 year old - how smooth will staying at one of the
Cottages (Cabins?) be with a toddler???
2) I could be 3-4 months pregnant at the time of our camping vacation
- Thoughts???
3) How is the food at the restaurant at Cinnamon Bay, with a toddler
in tow, I don't envision us getting to the restaurants in Cruz Bay
more than once or twice, so we will be eating on site for most meals.
4) We were planning on going for 6 nights - too long? too short?
5) Does staying in the Cottages become too close for comfort with the
guests in the cabin next door? these are close quarters and I assume
that these walls are not sound proof... again, concerns with an
overtired vacationing toddler.
6) Is it worth the extra $$ to try and get a beachFront cottage???
Thanks so much for any help! I hope I can make this work for us!
Carrie
Rhode Island
Jane Schiralli
Jul 21, 2008, 7:07:17 AM7/21/08
to cinna...@googlegroups.com
Carrie: The last 2 years I have gone to Cinnamon Bay there have been lots of children and Toddlers and they have a ball. The years before that didn't seem to be to many. I go in the winter so most are in school. The cottages are great. The food at the camp is very good but not sure about children's menu since I have never brought any little ones with me. I stay 2 weeks because 1 week goes too fast. However, make sure you bring plenty of bug repellent and spray because at times it can be very bad especially for little ones. Try to get cottage 7. It is right behind the bathrooms and still one of the cheapest. If you get the so called Beach Front, (7 has a great view of the water, we stay there) it is too far from the bathrooms and water. I personally wouldn't stay there. If you want a refridgerator go for cabin 8 and if not available ask for a refridge in 7. $15.00 extra. They supply a cooler which you can fill with ice. Whatever your pleasure. We make reservations a year in advance so you might have trouble getting 7. Give it a try. Good luck. About being pregnant, I don't know. My children are all grown. HEHE!!! However want to take my grandchildren maybe next year.
watergirl52
Jul 27, 2008, 2:43:15 PM7/27/08
to Cinnamon Bay
Hey Carrie,
Firstly, I commend you for traveling with your toddler. I started
traveling when my kids were 3 & 2. It may be initially tough because
very few places in this country are child friendly. However, they (the
kids) learn quickly to be good travelers. They learn to sleep anywhere
and to take things in stride. By the time mine were 8 & 9 they were
packing themselves and taking care of their own luggage. Also they
could find their way around almost any airport or bus terminal.
Now to answer your questions:
1)Staying at a cottage with the baby should be no problem. But I
probably wouldn't recommend tenting it. I would suggest a beach view
cottage #8 because of the fridge. As Jane said #7 is closer to the
bath house and would be better if as she said you can rent a fridge.
Otherwise buying ice everyday to keep the baby's milk cold could get
to be a hassle.
2) 3-4 months pregnant? Definitely get a cabin near the bathrooms!
3) The food at the T'ree Lizzard lounge is ok. The kid's menu is
your typical hot dogs burgers etc. I would suggest you stop at the
Starfish Market in Cruz bay and pick up some essentials for yourselves
and your child.
4) I usually stay 6 nights and it never seems long enough.
5)Even though the cottages share a wall they are very private. They
are more like concrete bunkers than cottages. I have never heard any
noise coming from next door. I wouldn't worry about you child
bothering the neighbors.
6) Definitely not worth getting the beachfront cottage, especially
since it is so far from the Bath House.
In case you're concerned the beach at Cinnamon is the perfect place
for a child to learn to swim. The waters are calm and there are no
sudden drop offs.
To my kids this is their favorite place in the world. They are now
BIG and on their own but we still get down there together regularly. I
hope your kid(s) find it just as magical.
watergirl52
Firstly, I commend you for traveling with your toddler. I started
traveling when my kids were 3 & 2. It may be initially tough because
very few places in this country are child friendly. However, they (the
kids) learn quickly to be good travelers. They learn to sleep anywhere
and to take things in stride. By the time mine were 8 & 9 they were
packing themselves and taking care of their own luggage. Also they
could find their way around almost any airport or bus terminal.
Now to answer your questions:
1)Staying at a cottage with the baby should be no problem. But I
probably wouldn't recommend tenting it. I would suggest a beach view
cottage #8 because of the fridge. As Jane said #7 is closer to the
bath house and would be better if as she said you can rent a fridge.
Otherwise buying ice everyday to keep the baby's milk cold could get
to be a hassle.
2) 3-4 months pregnant? Definitely get a cabin near the bathrooms!
3) The food at the T'ree Lizzard lounge is ok. The kid's menu is
your typical hot dogs burgers etc. I would suggest you stop at the
Starfish Market in Cruz bay and pick up some essentials for yourselves
and your child.
4) I usually stay 6 nights and it never seems long enough.
5)Even though the cottages share a wall they are very private. They
are more like concrete bunkers than cottages. I have never heard any
noise coming from next door. I wouldn't worry about you child
bothering the neighbors.
6) Definitely not worth getting the beachfront cottage, especially
since it is so far from the Bath House.
In case you're concerned the beach at Cinnamon is the perfect place
for a child to learn to swim. The waters are calm and there are no
sudden drop offs.
To my kids this is their favorite place in the world. They are now
BIG and on their own but we still get down there together regularly. I
hope your kid(s) find it just as magical.
watergirl52
jetm...@gmail.com
Jul 30, 2008, 6:24:52 PM7/30/08
to Cinnamon Bay
Dear Carrie,
Your toddler will love Cinnamon Bay! I was down there last Christmas.
I lived in a tent next to 2 familie's each with children. I think the
youngest child was roughly 3 years old, and they all had a ball and
loved every day!!
If you decide on a cottage I wouldn't worry about noice. Grown ups and
children seem to be quiet in the evenings...at least people were for
the 9 nights I spent there! Your toddler will be sound asleep ...tired
from all the playing during the day! I would always chose a tent, but
it IS a bit more of a 'hassle' - especially when you are pregnant!
My grandson is 2 years and 6 months and he is just back home from 16
days in Greece with his parents...they were in a cottage on the beach
and had 16 wonderful days! They live in Denmark and had to change
flights 5 times to get back and forth, and my grandson was the only
one not tired when they were back home o)
The only thing I will want to remind you is, there is only cold water
in the bathrooms!! It makes things a bit more difficult but when you
know before you get there it's not really a big issue!
Regarding the restaurant...the food is great...could be a bit more
varied, but for 6 nights I am sure you will be fine, and they also
have menu's for children! When I was there for Christmas they were
nice, and very flexible!
Very best of luck...I envy you SO much. I could live in Cinnamon Bay
for a long time!!
Cheers
Jette/Ireland
Your toddler will love Cinnamon Bay! I was down there last Christmas.
I lived in a tent next to 2 familie's each with children. I think the
youngest child was roughly 3 years old, and they all had a ball and
loved every day!!
If you decide on a cottage I wouldn't worry about noice. Grown ups and
children seem to be quiet in the evenings...at least people were for
the 9 nights I spent there! Your toddler will be sound asleep ...tired
from all the playing during the day! I would always chose a tent, but
it IS a bit more of a 'hassle' - especially when you are pregnant!
My grandson is 2 years and 6 months and he is just back home from 16
days in Greece with his parents...they were in a cottage on the beach
and had 16 wonderful days! They live in Denmark and had to change
flights 5 times to get back and forth, and my grandson was the only
one not tired when they were back home o)
The only thing I will want to remind you is, there is only cold water
in the bathrooms!! It makes things a bit more difficult but when you
know before you get there it's not really a big issue!
Regarding the restaurant...the food is great...could be a bit more
varied, but for 6 nights I am sure you will be fine, and they also
have menu's for children! When I was there for Christmas they were
nice, and very flexible!
Very best of luck...I envy you SO much. I could live in Cinnamon Bay
for a long time!!
Cheers
Jette/Ireland
Dugg
Aug 10, 2008, 8:17:30 PM8/10/08
to Cinnamon Bay
Hi
1. We’ve seen plenty of small children in the cottages.
2. As suggested above, being near the bathroom might be a good
idea.
3. We have generally only eaten at the ‘Tre Lizard at breakfast
time, where there is a pretty
standardized fare - e.g. scrambled eggs for us. Probably breakfast in
cottage or tent might be better for the child. But then we always
have a vehicle - gives us a chance to see the rest of the island, shop
when we please, eat in town, etc. It’s not a good idea to depend on
taxi service (except into Cruz Bay and back again) and the cost piles
up. I theory you can use public transportation, but in practice don’t
count on it.
4. Certainly 6 nights is not too long - but there is no mention
of what time of year you’ll be there - it can get quite hot
from May on. This is a good reason for using a cottage,
since they have fans and are totally screened in.
5. There is very little noise pollution at the campground, either
in the tents or the cottages. The only problem you might have is with
neighbors in a cottage unit not respecting your personal space (as
happened last year in the beach-side cottage (#10). In general,
campers generally have much better manners than the general population
(in MHO).
6. The advantage of the beach-front cottage is that you are about
twenty-five steps (most of them in the sand) before you’re in the
water. As to disadvantages - it’s a long haul with your baggage in
the cart from the parking lot, and going back is uphill, and people
who stay there tend to return next year - often registering for next
year when they depart. We tried to do that when we left in very early
June, and couldn’t get more than three days in a row.
The bathrooms are about midway along the row of cottages and not that
hard to get to from any of them - they are lit up at night but don’t
forget a flashlight because darkness falls with a crash in the
tropics. The early cottages are almost as close to the bath house
that serves the beach - but its facilities are just the same. (This
is the bath house you would use in the tent area. And the showers are
cold showers - principally used to wash the salt off after swimming,
Carry soap and shampoo that works in cold water.
The tree frog chorus is better in the tents and there is more
privacy. You will need ice though - the cottages have a small fridge
and a propane stove (rather than a camp stove). Suggest you bring
some decent ice cube trays - theirs are pretty wimpy. It’s also a
long haul for ice from the store. The trails near the tents get quite
wet/muddy in the rain, and there almost always is some (but the same
thing is true in the Rockies!) The tree frog chorus was better this
year because there was more recent rain fall, but I’m sure the chorus
was better in the tent area.
A really good bug spray is top priority (especially if you go out to
the beach at night).
In general, bare sites are the first to fill up (but there aren’t
many of them), with cottages second and tents last.
You can’t miss at Cinnamon Bay!
Peace
Dugg & Chris
1. We’ve seen plenty of small children in the cottages.
2. As suggested above, being near the bathroom might be a good
idea.
3. We have generally only eaten at the ‘Tre Lizard at breakfast
time, where there is a pretty
standardized fare - e.g. scrambled eggs for us. Probably breakfast in
cottage or tent might be better for the child. But then we always
have a vehicle - gives us a chance to see the rest of the island, shop
when we please, eat in town, etc. It’s not a good idea to depend on
taxi service (except into Cruz Bay and back again) and the cost piles
up. I theory you can use public transportation, but in practice don’t
count on it.
4. Certainly 6 nights is not too long - but there is no mention
of what time of year you’ll be there - it can get quite hot
from May on. This is a good reason for using a cottage,
since they have fans and are totally screened in.
5. There is very little noise pollution at the campground, either
in the tents or the cottages. The only problem you might have is with
neighbors in a cottage unit not respecting your personal space (as
happened last year in the beach-side cottage (#10). In general,
campers generally have much better manners than the general population
(in MHO).
6. The advantage of the beach-front cottage is that you are about
twenty-five steps (most of them in the sand) before you’re in the
water. As to disadvantages - it’s a long haul with your baggage in
the cart from the parking lot, and going back is uphill, and people
who stay there tend to return next year - often registering for next
year when they depart. We tried to do that when we left in very early
June, and couldn’t get more than three days in a row.
The bathrooms are about midway along the row of cottages and not that
hard to get to from any of them - they are lit up at night but don’t
forget a flashlight because darkness falls with a crash in the
tropics. The early cottages are almost as close to the bath house
that serves the beach - but its facilities are just the same. (This
is the bath house you would use in the tent area. And the showers are
cold showers - principally used to wash the salt off after swimming,
Carry soap and shampoo that works in cold water.
The tree frog chorus is better in the tents and there is more
privacy. You will need ice though - the cottages have a small fridge
and a propane stove (rather than a camp stove). Suggest you bring
some decent ice cube trays - theirs are pretty wimpy. It’s also a
long haul for ice from the store. The trails near the tents get quite
wet/muddy in the rain, and there almost always is some (but the same
thing is true in the Rockies!) The tree frog chorus was better this
year because there was more recent rain fall, but I’m sure the chorus
was better in the tent area.
A really good bug spray is top priority (especially if you go out to
the beach at night).
In general, bare sites are the first to fill up (but there aren’t
many of them), with cottages second and tents last.
You can’t miss at Cinnamon Bay!
Peace
Dugg & Chris
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