Talk me out of going back to st john

This is a special occasion. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to go to a place that’s meaningful to you. St John is such a gem. So pristine. Plus, you can ferry over to STT and Tortola.

Since you asked for other suggestions:

I love the Dominican Republic and Puerto Vallarta. They’re just as lush and the water is as clear as St John.

If you’re wanting pristine and secluded, check out Samana in the DR. The area on the Caribbean coast near La Romana has a few all inclusives and isn’t as crowded or overwhelming as Puerto Plata or Punta Cana. However, Punta Cana has one of the best collections of resorts in the world.

Cayo Levantado Samana

There’s so many different ways to do Pto Vallarta. There’s all sorts of all inclusives in Nuevo Vallarta in the north or you can VRBO or Air BNB in the Zona Romantica. There’s also standard hotels in the ZR.

I love both of these destinations because there’s so much to do. Good shopping, dining, and plenty of excursions. (Samana is more secluded. It’s very quiet but very pristine.) The beaches are great too.

You could go to the French Rivera. Or Portugal. Or Barca. Or Costa Rica.

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We just loved the beaches, the freedom, the aimless roaming, the vibe in general.

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Is this what you are wanting to do again?
Without knowing what experience you want, it is hard to provide recommendations.

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We’ve not really been anywhere-

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Lots of great places everywhere. But... see point above.
How long are you wanting to stay?
What activities?
Etc.

I wouldn't talk you out of St. John. I liked it alot. I would go back, which is not something I say about alot of places.
Most places, when I leave, I think... that was fun, but I don't need to come back.
However, there have been very few places that I've gone that made me disappointed that I went there.
So, you almost can't go wrong when going on a new adventure.

Off the top of my head.
Maui has a bit of that St. John's vibe, but it's a little more touristy and crowded.
Less beaches, but more things to do.
Haleakala, Road to Hana, getting to swim under waterfalls, Whale Tours, Driving along the beach, golf in Wailea, sitting on the beaches, watching the nutjobs surf JAWS at Pe'ahi beach, Luau in Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalui/Kahakuloa.

I didn't go to the Main island, O'ahu, or Kauai.
But Kauai is going to be very similar to St. John. Super laid back, not much tourist things to do.
If the St. John feel is what you are looking for.

I'd go back to St. John but it's one of my favorite places on earth.

You can take the ferry to Jost for a day trip. You can also charter a boat and captain for the day and do Virgin Gorda, The WIllie T, snorkeling and have lunch at Pirates Bight on Norman Island or on VG or at Cooper Island.

Have you looked into Peter Island? I think it might fit in your budget and it is a first class resort. Those little bungalows on the beach are sublime. Peter Island is a short boat trip from Tortola.

As I'm sure you know you'll need your passport to go to the BVI and there are fees to visit.

We were waiting for you to chime in

this topic was like a bat signal for him.

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But, is the DR safe

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I was shocked by how good their highway infrastructure was in getting from the cruise port in La Romana to our excursion destination. DR is one of the better developed countries in the Caribbean.

They thrive on tourism and kicking Haiti’s arse. Those two motivations keep the country from deteriorating into corruption.

Anywhere you stay within the tourist/cruise zones are very safe. We walked all over Samana town the day we were there on our cruise. I never felt unsafe for a minute.

@VABuckeye is your man for that.

We've used Moorings in the past and had good experiences. Get a power cat with a captain and enjoy!

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Anywhere else we should consider before we lock down a repeat trip?

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If you like to roam and explore, you may want to check out Eleuthera. It is very low key, friendly people, beautiful water and deserted beaches. Depending on where you are flying from, you can easily do that trip for $8k for a week. I've been to St. John twice and Eleuthera twice. There are similarities and differences, but for my personality I prefer Eleuthera.