Best on island Jeep rentals - STJ

[dr_trousers]

We will be on St John Monday Dec 29 for 7 nights. Who has the best deals on island for a jeep rental. We would like to find one that lets us take the top down, but affordability and reliably is more important. Thanks!

[Lulu76]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that no one on STJ will let you take the top off the Jeep. Someone told me that someone on STT will, but I can't remember who it is.

I have found the best deals with Cool Breeze and Paris Car Rental, but in the past I have worked with St. John Car Rental. STJ Car Rental isn't the cheapest, but they are good to work with, have great vehicles and in-town parking if the lot's not full.

I think most of the car companies are pretty comparable, and everyone has their favorite. I know we're saving about $100 to rent from Paris, but that is their off-season rate. I don't get there until Saturday and I haven't worked with them before, but so far it's been a pleasant experience.

[lazylane]

I'm not sure you will find a rental company that lets you remove the top! We have always used Courtesy Car Rental. Excellent folks to deal with! Very friendly and you can use their lot to park in when in town.

www.courtesycarretnal.com

[Xislandgirl]

I will agree with previous posters that you can not take the jeep top off with a rental on STJ.
I think you will alos find that the rates really don't change that much from company to company.

my suggestions:
BOOK NOW! Do NOT wait. when companies run out of cars, that is it.
Find a company that lets you park in their lot, it just makes it easier

[toes in the sand]

I have always used L&L Jeep rental http://www.bookajeep.com Levi and Kurt have always been very professional and courteous. Lowest or competitive rates. You cannot take the top down though.

[dr_trousers]

Can you take off the doors?

[Gromit]

I've used STj car rental for 10 years. They are great to to work with.

Top off the Jeep is a NO NO on island for one main reason: Sudden showers are very common and can soak the inside of your vehicle thoroughly.

With the high humidity and the fact that things just don't dry out very quickly it's a recipe for mold and reduces the quality and life of the vehicle interior.

The other thing is the sun can be so brutal that you really do need the shade. You are, after all, 14 degrees off the equator. So it's HOT and humid.

In the older jeeps you can zip the windows off or down but the top has to stay up.

Occassionally a renter will try to game the system and try to take the top off. But they quickly find that STJ is a VERY small island and you will get a call from the rental co. telling you to put the top up or risk losing your deposit.

[dr_trousers]

Actually, in talking with the wife, she reminded me that last time we were there, we rented from someone in town who let us park in their spots at night. Anyone know who does that?

[nothintolose]

Have used Conrad Sutton (once first trip) and Courtesy Car Rental ever since. We like where Courtesy is located for parking in their lot.

We have NEVER had a single problem renting from Courtesy and Greg has even let us keep the car later than the return time if it wasn't rented right after.

We have seen other members of our groups have problems when they rented through other places (whether to save money or because Courtesy had no cars left).

[Gromit]

Almost all the rental co's allow parking for their vehicles in their lots.

If no space is avaialble then you can go to slimman's parking lot and pay or try your luck in town.

[Pianogrl]

We love Courtesy Car Rental....great service, friendly people, reliable, professional, great location for parking. We never lacked for a parking space there in Cruz Bay. There are alot of others mentioned that are very good recommendations also from posters here.

www.courtesycarrental.com

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

We have always used Conrad and have never had a problem. In fact, we've been extremely pleased with their Jeeps and service. You can park in their lot when you are in town.

[mahojim]

We rented from Dependable Jeep Rental on STT for the first time this year. It was perfect. They picked us up at the airport, took us back to their office to finalize paperwork, then gave us a map to head on to Red Hook. On the way, we stopped at a supermarket for provisions, then hit the barge. It was GREAT not having to deal with loading/unloading luggage until we got to our villa on STJ, and there was a spot on the top deck to buy beer&drinks for the short trip. Mmmm-chilly ones!!!
I highly recommend that option, as your vacation starts as soon as you get off of the plane!
Smiles-
Jimmy

[Pickle]

We like St. John Car Rental but we've heard good things about Courtesy, Conrad & Sutton and Penn's from the folks on this board. For us, time of returning a jeep is often pretty important since we normally take an afternoon ferry to STT. They all have different drop-off times - some want it back by 10 or 10:30 a.m. and others (like St. John Car Rental) by noon.

Whatever you decide, you should reserve your jeep ASAP, I would say, since December is next month.

[Beach Blondie]

We will be traveling to STJ for the first time in December. What are the pros and cons of renting a jeep on STT or waiting till we get to STJ? We arrive at 4:30 pm at STT and don't fly out till 3:30 pm when we return.