Can u make an early flight from St john

patr · Post by **patr** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:56 pm

We usually overnight the night before a early flight on St Thomas. But this year I'm contemplating staying an additional day in the villa and heading over to St Thomas early in the a.m. So my question is this - how hard would it be to drop off the Jeep get a ferry then cab to the airport - coukd we make our 9 a.m. flight? What if the airline reschedules and changes the departure time to 8? Is this doable?

Diana2 · Post by **Diana2** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:04 pm

9AM is doable if you have a private taxi waiting for you at Red Hook. 8AM is not doable since the first ferry from STJ is at 6AM. But you could take a private water taxi at about 5AM and that would work. It would cost about the same amount as a hotel room on STT.

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:16 pm

It is doable but I pretty sure that I would stay on STT. Having to get up so darn early and be rushing and/or stressed about the ferry leaving on time and traffic on STT is just not how I want to end a relaxing trip.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:37 pm

9am is fine - no need for a private taxi (I have taken the old 8:30am AA flight no problem and will be on the 8:15am AA flight to Miami on Wednesday and will not be having a private taxi) the 8am is 100% not doable.

Pia

patr · Post by **patr** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:35 pm

Hmmm, I really, really want to stay on St John just one more night! My hubby is dead set against it! He does NOT want to deal w/ car rental return, early morning taxi and ferry hassle with little time to spare. I am scared that the airline will change our departure time at the last minute - it's happened before.

So can I keep the rented Jeep past 9 or 10 am? Would like to stay on St John through dinnertime and ferry over in the evening. But don't know what to do w/ luggage. I know Connections will not be open that late on a Saturday - any suggestions or ideas? I just hate giving up the Jeep and getting on the ferry Saturday morning when our flight doesn't leave until Sunday morning.

I just have to stretch out my time on StJ !

ToonMann · Post by **ToonMann** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:47 pm

When we turned in our STJ rental car, we had a few hours before catching the ferry. Since we had rented our condo through Caribbean Villas, we were able to store our luggage at their office for this period.

TM

Diana2 · Post by **Diana2** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:57 pm

Where are you staying on STT the night before you fly home? Why not rent a room for your last night at the Best Western Emerald Beach by the airport. I've heard that their beach (and restaurant) is very nice and you could enjoy your last day and night on STT. I haven't been there but I have seen reports from others that they enjoyed their last day and evening there. Then the morning of departure you call a cab and you're right there at the airport. It's not STJ but, hey, it might be nice??

SOonthebeach · Post by **SOonthebeach** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:55 pm

Ditto toonman. Caribbean Villas was nice enough to store our luggage for us the last day as well. Maybe other villa mgt companies do this, too? We turned in the jeep at 10 am, but had most of the day to wander Cruz Bay (we had a late afternoon flight).

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:58 pm

I wouldn't mind having to spend the last night on STT, only because there are so many great restaurants. Our flights are always late in the day and we can only get away for short periods of time, so it has never worked out.

patr · Post by **patr** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:22 pm

I guess I will give it up and make the final decision to stay the last night on St Thomas. Travel day is stressful enough and I recently missed a flight out of Buffalo - entirely my fault and dear hubby was quite pissed at me. I was leisurely shopping and killing time (time I DID NOT have because I was still set on Central time) AND I had lost my cell phone prior to leaving home, so he could not call me. So there is my dear dear husband franticly pacing at the gate as the plane boards, he has airline staffers searching the nearby ladies rooms, thinking I must be sick or passed out! They kept trying to get him to board but he would not leave me. When I finally appeared at the gate he was at stroke- out level, the plane was pulling out of the gate. Uh-oh!
HOLY CRAPOLA!

Anyway -
I've already reserved a room for the front end of the trip at BW Emerald Beach since our arrival time is 9:30 p.m. While this is not my favorite hotel, it is adequate and I LOVE how close it is to the airport after a loooonng travel day.

For the final night, I am vacillating between BW and Secret Harbour, mainly because we love the Blue Moon Restaurant and the sunsets at SH, but I do love the proximity of BW to the airport.
I soooo need to make a decision and a reservation before availability runs out!

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:30 pm

If you keep the car to a time past your deadline, they will charge you an extra day. Aren't you already willing to pay for that extra day of car rental?

We use the Emerald Beach fairly often. It's a good hotel. How about this -- Keep the car until late in the day. Finish up at Trunk where you can take a shower. Turn in the car and catch an evening ferry. Taxi over to EB and check in. Then you can eat supper there or any number of other great STT restaurants. The next morning you can roll out of bed, grab some breakfast, take the 5 minute taxi ride and be on your way. That sounds like a good "reentry" plan to me. Divers call that a safety stop. It helps avoid decompression problems.

In this case it is really recompression as you return to the pressures of real life.

If you need me to be your guide and travel agent, send me a ticket.

patr · Post by **patr** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:37 pm

I guess I will give it up and make the final decision to stay the last night on St Thomas. Travel day is stressful enough and I recently missed a flight out of Buffalo - entirely my fault and dear hubby was quite pissed at me. I was leisurely shopping and killing time (time I DID NOT have because I was still set on Central time) AND I had lost my cell phone prior to leaving home, so he could not call me. So there is my dear dear husband franticly pacing at the gate as the plane boards, he has airline staffers searching the nearby ladies rooms, thinking I must be sick or passed out! They kept trying to get him to board but he would not leave me. When I finally appeared at the gate he was at stroke- out level, the plane was pulling out of the gate. Uh-oh!
HOLY CRAPOLA!

Anyway -
I've already reserved a room for the front end of the trip at BW Emerald Beach since our arrival time is 9:30 p.m. While this is not my favorite hotel, it is adequate and I LOVE how close it is to the airport after a loooonng travel day.

For the final night, I am vacillating between BW and Secret Harbour, mainly because we love the Blue Moon Restaurant and the sunsets at SH, but I do love the proximity of BW to the airport.
I soooo need to make a decision and a reservation before availability runs out!

patr · Post by **patr** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:56 pm

Sorry for the double post - darn iPad keeps losing its connection.

mkb · Post by **mkb** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:13 pm

Patr -- I have the same delimina and am wondering what you ended up doing. I'm looking at March travel dates. Like you, I prefer not to spend the night on STT, but it might be the most logical thing. I have 9:30 PM arrival time and 9:15 AM departure. I have pretty much conceded to stay first night in STT. Looking at options for departure date.

Do you mind sharing what rate you received from BW? What I see online is more than I want to pay. Feel free to PM.

How often does American Airlines change departure times? Consensus here on the board seems to be 6 AM ferry from STJ and 9:15 AM flight is doable. Earlier flight is not doable.

Appreciate all comments and suggestions.

Thanks.

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:04 pm

We have had good luck getting our best rate from BWEB by calling them on the phone. It may only be $10 or $15 per night, but that is one round of drinks.

JIM

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