usvi-on-line
Musings on a really short trip - and an FYI on hiring Rachel
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crasherino
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:57 pm
- Location: NYC
What does Rachel charge to RH? Also, do you know how many people she can take? We are going to be 6 adults, 3 children (4-7) and two infants - 11 in total - is that too many for Rachel?Lulu76 wrote:I don't mind taking a cab at the airport to get to the downtown ferry. However, if I have to go to Red Hook again, I'm hiring someone to take me. Last time we went to RH, we had nine people in the cab, plus luggage and we missed our ferry because he waited over a half hour to squeeze two more people in. We even offered to give him extra money, but because it's a set rate, he wouldn't leave. After that I have been going from downtown, but honestly in a similar situation, it's worth it to pay twice as much, especially when the rental car place closed on us.
I looked into using a private taxi one year too, and the cost is much more than just picking one up at the airport. If you have a large group, just picking one up is the way to go - you can fill the taxi and go directly to your destination (Red Hook). If you're a small group, then unfortunately you may get stuck waiting for the driver to fill the taxi, and then you get taken all over St. Thomas dropping the others off at their resorts before you get to Red Hook. Also, a private taxi is necessary if you're arriving in off hours.
Crasherino,
We had 12 (6 adults, 6 little kids), plus all our stuff and carseats. On the way there, our cab left with just our party (we filled it), on the way back, he included another couple (not part of our group) with us, and we had little kids sitting on laps. We were just going to and from the downtown ferry, so that may have factored into their decision, but I think the max they can take would be 10-14 depending on how big everyone is (kids vs. adults) and how much luggage you have.
Even if you end up sharing, there are so many of you that you will probably only pick up one other party. When we went as a couple, we were in a taxi with about 6 different parties of people, and that was a LONG ride to drop all those people off on St. Thomas resorts before we got taken to Red Hook.
We had 12 (6 adults, 6 little kids), plus all our stuff and carseats. On the way there, our cab left with just our party (we filled it), on the way back, he included another couple (not part of our group) with us, and we had little kids sitting on laps. We were just going to and from the downtown ferry, so that may have factored into their decision, but I think the max they can take would be 10-14 depending on how big everyone is (kids vs. adults) and how much luggage you have.
Even if you end up sharing, there are so many of you that you will probably only pick up one other party. When we went as a couple, we were in a taxi with about 6 different parties of people, and that was a LONG ride to drop all those people off on St. Thomas resorts before we got taken to Red Hook.
Last trip to RH did bring out some fear in me I must say...Everyone was reaching for their seatbelts in a hurry... 
But we were also short on time and trying to not miss the last ferry. And as stated, the taxi was trying to wait to fill it before leaving even though we offered to pay extra.
If time was tight I would hire Rachel, if not, I would get there, get a drink, relax, and just take the next ferry out of CA.
But we were also short on time and trying to not miss the last ferry. And as stated, the taxi was trying to wait to fill it before leaving even though we offered to pay extra. If time was tight I would hire Rachel, if not, I would get there, get a drink, relax, and just take the next ferry out of CA.
~Pam~
"Barefoot in the snow white sand
A bag of sea shells in her hand
She finally found a paradise it seems..."
"Barefoot in the snow white sand
A bag of sea shells in her hand
She finally found a paradise it seems..."
crasherino,
I think she said she could take 8 people. One time we had 7 people in her van, and with the luggage the van was packed. She even had to put some luggage between the passenger seats and the door. I can only imagine what it would've been like if we'd had one more passenger with luggage - "impossible" I would say. If your party is larger than she can handle, she will work with her associate to accommodate you all.
The cost to Red Hook is: $50 for solo, $25 pp for two, and $20 pp for three or more, I believe. If I'm wrong, someone please kindly correct me.
I had a bad ride in a regular taxi from RH to the airport. We were squeezed in a van more than usual and I was pushed against the side of the car with my arms squeezed tight together on my body - almost hard to breathe. The snaky ride took forever and I was so helplessly carsick that I wanted to jump out of the moving van. The tough ride I had may not be the norm, but we've been riding with Rachel ever since anyway, but only to RH. If we are going downtown, we just ride a regular taxi.
I think she said she could take 8 people. One time we had 7 people in her van, and with the luggage the van was packed. She even had to put some luggage between the passenger seats and the door. I can only imagine what it would've been like if we'd had one more passenger with luggage - "impossible" I would say. If your party is larger than she can handle, she will work with her associate to accommodate you all.
The cost to Red Hook is: $50 for solo, $25 pp for two, and $20 pp for three or more, I believe. If I'm wrong, someone please kindly correct me.
I had a bad ride in a regular taxi from RH to the airport. We were squeezed in a van more than usual and I was pushed against the side of the car with my arms squeezed tight together on my body - almost hard to breathe. The snaky ride took forever and I was so helplessly carsick that I wanted to jump out of the moving van. The tough ride I had may not be the norm, but we've been riding with Rachel ever since anyway, but only to RH. If we are going downtown, we just ride a regular taxi.
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greyhoundmom
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:06 pm
- Location: Columbia South Carolina
There are always six of us and we always drive with Rachel to Red Hook. $20 per person to ride in a very nice, new van with the wonderful Ms. R, have her pick you up from CA on the return, keep all your luggage while you shop, eat lunch and pick you up several hours later to head to the airport is hands down for us well worth the money.
We took a five day trip to STJ several years ago. We weren't sure if it was going to be worth it, but happily found that it was. We'd been going to STJ for a while and are able to shift over to Island Time fairly quickly and smoothly. We stayed at Maho and as we had our dinner in the pavilion with the sun setting on our first night, it already felt like we'd never left. We knew where things were and how to get around. Time gets funny down there and days are so full that leaving didn't feel any different than it ever does.
We've never thought to arrange private transportation. Just never crossed my mind. I've always enjoyed the trip to Red Hook. It helps me to slow down, switch over to Island Time and we've met a lot of very nice folks in the van. I sometimes like to sit up front and talk with the driver. Some guys prefer not to talk much but I've had some drivers who have given me a guided tour on the way to the ferry. In all of our trips there was only one when the driver stopped to drop passengers at a resort on the way to the ferry. We were pleased to get to see a bit of STT that we hadn't seen before. When there's nowhere that I have to be by any particular time for a week or more, I'm certainly not in any hurry.
The only situation I could imagine when I might think about arranging for private transportation would be if I was traveling with a large group who were unfamiliar with the islands. But I can't actually imagine that I would ever be traveling with a group like that.
People sometimes get a bit funny about cost cutting. They freely spend large amounts on airfare, villas, food and drink, then start counting nickels and dimes when it comes to taxi fares, porters' tips or the money that can be saved by renting a sedan on STT. The place for serious cost-cutting is in accomodations. The difference between an extravagant villa and a simple West Indian-style cottage is really significant.
We've never thought to arrange private transportation. Just never crossed my mind. I've always enjoyed the trip to Red Hook. It helps me to slow down, switch over to Island Time and we've met a lot of very nice folks in the van. I sometimes like to sit up front and talk with the driver. Some guys prefer not to talk much but I've had some drivers who have given me a guided tour on the way to the ferry. In all of our trips there was only one when the driver stopped to drop passengers at a resort on the way to the ferry. We were pleased to get to see a bit of STT that we hadn't seen before. When there's nowhere that I have to be by any particular time for a week or more, I'm certainly not in any hurry.
The only situation I could imagine when I might think about arranging for private transportation would be if I was traveling with a large group who were unfamiliar with the islands. But I can't actually imagine that I would ever be traveling with a group like that.
People sometimes get a bit funny about cost cutting. They freely spend large amounts on airfare, villas, food and drink, then start counting nickels and dimes when it comes to taxi fares, porters' tips or the money that can be saved by renting a sedan on STT. The place for serious cost-cutting is in accomodations. The difference between an extravagant villa and a simple West Indian-style cottage is really significant.