Private Taxi -- Rachel

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

I agree with GHM. We just love her. I hope I never have a bad experience like that, but I suppose it could happen to anyone! Speaking of which, I need to contact her and see if she can get us in when we hit St. Thomas on a cruise next month. I definatly want to spend max time on St. John. (and not on an "excursion".

[Splasher54]

We have used both private and regular taxi on our trips to St john. Our first trip we used Christopher and he was excellent. We were traveling with 3 other couples. The second trip, we used him again and did private water taxi. That was before they built the new ferry terminal and it was a breeze, however Christopher sent someone else for us. We saw him at the airport and he said he would pick us up for the return trip. However we were met by a safari taxi. We didn't call Christopher again. We tried Rachel on our next visit and she was right there for us at the airport on time! We had told her we were fine with having others go with us to Red Hook and we had a second couple join us. We filled out a sheet with our details of return and left it with her, but no one was there when we got off the ferry for our return trip. After a couple of calls, someone did get us to the airport (Rachel made the arrangements) and all was well. Our last trip (Jan) I just never got around to making arrangements and we made out fine on the way over. On the way back, we had a rather worn cab, 12 people and luggage piled on the laps of several passengers. No A/C and the most roundabout/long trip to the airport I have ever taken. Private next time!

[Barney&barbara]

In the many years we have been going to St John we have always taken the public taxi ... We ALWAYS meet people on the taxi who love stl john and love to meet people and hey if we miss the ferry we have a nice cold carib with our new friends ...no worries

[toes in the sand]

I have never taken a private taxi so I can't compare it to a regular cab.
Our experience has always been positive with the regular cab. Our wait has never been more than a few minutes for the cab to fill enough to leave for the ferry. We have never been cramped for space and the luggage has always been loaded into the back of the van and not on laps. The AC has always worked fine and haven't experienced a dirty, sweaty cab yet. We have never stopped to drop off anywhere on the way. I find it interesting to talk with the people we ride with in the taxi. We have either learned a bit about StJ we didn't know or have been able to share some of what we know about the island. Kinda like that talk around the dinner table. I like the diversity of the stangers we meet. On our return trips the driver has always been happy to store our luggage at the taxi stand lock up while we shop in Charlotte Amalie. I don't see the draw back to a regular taxi ride.

[lisa mcg]

Used Rachel just yesterday...she sent St Claire for us with a beautiful open air "jitney" as I call them. It was a lovely ride (even on though vacation was over). Used her a few weeks ago on our way to Red Hook as well...again, she had sent St Claire....I was disappointed at first, cause I had heard so many nice things about her, but St Claire was wonderful and so sweet. (Our friends arrived a week after us and they were taken in the Lincoln). Luckily, I was able to meet Rachel yesterday..she was taking someone else to Red Hook. She was lovely...and a very busy lady!

[Need2GetAway]

We used Rachel recently and I wasn't sure why. She was lovely - really very, very nice. But she was not standing there with our name on a sign. I hunted all over for her, and called her several times on the cell phone. She was juggling several customers that day, and some of them were late, some were waiting for luggage (we carried on), etc.

While everyone else just got into taxis and left, we waited quite awhile to find her, get in her car, and then the car was full - not just us in there.

Overall, I wouldn't bother again. It cost more money than a regular taxi, and of course there were the two phone calls (one for the reservation, one to confirm). I'd just get into whatever taxi was ready to go.

I hate to report that, really I do.

[Xislandgirl]

I hate to report that, really I do.

You should not hate to report that. It didn't work for you. Completely understandable.
Just like some people have great experiences at certain restaurants and others don't.
It is all good, in my book!

[mit43]

We have used Rachel every trip except the first time. That trip we piled in a regular taxi van and stopped 5 times on the way to Red Hook. By the time we got there(1.5 hours) it was dark and we sat on a bench to wait for the next ferry. Not very pleasant back then before the new terminal was built.

I like the peace of mind that Rachel will get us there as quickly as possible. We do travel in the off-season most of the time and she has always been there waiting for us.

As Xislandgirl said, do not feel bad if your experience was not as pleasant as others. These things happen and most of us understand that even the best can have a difficult day.

[vacagirl]

Thank you everyone for your input on taxis. I have always taken the "van" taxis before and always ended up half sick by the time I got to Red Hook. I may have to give Rachel a try. Can someone tell me how to get ahold of her?

[Kentuckygirl]

Her number is 340-771-2986

[Need2GetAway]

Vacagirl - Be aware that when I used Rachel a couple weeks ago the people in the far back seat did complain about feeling sick...

[vacagirl]

Good to know so I will know where to place myself. Thanks for the contact info.

[Jeff&Cindy]

What I'm getting from all this (lesson learned) is that the trip from the airport to the ferry is a total gamble no matter who you book (or don't), what they tell you they're going to do, or how much effort you put into planning it, especially during President's week.

Forget the little samples of rum. Next time I'm buying a bottle (that mango stuff, I'm told, is pretty good) the minute I get off the plane and I'll be better prepared to just roll with it.

Those samples are just too small.

[wishiwasinthevi]

We've used Rachel a few times...and prior to discovering her have used regular cabs dozens and dozens of times. The bottom line for us is we enjoy Rachel's company (being greeted by someone that feels like an "old friend" and with a hug is quite nice, my kids are genuinely excited to see her and she seems genuinely happy to see them), she always goes out of her way to make us feel welcome, and being picked up in a nice new vehicle with just us is priceless after travelling all day or when our vacation is over instead of being crammed into a old dirty smelly van with a stinky cab driver...not that every cab driver or cab on St Thomas fits that bill but we have had some absolutely horrible cab experiences on St Thomas in the last 10+ years. And one particular cab driver that we have ended up with quite a bit talks non stop from the time he picks you up until the time he drops you off, just doesnt make an enjoyable experience for us.
We just think Rachel does. To each their own though.

[Need2GetAway]

wishiwasinthe -- Have you ever been in Rachel's cab with other people? I guess that's what I was expecting, but her car was stuffed full...