Poll: Impact of banning off-island rental cars

augie · Post by **augie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:53 am

How will not being able to rent a car on STT affect your STJ travel plans?

Steve S · Post by **Steve S** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:07 am

Thanks Augie!

CBama · Post by **CBama** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:32 pm

Just wanted to comment that if u never rent on St Thomas it may still affect you since fewer rentals will be available due to people that did rent there won't be able to anymore.

Supply and demand. May even drive prices higher

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:42 pm

I book my rental a year in advance, if the prices goes up, it goes up. Not too much I can do about it but save more for my trip or cuts costs somewhere else. I will still go to STJ

eala · Post by **eala** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:42 pm

Rented from Avis last month and went smoothly but had planned to take water taxi from airport next time anyway and rent on STJ. Won't stop us from going but will affect us if there aren't any rentals available on STJ or the price goes up a lot

sailorgirl · Post by **sailorgirl** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:42 pm

This really set me off today... maybe I do need a vacation, but its like renting a car in NY and saying you can't bring it to NJ. It's all the same territory for pity sake!
I see a snowball effect definitely, higher prices, less availability... I really object to having my choices arbitrarily limited.

mit43 · Post by **mit43** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:48 pm

I don't care if I have to take a Horse to the Ferry. I am not going to change my trips to STJ.....

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:50 pm

What bothers me is that they released their intent to inforce a law without thought to the consequence. They apparently didn't anticipate what the reaction would be, and didn't have a plan already in place. If they had said "ok we decided _______" and it will be implemented _______," I wouldn't be nearly so upset.
They gave no notice.
What law will they suddenly enforce next week?
This situation certainly does nothing to instill confidence in travellers. Human beings for that matter.

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:09 pm

mit43 wrote:I don't care if I have to take a Horse to the Ferry. I am not going to change my trips to STJ.....

You and me both!

CBama · Post by **CBama** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Minde: I agree..is it 60 days, or if you already have reservations finalized? or is it June 30th...still waiting on reply back to the response below:

this was my reply from Bureau of Motor Vehicles:
"We are merely informing the business that we regulate of a recent amended law. However, we have agreed to give a 60 day grace period before implementation, so as to accommodate reservations that have been finalized as yours. Moreover, there are several local rental car companies on St. John that can fill that void. Thanks."

Jerris T. Browne
Director
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
(340)713-4268 ext. 226
(340)713-0855 fax
(340)643-0058 cell

I asked about reservations finalized that exceed the 60 day period. (ours by 4 days)

if i knew a DEFINITE date I would know how to proceed...cancel and rebook or just keep current reservations.

I have tried to plan a return trip to USVI for 8 long years...We are not able to vacation at a location such as this very often. So I am unable to book my jeep, villa, or airfare a year in advance due to many variables, (job situations, economy directly affecting income, health of family members we would be leaving at home, etc etc....) so supply and demand will affect our future trips greatly!

bdkane · Post by **bdkane** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:04 pm

I have to tell you - after having spent 30 HOURS in travel time this past week - FROM NY (18 down - 12 back - got to love Delta)- with 2 children _ I will be considering this in the future. Its sad - I love the Island but really, every trip is such a hassle

Why do I have NO problems getting to Aruba or the Bahamas - Probably because their governments realize they thrive from tourism ?!?!

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:26 pm

As a property owner on St. John - this will affect me, but I am clearly still planning to visit the island.

I typically travel three to four times a year and rent a vehicle at Dependable on St. Thomas so that I can shop at Home Depot, KMart and other stores which provide me with the supplies I need for my property.

I own a condo, so my needs are not as great as someone who owns a villa, but with this newly enforced law, I'm not sure how I can go about getting the supplies I need from St. Thomas to St. John.

Unless I rent from Pia.......!

augie · Post by **augie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:30 pm

Tracy in WI wrote:I own a condo, so my needs are not as great as someone who owns a villa, but with this newly enforced law, I'm not sure how I can go about getting the supplies I need from St. Thomas to St. John.

Easy. Eventually you will have to pay to have those supplies delivered, which will increase your cost basis, and, as a result, your rates.

Which may end up affecting some of the people that didn't think that they would be affected by this.

tb123 · Post by **tb123** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:06 pm

augie wrote:How will not being able to rent a car on STT affect your STJ travel plans?

I always rent my cars on St. John and have since the 80's. So I don't think it will affect where I rent but, it will definitely affect the availability!!

man4cside · Post by **man4cside** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:27 pm

I think I will go to Torotla instead. The logistics of loading and unlaoding young ones as a result of this will be a nightmare. The cost increase will be bad but the logistical problem combined with the cost seems to me to be unbearable.

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