Curious - why do you rent your jeep on STT?

[alw1977]

I've been doing some research, and I'm trying to figure out why people rent a jeep in STT and take the car ferry to St. John. It looks as if jeep rentals on St. Thomas run between $350-$400 for a week, then the car ferry is $45 or so. Isn't the total about the same? Only with more hassle and risk? Or, are there rental agencies that charge less expensive rates that I'm missing?

I can only figure that sometimes there are no more jeeps left on St. John to rent (high season), so people do it as a matter of necessity? Not trying to pass judgment here at all, just asking an honest question. Thanks.

[Xislandgirl]

Some people like to load their luggage into their jeep and then not have to unload it until they get to the villa, instead of taxi, out of taxi, on ferry, on ferry, etc.

If you have a late flight, you can enjoy the day on STT to shop.


Personally, I rent on STJ, but I know people that will only rent on STT. I think it is a matter of personal choice.

[alw1977]

Gotcha. Seeing as we do carry-on only, I've never thought about those baggage logistics. I guess it is kind of a pain if you have a lot of luggage.

Is it true that if you rent on STT and something happens with the jeep while on St. John you're sort of S.O.L.? The agencies I've spoken with say they don't service on St. John.

[Xislandgirl]

In most cases, you will be SOL. Most people never have a problem, but I am Irish and believe that Murphy's Law follows me everywhere. If something can happen it will happen to me.

It did last April when our battery died as I was driving down a switchback. STJ Car rental was there in 20 minutes and we were on our way.

[alw1977]

I'm not Irish and Murphy's law follows in my shadow also. I'll stick with a rental on St. John.

Do any of the rental agencies barter on price in the off-season (we're talking October)?

[augie]

Some people also like to do initial provisions shopping on STT before heading over to STJ.

[Teresa_Rae]

The $45 car ferry is for both ways and includes all passengers and bags with no extra charge.

When you take into account the taxi fare to the people ferry, the ferry baggage fees, and the ferry itself and multiply times two for there and back, the people ferry is more costly if you have more than one person.

Let’s say you have two people: you take a cab to the Red Hook ferry and pay $20 for that, then you take the ferry which is $10. So without any baggage fees, you’re already up to $30, so for both there and back you’re at $60.

It’s about the same for the Charlotte Amalie ferry…the taxi ride is less expensive but the ferry is more.

And the more people you add, the better price per person, but the people ferry gets more expensive with each additional person.

And that’s just getting there and doesn’t take into account the savings on the rental itself.

But that said, there are negatives to renting on STT. We’ve never had a break-down on STJ so it hasn’t been a problem and hopefully never will.

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[Sun4MySoul]

I am also an STT renter for the same reasons...Less Hassle and More Freedom.

Jorge- Can you hook me up with some fellow redneck- minded friends, in case something happens to my Jeep on STJ? (knock on wood)

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[RickG]

We rent on STT because it lets us add 8 hours to our vacation. The hassles stop when we pick up the vehicle and begin again when we drop it off?

Rent on St. John because of concerns about car reliability? That's a very common fallacy. Rent newer vehicles from a reputable vendor regardless of where you're renting! Problem solved.

Cheers, RickG

[flip-flop]

I debated this just recently and still am going with the STJ rental. It would be WAY more convenient, if not all that cheaper, it rent on STT but two things held me back.

1 - we are only going for 7 nights this time, if for any reason our flight gets F'd up and we can't make the last car ferry that means 1 less night on STJ and 1 night I paid to sleep on STJ that I don't get and the hassle of finding a last minute place in STT.

2 - we rented a very new < 1000 mile vehicle from Conrad last time and had battery issues. Not left the lights on battery issues but some kind of internal corrosion that would not have been foreseeable. It will probably never happen again, but knowing he was right there on island to sort it out makes the extra hassle of getting from STT to STJ for me.

I know this doesn't answer your question ... but its my 2 cents. Its all I got

[bayer40601]

We rent on STT because it lets us add 8 hours to our vacation

Rick: Could you explain the reason it adds 8 hours to your vacation?

Thanks.

[RickG]

We rent on STT because it lets us add 8 hours to our vacation

Rick: Could you explain the reason it adds 8 hours to your vacation?

Thanks.

Sure - here's the subject experience from my perspective. Fair warning, most people are different from me and their brains are better at idling. I'm obsessive compulsive and have a tail.

Arrival day when renting a vehicle on St. John:

Taxi to IAD->Flight to SJU->Flight to STT->Taxi to STJ Ferry->Walk to Conrad Sutton->Pickup people and baggage at Beach Bar->Meet villa representative->Drive to Villa->Unload people and luggage->Villa checkout with villa rep->Drive to Starfish Market and get groceries/beer/booze->Drive back to villa->start vacation

Arrival day when renting a vehicle on St. Thomas:

Taxi to IAD->Flight to SJU->Flight to STT->Dependable Car Rental picks up at airport in our rental vehicle->Stop at Dependable's office to sign paper work->start vacation

For me, I mentally start my vacation as soon as I am free of the constraints of formal behaviors, e.g. herd behaviors driven large by others. That means when I land at 2PM or so I am "on vacation" rather than the 6PM mental vacation arrival in the STJ rental version.

Downside, I don't get to catch up with Carmen, Susan and Conrad when I get a car from them.

On departure day the experience is symmetric:

Departure day when renting a vehicle on St. John:

Vacation is over->Rush to get out of villa by 10AM->Drop off trash at dumpster->drop people and luggage off at ferry dock-> Drop off car at Conrad Sutton by 10:30->Walk to group at ferry dock->Decide what to do until ferry tickets g on sale->get ferry tickets->Ride to Charlotte Amalie->Decide what to do until its time to go to the airport->Leave bags with taxi->Walk around tacky CA shops->Go to airport->Check in and go through security->Eat scary food and decent drinks at snack bar and sit in scary Andromeda Strain themed waiting area for plane to leave

Departure day when renting a vehicle on St. Thomas:

Pack cooler with leftover beer->Load the car up and hang out at villa until the maids arrive->Drive to Cruz Bay overlook and prepare yourself for leaving STJ while enjoying a cold Presidente->Drive to car barge and pop on a car barge when we choose to->Have a couple of beers on the car barge->Take a drive around St. Thomas and walk on a beach->Drive to CA and park in front of the Holiday Inn->Walk to Cuzzins for a great lunch->Drop the vehicle off at Dependable after lunch->finish the beers in the cooler at the airport->End vacation->scrunch down the cooler in the carry-on luggage->Check in and go through security

So, that's how it is for me. There's more detail in there if you really think about, which my psychic advisor recommends I suppress.

Cheers, RickG

[alw1977]

It's interesting to me how people define "vacation mode." For me, driving to Red Hook from the airport area would put me in stress mode. Then, I wouldn't know if I could make the car ferry because I couldn't get reservations. My ultra-planner mind would probably explode. I'm on vacation as soon as the cab driver takes over and I'm free to enjoy the "scenery" on St. Thomas.

I was more wondering if there were significant cost savings to renting on STT. It looks like, in the end, it's a wash, perhaps a bit more to rent on St. John. For me, it's a premium I'm willing to pay for the time being. Now, if I am ever traveling with a child, that may swing me the other way.