Curious - why do you rent your jeep on STT?

[bayer40601]

In response to Rick G: Oh!

[Steve S]

We rented on STT for the first time in 6 trips and couldn't have picked a better time to give it a try. It rained most of the way from the Airport to the villa on STJ. Who knows how wet we and our stuff would have gotten taking taxis and the people ferry. With 5 of us we saved about $150 on taxi and ferry fares. If my wife has her way, we'll go this way from now on... she hates the taxis on STT.

[Sun4MySoul]

Rick G- I agree with your mentality 210% Does this make me obssesive-compulsive too?!

Jorge - Touche. As long as you don't notice the ram I put in the front seat!

(I before I get flamed by the PETA people...I do not mean a real one!)

[iowaguy]

Rick G's logic makes sense to me----I would enjoy getting in the Jeep at the STT airport and traveling to STJ at my own pace, perhaps stopping on the way to get cheaper provisions. But traveling from the Midwest, our flights never get to STT until 6 PM or so, and its too late to get the car ferry. So the STT car rental has never really been an option for us.

I've never had car trouble on St. John. However, on this last trip I did "misplace" our keys to the Jeep---we had a second car and someone did take me in to St. John Car Rental to get a replacement set of Jeep keys. I found the original set of keys the next day. I was glad I rented on St. John on that trip.

[Beesmom]

Now, if I am ever traveling with a child, that may swing me the other way.

That's precisely why we decided to rent on STT last time out. Our 2-year-old passed out as soon as we strapped him into his seat in the Jeep we rented and missed the drive to Red Hook, the ferry ride, etc. He didn't wake up until we reached the condo we rented.

It would have been miserable doing the taxi to red-hook and getting on a people ferry while juggling a cranky 2 y.o. and the luggage.

When he gets older we may go back to renting on STJ but we were really happy with how smoothly that all went.

-Sandy

[Xislandgirl]

I get off the plane, get into my friends taxi and chat the entire drive to Red Hook. Get on the ferry and I am there. For me, renting on STJ could not be easier for me.

[pjayer]

In response to Rick G: Oh!

Don't get any ideas. Considering our luck with cars and their various ailments this year, I'm afraid the Murphy's Law syndrome would follow us to the VI. Although, the thought of having a vehicle delivered to the airport and provisioning in STT is appealing.

[bevm]

In my opinion the faster I get off of STT the happier I am!

[DELETED]

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[SanDiegoMark]

What puts me on the STJ Car Rental side is parking. I love the fact that I don't have to search forever for a parking space on our occasional trips to Cruz Bay. My vacation starts when the cab drops us off at the San Diego airport.

[sherban]

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.

I'm with Rick on this type of thing...call me a control freak if you like... but once we're "in control" and doing what we want when we want...the vacation has started...we're going with dependable on STT, then car ferry to STJ

[Kathyzhere]

I agree with the STT rental as well.

Has nothing to do with the cost, it's
purely for loading up the suv with
provisions prior to car barge AND having
a means of transportation on last day.
We can leave later in the day and do
last minute gift shopping OR beach til
time to head out.

Plus lugging luggage in and out, here and
there is the pits.
This is our plan for February which will be our 1st villa stay on STJ!!
Kathy

[Bob & Anita]

Here is our usual post to this subject:

The renting a car on STJ versus STT is a question that gets asked quite a bit on this forum; in fact we were asking the same question ourselves a few years ago. There are opinions (sometimes strong) for both ways; our preference is for renting on STT for the following reasons:
1) A lot less baggage handling – the car rental company (Dependable) picked you up at the airport and loads our bags into our rental car. The next time we touched the bags is unloading them at the villa,
2) Avoid the whole taxi thing and its associated costs and tipping,
3) Avoid the bag handlers/handling at the passenger ferry and the associate cost and tipping,
4) Buy our groceries for the week on STT on the way to Red Hook from the airport at lower cost then STJ; same with the booze,
5) When we drove off the barge, our villa rep was right there and we kept driving straight to the villa; we never stopped rolling.
6) Some STT car rental companies (such as Dependable) have no issues with the top being removed from the jeeps, unlike the STJ companies. If fact, Dependable evens boast it as one of their features, and
7) Flexibility when returning to St Thomas to drive around, find a lunch spot, etc, before returning the car and flying home.

The positives on renting on STJ are:
1) Some companies will let you use their lots when parking in Cruz Bay (we never experienced a parking problem in Cruz Bay, but we always go in June (low season), but some note it as an issue during the high season,
2) It is easier to get your STJ based car fixed if you have an issue. We consider this possibility remote and willing take the low risk.
3) Some people have noted the difficulty in dealing with car barges (lines, getting on), but we always found the whole barge loading (backing on) and unloading to be very easy.
4) Passenger Ferries run later; so if you have a late flight or if your flight is delayed, then you might not be able to get your vehicle across if you rent on STT, but some of the STJ rentals can make arrangements for late vehicle pick-up.
5) You generally will have more time on the day you return to STT. This is because you should allow for more time if you are taking the car barge (but we heard stories the passenger ferry is not being a slam dunk either.

Cost
As far as costs go, we believe the costs for two people are fairly equivalent whether you rent on STT or STJ:
Renting on STJ you have the costs of 1) the taxi, with tip, from the airport to the dock and then back again, 2) ferry bag handling fees & tips, 3) passenger ferry fare, 4) possible taxi on STJ to the car rental company and 5) higher car rental rates on STJ.
Renting on STT you have a 1) lower car rental rate, 2) higher ferry cost with the car barge, and 3) some possible savings if you purchase food/booze on STT. The cost of renting on STJ goes up with the more people in your party since the taxi, passenger ferry, baggage handling fees & associated tips will all be based on the number of people and bags. Renting on STT stays the same since the car barge is the same cost regardless of how many people are in the car.

We rented from Dependable, as mentioned above. They were very nice and helpful throughout the whole process – reservations, instructions, picking us up at the airport, rental paperwork, directions, maps, car return and taking us back to the airport. You avoid the airport tax with Dependable since they are just off of the airport property. We’ve heard good things about Budget too.

We find the car barge to be a pleasant ride, here is Bob enjoying a Rum & Coke on the barge:

[Kathyzhere]

Hey Anita & Bob,

Just want to mention that I LOVE your hat Bob!!


Thanks for your STT vs STJ.

Take care,
Kathy

[Berlingirl]

We also rent on Stt...Have NEVER rented on Stj and we have NEVER rented a Jeep, We rent the smallest vechicle we can get away with from Thrifty! They have never let us down. Usually we end up with a mid size car, last year was a full size, this year was 900 mile toyota corolla what was great. We spent $323 in total for 9 days to include all taxes. No discounts or anything either. Never have a hard time parking in Cruz bay or anywhere. Plus as we usually have one of the only two cars usually found on Stj we never have a problem parking at the beaches...esp Big Maho. Once this past month we did pay $10 to park. Agree with Rick and it adds almost another day to the trip. Good points made on how much the taxi's cost, how much the ferrys cost per person.

Actually ran into a forum member here a while back on the plane leaving STT to Boston who rented on STT on my advice after somebody posted this question a couple of years ago. She thanked me and said they were sold on it now...

Guess the only way I wouldn't is if I took the Westin Ferry or the Caneel Ferry from the airport and stayed on-site for my entire vaca...(not likely)

Anyway, that's the story. Bob, Thrifty is good also. Oh yeah...forgot that we've got the kid issue too...you know...tired hot kid issue...coming from 20 degrees to 80plus...need immediate A/C relief!