USVI-On-Line

Hi,
I'm trying to decide the cheapest and easiest way to get 12 people from the STT airport to STJ. Does anyone have current info on taxi fares from STT to Red Hook and the new ferry rates? I'm trying to figure out if it would be cheaper to just hire a private service (e.g. Dohm's) to meet us at the airport instead of doing our own catch a taxi/catch a ferry. Or maybe a combination -- private taxi, public ferry. Any help on current rates/options appreciated.

Dohms has a website.
Dohms website quotes 25/person for the ferry and Christophers Taxi is 15/per. No luggage fees.

I'm not sure if you could get everyone (12) in one boat. Does anyone know how many people a water taxi can hold plus luggage? I looked on their website and they don't give a max. occupancy.

We have used Dohm's for a number of STJ trips and we have were transported on boats of varying sizes.

One was large, 35 passengers I believe.

Even the smallest one I remember had seating for at least 12.

You will still have to take a regular taxi from the airport to Red Hook even if you opt for aprivate water taxi. They don't leave from the airport.

Google Dohm's water taxi for their latest rates and current fares on the regular ferries can be found on this site under Trip Planning/Getting Around/Ferry Schedules.

Thanks for the help. With so many of us, I'm trying to avoid all the airport taxi haggling since I think we would fill a van. Also thought the water taxi sounds like a fun option.

With our group size and amount of luggage (oh the luggage) the private taxi and Dohms ends up being a few bucks more per person.

Dohms will make arrangements for a private taxi if you should go that route.

Christopher was always sent for us and he is great. If we arrive early, he was there waiting. If we were delayed, he called ahead to Dohms and the villa rental company before we landed. When our luggage was lost, he helped us with those arrangements.

Dohm's can arrange a private taxi for you from the airport to their ferry. It cost us $75 for the two of us but well worth bypassing the mass of humanity waiting on a taxi at the airport. A driver from Christopher's taxi will be waiting for you at the terminal. If you can go carry on only it really speeds up the process. True a private taxi can't leave from the airport but you can walk across the lot, out the fence and get in the taxi. they charge us $125 each way for a private water taxi for 2. Not sure about a large group such as yours. Good luck.

Just for clarification -- it seemed as if you thought the WATER taxi could leave from the airport and that is NOT the case. The water taxi only leaves form red hook so you have to get there first.

Larger groups can arrange to hire a private taxi but you will pay extra for this.

Honestly, we've traveled with groups of many sizes and have never had problems getting a regular taxi. You just tell the organizer how many you have and where you are going and they will end up putting you all in the same van (or 2) if its needed. And you're gonna save some money doing it that way.
They will get you and your loved ones where you need to go and with that many people you'll probably have the taxi to yourself.

I understand that folks love Rachels private taxi service and she gives a bit of a tour on the way to Red Hook which can be nice.

But honestly I prefer to spend my money on the fun stuff and so far it hasn't been worth it to me to arrange a private taxi for the ride to Red Hook.

As with most things you just have to weigh your options and costs and do what's best for you.

i have a friend who's offering water taxi..i can pm you for details. Or, you can google some local pages and you'll see bunch of helpful websites out there!

Thanks for all the feedback. We've been to STJ before, but smaller groups, so I was thinking it might be nice to bypass some of the chaos at the airport and then at red hook. I think my cheap side will win out and it sounds like our group is big enough that we can fill a public taxi without waiting for stragglers. Now, we'll just have to deal with the throwing luggage at the ferry (do they still THROW the bags onto a big pile at the back of the ferry?)