USVI-On-Line

We are lucky to be coming back to SJ this year but like everyone on the planet we are trying to find ways to save money. We always do all our shopping at Starfish (Yikes!). Having seen the recent post regarding Cost U Less on St. Thomas, I am wondering if it is really worthwhile to make a stop there for food and drinks! What do you guys think??? Also I can't tell from their map where they are actually located - are they on the way to Red Hook?? (I figure if I save lots of bucks I'll be back for sure next year!)

I can tell you our group of 8 adults is stopping there on the way to Red Hook this June.

Especially if there are quite a few of you and/or you are here for a while, then Cost-U-Less is worth it. Also Pricemart which is another 1/2mile past Cost-U-Less on the right and then Plaza Extra on left after that- all on the way to Red Hook. Each one has different advantages.
One advantage of Starfish? We hated traveling and then spending all this time grocery shopping.

How familiar with St. Thomas are you? I assume you're rentals are from the airport?

Oops. That would be "your rentals"- or "you're renting". Should learn to type some day.

mickyb wrote:How familiar with St. Thomas are you? I assume you're renting from the airport?

We're renting from Dependable, and then driving to Red Hook. I've been to STT once five months ago, and only took a cab from the airport to CA ferry.

Thank you for your help!

Go pass the Waterfront, take Rephune Hill and you are on Rt. 38 (right at the Hospital). Cost-U-Less is on the left with its own lane- no sign though. If you go all the way up to K-mart, you can go back down the hill. They are all within 5 min of each other.
Red Hook is Rt. 32 or a right at K-mart/Clock tower.
Google maps is pretty accurate here.
THEN head for STJ.

Hmm...you might save a little bit, but is it worth the hours of vacation time you'll lose??? And it truly is a little bit in the long run folks, we've been going down for over a decade, STT and STJ and we've been everywhere and shopped everywhere in between. We love both islands for their unique qualities. If it takes away from your beach or pool time, we've done the math and in the long run, it's a wash. Takes time to go to Kmart Tutu and find your way around and sometimes they have what you want, other times they don't.

We liked Cost-U-Less on our last trip with 3 couples. Got some really nice products for a pretty affordable price. Just a warning - it was raining outside and we were wet from the rain and the store was FREEZING COLD.

It's out of the way of the normal trek, but we went to the beach during the afternoon (where we found rain) then stopped there before hitting the car ferry to STJ. We did not have any time pressures so it was very well worth the time.

I would not recommend it for just a couple, but would say it's well worth the trip if you are buying for multiple couples.

Good Luck! Have Fun!

I would agree that it is only worth the trip (and sometimes aggravation) if you have more than a couple adults in your group. Cost U Less sells a lot of bulk product. If you can consume it all in your trip, then it's worth the savings you can get by buying in bulk.
Since I am one of those people who prefer my directions with other landmarks...I'll give you a couple. Cost U Less is not to far off the main drag, but it is at a much higher elevation and can't be seen from the road. There is a stop light at the entrance, and it is not far from the Home Depot and in the same complex as the movie theater (so if you see a sign for any of these, you are in the right spot). Kmart is behind Office Max and McDonalds in Tutu Mall.

I will see if this will work. I used Google earth and some placemarks to mark the trail. Turn on Veterans Drive (waterfront)







Follow it around until you reach the new intersection and detour signs. This one shows the current detour around Havensight due to road construction.


When you come to the light by the Banco Popular turn up the hill at that light, left turn.

Turn into the shoping center for Cost U Less


When you leave Cost U Less turn left it will take you into Tutu were the mall is. This is home of the bigger Kmart and Plaza Extra grocery store.


When you leave there head up the hill past the Toyota dealer and you will be on the road to Red Hook.


Hope this helps
Jay

Kudos to Captain Jay!! That is a great post and excellent piece of mapwork -- I know how to get to Costuless but I looked closely at all those maps and learned where a lot of roads went to that I had no idea of before. THANKS