usvi-on-line
first timer
first timer
Hi All- We'll be visiting for the first time next month and we've been picking up some good advice here and I appreciate it. I have a transportation question, though, that maybe someone can help me with. We'll be arriving in the evening and I don't know how late the car rental companies will be open on STJ (I haven't called any yet.), and I'm wondering if it would be better to rent a jeep on STT and take a car barge over, or to taxi to where we're staying on STJ and then rent the next morning. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jack
one company to consider is courtesy. They will meet you at the dock for arrival times after 5pm. Some others close at 5. Some villa reps will help you out by picking up your jeep for you. You then have to go in the next day and complete the paperwork.
i think the last car ferry is 5pm...but double check me on this. Our last trip, we arrived at 3:45 and I ruled this out since I was afraid if our flight was late, we would be stuck.
depending on where you stay, taking a taxi to your accomadations may make more sense. Or ride with the villa rep and take a taxi the next day back to the car rental company. I should have done this our last trip....we could have easily walked to Courtesy the next day and saved ourselves a day of rental.
i think the last car ferry is 5pm...but double check me on this. Our last trip, we arrived at 3:45 and I ruled this out since I was afraid if our flight was late, we would be stuck.
depending on where you stay, taking a taxi to your accomadations may make more sense. Or ride with the villa rep and take a taxi the next day back to the car rental company. I should have done this our last trip....we could have easily walked to Courtesy the next day and saved ourselves a day of rental.
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
If you are heading there next month, you need to make your Jeep arrangements ASAP. There is a link at the top of this forum where you can find most of the rental companies listed. I don't want to raise panic but they book early.
Something to keep in mind: Renting on STT and taking the car ferry limits your options for ferry times coming and going (the car ferry runs less frequently). Also, if something happens to the vehicle while on STJ, you are kind of on your own. Finally, a number of rental companies in STJ allow you to park in their lot when you are in town (Cruz Bay). This is a huge advantage.
Good luck and keep us posted. Feel free to ask away on any USVI questions you have. There is a wealth of information here!
Something to keep in mind: Renting on STT and taking the car ferry limits your options for ferry times coming and going (the car ferry runs less frequently). Also, if something happens to the vehicle while on STJ, you are kind of on your own. Finally, a number of rental companies in STJ allow you to park in their lot when you are in town (Cruz Bay). This is a huge advantage.
Good luck and keep us posted. Feel free to ask away on any USVI questions you have. There is a wealth of information here!
Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
Missing St. John. As always.
Missing St. John. As always.
arrival
Wow! Good advice and quick, too. Thanks. We'll get in to STT at 4:30, so I'm guessing that we'll catch the 7:00 ferry out of Red Hook or maybe the 5:30 out of Charlotte Amalie. (I think I saw on here that it was running, right?) I think I'll start talking to the rental folks right away.
Jack
Jack
Jack-
Things may have changed since last week, but as of then, there wasn't a ferry running to/ from C.A. . at least that's what I was told by more than a few sources.
We enjoy renting from Dependable on STT. It's the fastest way to "Island Time", and a lot easier as far as not having to fuss too much with the bags/luggage.
Arriving that late wouldn't be a problem if renting from Dependable, I don't think, but you would definately have to check out the last car barges departure times. We had no issues whatsoever with our vehicle, and if it's busy enough, they have a spot up top on the car barge for you to get a drink to celebrate your arrival. Then you simply get back into the Jeep, pull off the barge, and your villa greeter will be there waiting for you to escort your party to the hacienda. Once again, no fussing with the luggage as it's already in your car.
You land at the airport, call Dependable, and they have a car waiting for you by the time you get your bags. They then take you to their office, you fill out the paperwork, transfer your bags from their car to your rental, they give you a simple map to get to the ferry, and you're off. Not only is it easy to get to RH, with the map, but there's also plenty of signs so's you don't get lost.
To me, it's just more enjoyable than squishing into a taxi, as well as constantly worrying about your bags, tipping, etc...
As with any rental either on STJ or STT, just do a quick inspection of the vehicle before you leave. (Tires, spare,gas guage, lights, turn signals, emergency brake, etc...) Like most places, Dependable has a wonderful fleet of newer cars, we loved it!(Then again, we've been going to STJ for 10 years,now, so we pretty much have it all figured out...
)
Marcias' advice, however, sounds like it might be the best option for you, especially with the whole parking situation, and it being your first visit.
There's also the exhiliration of walking off the boat and onto the St. John dock for the first time.
Either way, you'll love it, but once again to echo Marcia, book it now!
I'm so excited for your first trip, get ready to fall in love!
Good luck, and always
Smiles
MJ
Things may have changed since last week, but as of then, there wasn't a ferry running to/ from C.A. . at least that's what I was told by more than a few sources.
We enjoy renting from Dependable on STT. It's the fastest way to "Island Time", and a lot easier as far as not having to fuss too much with the bags/luggage.
Arriving that late wouldn't be a problem if renting from Dependable, I don't think, but you would definately have to check out the last car barges departure times. We had no issues whatsoever with our vehicle, and if it's busy enough, they have a spot up top on the car barge for you to get a drink to celebrate your arrival. Then you simply get back into the Jeep, pull off the barge, and your villa greeter will be there waiting for you to escort your party to the hacienda. Once again, no fussing with the luggage as it's already in your car.
You land at the airport, call Dependable, and they have a car waiting for you by the time you get your bags. They then take you to their office, you fill out the paperwork, transfer your bags from their car to your rental, they give you a simple map to get to the ferry, and you're off. Not only is it easy to get to RH, with the map, but there's also plenty of signs so's you don't get lost.
To me, it's just more enjoyable than squishing into a taxi, as well as constantly worrying about your bags, tipping, etc...
As with any rental either on STJ or STT, just do a quick inspection of the vehicle before you leave. (Tires, spare,gas guage, lights, turn signals, emergency brake, etc...) Like most places, Dependable has a wonderful fleet of newer cars, we loved it!(Then again, we've been going to STJ for 10 years,now, so we pretty much have it all figured out...
)Marcias' advice, however, sounds like it might be the best option for you, especially with the whole parking situation, and it being your first visit.
There's also the exhiliration of walking off the boat and onto the St. John dock for the first time.
Either way, you'll love it, but once again to echo Marcia, book it now!
I'm so excited for your first trip, get ready to fall in love!
Good luck, and always
Smiles
MJ
Last edited by mahojim on Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
got one
Thank you all for the advice and the warm welcome. After the prompting, I rented with Courtesy and they'll meet us at the ferry in the evening. My wife and I and our two adult daughters are looking forward to it. Now, its back to work so I can afford this trip. Jack
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
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Boston Mike
- Posts: 974
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:41 am
- Location: Boston, MA.
