Here is our usual post regarding this question:
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.
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.
Whether you rent on STT or STJ we believe a 4WD is a must; unless you are staying around Cruz Bay and your driving is going to be fairly limited to around town. Some of the hills are incredible steep; when it rains a 2WD car may not make it; this is really hard to believe until you been on the island. Also, there are some access roads and driveways that can only be traversed with a 4WD.
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.
If you use the car barge you have the option of purchasing a one-way ticket or round-trip ticket. The one-way gives you flexibility on which car barge company to take back. A round-trip ticket will be less expensive, but will restrict which barge you can take. If you do go with round-trip: 2 of the barge companies (3 in total) use to except each other’s tickets, they still may. The loading area and process is the same no matter which company you use – it’s just whichever one is at the dock and available to drive onto.
We find the car barge to be a pleasant ride, here is Bob enjoying a Rum & Coke on the barge:
Go Sox!
