USVI-On-Line

Captn Kirk's report just reminded me about something I have been meaning to post. I am SO glad I saw the photo of Rachael!

We used Rachael for the first time from STT to Redhook. First of all, just a super nice person and it was the first time I didn't practically soil my pants due to the crazy driving of some of the cab drivers on St Thomas. She went out of her way to give us a nice ride, as I am sure she does for all. So I liked her just for that.

Anyways, we were with newbies and we were all excited and talking and distracted. So my husband leaves the ziploc with the passports and villa info, etc... in the cab and we leave on the water taxi. Luckily, I discover this immediately and he calls her, it has only been a couple of minutes. She returns and REFUSES to accept a tip.

Well, we get to the villa. Guess who is missing their Nintendo? Yes, against my wishes my daughter was playing in the cab (I'm like --"look out the window for goodness sakes!") She is 8 years old and hysterical by the next morning. Ned calls Rachael AGAIN and she says she will leave it at the Westin desk at the airport (we were at the Westin our last night and already had transportation booked) and AGAIN REFUSES a tip. We wanted to mail it to her. Completely refuses.

So instead of me giving her a tip, let me give you a tip about which cab driver to use.....guess who! It is well worth the pleasant ride and personal service instead of getting stuck with some random driver at the airport. And who knows if you will ever need someone to go the extra mile, like we did. And will you be able to trust that random person with your passport????? (or nintendo?)

My husband isn't sure where he put her number-can anyone post it for me? If not, we will hunt it down.

P.S.- no more nintendo at ST. John.

We have Rachael booked for our trip next month. (I love saying "next month") I'm happy to hear of your experience.

What an awesome lady!! We used her services last May & will definately be calling her again for our next trip! She is definately one of the best! Such a precious & gracious lady!

Rachels # is 340-771-2986

Do you book her in advance or just call her when you land at the airport?

Thanks
Nancy

In advance. When my husband said he booked her, I thought it was a little "overkill" and not necessary, but now I see the difference- for the reasons in my story-and --just to start a trip off with a pleasant person makes a big difference.

Rachel is the biggest sweetheart! I just got back yesterday and she took us to and from the airport and she is the most pleasant person I think I've ever met.

In the past I had just got in a crammed taxi and held on for dear life on the ride to Red Hook. But not with Rachel she gets you to Red Hook safely and comfortably while driving she tells you about the area and gives you a bit of history also.
I would call her again in a heartbeart.

I am so glad that everyone loves her as much as I do.
She is a good friend and I love that she is able to help out so many people.

Rachel is the biggest sweetheart! I just got back yesterday and she took us to and from the airport and she is the most pleasant person I think I've ever met.

Amen and amen. We used her in July coming and going. I'll never do it any other way as long as she is available. She even hooked us up with a Porter at the airport going out. What a breeze. They were both First Class in every way.

We used Rachel in October and LOVED her!!!! I'll never use anyone else. On the way to Red Hook, we had extra time and she drove us around to some of the nearby resorts (her idea!). I think she knows everything about everything and it made for a very interesting drive!

She is just a lovely woman! I also highly recommend her!

What really blew my mind was last May which was only our second trip using Rachel I called her and she immediately knew who I was! I couldn't believe it.

We arrived first and she picked up my two sisters who were newbies to St John and were a little nervous because we were not meeting them at the airport. Well Rachel made them so comfortable that they couldn't stop talking about her when they got off the ferry.

As everyone else has said, the best! She may be a little more money, but it is certainly worth every penny of it!

susan & herb wrote:
As everyone else has said, the best! She may be a little more money, but it is certainly worth every penny of it!

Can someone please post what the cost is to hire her? I'm assuming this would be a private taxi ride?
Thanks!!

I'm so glad we decided to hire her for our last trip. After a nightmare travel day (long story) from Boston to STT, it was great to see her smiling face greeting us at the airport. Also, we were exhausted and wanted to make the 10pm ferry, but it was cutting it way close. She showed off some major driving skills to get us there just in time.

That said, due to the expense I think we'd go with a regular old cab next time. It ends up being about $20pp extra for a private driver. Times are tough, gotta cut back wherever you can!

But if I had to recommend a driver to anyone, she would surely be the one!

We LOVE Rachel! Along our drive from the airport to the ferry in June, we found an immediate connection. Being from Mississippi, we quickly learned that she loves one of our fellow Mississippians, Charlie Pride. If you use her taxi service, be sure to ask her about him. She might even hum one of his songs for you . And, also tell her hello from Kim and her cute, bald husband, from Mississippi!

Our latest trip to STJ was a few weeks ago, and it was the first time that we have gone in Oct. (It was a last minute trip, another first.) We called Rachael – the taxi driver who we learned about on this forum years ago, and who we've used each time in the past. She’s a special lady. Rachael came to STT from Nevis, 46 years ago, and is one wealth of information. She has really added a lot to our vacations, and my family always asks if Rachael is going to take us. My answer is always - you bet. (We go into STT and catch the Red Hook ferry each time - just the way that flights seem to shake out for us. PS Taxi = comfortable Van by the way, plenty roomy)

We landed in STT – and headed with the masses towards baggage claim. Three flights were there at the same time this go round. We stopped at the Cruzan stand, and chose coconut rum v pineapple…. and looked around at everyone heading towards baggage claim to sort out the next steps…

Then, we saw Rachael, as always - with a Big smile on her face, standing near the approach to baggage claim, and holding up a big card with our name on it. Immediately, I stopped thinking about things like - will we make the 4PM ferry, will it be a rush, will we have to be crowded into a taxi/shuttle that could make five stops, how crowded will it be, and shift to - YES, we are covered! Not only that, but I'm smiling, because I know how great the ride will be (for my wife and me this time), catching up on the latest of what is really going on in STT and STJ and the latest, with Rachael! She got us to Red Hook in time for the 4PM shuttle with time to spare – no surprises, no stress, and the trip kicked off - as always, in a great way.

On the way home, we caught the STJ-STT ferry an hour earlier than usual for us and Rachael picked us up. We took time to have lunch at Gladys’s Cafe in the Royal Dane Mall (killer mango coladas by the way) and then wandered a bit. When we were done, Rachael was there to take us the rest of the way to the airport. It was a nice way to “head out”.

We'll be back in July with the extended family, and I know Rachael will be there with her big van to take care of all of us. So, just some recent validation for everyone, about a wonderful lady and a great service that we look forward to, who is very much still there.

PS – I’m going to try to post a pic -photo courtesy of a previous Capt Kirk post, with his permission.. If it works, Rachael’s the one on the right. (ok – a weak attempt at humor!)