Please Register / Login to take part in discussions about the Virgin Islands.
Hi everyone,
Two quick questions:
1) Does Avis on STT allow its cars to go over to St. John on the car ferry? AND
2) Is it unsafe in some way to drive a regular car on St. John? (particularly the north side). I've always had a 4 wheel drive and don't know if that is needed. I worry that if it gets rainy a regular car may have trouble on some of those hills.
Thanks!
1) Don't know. We always rent on STJ.
2) If you've been to STJ before you know there a few tricky steep switchbacks on the northshore road that when wet are dangerous without 4WD. We did a day trip over from Tortola 2 years ago. We grabbed the first rental car available, a Jeep Liberty. We assumed that it was a 4WD but quickly found ourselves in trouble on the hill between Truck and Peter Bay. The pavement was wet and it took 3 trys until we finally made it up the hill. I gotta tell you it was pretty scary. Another bad hill is going up from the Northshore Road to Centerline. I wouldn't rent anything but a 4WD after the one experience without it.
Diana highlights the one scary 4WD spot on the North Shore Road. I've seen 4WDs without good tires sliding down that switchback in the rain with all 4 tires spinning. I NEVER follow a vehicle up that hill. Unless you know the island very will I would stick to 4WD.
Cheers, RickG
Thanks everyone.
It's tough because I'm only there for a few days doing some destination wedding planning and I can't find anyone who will rent to me on St. John for two days (and I will probably arrive around 4:40pm, too late for Oconnor.
Thus I thought I could rent from Avis or Budget but they are out of 4WD.
If anyone has a solution I'd love to hear it.
How about dependable
Last Summer we rented a small car from Avis and took it over to STJ (for day trips) We mostly visited and drove along the NorthShore Rd.
It was a Suzuki the size of a Toyota Corolla, can't think of the model. Anyway, it manuevered the roads nicely BUT if it was
raining or moist roads, then I'm sure it wouldn't have been so good.
Guess it depends on if the roads are dry or not.
This past visit we had a Suzuki AWD and managed the SouthShore and Gift Hill Rd.
Good Luck!!
Kathy
There's a reason they have so many 4WD vehicles on STJ...for those who want to get around relatively worry free. Then there are the others...
Unless you plan on staying close to Cruz Bay or limit yourself to Centerline Road, get a 4WD.
Just make sure the car is front wheel drive, as most are, and you will be okay. The Liberty is rear wheel and that doesn't work. Many cars on S John that aren't 4WD!
Like Waterguy says, you could try Dependable - great folks. The North shore switchbacks are "exciting", but for what it's worth, in our seven trips to St John we have never engaged the 4 wheel drive option on whatever jeep we have rented. We had it, just never used it. Good luck!
You can also try Discount. Nice people, they'll pick you up at the airport, jeeps were in great shape and they let you take their cars over to STJ.
Good luck!
It's kind of like insurance. You're probably not going to need it, but if you do need it and don't have it.......
I always like to save a buck, but that's not a place where I'd think about cutting costs.
Just heard a disaster story about some people who rented a car in STT and could not make it up their rental villa driveway all the way! They tried and tried and ended up producing a flat tire, which left them car-less for the weekend until someone from the agency made it over here. Not to mention, they had to carry their luggage the rest of the way.
4WD if you can find it.
Dependable or Discount on STT!
Cheers, RickG
