Hi Darlene,

I am a VERY nervous flyer (but a little valium and a glass of wine help a lot!) and the small Cape Air planes are an experience. Our pilot looked about 12, but he was very competent. One passenger actually sits in the "copilot" seat and he and the captain open the doors while the plane taxis down the runway (to get air???). The flight is mercifully short and VERY beautiful and I believe they are as safe as any other plane. But, if you have nervous flyers who don't self-medicate, this could be a very white knuckled 20 minutes!! Also note, on the way from STT to STJ, our flight did a very scary bank around to approach the runway.

Also, we also flew from Boston to SJU and had to take our luggage and walk to another building at the airport (this was a few years ago, so it may not be the same now). 3 people in our group couldn't get their luggage on time so they ended up on the next Cape Air flight.

Personally, if I would you and couldn't get a direct flight from Logan, I'd pick the Charlotte connection.

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately there isn't any direct flights during the low season. My options are getting limited by the day! I just dread the long layovers...... and then arriving late afternoon on the island trying to get to the rental home and get the rental cars!

-Darlene

It really depends on the flying tolerance of the travelers. Only 2 out of 8 of us were really freaked out.

I have no hesitation about flying Cape Air. The experience is fantastic and the views can't be matched on a lrger plane. Be aware the weight limit is lower for Cape Air.

Another option is to fly Seaborne from PR. Water take off and landing...now that's something to talk about.

http://www.seaborneairlines.com/

Now that sounds like an adventure, I would love to but..... Thank you for your input Chris, I really feel a lot better about flying out of PR! Now to convince the relatives!

Hi Darlene. I am only slightly better than a white-knuckled flyer (the more I fly in any given season, the better I feel about it as time goes on).

I have flown that Cape Air leg from SJU to STT and my thoughts are that the smaller planes are safer. I don't know if this is statistically true. But, in my rationale, the large jets don't normally have a good outcome if they have to land in the water, right? These little planes and the people in them seem to do alright in that regard. Also, if anything happens to go wrong while in the air, these little planes can easily make a U turn and get back to land - or so it seems.

It is such a short flight. I don't recall the doors being open as we took off....but do recal that the pilot had a window open and he didn't close it until we were airborne. Luggage goes into the wings of the plane and passengers are seated according to their weight to balance out the plane. All in all, a very interesting experience and one I wouldn't hesitate to repeat.

Tell your group to consider it part of the adventure of the islands!

Thanks Blu! I am going to print this page out for the rest of the family! I feel so much better hearing from all of you and it seems so much easier to go that route. I want to get to St. John as fast as I can! 😉 Thanks so much!!!!!

-Darlene

A stay over in San Juan would be my choice. There are a number of hotels close to the airport and you are not too far from old San Juan. If you get into Puerto Rico in early to mid afternoon, old San Juan would make a nice evening. It has some really good restuarants and is a pretty cool place to just walk around. The small planes give you a great view of the islands. Make the reservations and then tell the relatives!

Thank you all once again for your help! I did love the suggestion for an overnight stay in PR, but house is booked and we can't wait to get to St. John! Our flights are booked, I went to AA website directly and purchased 6 tickets at 549.70 a piece. The stopover is in PR, but we are not flying in a Cessna, it seems to be a mid size plane!? Had to do it, I couldn't wait any longer. It seemed that the flights were increasing day by day. Thanks again!

-Darlene

Good! Glad you've got that part behind you. Now, have you planned all of your excursions and activities?

Hi Blu!
I just love hearing from you! You have so much knowledge of the island!!! I am looking for a car rental right now, about 600 for 10 days, and we need two! Seems like a lot! I am researching things to do, I have been reading lots of post here! I need something for everyone, especially my 14 yr old daughter! She has never been anywhere except Florida, so I am really excited for her. She can't wait to see all the crabs. We snorkeled once and we loved it, so the beach thing is going to be #1. A different beach for each day, what is your favorite beach Blu? And I know they're all nice, but really, what is your absolute favorite beach? We will probably go shopping in St. Thomas for a day, maybe the baths. But since I have only been to St. John for a grand total of 5hrs, I really want to see the whole island. On future trips I think I will venture off. I have been to Tortola, is what nice. Any suggestions? Thanks
-Darlene

Darlene, glad to help. This forum is full of good advice (cept all the claims that STT is only good for jewelry and nightlife - but I'll not get onto that tonight 😉 )

What's your destination - STJ or STT?

I ask because I usually rent from Hotwire for $15 a day (or around that). In all of my experiences, Hotwire has placed me into an AVIS car. AVIS cars can go to STJ. However, Hotwire does not guarantee any particular rental agent - so you might get stuck with Hertz and not be able to travel to STJ with the car. If your destination is STT - go Hotwire. If STJ, you can chance Hotwire and have another rental on standby - just in case you get stuck with Hertz. But, Hotwire cannot be cancelled or changed once you reserve - and you pay at time of booking.

$15 a day for a car is an awesome deal, isn't it? You pay taxes and fees on top of the $15...but it's not much more. Check it out at Hotwire.com. I use them everytime these days! Yo sometimes have to play with the dates to find the $15 rate. if the rate comes up higher, try moving days around. last visit, I had to split my Hotwire reservation into two separate reservations to get the $15. This required me to go to the airport and check the car in and back out. For me, it was worth that little hassle to save hundreds of dollars. I kept the same car - just had to change paperwork at the counter.

That's a great deal, But yes, I am going to St. John. We rented a house on Gift Hill! I just hate to have to spend 1200 for jeep rentals. I'd rather spend it on day trips, and other excursions. I've never really been to St. Thomas, only briefly on the dock to go to St. John from the cruise ship. My mother was on a cruise previous to the one she took us on and she went to Megen's Bay and loved it. I have 10 days, and please recommend your favorites! Thanks, Blu,

-Darlene

Well, in that case......4WD might be best. I've been on STJ and had to turn my car around because I couldn't get down certain roads without 4WD. I once stayed in a STJ villa where everyone but thedriver ahd to get out of the car going into or out of the villa's driveway because of how steep the hill was. Meaning - we all had to WALK up and down. Yep, sure wished we had 4WD. Not sure how to get around the price.

Hotwire does have SUVs - and you'll immediately get a confirmation telling you who the rental agent is. They also offer insurance so you'll be able to cancel under certain circumstances. The ins. is really cheap.

Otherwise, you might not have much choice on the rate. Corporate Discounts? AAA? Have you gotten a quote from Dependable car rental on STT? They're good about being flexible with the rate if you can show them that you've gotten a quote from someone else - they try to match. I used them before I discovered Hotwire.

Funny thing is that as much as I go to the VI, I don't do much in the way of excursions. I get so lazy once I am there. All the best laid plans go out the window. I use all of my energy to pull my chair from sun to shade and back again. I want to try some of the STJ hiking trails this time....and some other new things. But, I don't dare talk about it much on here in case I don't do anything but shuffle in the sand - as usual.

There are some more energetic souls on this board who can recommend stuff to keep you busy.

Yes, my excursions will consist of lazy beach days as well! I don't really care for group tours. My aunt & uncle will be hiking, I might try a little, but I really want to save my energy for relaxing on the beach, lol. I have to admit, the beach is going to be my focus. I'm not one for laying in the sun, but I love to explore the beaches, take in all the scenery, read a good book and definitely snorkel. When I went to Trunk Bay, it was amazing. I had never seen anything like it and I knew immediately that I would return. From what I have read on these posts, there are many more beautiful beaches. I have read great things about Maho and Gibney!