Hi.

Yes, the rental car agents should have a map and directions. You can look online for a map beforeheand - just search for road map of st thomas and once you find that we can tell you what roads.

You can remain in cars or not. Most tourists get out - most locals remain in cars. If you want to get out, do it as soon as you get on and don't expect ot get back into car until time to drive off. Cars are packed on, so not much room to oepn doors. Just know that people make a bee-line when the ferry docks and you'll need to really hustle to keep up if you are not in car. You could leave windows down so that you can climb in if doors are too tight to open - so you can get a headstart on the exit protocol.

If you get out, you can climg the stairs and go to the top of the ferry - or remain on the car level and be near the water. You can walk around while the ferry is moving - even into and out of your car.

Thanks for your response! It sounds like we can be flexible but will most likely stay around the car, especially if the kids are napping...

I think it must matter which car ferry you take...in the 8 times I've taken the car ferry, I've only seen people get out of cars once, and it was the most recent time in August of this year...and they were local kids who were friendly with the ferry crew, not tourists.

For safey concerns, I think I'd just stay in the car, especially with little kids. I have seen cars roll before, and as tight as they pack in the cars, someone could get pinned.

Just my 2 cents 🙂

Thanks, good point about the rolling, I think we'll plan to stay in the car with the windows down to enjoy the breezes. Thanks for the info, just helps me to plan ahead a little (i.e. have snacks available in the car!).

Can you guys let me know if these directions are accurate, I got them from Mapquest...

Turn left on 302/Airport Rd.
After 0.7 miles, turn right onto Rt. 30/Maravian Highway, continue to follow Rt. 30
After 2.9 miles, turn left onto Rt. 313/ Rumer Drive
After 0.3 miles, turn right onto Rt. 38 / Weymouth Rhymer Highway. Continue to follow Rt. 38
After 2.2 miles, turn right on Rt. 38/ Smith Bay Road.

Then it says turn left and a slight right onto the ferry.

I assume there will probably be some signs. This looks like about 6 miles, I assume the roads and/or traffic must be pretty slow? It looks like we will go straight through Charlotte Amalie, anything special I should know about that?

Thanks!

LOL, you're making it way too complicated 🙂

The map that the rental car company gives you is all you'll need. There are signs from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook...a little cartoon starfish will point you on your way with arrows along the route. This summer there was a sign missing at one intersection, which I noticed because I know the route after several vacations to STJ...but if you have a map you'll do fine (and knowing the pace of things on the island, the sign hasn't been replaced yet :)).

keriand paulinva: One thing about your directions- no one here uses route numbers. My instructions would be: Navigator should yell "keep left" at random points through this ride. Go out the airport road and turn right at the stoplight. Stay on that road along the waterfront. You will go by the new Yacht Haven. Go straight (veer right) at the stoplight at Mandela Circle and drive through Havensight. Keep on this road and you will eventually come to a stop sign. Turn left and stay on that road down Donkey Hill, past Bolongo Bay, past the horse track. Turn right at the T (there will be a gas station in front of you, the bridge to nowhere on your right.) Stay on that road. You will eventually pass Food Center, if you want to stop for some groceries. Continue through the stop light at the top of the hill. Follow the road, you will curve to the left and pass a high school. You are in Red Hook. If you need fruits and veggies, meats and fish, stop at Marina Market on the left. If not, continue past American Yacht Harbor and have the navigator watch for the signs for the ferry dock, turn right right just past the taxi van area. Voila!

Route numbers? We don't need no steenkin route numbers!

My advice....forget the map and print out East Ender's directions, much, much, more accurate 🙂
(route numbers...LOL!!!)

7 days 🙂

Thanks East Ender, those are just the kind of directions I was looking for! Especially the part about the food shopping. I really appreciate the landmark directions, they will be great to follow (I like the part about yelling Keep Left too- I've driven in Ireland but it took some adjustments, especially when turning).

Keri

East Ender,
I am going to use your directions to get to Secret Harbour since its on the east end, but could you tell me at what point I will turn off before reaching Red Hook to get to SH?

thanks!

Mountaineer girl: You would follow the same instructions past the Food Center, through the stop light at the top of the hill, down the newly paved road- but instead of curving to the left, you will veer off to the right. There is a small grassy area on the right with a bunch of signs that indicate various businesses on the Nazareth peninsula- hmm, I am going to have to see if Secret Harbour is one of them. There is a metal sculpture there that says Vessup Bay Estates. So you go up that road and turn right at the first road- there is definitely a sign there. Be careful at this turn as oncoming traffic has a hill and cannot see you very well! After you turn right you will make a left hairpin turn when it appears. Continue to Secret Harbour- check-in is under the gaudy orange awning.

thanks so much EE, I am printing this out. The only other directions I had was with routes, and I was going to ask this question closer to April, but this is good! Putting all this stuff in my manilla envelope entitled "St Thomas April 2007"!!