Compact cars---it depends. Some villa driveways are so steep that you really can't get up them without 4wd. There are some roads where you'd probably bottom out with 4 adults in a compact car. And yes, the roads are steep and some have astonishing switchbacks---but when they can really get treacherous is during and after a rain, when they get very, very slick (and it doesn't take much rain for them to get slick). 4wd is pretty handy then.

I always like to save a buck, but this isn't a place where I cut corners.

Not clear on what the "greeter" is offering. Some villa rental agencies have arrangements with a car rental agency and will reserve a vehicle for you. Is this person offering to rent you one of their own cars? Also, it's a nice thing to rent a vehicle from an agency that has a lot in Cruz Bay that you can use when in town. For me, that always figures into who I'll rent from.

Nick is correct describing the roads and conditions but you can get by without 4WD jeeps. You will need to check with the villa rental company about access to/from and whether or not they recommend it. Otherwise, you just need to take your time (should anyway) and not try to be too adventerous if using conventional cars.

Hi

You didn't say how young the "younger" 4 are but the minimum rental age for drivers on STJ is 25 - just a heads up. (now you're going to tell me you are 60 and the "younger" ones are 45 🙂 )

Thanks everybody for recommendations.

Pia, the younger ones are 27, 25, 24 and 18, the oldest being my daughter and she would be the only adventurous enough to drive in St. Thomas. Just the other day, my husband was pulling out of store and he actually was driving on the left side!!! lol It was funny, he just got confused and we haven't been in St Thomas since last May.

Hi Connie -- If you rent vehicles from one of the companies at the airport, be sure you have enough room for all of your peeps and their luggage. For example, we rent 2 Jeeps from Budget at the airport for 5 people -- there isn't a lot of cargo space in a Jeep -- so this allows each person to have one large suitcase and a backpack/small carry-on. If you rent on St. John you may need to leave 1-2 people in town after you ferry over, with some of the luggage, while the rest of you use the two rental vehicles to follow the villa escort. You'll have to unload at your villa, then go pick up the others. Personally, I wouldn't rent anything other than a Jeep Wrangler. I just enjoy them. They are narrow, fun to drive with the top down, and the 4x4 is great to have when you need it on slick, wet curves.

Hi Trevor...i too love jeep wranglers. In fact, that was my daughters first car.

They only thing about jeep wranglers is that if you have the top off, it's really hot and another thing, if it rains, you're rushing to get the top back on, which can be a challenge.

Still may go for one because she misses hers so much, but for the "old people", we'll go for something else.

ha ha! Very true about the heat and the rain! I know where you're coming from. I hope you have a super trip! We will also be heading back at the end of November and cannot wait!

Trevor....one story.

Daughter left the top off her wrangler one time during the summer and was out with somebody else in their car. She came home to find about 4 inches of water in the bottom of the car. She took some buckets and was bailing it out when her friend thought...there has to be plugs...sure enough, they took the plugs out and out comes the water. How great of a car is that?

We WILL have one again.

Connie, that is great! I'll have to remember to look for the plugs if I ever need them. We're always super careful with the rental vehicles (I'm always paranoid that I'll have to buy one of them -ha ha), but we've been looking at Jeeps at home. We have a little VW convertible and one 4WD SUV and thought that a Jeep Wrangler would be the perfect replacement for both of them because we'd be reminded of paradise everytime we drive!