Yes it is but just remember that you are on your own if you have car problems. I don't know how much cheaper it is once you figure in the ferry costs. It does give you the option to do some shopping on STT on your way.

If you are staying more than a couple of days it definately is worth renting a car. Taxi's become very expensive and most of the time walking is not an option. Don't Rent from Discount auto though, They were nice when I picked up the car and tried to scam me when I returned it.. Stick with a reputable car rental company

Thanks for all the input! I'm a Virgin Islands virgin 🙂 so I have a lot of questions! We are staying at the Villa Amorosa which says it is a short 5-10 minute walk to the beach. Has anyone found this to be true and is it a rough walk through the jungle or a trail. Thanks!

I would say the walk to the beach might be ten minutes but the walk back up the hill would be a killer

Thanks for all the input! I'm a Virgin Islands virgin 🙂 so I have a lot of questions! We are staying at the Villa Amorosa which says it is a short 5-10 minute walk to the beach. Has anyone found this to be true and is it a rough walk through the jungle or a trail. Thanks!

When are you staying at Villa Amorosa? We are staying in early June - and would love to hear what you have to say about your stay. so far we have had some issues with the owner.....but hoping there won't be any issues.

I know villa amorosa and it is in the best area of St John - it is a short walk (10 min max) to the extremely presitigious Peter Bay - world class! There is a paved private road (quiet) that I believe you can use. Your views will be jaw dropping!

I booked an air/hotel package through Travelocity. We'll be arriving in STT on April 12th, leaving April 22. The "package" deal supposedly includes 2 days of free car rental, provided by Budget rentals once we get to the hotel (Sapphire Beach Resort) where they apparently have an onsite affiliate. So I booked a shuttle to/from the airport and hotel.

Two free days of car rental is all well and good; the problem is, we will be there for 10 days, and hubby insists we MUST have a car. The Travelocity paperwork just says "2 days car" but NO DETAILS, such as how/what/when!

I called Travelocity, who was clueless. I have called the desk at Sapphire Beach Resort at different times of the day and night, hoping to stumble upon somebody who knows something, but all I've been given is a phone number for Budget that dumps me into a voice mail recording that says that the inbox does not exist. The published number just rings and rings.

When I called the Budget office at the airport and tried to explain, I was told they can't handle cancellations. I don't want to cancel, I just want add on seven more days, or book an additional contract. I was told that I had to do that online, but I don't know what the deal is on the so-called "2 free days" --- as in, when do I get a car? --- so I don't know what arrangements to make.

Then they told me that it didn't matter, since it was Carnival and there were no cars available, anyway! EEEP!!!

I was trying to avoid "spring break" and had NO IDEA that it was Carnival time there. My husband lived there in the 90's, but he is absolutely clueless as to what year we are in right now, much less season, so he wasn't terribly helpful in the planning aspect of this trip! 😮

Sooooooooo, does anyone out there have any idea how this "2 free days car" thingy-dingy works with Sapphire Beach and Budget? Will I get a car immediately upon check-in (in which case I would know what dates to try to pre-book a separate contract now) or do they play the lottery system?

I'm willing to chuck the freebie thing in favor of securing transportation for the duration, but prospects look dim. Or, does anyone know of a number I can call, at EITHER Sapphire or Budget, where someone will actually answer the phone, and when they do answer, actually KNOW some information?

Wow, I just realized how sarcastic I sound. I just spent two hours reading about 50 websites where people posted snarky reviews about Sapphire Beach. This is the first site I have found that had positive things to say! Then I saw the "No See Ums" thread, and panicked. I'm so allergic that each bite swells up the size of a vanilla wafer, raised welts and bubbly blisters that look like burns. I still have scars from four trips to the Mayan Riviera Oh, Yippeeee! Paradise!

This is a long overdue vacation that I am eagerly anticipating. The hotel could be the worst nightmare on earth, and I will still be happy just to be near "my" ocean. If we have to walk or pay exorbitant taxi fees, so be it. Nothing will spoil this trip. I suggested to hubby that we just rent bicycles, but he said that the locals go out of their way to try to hit cyclists. Ooops, there goes the sarcasm again --- no wait, this one is on HIS ticket! LOL.

I will check in here tomorrow to see if anyone has any tips specific to the S/B deal. I have already jotted down the other car rental tips from this and another thread, so you have already been very helpful, and I thank you!

Stars,

Doesn't Sapphire Beach have some sort of Concierge? That is where I would start.

I found after checking packages on expedia, travelocity, hotwire that it was cheaper to go directly through the airline for airfare and then vrbo.com for accomodations and dependable for the vehicle. Renting direct from the owners can save you half what you spend going through the resorts sites.

Stars, first...you're going to a very laid back environment, so relax :o) Things will work out. Yes, there is a Budget counter at Sapphire, but good luck trying to find somebody there. They come and go as they please.

There are noseeums and mosquitos on the island. They come out when it's humid, no breeze, after a good rain. So, if you're allergic, be prepared. I've found noseeums to be worse in Florida than on STT.

Back to Budget....if you do try to deal with them, keep persistent with the Sapphire location. I really don't think the airport location will help you out.

At some point you may have to give up and just call another rental car agency.

Thank you all for your comments. I'm afraid I appeared to be a bit demented when I posted last night. I've been under a tremendous amount of stress lately, which is why I am so looking forward to coming to your lovely island to chill out.

Connie, I'm breathing again, see? 🙂

I worked another 12 hour day again today, so I will do my best to try to make calls tomorrow to see what I can come up with. And yes, Linda, good idea, ask for a concierge, rather than just whoever answers the phone. I guess I just assume that service industry workers have the common sense to transfer to an expert, if there is one available, rather than just say "I don't know" and leave it at that.

If Budget can't help me, and the other agencies are already booked for Carnival, as I was told, is there another source? Such as a library board, school campus board, etc, that might advertise rentals from private parties? I'm willing to rent your deadbeat brother-in-law's clunker --- fringe, dice, dingle balls and all! 😀

That's actually what I might think I could do if and when we move there for good: rent my minivan out, or use it as a private taxi service. See, this trip is not just a vacation for me, it's a homecoming for my husband, whose plan is to get us moved to STT in the very near future. I'm all for it, sight unseen, but it's a good idea to get a feel for the place first, I suppose --- although I have never been cautious in my whole life. I moved to France at age 16, by myself. I have moved to many places, sight unseen, for various reasons. But no reason on earth could be more compelling than sugar sand and warm turquoise water!

Livin, I think it all depends on the circumstances, the location, the season, etc. I have had VERY good luck booking air/hotel/car packages in the past. The problem only came up THIS time because the car "deal" does not jive with the length of our stay, and there was no option to upgrade while doing the online transaction. I thought, "no big deal, we'll deal with it when we get there..." But that was before I knew that by delaying our trip to avoid spring break, we ran smack dab into your local peak time. Which surprises me, since I saw a noticeable drop in prices for any trip beginning after April 1, so it looked to me like the "slow" period I was expecting.

The people whose posts I have read on these threads seem delightful! I know that some of you are locals, some snowbirds, some infrequent but devoted visitors, while others are first-timers like me. I hope that I will run into some of you during our stay. Maybe I should wear something that would help you spot me.... maybe a tiara? LOL. I know, the big dude with me will wear a tutu. Ok, probably not. How's this: I'll be the blonde who smells like DDT to ward off the NO-SEE-UMS. At any rate, if you run into us, my name is Courtney, and his name is Chris. We'd love to buy you a drink!

Only 8 more days! I'm already packed, ya know! 🙂

Courtney,

Is there a code of some type on your travelocity car rental paperwork? If so, I would make an on-line reservation with Budget and put that code in the reservation form. My guess is that you'll get the cost of two days reduced from the final cost of the entire rental. I'd also call the toll-free 800 number for Budget rather than St. Thomas offices. The deals like that are often made on the corporate level rather than the private level.

Gerie,

Nope. That is what is so weird! I have a confirmation code for all of the airline flights, another for the shuttle from the airport to Sapphire Beach hotel, and another for the hotel (with 2 day car rental, but NO details of ANY kind). So the car is definately associated with the hotel package. I remember when I was trying out different dates in Travelocity, some dates would come up with beachfront suite, continental breakfast, and 2 day car rental --- other dates (within a week span) did NOT offer car or breakfast (which I heard the breakfast was disappointing, anyway).

Anyway, another 12 hour day worked, with no chance to call. Tick tick tick. I'm doomed.

Hi Waterguy:

Your suggestion was just what my husband and I thought would be make it worth while.

Where would you suggest stopping to pickup provisions in STT? Is it less expensive to shop for groceries, etc in STT than STJ?

Hey Goodguy:

What exactly happened with Dependable? We were considering using them for our visit. Their rate according to "Connie" is very competitive.

Car rental companies on St. Thomas do not allow you to bring the car to St. John via the ferry. We rented at Conrad Sutton on St. John and they allow you to park in their lot. It was great not searching or paying for parking.

Nancy - sorry, but incorrect. The only car rental company on STT that does NOT allow their cars to go over to STJ on the car barge is Hertz.

Does anyone have the info for DEPENDABLE and where they are located in STT?