We will be at our condo in Mahogany Run in March also (arriving 3/3) No problem driving at night whatsoever. We are on Barbados Circle...where are you going to be? I spent a month there in August and at least a week of it I was alone...never encountered a problem. The security at the gate is excellent and they come to remember your car after a very short time. Have fun!

there are very FEW street lights in the country where he run is. You will need to drive from the run to everyplace as there are no beachs at the run. Town is about 5 m8ilts away. The east end is about 7.

billd

I do NOT drive at night. Too dangerous. Between the unaligned headlights and a lot of drivers constantly using their high beams without shutting them off blinding you. Combine that with inadequate street lighting, narrow , winding roads, LARGE vehicles that may be on the road. Yikes! SCARY and I refuse to drive at night.

I second stt.

Don't blame the other drivers. The cars in the VI's are the same as the mainland. They are designed to be driven on the right side of the road. Therefore , the low beam lights are aimed to the RIGHT to illuminate the edge of the road. When the car is driven on the left side of the road, the low beam is aimed at on coming traffic. High beams point straight ahead. Adjusting the low beams to point left would make the high beam point farther left and be useless.

Some are more intimidated than others, I find. Very personal thing. I always suggest to my guests that on their first full day, take a stroll all around the island....kinda like a self guided tour to familiarize yourself! Driving at night can be difficult anywhere if you don't know where the heck you are going! :S The good thing is you have The Grill Room AT Mahogany Run, Old Stone Farmhouse at the other entrance to Mahogany Run and Indigo Restaurant just a very short distance away as well! You will be just fine! (tu)

The Grill Room at the golf course closes early most nights and is a "good old boys" kinda place, a lot of golf bragging and beer drinking...I was NOT impressed. The food was mediocre and the staff was reallly looking for you to eat and GET OUT. The Old Stone Farmhouse is a gorgeous venue with fabulous food but I save it for special occasions...it is VERY pricey and even when they seem to have many tables open they chastise you for not making a reservation and leave you to sit around until they deem a table is ready. I think they want you to sit at the bar and drink to boost your bill. I still go there a few times a year but as I said, on special occasions. Now my son, Mr. Moneybags (LOL!) was down over Christmas with s few friends and ate there 4 nights out of 7...NYC guys with $$$ to burn, they did the tasting menu, New Years Eve and a couple of other dinners. I plan to try the resurrected Sunday brunch next week and will let you al know how that was.

Indigo is a close drive from the Run and has very delicious choices. We'll probably go there our first night if it is open on a Monday...anyone know???

Indigo's is a great choice!

Driving after dark in STT can be a little harder than day mainly because most of the tourist have drinking a little more. 😀

By the end of the week it will be no problem. Just ease into to the driving and get use to the rent-a-car's limitations.

And if you do party too hard, cabs on the islands work very well. Cabs are about the same as a round of bushwackers.

Be safe and if you do not like to drive at dark in the States, then you probably should not in the islands after sunset

"The Grill Room at the golf course closes early most nights and is a "good old boys" kinda place, a lot of golf bragging and beer drinking...I was NOT impressed. The food was mediocre and the staff was reallly looking for you to eat and GET OUT. "

New management, new chef , longer hours; atmosphere has changed dramatically for the positive.

"The Old Stone Farmhouse is a gorgeous venue with fabulous food but I save it for special occasions...it is VERY pricey and even when they seem to have many tables open they chastise you for not making a reservation and leave you to sit around until they deem a table is ready. I think they want you to sit at the bar and drink to boost your bill."

It feels pretentious to me as well.

"Indigo is a close drive from the Run and has very delicious choices. We'll probably go there our first night if it is open on a Monday...anyone know???"

Indigo is open seven days a week but closed today (2/29) and as of tomorrow, it will be owned by........the folks who own Old Stone Farmhouse!

dnt: I hope you will post an update when the new folks take over. WIll the sushi place remain? Inquiring minds...

Hey EE.

Yes, sushi at Shin-Sen will remain as the proprietor has her own contracts. We'll have to wait and see what the new owners do with the place. I've heard they intend to keep it the same, for now, but I know the old owners didn't leave their cookbook, just some employees who know some of the recipes. This is one place I wish wouldn't change...

One great thing has been that the food is reasonable. I am tired of every new place wanting to sell $30 entrees with no choices at a lower price point. The Old Stone Farmhouse folks make good food. I just hope they keep the good food, fair price concept. HINT-HINT! In case they are listening...

Meanwhile, a new tongue twister...sushi at Shin-Sen...sushi at Shin-Sen...shusi at sin shen... 😛

Thank you all for the driving tips!! I really appreciate all the good advice on this message board!

Don't be fearful, just shut your eyes and go. After all it seems that is what people do all over the world anyway.

Re: Indigo's change over... BluWater's gonna yearn for her Black and Blue ...

A Davis,
LOL! I have been thinkin' the same thing! She is going to bum when she finds out about the change!
Lets keep our fingers crossed!
Heard from Blu just the other day, sent her the picture of my new sign I made.....she is off to Mexico this week and will call upon her return. We have a LOT of catching up to do and Indigo update will be one to talk about!

Driving on St Thomas......

For better or worse we've just about done it all. Sherri is right, go site see during the day to get your bearing. That being said, when it gets dark, it gets really dark on STT. We got a later ferry back from STJ than we intended. It's not unusual to get a slight rain shower after sunset. The hills got rather slippery. After thirty minutes of getting lost, I remembered I was on an Island. From that moment on I just remembered at every chance turn up hill, turn up hill, keep turning up hill, eventually you will get to the top, from there you can get your bearings and go back down hill in the direction you need to be going.

Also, if you get a flat, been there done that. Remember you are probably not on flat ground. Find something to block the wheel, then find something to block the other three. You are probably driving a vehicle unlike your own and you are not necessarily thinking about whether it 4x4 or front wheel or rear wheel drive. Be cautious.

And by all means, do not drive over one of those concrete parking blocks, usually found at the neighborhood grocery store. On the island they use those to separate lanes at some intersections. If you drive over it, it will cost you around $250 for a new transmission pan, and a little of your pride.

We chose to drive during the day and bar b que on the grill at night.

Sherri we will see you in Sunday evening.

Rusty

To add to Rusty's flat tire situation, always remember to put on your emergency breaks as well!