We spent a night at Best Western Carib Beach which is literally right next to the airport on a trip we took recently. We had a similar situation except ours was on the front end of our trip instead of back end as is the case with you.

The Best Western Carib Beach is a sister property to Emerald Beach and is directly across the bay. We were pleased with the accommodations and would visit again for a one night stay on our way to St John or the BVI's. It is a 5 minute walk to the airport.

I would recommend being to the airport by 7 am to make a n 8:30 flight.

Good luck and have a safe trip home!

If you go to the St Thomas bar above and scroll down to the taxi rates you'll see that the fare from Mafolie to the airport is $8 per person and there is a $2 per person surcharge between midnight and 6AM.

If you order a private taxi, the fare within town limits is $55 for 1-4 passengers.

I don't know if anyone can relate their own experience where this is concerned but I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to call for a taxi at 6:15 or so and be able to have one show up for the regular rate. On a Sunday morning things are very quiet in town and it's only a 10 minute drive at most to the airport from Mafolie. Even if you left Mafolie at 6:45AM, you'd be at the airport at 7AM which should be ample advance time that early in the morning.

Or stay at Emerald Beach or the Caribe to be even closer! The BW Emerald Beach is on a lovely beach and visitors such as yourselves are perfectly happy with their choice.

Thanks for your response. I am looking at the Best Western's. I know I can walk from the Caribe but is it too far to walk from Emerald Bay?

The email I got from Hotel Mafolie said it would be $65 that early in the morning.....personally I have no clue.

You can easily walk from Emerald Beach if you don't have any heavy luggage - the taxi ride from there is 3 minutes and would be affordable and available.

When ever I plan out a trip and want to factor in my transportation costs, I use taxifarefinder.com. I have always found it really useful and accurate! All you have to do is put in your two travel points and the calculator will estimate the cost of the fare for you, so you dont have to do the guesswork. Hope this helps and have fun!

As STT Resident says, if you call a taxi appx 6am or 6:15 that morning you should be fine. I'd talk to the hotel prior so they know you are calling a cab early. Make sure hotel staff are availabel and around to call.My only worry would be about a taxi taking 30 mins to show up, but that early you should be fine and like the others said those are close and quick.

with all that said....................

I'd still stay at the Mafolie.

Pay a few more bucks and really enjoy your last night on the island. Check out of your STJ villa and head right over to STT and Megans Bay. Stay there till mid-afternoon then head to the Mafolie. The view from their pool deck is awesome. They have a pool side bar/grill to take care of you in the afternoon/early evening and it's a memory you'll take with you. Thay also have a great restaurant on property if you don't want to venture out.

Not that Best Western isn't great. Just that the view/pool/drinks/restaurant at the Mafolie (in my opinion) beats the convenience of the BW hands down.

You are only there once per year (more or less....). Make as many memories as you can!

Good Luck! Have Fun!!!

tily08 wrote:
When ever I plan out a trip and want to factor in my transportation costs, I use taxifarefinder.com. I have always found it really useful and accurate! All you have to do is put in your two travel points and the calculator will estimate the cost of the fare for you, so you dont have to do the guesswork. Hope this helps and have fun!

I rather doubt it would work here (:D) but isn't necessary anyway as our taxi fares are regulated and aren't based on mileage/meters but on destination. See link under "Transportation" on the island bars above this page.

STT Resident wrote:
[quote=tily08]
When ever I plan out a trip and want to factor in my transportation costs, I use taxifarefinder.com. I have always found it really useful and accurate! All you have to do is put in your two travel points and the calculator will estimate the cost of the fare for you, so you dont have to do the guesswork. Hope this helps and have fun!

I rather doubt it would work here (:D) but isn't necessary anyway as our taxi fares are regulated and aren't based on mileage/meters but on destination. See link under "Transportation" on the island bars above this page.

It definitely does not work.

STT Resident wrote:
isn't necessary anyway as our taxi fares are regulated and aren't based on mileage/meters but on destination. .

Taxi fares are regulated in everywhere in the US. But unlike most of the modern world, VI taxi rates are per person & per bag, not per "ride". .Additionally, the taxis will make detours and unperdicted stops at the sole discretion of the driver. Often times the taxis will Wait around until they are "full" i.e twelve passengers for the vans on STT or more for the Safari taxis on sTJ. Passengers are made to wait inside the hot vans whille the driver haggles for one more fare, or eats his lunch, gets a hiar cut, harvests ginn-ups ect. The taxis, then drive around to assorted destinations. If you are lucky you Will be one of the first dropped offs. The alternative is arranging for a private taxi, which is more.

blu4u wrote:
[quote=STT Resident]
isn't necessary anyway as our taxi fares are regulated and aren't based on mileage/meters but on destination. .

Taxi fares are regulated in everywhere in the US. But unlike most of the modern world, VI taxi rates are per person & per bag, not per "ride". .Additionally, the taxis will make detours and unperdicted stops at the sole discretion of the driver. Often times the taxis will Wait around until they are "full" i.e twelve passengers for the vans on STT or more for the Safari taxis on sTJ. Passengers are made to wait inside the hot vans whille the driver haggles for one more fare, or eats his lunch, gets a hiar cut, harvests ginn-ups ect. The taxis, then drive around to assorted destinations. If you are lucky you Will be one of the first dropped offs. The alternative is arranging for a private taxi, which is more.

I'm missing your point. This sounds more like a commentary plucked from well over 20 years ago and quite different from today's experiences in many respects.

The only time I've ever experienced a wait for a taxi van to fill up is at the airport when the dispatcher is loading up the vans going in different directions. The vans aren't hot at all but are very comfortably air conditioned. And if you're coming from the airport then of course you're going to be stopping at different resorts en route if yours is at the end of the line.

I've used plenty of taxis and have never waited while a taxi driver eats his lunch or gets a haircut. I've seen many drivers stop to pick a bunch of genips (I'm guessing that's what you meant by "ginn-ups"?) from trees on the roadside and the visitors in the cab have been delighted to get to taste one of these odd little fruits. I contribute to and read many different travel forums and none of these points have ever been raised as an ongoing negative.

Oh, and by the way, the way our taxis operate where rates are concerned is pretty much the same on most other Caribbean islands ...

To answer the original question: Based upon the taxi fares shown on this web site, it appears that $65 is the (private) per person rate from Malfolie, Frenchmans, at al. Plus bags, of course. The East End Hotels and Red hook is more. The site also explains that "radio calls" are the stanard reat + 50% so $8 + $4 = $12 plus the afterhour surcharge of $2 equalling $14. Getting a radio taxi to respond at 6am may be tough and they just might charge the private rate anyway.

And, do not forget...the drivers will charge $1 for every minute they spend waiting for you.

So I'd assume 2 people + 4 bags = $140 for a 6:00am 10 minute lift to the airport. What am i missing???? Where else in the world do vacationers pay almost $15 per minute for a taxi ride?????

blu4u wrote:
To answer the original question: Based upon the taxi fares shown on this web site, it appears that $65 is the (private) per person rate from Malfolie, Frenchmans, at al. Plus bags, of course. The East End Hotels and Red hook is more. The site also explains that "radio calls" are the stanard reat + 50% so $8 + $4 = $12 plus the afterhour surcharge of $2 equalling $14. Getting a radio taxi to respond at 6am may be tough and they just might charge the private rate anyway.

And, do not forget...the drivers will charge $1 for every minute they spend waiting for you.

So I'd assume 2 people + 4 bags = $140 for a 6:00am 10 minute lift to the airport. What am i missing???? Where else in the world do vacationers pay almost $15 per minute for a taxi ride?????

Maybe you should read through the thread, from which you will see that this sort of a quote from the hotel staff was totally unnecessary as there should be no problem hailing a regular taxi at the time the visitors need to leave to be at the airport in time.

No offense, but I would guess that "hailing" a taxi outside Mafolie at 6 am ain't that easy. I would trust the staff at Mafolie, as it's pretty common for visitors to spend the night before early morning depatures. Ritz or Frenchmans may have taxis on hand at 6am, but Mfofolie....?

STT Resident wrote:
[quote=blu4u]
[quote=STT Resident]
isn't necessary anyway as our taxi fares are regulated and aren't based on mileage/meters but on destination. .

Taxi fares are regulated in everywhere in the US. But unlike most of the modern world, VI taxi rates are per person & per bag, not per "ride". .Additionally, the taxis will make detours and unperdicted stops at the sole discretion of the driver. Often times the taxis will Wait around until they are "full" i.e twelve passengers for the vans on STT or more for the Safari taxis on sTJ. Passengers are made to wait inside the hot vans whille the driver haggles for one more fare, or eats his lunch, gets a hiar cut, harvests ginn-ups ect. The taxis, then drive around to assorted destinations. If you are lucky you Will be one of the first dropped offs. The alternative is arranging for a private taxi, which is more.

I'm missing your point. This sounds more like a commentary plucked from well over 20 years ago and quite different from today's experiences in many respects.

The only time I've ever experienced a wait for a taxi van to fill up is at the airport when the dispatcher is loading up the vans going in different directions. The vans aren't hot at all but are very comfortably air conditioned. And if you're coming from the airport then of course you're going to be stopping at different resorts en route if yours is at the end of the line.

I've used plenty of taxis and have never waited while a taxi driver eats his lunch or gets a haircut. I've seen many drivers stop to pick a bunch of genips (I'm guessing that's what you meant by "ginn-ups"?) from trees on the roadside and the visitors in the cab have been delighted to get to taste one of these odd little fruits. I contribute to and read many different travel forums and none of these points have ever been raised as an ongoing negative.

Oh, and by the way, the way our taxis operate where rates are concerned is pretty much the same on most other Caribbean islands ...

By the way I forgot to mention the "driving style" of the taxi opperators. If you get motion sick, tell the driver in advance and sit in the front. NO SETBELTS on the saffari style taxis. Riding in the back of a pick-up is very dangerous and is illegal in the states! Outragous prices. Rude practices. Unsafe vechiles.

I wasn't being literal about "hailing" as in standing on the side of the road outside the hotel. Were someone staying at Mafolie and needed an early morning taxi they could call VI Taxi from the hotel (or have a staff member do so if one is available) and have the dispatcher send somebody over. Many of the taxi drivers get an early start even on Sundays.

Anyway, it sounds as though the OP is leaning more towards the BWEB or BWCB so it's a moot point and hopefully he and the wife will have a good night's rest and be at the airport in plenty of time for that first flight!

STT Resident wrote:
I wasn't being literal about "hailing" as in standing on the side of the road outside the hotel. Were someone staying at Mafolie and needed an early morning taxi they could call VI Taxi from the hotel (or have a staff member do so if one is available) and have the dispatcher send somebody over. Many of the taxi drivers get an early start even on Sundays.

Anyway, it sounds as though the OP is leaning more towards the BWEB or BWCB so it's a moot point and hopefully he and the wife will have a good night's rest and be at the airport in plenty of time for that first flight!

We are leaning toward BWEB because we have only carry on luggage and it seems like we can walk to the airport in the morning and we also have a $100 gift card for Best Western hotels. But we are still looking....like I said it is only one night and we do have to check out very early in the morning so a short walk/short taxi ride to the airport is looking pretty good. Plus with the money we will be saving we can take taxis around STT on Saturday. Always open to suggestions though. 😀 Thanks for everybody's input.