If you're here on vacation for a short time, I wouldnt be too worried about things you can't get at our groceries. You can find everything here, but perhaps not in the brands you prefer. Some people do bring speciality items (homemade sausage, seafood, etc) And some bring cereal & peanut butter, which are very expensive here.

Great! Im just thinking about what you were saying about the peanut butter and the boxed cereal ! Thats kinda funny! I guess we have it good in the US!! They also say that soaps like bathroom items are also very high!! Im thinking that i need to bring like 2 cases of both to tip the drivers!

If you have kids, bring cereal. And tipping the drivers w/soap might get you in trouble.

ST Thomas is in the US Virgin Islands, you are not going to a 3rd world country where you can't buy soap or cerearl or peanut butter. They are just a bit more expensive than at home for most people. The island has grocery stores, a warehouse club (similar to Costco), Kmart, Home Depot, etc.

If you were to tip a taxi driver with soap or cereal, I would almost guarantee that you will offend them. In fact, if you tip anyone with anything other than cash, you will most likely offend them.

Boxed cereal is one thing that is 3-4 times more expensive here, even generic brands. I never notice it until the grandkids come to visit. I make their mom send cereal in their suitcases...lol

If you are a coffee drinker, you might bring some along. Although there is a very good selection on island (many of which you won't see in the states), it is expensive. Name brand soda can also be expensive, but that's all the more reason to stick with Cruzan or Presidente. Stick with greenbacks for your tips.

Goldenrt:

The prices here are generally about 15% above New York Metro area prices....so your (brand name) peanut butter may cost about 30 to 50 cents more than back home.

You can get just about anything here that you can get back home.

Liquor is cheaper.....and we don't have a sales tax.

F.I.

Easyvictor, $90?
I can go in a private taxi from the airport to Red Hook for $25 for one person. Less per person with more people in the taxi.
The posted rate from CA to the Elysian is $15 for one person, or $10 per person with 2 or more.
Unless you had 6 or more people in your party, you were over charged. Private or not, there is no way you should have paid that. (Unless you had a large group)

Xislandgirl wrote:
Easyvictor, $90?
I can go in a private taxi from the airport to Red Hook for $25 for one person. Less per person with more people in the taxi.
The posted rate from CA to the Elysian is $15 for one person, or $10 per person with 2 or more.
Unless you had 6 or more people in your party, you were over charged. Private or not, there is no way you should have paid that. (Unless you had a large group)

Not true--the cabbies will load up as many people as possible and then you pay $25 per person, after the taxi has dropped off everyone from Marriott, Bolongo, Secret Harbor, picked up his buddy in Bovoni, dropped him at another buddy's house, and then 3 hours later gets you to Elysian 😉

ventogt wrote:
[quote=Xislandgirl]
Easyvictor, $90?
I can go in a private taxi from the airport to Red Hook for $25 for one person. Less per person with more people in the taxi.
The posted rate from CA to the Elysian is $15 for one person, or $10 per person with 2 or more.
Unless you had 6 or more people in your party, you were over charged. Private or not, there is no way you should have paid that. (Unless you had a large group)

Not true--the cabbies will load up as many people as possible and then you pay $25 per person, after the taxi has dropped off everyone from Marriott, Bolongo, Secret Harbor, picked up his buddy in Bovoni, dropped him at another buddy's house, and then 3 hours later gets you to Elysian 😉

ALL 100% true

The POSTED rate from Charlotte Amalie to the Elysian is $15 for one person. $18 from the Airport

I take a private taxi to Red Hook from the airport for $25. Just me in the taxi I arranged to meet me. The price drops to $20 pp when there is more than me in the taxi.

If you are charged $25 per person to get into a shared taxi, then you were overcharged and should report the driver..unless you had 5+ bags and were charged for them. (the stopping at a million hotels on the way is correct and exactly why I reserve a private taxi)

THANKS GUYS...
I DECIEDED TO RENT A CAR.. IF I HAVE OFFENED ANYONE IM VERY SORRY.. I HAVE PACKED A TOTE TO BRING ALONG FOR JUST THE SNACKS AND SUCH.. I HAVE LOTS OF SUNSCREEN AND HANG OVER MEDICIAN SO I SHOUD BE GOOD,

THANKS
AGAIN..
DAVE

Dave,
Unless you plan that this tote be checked luggage, you should visit the website:
http://www.tsa.gov/311/
Carryon liquids such as sunscreen and gels and pastes such as peanut butter can only be carried in volumes less than 3 oz containers and all must fit into a single quart sized ziploc.
Enjoy your trip.

Friends visiting on a cruise ship yesterday brought me REAL tomatoes from New Jersey. REAL, sun-kissed, sweet and juicy ripened-on-the-vine tomatoes! THAT'S what rocks my boat!

THANKS TOES.

THE TOTE I GOT WILL HOLD ALOT OF STUFF.. IT WILL GO AS CHECKED BAGGAGE... I HAVE UP TO 50 LBS TO PUT IN IT!! THE ONLY THING WE ARE CARRYING ON THE PLANE ARE JUST HAND BAGS.. THE CLOTHS AND ALL THE STUFF WILL BE IN THE TOTE... ALL SHAMPOO HAIR SPRAY FOR THE GIRLS. AND SUCH.. I KNOW NOT TO CARRY MUCH TO LUG ON A PLANE EASYIER TO JUST CHECK IT THAN LUG IT AROUND 3 AIRPORTS BEFORE WE GET THERE. WE WILL CARRY 1 CHANGE OF CLOTHS WITH US..