Very soon after moving to STJ, I took the ferry over to STT to do some shopping. Take the Safari, I was told, getting to Tutu is easy.
I waited for the taxi and asked if they were going to Tutu. Yes, I was told. I hopped on and heard some laughing and mumbling but thought nothing of it.
After a half hour, I had a feeling something wasn't right but I didn't really know my way around STT and traffic was bad. People were getting on and off but nothing looked familiar to me so I stayed on until I was the only one riding and we got to the sub base area and I was told that was his last stop, he was dropping the taxi off to get some work done on it. I asked him why he told me we were going to Tutu and he just shrugged and laughed.
I walked out towards the Pueblo ( I think that is the name of the store), grabbed a passing by taxi and finally made it to the mall, Almost 2 hours after I left STJ and a bunch of $$$ later.

When I walked out of KMart, there was a safari out front and the driver was saying, Red Hook. I saw someone I knew on the taxi and i asked them and they assured me it was going there so I got on and made it to Red Hook. I was told that I was on the wrong side of the street to go to Tutu when I arrived on STT and I guess the driver (and passengers) got a good laugh at my expense.

I learned my lesson and the way of the safaris and never had another problem, but the point of this long story is that if you have never experienced the safari system, it is not a great idea with out someone that has, especially with 11 people.

Anyone that thinks that a cruise ship group of 11 should attempt to use the safari system to get to the beach is not thinking about the passengers island experience. While getting a regular taxi will be more expensive, it will ensure you get straight to your destination and back before the boat leaves.

And nobody has mentioned the at least 1/4 mile walk from the safari stop closest to Coki that you have to walk to get to Coki beach. It is NOT pretty, and in the summer, it is dreadfully hot.

A tregular axi driver will take you right to the beach, and maybe introduce you to the vendors there to make sure you're taken care of. They also give you discount coupons to Coral World should somebody want to do that.

The $1/$2 safaris barely wait for one person to get off let alone 10+.

Bottom line, no one on this board wants guests to have a negative experience. And most of us think that the Safari bus for 11 cruise ship passengers is a very risky proposition. Spend the money and hire a regular taxi.

Nicely put, Linda!

marty

that goes to the point i tried to make. rent a car or hire a taxi for the day!!! as long as they have a good time. that is what counts.

billd

Yep, that's the crux of the bicuit...we want every visitor to have a great time here and spread the word about our great destination when they get home and come back again and again!

Oh you have to love how some of these posts get belabored to death, so let me add on since nothing else of much interest seems to be happening here right now!

Ms411 I did in fact point out the long walk to Coki from the safari drop-off on Smith Bay Road in my first post on this subject, where I thought I had everything pretty well covered - but was obviously wrong when Carib 12 had to pop in with different directions and then went on to intimate that my info was in some way related to my support of licensed taxi drivers and road taxes versus safari buses which he intimated weren't legal . Safari buses ARE licensed and DO have taxi medallions. A bunch of nonsense all that was but just a stir pot routine. And Caribe 12's directions were way off to boot despite his protestations to the contrary. If I followed your directions, Carib 12, I'd end up like XIsland girl.

Xislandgirl - your story was a hoot and too perfect! I'm still chuckling!

Of course locals take the safaris. Many locals don't have their own transportation and pick up the safaris to get to work or to go shopping, Some returning long-time visitors staying on the East End have learned the routine and instead of renting a vehicle and with time in hand, opt to wait for a safari to take them to Red Hook or further and manage quite well.

The safaris go West to East on a circular route so, for instance, you can hail one down anywhere on the Smith Bay Road and get to Red Hook or continue on to Havensight and/or Tutu Park Mall (depending on whether the safari driver is taking a left to go towards Bolongo and then to Havensight or going straight through to Four Winds and then right to Tutu.)

But you will not find a safari in Red Hook on the opposite side of the road so you can't get back to Sapphire, Point Pleasant, Pineapple or Wyndham or anywhere else on that stretch unless you go all around the island. I hope I've confused the issue even more for the casual visitor. With two people with time to kill it's sort of do-able, for 11 people off a cruise ship for just one day it's SUCH a no brainer! Cheers and Happy Boxing Day!