It's really not bad at all. Just be confident in yourself. If you're in a villa there is no reason you need to drive in the dark if you don't want to. You can eat at home, really. There are some great restaurants on the Coral Bay side if you want to eat out and don't want to drive too far.

As for shifting, it isn't necessary, though I think it helps to drive in a lower gear when going downhill. It saves the brakes. On the steep cut-backs you can use the 4WD. Just have the car rental guys show you how to shift if you need some help. It's not difficult and you'll probably get the hang of it within a day. Good news is that St John has very little traffic and only a couple of main roads, so you won't feel pressure from other drivers to go faster, drive perfectly, etc. Just relax and believe in yourself. You'll do fine.

Most viiia rental folks will arange a rental car, meet you at the ferry, take you to get your car, and then lead you to your villa. If I was arriving that late and staying on the East end, I would certainly ask that this be done, even If I had to pay/tip someone extra.

Driving during the day is not hard, you'll be glad you have a car. If you really don't want to have a car, reconsider staying closer to Cruz Bay. And yes, taxis charge by the person and you will probably charge full fare for a 3 year-old.

You will not be able to get a taxi to go to East End and if you could it would probably be at least $35.00 per person each way (from Cruz Bay) and yes they do charge for children. My Mother-in-Law had a hard time trying to get a taxi for 2 to go to Coral Bay !!! You NEED a car - hopefully you have booked one already - if not you need to do it NOW.
St John is not like the States where taxi's are concerned - you just can't call a taxi and have them be there soon, and drive time from Cruz Bay to EE is approx 45+ mins.
You will be fine driving - do have a 4wd NOT a car (if you are not used to hills you do not need the added stress of trying to shift up and down and around our switchbacks) and just put it in 1st if you are having difficulty and go slow.
Good luck

Pia

OK, I am confused !!!

I just read your other question and it seems that you arrive this Sunday, but you are saying that you are "probably" staying in East End - you do have your villa booked right? and it also appears you may not have a car rented yet - I hope you do, and you are just contemplating cancelling it (don't) and not that you have not reserved one yet - again you NEED a car for EE of STJ especially if your flight arrives at 9pm as you probably won't get the 10pm Red Hook (unless you do carry on only and are not going to wait on luggage and hope there are other people also with carry-on only to fill up the taxi) so it will be the 11pm Red Hook, arriving on STJ at 11:20pm and trying to get a taxi to EE at that time of night - impossible 🙁

I'm not trying to scare you but you really need to be prepared (especially travelling with a 3 year old) and trying to catch the bus........why???? If it is to save money, this is not a "cheap" vacation destination - sorry - again you need to be prepared (car rentals alone are in the $70.00 per day range but that is a drop in the bucket compared to the hundreds per day you would spend getting from EE to and from beaches and dinner, even if, and I say IF - you could find a taxi to help you.

If you need the numbers for the car rental agencies I will post them for you just let me know

Pia

Just a word of advice...there are pullouts along the road, so if you notice cars backing up behind you, pull over and let them go by 🙂

The roads are so twisty that passing isn't easy, so more experienced STJ drivers will appreciate it if you pull over and let them go by. A lot of people do it 🙂

Rent a car, it's the best thing you can do. Make sure that somebody is a "lookout" for you on the road.

If you are renting a villa, I would call them and tell them that you need somebody to take you to the villa. That way you can follow them.

If you're renting a car, they're almost all automatic. We had a Jeep Liberty last time and we didn't have to shift down or up for any part of St. John or St. Thomas. Don't get me wrong...hills are crazy in St. John, but they're doable. Just take your time and relax. Don't get all upset before you even get there.

Everything will be fine! You're going to paradise. Enjoy it!

I have to agree with Pia. It is virtually impossible to get a cab to the East End. My husband (in Coral Bay)had a prospective buyer he had to meet last week who was staying in Cruz Bay and he could not get a cab to take him into Coral Bay. So my husband ended up picking him up and then returning to Cruz. The buses do not go out to EE. Another suggestion, seeing that you are coming into STT so late is to stay on STT for the night. Pia is right you should have a rental lined up before you go. Just provisioning your villa will be difficult without a car. You really need to go into Cruz Bay to shop for the first time. How are you going to get to all those beautiful beaches if you don't have a car? Driving is not all that difficult. I do it all the time and I'm no spring chicken!

thanks for your help everyone....

the thing that is making this so dificult is arriving so late....

I would definately prefer to rent a car but too young to rent one on st john,,,,

and on st thomas i would have to spend the night in a hotel and wait till morning for a car ferry.

My opinion is if you're scared to drive, then don't! It's not for everyone and if you freak out driving it's not safe for you or anyone driving by you. Like others said, if you're holding up traffic, pull over.

anyone know a car rental company on st john that will rent to me at 24 yrs old?

I always feel like I left the work world behind when I go up the hill past Trunk Bay and make that sharp up hill left! Driving and exploring is an awesome part of the whole experience.

Hey Beachbum: It's too bad you can't rent a car at 24. I don't know a way around it.

But, I drove last month for the first time in 15 trips, and I LOVED it. It is way more scary to be a passenger than to do the driving. Just take it easy until you get comfortable and you'll be fine.

I,d say your best bet would be to stay over night on STT and rent a car there and come over on the first barge

OK, now I am worried.......you arrive this Sunday, you do not have a reservation for a car (you may not get one at this late a date), you arrive late - probably be on the 11pm Red Hook to STJ, travelling with a 3 year old, staying in East End where there is no bus service and no taxi will take you there.......how are you going to get there......please put my mind at rest and say you do have a back up plan.

If you do not want to spend the night in STT call the St John Inn or the Inn at Tamarind Court if you must come to STJ that night and see if they have a room or 2 and book it, then return the next day to STT and pick up a 4wd but confirm that you have booked with an agency that allows the car to come over to STJ.

Let us know

Good luck

Pia

lol, Pia, ur so cute :).....

so here is the plan, tell me what you think,,,,,we are going to rent a villa on st john by coral bay. (wanted something closer to cruz bay but couldnt find) anyways,,,
since we cant take the car over that late, and i'd prefer not to drive that late either, we are spending the night on st thomas at a hotel/motel/inn/bb near the airport, and picking up the car in the morning, driving to redhook and taking the car ferry to st john...

Oh, is a car ok on st john or do i NEED a jeep, cuz the difference in price is a couple hundred dollars?

and do you know of any cheap motels we could spend the night at ??

beachbumb -

I'm with Pia. Your plan (or lack of?) is leaving us all scared. You are coming this weekend and you have no hotel room for your first night, AND you say you are "going to rent a villa" on near Coral Bay. (You don't say that you already have one rented, which is causing the confusion). AND you have a 3-year old with you? We are not asking you to say where you are staying, just wondering if you actually have a villa rented. And its getting awfully late to get a room on STT for the first night since this is the busy season. I wish you luck! Hope everything goes smoothly, let us know when you get back!

Yes, driving on St John is scary. The hairpin curves, the steep inclines. You have to be aware of what is ahead and behind you. Honk your horn when going around a curve and if someone is riding your bumper, don't feel the need to speed up if you are not comfortable, places to pull over and let people pass are not always available.

You are joking, right? When did you start planning your trip? Your English is just a bit confusing because you say "we are going to rent a villa", suggesting that you haven't yet done so. Then you ask if anyone knows of a cheap motel?...and you're traveling with a child?!?! Oh, and you ask if renting a car is okay when multiple people have told you to get a 4WD already. Are you paying attention to anyone's advice?

On the chance that your questions are actually legitimate, no it's not a good idea to rent a "cheap motel" on STT. You have a child traveling with you and I personally don't think it's the best idea to just shove yourselves into cheap accomodations. Expect to spend around $200 on a hotel your first night. Next, you need a 4WD. We have already established that you don't exactly feel comfortable driving around St John because you are not used to mountain driving. That said, again, fork out some cash and spend it on a 4WD. Good freakin' luck driving all the way out to Red Hook for the car ferry. Driving on STJ is cake, but STT will be more challenging due to traffic. Be prepared.

All of this being said, hopefully you realize how expensive it is to travel to St John. Car rentals are pricey, gas is pricey, food is pricey. If you're splitting the cost between 3 other adults, spending an extra $400 on a decent hotel and a 4WD shouldn't even phase you. If it were just you and a few other adults it wouldn't be a big deal...but you have a child with you; thus a bit more organization is in order. Sorry if I have offended you, but if your inquiry is serious, then you need a wake-up call.

Why is everyone freaking out? i still have a whole week left. orbitz.com and expdia.com right at my fingertips. Sorry I can't plan trips months and years in advanced, my life just doesnt work that way. and whats wrong with staying in a motel for 8 hours instead of a hotel? we are 5 people, would end up needing 2 rooms, thats 4 hundred dollars. plus cheapest price i found for jeep is like 650$ thats over 1000 already. We are all young students and dont have much money, and the money we do have, we''d rather spend it on food and activities instead of taxis fares/car rental, and accommodations. 1000$ may come easy to you,,,,and hopefully in a few years it will come easy to me too...for now, i am on a budget.