To clarify, I want to spend our time on STJ the days that the ships are on STT to try and stay away from the crowds of shoppers and tourists as much as possible....

Eric,

If it rains it's usually just a shower and often at night. The cruise ship schedule is available in a link at the top of this page in the blue header.

EJ,
Smart move going to STJ day of heavy cruise ships. We did the same thing. If you are going to Trunk Bay on STJ, go early and then get out before the massess of cruise tourists show up. They usually start arriving around 10:00 a.m.

There is a cruise ship schedule at the top of this post. Hiking is better on STJ.

We stayed at Bolongo Bay...it was okay.

Have fun!

There is a map of the STJ trails on the National Park Service website, and this would be your best bet for hiking. Be sure to do any of the trails in the morning as the summer afternoons get VERY hot and humid. Take a bottle of water, too.

http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/upload/trail%20map%202.pdf

You're staying at the Marriott, right, or at least close to there?? There's a ferry that will take you from the Marriott Frenchman's Reef to downtown Charlotte Amalie. Great bars here like the Greenhouse. Not exactly close, but Red Hook is filled with many, many great bars/pubs like Duffy's Love Shack, XO Wine Bistro, Sopchoppy's, Molly Malones.

Hey was just wondering. Are you a tourist???

You kind of said it like a dirty word.

LOL Good point no harm intended. : )

We're supposed to get a little "weather" in the next day or two and it did cloud over this afternoon but it's nothing to write home about. The weather forecast NEVER says "rain 0%. "Nothing major so don't worry.

There's ALWAYS a forecast for rain and, yes, it always rains......around 5am - over by 6. (I am generalizing, but I'm close)

Ignore the weather. It has forecasted rain for years...and I've gotten sunburns for years. Never had more than 1 day of rain in many, many years of vacations on STT.

Ignore! Ignore! Ignore!

Thank you! That's what I needed to hear! Not that I mind a cooler overcast day of hiking; but hoping we will have some clear blue skys to balance it out. Take it easy,

Not exactly close, but Red Hook is filled with many, many great bars/pubs like Duffy's Love Shack, XO Wine Bistro, Sopchoppy's, Molly Malones.

No exactly close...that always cracks me up, because from our point of view, the island is tiny...living in the Dallas area, an hour away is still "close." LOL 😉

The night life is my main dilemma. I am torn between renting a jeep or taking taxis. I would like to have the access to the island that renting a vehicle provides, and certainly would like to go to and from Red Hook on my own time, but at the same time, it probably wouldn't be smart to be driving back to Morningstar full of Rum and on the wrong side of the road!

Are there any alternate forms of transportation to and from Red Hook late at night? I am assuming that a taxi would cost a C note and the ferrys stop long before the bars close... Any ideas?

ALSO What bars or locations are going to be the best to catch live music during the week? My wife is a singer songwriter, and is very interested in hearing some music while we are there?

Thanks!

If you're staying at Morningstar, rent a car. Taxi money will bite you in the wallet and would be better spent on drink and food. Keep buckled up since that is the major crime while driving.

I appreciate it. Just got a quote from Hertz for a jeep... $562 for 8 days... I think I'm going to go for it. Thanks!

I've heard some rental companies won't let you take your vehicle over on the ferry to STJ. I seem to remember in a previous post that Hertz may be one of those companies???

That's funny... I thought the same thing. My travel agent insists that is not the case. I have been searching for that previous thread in the mean time before I commit to this company.

My other concern is the condition of the vehicle. I am wondering if it might not be smarter to wait until I am actually there to rent to make sure I get what I am anticipating.

Need to decide soon... leaving on Sunday!

Thanks!

Wise to book ahead. The vehicles on STT are usually a bit newer and in pretty good shape. Did you try Budget? I believe they allow vehicles to go on the ferry.

EJ,
I think this was the thread:

"Like Lex said, there are pros and cons either way. My wife and I just got back from our first trip. We rented a Jeep from Budget on STT, and will do that again next time. I just like the idea of throwing my luggage into a car right at the airport and not having to handle it again until I get to my villa. The Jeep we got from Budget was a 2007 with 3200 miles on it. I do not know that all of their cars are that new, but looking around the lot there were a lot of nice vehicles. Be careful who you rent from, not all rental companies on STT will let you take the car to STJ. Budget does, Hertz does not, and I do not know about the others.

I will warn you, if you rent from Budget, they are not terribly friendly. We had no problems whatsoever, just do not expect any smiles. "

Yes, rent the vehicle. Morningstar is out on the point and is close to nothing. Taxis will eat up your budget very quickly. I don't know why you mentioned the ferry. Are you talking about the ferry from Red Hook to Charlotte Amalie?

I use Hotwire to always compare against a discounted car rental rate. Is your jeep 4WD?

Got a 4x4 and thanks for the hotwire advice. I was referring to the ferry out to redhook from the hotel (i think, i've never been there!)

EJ