Hello,

If you use St. Thomas as your base for exploring St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island you can try to find a place to stay that is close to the bus route which is serviced by the public bus, and the more popular routes are also serviced by the "dollar ride". If you have time, patience and plan it out you can use the public transportation to get around to some areas for example within town and town to Red Hook and the places in between. Then you can plan on renting a car for a couple days to explore places on say the Northside of the island like Magens Bay, Drakes Seat, Mountain Top.

There is a ferry to Water Island, you can spend a day exploring on foot (there aren't any taxis, buses or rental cars on Water Island). Walk around a bit and head to Honeymoon Beach for swimming, grab lunch there or bring a picnic with you. There is a ferry to St. John and there is a trail that starts right in Cruz Bay which is where the ferry dock is located; so you can spend a day hiking Lind Pt. Trail along to Caneel Bay and back, again bring a picnic lunch with you.On the return spend some time in Cruz Bay before heading back to St. Thomas on the ferry. If you have another day for St. John you can plan for a rental car and explore the island or do a taxi tour to see more of the island, or you can try the public transportation route which is along Centerline.

St. Croix from St. Thomas; if the Seaplane flights you want are sold out you can try Cape Air. St. Croix is the largest island, public transportation is available between the two main towns Christiansted and Frederiksted but other than that you need a car or to take a taxi. If you stayed in Christiansted you could walk around the town which has several historic sites, shopping, restaurants, short ferry over to Protestant Cay, watersports right there at the Christiansted boardwalk for fishing, getting a charter to Buck Island.

If you stay in places that have a kitchen or kitchenette you could eat in to stay on budget, pack picnic lunches and snacks when you head out. Also seek out budget restaurants. In the evening/night if heading out you will need to take taxis if you aren't renting a car.

How long of a trip are you planning and how long on each island?

--Islander

use the safari busses to get around st thomas all you can. taxi prices are ridiculous. you have a more limited route on the safaris, but you CAN get around to a lot of places (i.e. the wyndham sugar bay, sapphire beach, the movie theatre, tutu mall, all over downtown, havensight, lindbergh beach, etc.) often with just a short walk if any at all. you can also take the safari to tickles at crown bay and hit the ferry to water island for $5 each way. if you take the safari to red hook, you can than take the $6 ferry to st john and hitchhike around there (very safe). go to woody's for $1 happy hour drinks, then hit Crazy Crackers for great, cheap food. st john is very expensive, but you can find ways around it.
safaris cost $1 or $2 depending on where you're going and run from about 6am to ~8pm (they say 9pm, but I've yet to see many past 8). ask at the hotel where you stay for the route map. have fun!

10 days based on St. Thomas

33: If you are not staying at Sugar Bay or one of the Sapphire properties, taking the safari is going to be nearly impossible. As you said at the out set: public transportation is not convenient, practical nor readily accessible. Renting a car is the best way to see and do things.

Don't the safari buses stop at most hotels and resorts? Before venturing out on my own, I would like to know first off if I will catch a ride while standing at the street at Point Pleasant?

No, they go by Point Pleasant, I forgot about that one, also Pools and Pavilions. But they don't go by Frenchman's Reef, Bolongo, the Ritz, etc,

Thanks sooo much! Especially since it's already raining!!!!!!*-)

Just my own opinion, of course, but there's no way I would want to spend a vacation here or anywhere else standing on the side of a busy road with no sidewalks in the tropical sun waiting for a bus to come by. And remember that if you're even on a safari route on the East End, they only go in one direction. For instance, you can take a bus into Red Hook but then can't hop on one going back but must continue on in the same direction and take the circular "country" route back to wherever you're staying.

If you live here and have plenty of flexibility where time is concerned that's one thing but for the many reasons stated this is why we don't recommend busing it to visitors. Cheers!

So for a first time safari ride were time is no concern. I was thinking just to get on and see were it really goes and how long it takes. Like from Point Pleasant into downtown to the hospital? And everywhere in between. They don't even open at the hospital to get a health card until 1:00 pm.

Sea Flight, as opposed to the Sea Plane, flies to St Croix for $70 one way all the time. Call 340-714-3000 for schedule. They fly into STX.

There's a weekend ferry to STX which is cheaper - usually less than $100 RT. VI Sea Tran is the company name, but the number I have is in my phone book at work unfortunately.

Beaches within a not-to-far walk from public transportation: Brewers Bay, Emerald Beach, Water Island's Honeymoon Beach, Coki Beach, Sapphire Beach. You can get to Frenchman's Reef (Marriott) on their ferry for about $6 each way pp. On St John you can walk the Lind Point trail which is close to the ferry dock to Honeymoon Beach and to Caneel.

Other attractions near public transportation: Paradise Point, Coral World/Coki Beach, Butterfly Farm, Blackbeard's Castle, Seven Arches Museum, UVI, ferries to STJ and BVI, VI Eco Tours kayaking, Water Island Mountain Biking, and numerous sailing excursions.

ms411 wrote:
Sea Flight, as opposed to the Sea Plane, flies to St Croix for $70 one way all the time. Call 340-714-3000 for schedule. They fly into STX.

There's a weekend ferry to STX which is cheaper - usually less than $100 RT. VI Sea Tran is the company name, but the number I have is in my phone book at work unfortunately.

Beaches within a not-to-far walk from public transportation: Brewers Bay, Emerald Beach, Water Island's Honeymoon Beach, Coki Beach, Sapphire Beach. You can get to Frenchman's Reef (Marriott) on their ferry for about $6 each way pp. On St John you can walk the Lind Point trail which is close to the ferry dock to Honeymoon Beach and to Caneel.

Other attractions near public transportation: Paradise Point, Coral World/Coki Beach, Butterfly Farm, Blackbeard's Castle, Seven Arches Museum, UVI, ferries to STJ and BVI, VI Eco Tours kayaking, Water Island Mountain Biking, and numerous sailing excursions.

Where does the Reef ferry pick-up from, and is there a schedule anywhere? Also, is it for guests only or anyone can ride so long as you pay?

The last time I checked (last year) the "Reefer" left almost every hour from the Waterfront across from Down Island Traders, and anybody could board if they paid. I know it used to be a private concession under contract to Marriott, but who knows what the situation is now. If you call the Marriott Frenchman's Reef, they can give you the latest details.

The safari bus is an EXCELLENT way to get around if you want to save some money and their are just the two of you. They do not run after dark. There are really two routes. There is the one that does from Tutu and goes clock wise through Smith Bay, Red Hook and Bavoni and then back to Tutu. There is another route that goes from TuTu to town for $2. Some times they do both routes so you need to ask.

In a recent decision by the Taxi board they are not allowing any more Safari Taxi permits. They state safety as their main concern. The truth, in my mind, is that they want them off the street just like they are doing with the Pirate boats to Havensite from Town. They want it all to them selves. The number of permits for the Safari buses will stay the same. So this is a long term migration to get them out and to use the bus service. But I believe that the safari bus is a great way of transporting people at a minimum cost and it keeps the business in the peoples hands, not the government.

If you have more than 2 people then you might want to get a car.

billd

billd: To give an opposing view- the safaris are illegal. They are licensed as taxis and operate as buses. They are not regulated and have serious safety issues for carrying people as a public conveyance. They charge whatever they wish- $1, $2 or full fare, depending on who you are. And to top it off, I'd like to see their gross receipts and their income tax.

How many accidents have happened where someone fell out of a safari? I know of NONE! How many accidents have happened when people are in the back of pick ups with no belts on? There have been many including a death a few months ago. And the police do not stop these people?

I agree that there needs to be some regulation but you had better start with the pickups. Also the answer is not for the government to add buses.

I don't know what the answer is but you need to agree that the safaris are efficient.

billd

Safaris have been around in the Virgin Islands for a very long time. They started on St. John but there really wasn't THAT many on St. Thomas for the longest until VITRAN fell off the map. I remember growing up, Safaris was used almost exclusively for tourists and tours. It wasn't until the waste we call VITRAN decided to not fix 70% of their fleet and was operating maybe 6 buses which was crazy. The Safari drivers filled the void because it was needed. Folks needed to get around and the government wasn't doing squat.

Seems like they want to have their cake and eat it too. More power to the safari drivers if you ask me. When us locals where in need of transportation, they stepped in...

billd: We are not discussing people in pick-up beds. I don't believe that is illegal in the VI ,but I agree that it should be illegal. I'd also like to see them enforce the laws about children in car seats. But, we were discussing safaris...

Yes, there are problems with VITRAN, but allowing unregulated and unsafe homemade open-air buses to take over is not the answer.

The accident near the stadium a couple of years ago resulted in several injuries because people fell out of the safari. There have been other accidents like this.

Safe transportation for everyone (local or tourist) is a basic necessity. Sounds like the VI are somewhat primative. If they value people, they will seriously address and resolve this issue promptly and effectively. If you have to contact experts who can be objective and constructive to lead, then get with it, because right now you are not meeting people's needs. This groundwork will help the VI flourish.

33 years: It seems from your posts that you have not yet visited the Virgin Islands. With all due respect, your comments about safe transportation and the necessity of resolving the issues which you perceive as "primitive" might be a case of putting the cart before the horse and best left until after you have visited us and seen for yourself. Cheers!