We always rent on STJ. Here's why---if I should ever have problems with the vehicle, I definitely want to be dealing with a company that's on the same island. If I'm stuck out in the East End, I'd like knowing that help is coming from Cruz Bay rather than from Charlotte Amalie. We travel light, so transferring luggage isn't a consideration for us. I'm not interested in shopping along the way, so that advantage to renting on STT doesn't benefit us. I like being able to park in the company's lot when we're in Cruz Bay. Driving on STT freaks me out a bit. I enjoy the taxi ride to the ferry. It allows me to begin to slow down and begin to shift over to Island Time. I like to give my business to the folks on STJ. We've rented from the same folks for a while and enjoy dealing with them.

We could save a bit of money renting on STT, but in the larger picture of the total cost of the vacation, it's relatively small. Whenever we feel a need to cut costs, we look for less expensive accomodation. That's where I can really significantly reduce the cost. I like what renting on STJ provides in many areas. I always like to save a buck, but that's not an area where I'd cut costs.

Many people do prefer to rent on STT and have had good experiences doing so. It's not that critical a decision.

Thanks for your input. We have been to STT and ferry'd over to SJU a few years ago, with a jeep. Now we're staying at Calabash Cottages and they are talking us into renting on SJU. I see the point. However, we're pretty independent travelors and like having a vehicle from the airport and then hit the grocery store in Tutu and over to Red Hook Ferry. Do these vehicles break down often? Tell me it's not Mexico with vehicles!

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.

Lex mentioned the two pros of renting on STJ. The first was the idea that if you have a breakdown you will have trouble getting help if you rented on STT. I know breakdowns happen, but I was not worried about this. Like I said, we had a very new vehicle in excellent condition. I walked by the STJ rental lots many times while I was there, and I saw many nice vehicles, but I also saw some real "beaters" that were in service as rental cars. I think I would actually be more worried about about a breakdown in some of those cars, although it sounds like help would come quicker.

The other pro of renting on STJ is the fact that you can park in the renters lot while you are you are in Cruz Bay. This would be a nice option to have, since parking in Cruz Bay is very, very hard to find. There were a couple of options that we used. Of the three days that we spent parked in Cruz Bay (2 for day trips on boats and one just hanging around town), twice we got to town early enough to get a spot in the free parking lot right by the customs building. The other time we parked in Slimmins lot, which is just around the corner from the passenger ferry. That was a paid parking lot, $15 to park all day. You are probably not going to be spending much time in the town of Cruz Bay, but if you are, renting on STJ might be a better option so you can park in the rental companies' lot. I would tell you, though, don't expect to find open spaces aplenty. Those lots are very small and very congested, and you are not guaranteed of finding a spot.

Bottom line is, don't agonize too much over this decision. I did, and there are a lot of other things you could expend your planning energy on. There are pros and cons either way, and people do it both ways all the time. Good luck.

Joe

Lex,
Who do you rent from on SJV? Is it Courtesy Car Rental?

We've been renting from Penn's. We like them very much. Previously we rented from St John Car Rental and were very satisfied with them too. I don't usually switch once I've found someone I like dealing with, but I noticed that Penn's customers weren't just satisfied, but that they spoke so warmly of them that I decided to give them a try. We're very happy with them, but I wouldn't hesitate to use SJCR if Penns didn't have a vehicle available. Both have lots where we can park when in Cruz Bay.

I should clarify---renters are welcome to park in the lot if there's space, but they don't guarantee that there will be space. There almost always is.

Lex,
Thanks for the advise. Sorry I can't seem to remember the abbrev. for St. Johns very well...must be all that Malibu and diet over the years!

Can't wait to get back!

Hey Eagle

You made me smile with your coment about the abbrev. for St Johns as it is St John (no "s") - people get very touchy when you call "us" by the wrong name. At first I thought it was a typo but then you said it again in your last post 🙂

Pia

And it's STJ!!! SJU is San Juan, Puerto Rico!

RL

I'm with Lex.
I, too, like the STT taxis. Hard to believe they are relaxing but they are. A winding down, I guess.

AND I love the "beaters". One car we rented, we couldn't get the passenger seat to latch- so Mrs. Mick kept shooting into the back on take-off. One car we couldn't get into the glove compartment (with wallet, etc.). So they broke it off- no problem. The last car had NO gauges that worked.

With all the curves, trees growing out into the road, etc, do I need a great car?
I also prefer to look (and live?) like a local.

By the way, one of those vehicles went to Calabash Cottages ( Sago) for 2 weeks.

By the time you pay for the car ferry and parking in Cruz Bay I doubt you would come out ahead.

Didn't mean to offend anyone. Think we've got it now...St. John and STJ.
We'll be renting on STJ. Thanks!

Eagle,

I had no problem understanding what you meant. You also were apparently were able to understand me. I consider it successful communication.

Eagle--

Just for your entertainment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PITOhT4n5R0

Here's some video of the road up Calabash Boom

LOL! Fun!

This is a convergence of threads: those going to Sago/Calabash Cottages, check out that youtube video. It is for you.

Mick,
The drive reminded us of a 4wd road trip we took in Creste Butte, CO! Thanks for this youtube video. We've got sometime to watch it and practice. We're pumped, but won't be driving it after dark!~
Eagle

Just remember it gets dark alittle after 7pm 🙂

Pia

Pia,
Dark around 7? Is that even true in June? We're renting on STJ (after trying to catch the 5 or 6 pm psg. ferry from Red Hook), and following the owner of the cottage up the hill. We don't venture out after dark much anymore.
Eagle

Yep - it was dark tonight around 7 - 7:15pm - sorry 🙁

We get dark around 6pm in the "winter" and around 7:15pm in the "summer" I had a link to the sunrise and sunset times but I appear to have lost it - I'm sure you can find one if you Google it (I'll post if I find it quickly)

Pia