I think that it depends on what you want to do there.

I always like the freedom of having a car, so I always get one wherever I go. I went to STT earlier this month and it was my first time there, so I wanted to do a lot of exploring.

During my exploring, I visited many of the sites that the 'tour guides' take you on, and I was happy to be able to stay as long as I liked instead of having only 5-10 minutes...(ie. at Mountaintop...I would have hated to tear myself away from there in only 10 minutes!) Plus, you can hear their speech while you're standing on the deck anyway.

Taxi rates are at a fixed rate down there...here are some of the fares from Charlotte Amalie for one passenger:

Airport: $6
Red Hook: $10
Mountain Top: $9
Mariott Frenchman's Reef: $7
Renaissance Grand Beach Resort: $12

If you look at a map that should give you an idea. Looks like the lowest fare that you can get is $3 no matter where you go.

Chris

We have stayed on STJ & STX. In both places we found renting a vehicle was the only way to go. On STJ I highly reccommend you rent a 4 wheel drive. On STX, a regular car will do nicely.

Well renting a car is really a decision you should base on what you want to do while on vacation on St. Thomas. If you intend to spend your days at Morningstar beach - well you can walk there, if you intend to shop maybe one day in Charlotte Amalie there is a water ferry for Frenchmans Reef's guest that leaves right from the resort, if you intend to eat dinner only at the resort - then no do not rent a car. It won't be worth it.

However, if you would like to see the island, beach hop to Magens one day, Sapphire the next, Secret Harbor the next, shop at Havensight and also go to town to walk around and shop, go to St. John for the day, maybe Water Island or St. Croix as another day trip, eat dinner at a different restaurant every night... then yes most definately rent a car. Because if you plan to be active in doing things your taxi fares will be pricey.

Taxi's charge be destination and by person not be distance traveled - they are not metered. For example:

Frenchmans to Magens Bay will run you around $18 for a couple one way. To mountain top it will be around $19 one way, to red hook for the St. John ferry around $18....

Another thing to consider is that you can bring your St. Thomas car rental over on the St. John ferry, it cost about $27 dollars round trip, the people ferry from Red Hook would run $12 for two persons round trip - although its $15 more to bring your car - you now have a way to see St. John without taking taxis over there. So it works out well.

You can alternatively do both - rent a car some part of your trip and get the beach hopping and sight seeing and St. John visit - done with your rental and then for a couple days hang out at the resort and visit Morningstar, make use of the ferry shuttle and taxi if you want to get somewhere during that time frame.

--Islander
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