We are looking forward to you spending time on our lovely island.

ViTran is not the most reliable form of transport. It does eventually come but the schedule is rarely what it written down and is greatly dependent on traffic.

$ taxis are now $2 taxis. They don't have a schedule. From Sapphire you can pick up a dollar taxi (sorry we still call them that). Stand at the top of the hill to the left of the driveway. If you need more shade go right to the bottom of the hill and you will find another waiting area at the gage by Sapphire House.

Quickly ask the driver, when he stops, $2? If he nods ask where he is going. He will suck his teeth at you more than likely but will answer you. Not all dollar taxis go the airport. It may be necessary to get off at Tutu and take another dollar bus.

Hope you have a ball!!!

Pamela

I ride them all the time. One dollar if you get in and off within downtown area. Otherwise, two dollar ride into the country. It would be very rare for one to go to the airport. Only once I was able to ride to the airport but that was only because the driver needed to talk to someone and he let ride with him. Usually they are packed and want you to be able to hold on your lap whatever you bring aboard. And remember there will be people constantly climbing on and off during the trip so you can't block the seating.

Also, from Tutu mall it is a one way trip direction around the East end of the island. Great for going to Red Hook, but a long ride back to Sapphire Beach, and they stop running after about 7pm.

I've seen them drop people off at the corner to the airport not actually at the airport, sorry.

But you can get to the down town ferry dock and call a cab from there for cheaper!

Pamela

we will be staying at Sapphire in about 10 days, we will be there for a week, this is our 2nd time.
Anyways, we used the "safari bus" last time we stayed, it was very easy! $2.00. We just asked before we got on to make sure, as the previous posters have mentioned. The fellow riders were always friendly, greeted us with "hellos", "good afternoons" when we got on.
Good idea about taking it into town and then a cab from there to the airport! I am sure we will use it again fro transportation. We may also rent a car for a day or two. Taxi's can get very expensive, even for 2 people.

When will you be at Sapphire?

The $1/$2 safari NEVER goes to the airport. One of the taxi associations has that exclusive franchise.

There is a VITRAN bus that services the airport. It's one of the "City" buses. They make the loop from the airport/UVI through town and end at the hospital before going back to town. They generally run every hour, and there's a bus stop across the street from the airport, and another on Airport Road. I don't think they allow luggage. Fare is $1 anywhere along that route, but you'd have to get off in town and take another bus or safari to Sapphire.

The safaris are generally full during commute hours, but during the day, they can be almost empty. Sundays are usually the slowest days, so you may have to wait a longer time.

They also don't run past 7 p.m. unless it's carnival or something, so you'll be limited at night.

Hope that covers everything!

To Paul:

We hope to be there the last week of the month. Waiting on final confirmation from condo owner. I work for airlines, so dependent on when we can catch an open flight.

Waters:

Rent a car.

You're on vacation.

The most logical plan if you're not renting a car is to take the taxi round trip from the airport to Sapphire. A family of four (assuming you're a family of 4) would pay $15. each plus $2/piece of luggage.......($60+8+60+8=$132.) Then you will need to walk "up" the hill from Sapphire to catch the $1 safari. Since the safari only goes one-way around the island you will "waste" a lot of time (and you'll probably use a taxi to return, anyway). Plus you can't go to many of the "finer" beaches, restaurants, attractions using the safari. Get my point?

What will a rental car cost?......I just looked up Hertz for July 24-31......a compact car would cost $312. (if you're a AAA member you get a 10% discount).

While it might be a "little" cheaper to not rent a car....your family will be glad that you did.

F.I.

With all due respect I can't see relying on public transportation while here on STT to be compatible with "a very relaxing vacation". Standing on the side of a hot and dusty road waiting for a bus that may or may not come for a while and then trying to figure out how to schlepp back groceries to your condo and figure out which bus you have to take to get you back - well, maybe you get the picture, With four of you the taxi fares are going to add up hugely and you will so much better enjoy your visit in comfort if you just rent a car. Cheers!

Hmmmm.....great minds think alike.

Hello STT

Hello there FI! I thought when writing there was a little buzzing in my ear ...

Another thing to consider is the hike to get up the hill from Sapphire depending on what unit that they are staying in.

if you cut through the employee parking lot and go the back of Sapphire House you have an incline that is much less than the hill at Sapphire.

STT Resident wrote:
With all due respect I can't see relying on public transportation while here on STT to be compatible with "a very relaxing vacation". Standing on the side of a hot and dusty road waiting for a bus that may or may not come for a while and then trying to figure out how to schlepp back groceries to your condo and figure out which bus you have to take to get you back - well, maybe you get the picture, With four of you the taxi fares are going to add up hugely and you will so much better enjoy your visit in comfort if you just rent a car. Cheers!

I was just going to say the same thing. While you can certainly do it, it would be my absolute last choice. I like to bring a chair and a small cooler to the beach, along with towels and snorkel gear. Hauling all that to a safari bus is anything but relaxing.
Going anywhere whenever I want is my idea of a relaxing trip, standing in the sun waiting for a taxi to come by..remember there is no schedule, actually sounds stressful to me.

I rarely rent a car when travelling there alone. The safari provides a great opportunity to get to know the locals a little better. I've had some good conversations with very intelligent, warm and caring people that I would've missed in a rental. When wifey and/or sales people go along we rent a car but even then i'll take the safari whenever possible. It's also a good way for me to look around a little more and see details of the island which i might normally drive right past.

T Shirt1 wrote:
I rarely rent a car when travelling there alone. The safari provides a great opportunity to get to know the locals a little better. I've had some good conversations with very intelligent, warm and caring people that I would've missed in a rental. When wifey and/or sales people go along we rent a car but even then i'll take the safari whenever possible. It's also a good way for me to look around a little more and see details of the island which i might normally drive right past.

Granted this might suit you traveling solo but this is a family of four which puts a little bit of a different perspective on it. And they're basic novices here (one cruise ship stop and one company trip) whereas if I remember correctly you've recently set up a business here and are back and forth a fair bit. Of course I drive all over by myself but confess that when, on the rare occasion someone else drives me somewhere, it's rather interesting to sit back as a passenger and notice different houses and "things" which as a driver are missed. Cheers!