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We are eagerly looking forward to our second vacation trip to STJ this January 14 - 22. We had an AWESOME time on the island last January. However, that first journey from Concord, NH to our rental cottage on the remote East End of STJ was not fun. We hope to be more Savvy Traveler's this time. Here are few of the lessons we learned.
First - we are paying a few extra dollars to fly on a major US airline directly from the mainland to STT to avoid the craziness (and chronic delays) of the puddle jumpers flying out of San Juan. Second - we are renting a small economy car in Charlotte Amalie (way cheaper than renting on STJ) to better handle the narrow winding island roads. Third - we plan to fly into STT early in the afternoon so that we have plenty of time to pick up our rental car and drive to Red Hook before the last car ferry run of the day to STJ. (Getting stuck overnight on STT when your staying on STJ is a Bummer !!!) Fourth - we plan to stop at a grocery store in Red Hook to load the car with a week's worth of provisions before heading across to STJ.
Lastly, we plan to Relax and Enjoy the Wonders (and nightlife) of STJ. Hope someone finds this helpful. We would like to hear other suggestions.
I'm flying my brother and his family from Manchester, NH to St Thomas this march. I used Southwest to Fort Lauderdale (where I live) and Spirit from Fort Lauderdale to St. Thomas. Southwest hadn internet special for $69 each way (although I could only find it available on one leg, the other was $137) and Spirit was offering an amazing fare of $59 each way to St. Thomas with arrival at 2:30 and departure at 3:00
Hi Wes (or anyone),
Thank you for your informative email. We are from Vermont and planning our first trip to USVI and staying on STJ (March 13-23). We have a direct flight from Philadelphia to STT which we now realize was the best idea.
Our next challenge is deciding on a car rental. We are pretty set on getting something from STT (but are not 100% sold) and taking a Red Hook ferry. Is that the best idea? What companies are the best (flexible and affordable) for this and allow us taking the rental to STJ? Also, we are contemplating a Jeep (4WD) or a Toyota Echo (small economy car). Which is best for cost, access to remote areas, etc.? Is a Jeep good at handling the narrow roads?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Daniel
Jeanne,
I lived in Maine for a while and now I am down in Mass so I've often gone from Bangor to Logan to STT. American has the most non-stop flights from Logan to STT but that is only during the peak season. All their flights stop in SJU beginning sometime in the spring. I actually haven't found any airline that goes non-stop from BOS to STT in the summer. I've also flown down on Delta (stopping in ATL). I would choose to fly to SJU given the choices. Often there are Boston-Miami-St. Thomas flights or Boston-Atlanta-St. Thomas flights but Miami and Atlanta are not exactly "on the way" and they add hours of flying time to the trip. At least San Juan is on the way from New England.
We will be in St John for the first time in March. Our flight arrives STT at 4:15. Is that too late to get a car? Also, I was told you can not get a car in ST Thomas and go to St John because they willnot let them on the ferry. Do you know of a car agency that will allow that?
budget and avis allow cars to go to stj. with luck you can get out of airport little after 5 and normally there are car barges at 6, 6:30 and last at 7. most crusie ship traffic will be gone by that time so you should make 6 or 6:30 with one backup. we always go over mt not by docked cruise ships. we've done 4 times and latest barge we took was 6:30 and made as early as 5:30 with similar arrival times on delta out of atlanta.
butttt, a lot of folks find it simlier to rent in stj; just cheaper in stt and you have a car for touring stt on day of return. we always go to mt top on stt and wave goodbye to stj.
papabou
My husband rented a pickup truck with the cover and bench seating for our group of nine arriving in March 2nd. Your comments have me in a panic. I can't believe the rental company - wish I could think of the name at this moment - would not have told us of any regulations like the ones you mentioned. Thoughts???
Hey!
I was wondering what time you got into STT that made you miss the ferry to STJ? Last year we had a straight flight from Char to STT. This yr unfortunately we have a layover in DC,and San Juan. Never done that before. Out flight gets into STT at 245. Will we have time to catch the ferry over to STJ?
