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Hi everyone, thanks for all the great advice. My question is....My husband and I arrive at the airport in St Thomas on a Thursday at 2:30pm. We are heading to Tortola for a three days then we are going to St. John for a week. We have arranged for a car rental over in Tortola- West End. The rental car place (hertz) closes at 5pm. Will we make it? What is your advice? We also rented a car on St John. The folks at the villa we rented recommended we rent one through them. What is your advice? Thanks so much. We are looking forward to our visit!
Here is the link (found at the top of this page) for the schedule to Tortola - remember it will probably be 3:30pm or so before you are at the CA dock then a 50 min ferry to Tortola then you have to clear Immigration so if you make the 3:30pm ferry (if I'm reading it right) it will be real close
Good Luck
Pia
https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/interisland_ferry/#Charlotte%20Amalie%20to%20West%20End
If you are taking the passenger ferry, then I don't see how you can make it by 5 p.m. to Road Town. It leaves Charlotte Amalie at 4:15 and takes 50 minutes or leaves Red Hook at 5:45 for a 35-minute trip. Of course, if the ferry we took to the BVIs is any indication, island time does apply and it may actually take longer to get going...
If you've already rented your car on STJ, then don't worry about using the villa folks unless you think you might not get to STJ in time to pick up your car there. If you rent through the rental company, they can make those arrangements for you. Last time we rented our own car, and it was fine, but it is something your rental agent will do for you.
Enjoy your trip and take lots of pictures.
I didn't scroll down enough and didn't see the 3:30 ferry. Assuming your plane actually arrives on time and you get your luggage in a timely manner, you might make it, but it will be very, very close...
For my experience at the airport and timing........you will not make the 3:30 ferry.......you only have 1 hour from the scheduled landing to make it to the ferry dock.....
Not to be a pessimist, but
1. Your flight would need to arrive on time or early.
2. You would need to disembark the aircraft quickly.
3. Your luggage would need to be off of the plane first.
4. Your taxi would need to leave immediately (they usually wait to fill up a 15 to 18 passenger van).
5. And hopefully the taxi has no stops before the ferry dock....a 10 to 15 minute ride depending on traffic......
On the bright side you will (have a better chance to) make the 4:30 ferry, but arrive late for your car.
You can get a taxi to your hotel and pick up the car in the morning.
F.I.
I was thinking the same thing. My husband the optimist felt like we could make it. Your plan might be more reasonable. The issue is we are staying in Cane Garden bay @ the Elm Beach suites. We wanted to hang out for a while in West End have dinner and a few drinks, but we don't want to haul our luggage around with us. Is there anywhere we could park our luggage safely for a few hours. We we have a hard time catching a cab that late? Thanks, Mel
There is a chance that you can make it........everything can go right and that the ferry is also on time.
Will Hertz wait for you if you ask them to? A telephone call to them, when you arrive in STT, with your specifics might do it. Check with them ahead of time though.
I wouldn't leave my luggage anywhere unprotected.........
Pusser's is our favorite at West End......
I hear that Cane Bay is very nice....we tried to visit last year but the surf was too rough to anchor our sailboat........
F.I.
Thanks for the advice. I will let you know how it goes. 🙂 Mel
