Hi Cathy,

I don't mean to contradict your friend, but most taxi drivers take in anywhere from $500-$1,500/day. And, yes, maintenance is high for them adn it does get slower in September, but I've never met a taxi driver, in the 7 years I've lived here, that took in less than $200/day at the slow time. I think he was just trying to secure more income from you. Just my opinion, mind you. When you see a really nice house, look in the driveway. If they have the day off, you will usually see a taxi plate on a vehicle in the driveway. Granted, I live on STT, so I don't interact with STJ taxis very often, but everytime I go over there, the taxis all look brand new to me, lined up at the ferry. They can't be doing too bad if they are driving a 2004/2005 14 passenger van.

i sort of agree with BOTH of the above opinions...

in august/sept my husband and i rented a car very cheaply through
www.budgetstt.com (the best prices by far)

and we drove a lot and got to see both islands thoroughly at minimal cost it would have been way more if we did taxis

then in december i went with my friend fran(met many of you guys it was great)
and we did taxis the whole time....it was not that bad
and we became great friends with the lovely lady rosa REALLY LOVELY who drives the taxi in front of sh at the night shift...what a doll! we corresponded with her already she is an angel and also gave us a tour of all the christmas lights around the island and went grocery shopping with us ...she is very religious and we had many chats about it...

also one night i forgot my jacket at the restaurant in frenchtown NOCHE...
i realized it when we got home to sh....i had to go back by taxi round trip (9 dollars each way) and rosa was on a call so the very nice guy arrived with his taxi and as soon as i got in we drove a few minutes as i told him i was just running into noche and comeing back...HE SAID DEAR NO...WAIT A MINUTE...he radioed another cab driver who usually stands outside the restaurants in frenchtown and told him to go into noche and get the lady's coat and bring it to secret harbour
thus saving me the round trip!
the guy who suggested this was sooo nice and REFUSED to take a tip! (we used him again the next day)
the jacket was at the front desk in about 20 minutes...

also during the mircacle on main street we had so much fun with the drivers...

only bad thing is from the airport on arrival IT IS LIKE A MEAT MARKET.....they pile so many people in! and you have to wait to go to all the hotels....
a private ride is 63 dollars ...with others it is liek 26 plus the bags

so there are good and bad points..
for me ...i will do taxis when women alone and rental car when my husband or cousins are with us since i am not too good driving on the left

hope this helps

Ginger... nice stories. The locals I've met follow The Golden Rule.

Marty... My friend stopped charging me after the first day, he did some wonderful things to help me get my lost luggage from STT to SJU so wasn't trying to secure more income. I've ridden with him in the evenings in the off season and $3-$4 here and there may be it over the course of the evening. St. John shuts down early unlike STT but they still need to be available to pick up the ferry passengers, diners, etc. I was just saying they do work hard, there are the wealthy ones who have paid for their land and houses from years on the island. Younger/newer ones have to pick up the crumbs to be able to stay. The Park Service also doesn't have the $$$ to expand parking lots, etc if the growth trend for rental cars continue. Many Parks are requiring shuttle buses to cut down on pollution and car volume.

Thanks for the comments.

"Marty... My friend stopped charging me after the first day,"
-So, if he stopped charging you, he wasn't making anymoney from you, right? Could that be because he makes plenty to begin with? I think so.

" he did some wonderful things to help me get my lost luggage from STT to SJU so wasn't trying to secure more income. "
-Wonderful people, to be sure.

"I've ridden with him in the evenings in the off season and $3-$4 here and there may be it over the course of the evening. "
-Again,just shows you that he's not doing as badly as he made out to you. Trust me, Taxi drivers make tons of money.I just saw a taxi medallion for sale in the paper for fifty grand. They need that before they can drive a taxi. So, as you can see, taxis are big business. The taxi association is likened to the mob here. They have LOTS of control over things.

"St. John shuts down early unlike STT "
-I don't need any info about STJ, as I've been here for 7 years. I belive that I may have more insight to the islands than most visitors. I go over about btwice a week. I just don't use taxis,a s I bring my Harley.

"I was just saying they do work hard,"
-Never said they didn't.

"there are the wealthy ones who have paid for their land and houses from years on the island."
-The majority have inherited their land from relatives and have built their homes themselves,as contractors charge up to $800/sq. ft.

"Younger/newer ones have to pick up the crumbs to be able to stay. "
-Completely untrue. One of my best friends just got his taxi medallion about 6 months ago and is raking in the dough faster than he can count it. Also, keep in mind that taxiing is a cash business. They keep more than they claim to the gov't, hence reducing taxes. They also get discounted gasoline rates...for their taxis, as well as their personal vehicles, and all of their friend's personal veicles, too.

"The Park Service also doesn't have the $$$ to expand parking lots, etc "
-Dunno where you got that information. Remember, it is a NATIONAL park. Which means funds come from the U.S. Gov't.

"Many Parks are requiring shuttle buses to cut down on pollution and car volume. "
-Maybe as the tourist see it. But not so from a local standpoint. When you live here, you will get some REAL insight to the islands. As a tourists sees things is not a true picture of how they actually are.