Your time at the airport usually runs in about the 1 hour range. I would figure at least another hour to get to Red Hook! To be on the safe side, figure at least 2 and a half hours!
Hope this helps!

It will help if you can have one of you go to the rental car line while the other waits for the luggage to be delivered. Both lines are unpredictable - could go very quickly or more like "island time". Sherri gave excellent overall time expectations - I'm giving a "tip" to get you out of the airport in into the sunshine quicker!

No matter what - keep smilin' - you're in the islands beginning a fantastic vacation!

Good Luck! Have Fun!

Sherri & VI Lover are both on the mark.

I did have a chuckle over your title "Time Frame" as many people forget they pass into another dimension of sorts when leaving the plane or cruise ship. You step into Island Time and need to adjust. There is absolutley nothing wrong with Island Time and it actually makes your vacation more enjoyable if you let go. Those who bring their Disney angst with them might not like the pace but the majority of us 'get it'.

1 hour, 2 1/2 hours...whatever. The islands aren't going anywhere.

Enjoy

I concur with Chris. As often as we've been to STJ, I really don't know how long it takes. It's not something I've paid any mind to. We step off the plane, drink in the tropical air, stop for a rum punch on our way to get our luggage. We wait happily, savoring being back in the VI. We're slowing down, savoring it all. When the luggage comes, we stroll out and find a van heading to Red Hook. If the dispatcher tried to steer us to the CA ferry for one reason or another, we're happy to go with that flow.

Before getting in the van, we do always get it clear with the driver what the total cost will be (fare, luggage, whatever). This eliminates surprise at the destination. We enjoy the ride across STT. It helps us to slow down and switch to Island Time. We've met some great people in the van, people who are just as excited as we are to be there. I also usually slip my watch into my pocket at some point on the taxi ride. No need for it.

We get the first ferry that comes. I don't pay any attention towhat time it's scheduled to run. When it comes, we get on. If we miss one, we don't mind. We get to sip a Carib and enjoy the scene at the ferry dock and marvel at how beautiful it all is. When there's nowhere that I need to by by any particular time for a week or two, I'm certainly not going to be in a hurry. Life's sweet and slow in the VI.

Hi bucaluca3,

I, of course, agree with everything that has already been said. Once, when we were feeling especially efficient, we split up. One grabbed the luggage. One went to Budget - no line. We were out of the airport and into our car within 15 minutes. We drove straight to Red Hook, lucked out and drove straight onto the barge. I think we were driving to our villa on STJ in less than 1.25 hours of having landed on STT.

Another time, we waited together for luggage, waited in a long line at Budget. Then, our Jeep wasn't even at the airport. A Budget employee drove us to another rental location 'in town'. We drove to the car ferry dock from there and just missed one departing. It took more like 2.25 - 2.5 hours before we were actually on STJ.

(Another time we taxied to the people ferry and didn't enjoy that experience as much as renting at the airport. Just us, I think.) =)

The time that we had to be driven to another location by the Budget employee would seem irritating, but it was actually fun. We were able to chat with him and find out that he was 'bon here' and that he as attending college in Florida, staying with relatives. He was back home for the summer. He played really loud rap music and drove really fast! It sounds scary, but he was very nice to us and very helpful. We enjoyed talking to him!

Enjoy your trip!
=)
Iowa

You are all so right!

The more often we get to come to the islands, the quicker we slide into "island time" and start to relax. I vividly remember the first year and the internal stress I felt trying to get the luggage, get a taxi, and get to the Marriott so we could "start our vacation". Now, our vacation starts when we leave home for the airport!!!! We enjoy the entire experience, start relaxing and take it all in. Like you said - we've got no place to be by any particular time (except of course the connecting flight - but I normally try to schedule a long break at the airport for a snack and a stroll to the next gate).

Thanks for reminding all of us to keep it mellow and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle.

WOW, talk about the power of suggestion. I just read the last few posts and was overcome by the feelings/sounds/smells, of stepping off of the plane on and onto St. Thomas. In just 31 days we'll be starting our St. Thomas trip for the 9th consecutive year, and our "Island Time" mind set starts when we leave the house, and if you try to hang onto (or some of) it when you get back home, life is just a little bit better.

See you in 31 🙂

I should mention that we're going to Virgin Gorda next month and I'm not nearly so casual about the time frame. It'll be our first time staying there and the transportation connections are trickier. We fly to Tortola and the ferry to VG runs infrequently, so a lot tighter planning has been required. Missing a ferry is a bigger deal because the next one won't leave for 3-4 hours rather than in another hour.

There's a lot to be said for returning to a familiar, beloved place again and again. We've been going to STJ long enough that we shift to Island Time quickly and easily. But I'm also enjoying the thrill of a new place where I don't know where everything is and how everything works.