You will not clear customs when you get there, just walk off the plane and into the airport. You will, however, clear customs when you leave whether you are American or not.

By taxi to town? About 5-10 minutes tops. St. Thomas is only 14 miles long, so it doesn't take that long to get anywhere.

I don't really know what taxis go for these days (I moved off island for graduate school a few years ago), as I usually rent a car to get me home or have someone come pick me up, but if memory serves, it's not ridiculous....I'd guess about $20.

There is not a marina in Charlotte Amalie. Yacht Haven is closed for renovations. Perhaps you mean Crown Bay Marina?

Wow, they are finally getting around to fixing up the Yacht Haven? It's about time.

There is also that small marina over there in Frenchtown where the CYOA boats are kept, near Hook Line and Sinker (if that restaurant is still there).

If it's either of those, take that 5-10 minutes I mentioned, and make it about 5-6 minutes. Not far at all.

Yes, Yacht Haven is being renovated - FINALLY! The buildings are coming down with plans to start rebuild for occupancy by Winter 2005.

Forgot about the CYOA dock - I don't deal much in bare boats. Yes, Hook Line and Sinker is still there along with a lot of good new places as well!

Pamela.

How long does it take to get to Red Hook via taxi from the airport? Plane lands at 3:17pm, have to meet the villa rep. on St. John by 5pm...would we by chance be able to make the 4pm ferry from Red Hook? Or would it be easier just to take a taxi to Charlotte Amalie to catch the 4pm, 45min ferry over to St. John?

Thanks - leaving on Sunday!!! *GRINS*

Either tell your villa agent to meet the 5 PM ferry (5:20) out of Red Hook or take the Charlotte Amalie ferry .... you might make the 4 PM Red Hook but it would be undue stress.... enjoy!

Thanks Pamela!

We are thinking that its going to be a little cheaper and easier to just catch the Charlotte Amalie ferry and have a nice relaxing 45min boat ride over to St. John. Would give me a chance to work on my tan a little too... 🙂

Pamela, very cool! I haven't been home in a little over a year, so I have no clue what it still there and what isn't. That kind of stuff never seems to come up in conversation, you know?

When I break between summer session and fall semester and come down for 3 weeks in August, I will have to check out some of those new places! What do they have over there, now?

Any other good new places elsewhere on the island? If I can pla it right, I may not end up having to cook ONCE while I am there! LOL

Most of the agencies on STJ know that if you land in CA at 3:17 that the ferry that you get out of Red Hook will be the 5 getting into STJ at 5:20. Check out the ferry schedules on this board to see if there is a 4:15 out of CA, if there is then you will be in STJ at 5. Quite a few agencies ask you to call them when you are ready to take the ferry and they plan accordingly. Don't sweat it, you'll be on island time and they will wait for you.

Being one that has spent a lot of time at the airport picking people up, I can say, you won't make the 4 o'clock Red Hook. Hardly the 4 o'clock CA ferry. If that plane lands at 3:17, unless you have only carry-ons, you have to wait for luggage at least 15 minutes, some times up to a half hour at that time. Remember that at least 5 flights come in about that time and it gets hectic.

So, if the flight lands on time, you are off the plane by say 3:25, then get your luggage by 3:40, you have 20 minutes to catch the downtown ferry, it can be done!

The next downtown ferry is at 5:30 which would have you coming in at 5:45 in Cruz Bay. As Pamela suggested, the 5 o'clock Red Hook would be the best, a longer cab ride and a shorter ferry ride.

Hopefully the rental agent isn't resticting you to arrive before five. I hear some of them are charging extra for pickup after a certain time, which I think is ludicrous!
Ronnie

Thanks Ronnie!! That helps out quite a bit!! Red Hook is probably the way we are going to go. A 45min ride over in the nice sun would be really nice but neither one of us wants to get burned the day before our wedding. Not to mention we are taking that ferry (45min) back to St. Thomas the next day to pick up our marriage license.

Again, thank you - will keep all the time frames in mind. I can't believe it, I leave in less than 4 days!!! :o)

never ever think you are going to do anything on a schedule - the entire place is on island time and everything is approximent.

The very 1st thing you MUST do once stepping off the plane is SLOW DOWN.

There is never any reason to rush anything and it will only get islanders irratated at you.