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Need help! We are planning a trip at the end of May to attend a wedding..All activities are on St John, so we want to stay there, but we have a returrn flight from STT at 7:55 am(weekday). We see that the first ferry back to ST is at 6am. Will this be enough time to make our flight? We are thinking we may need to stay on ST the last night, but really don't want to. Advice would be welcome!!!
Thanks!
At that time of the morning I would rather be safe and stay the night before on STT.
It would probably take about an hour to get from Cruz Bay dock to the airport via Red Hook. Then you would have to check-in and go through security. You could probably make it but it would be tight. If you did try it, I would suggest that you check into your flight the night before by computer and print your boarding passes. This way they know you're on the flight and won't give your seat away. Although much more expensive is a private water taxi option (which can be arranged for the time you need) and even a private taxi (you will not have to wait for the taxi to fill up). Good Luck
Pia can chime in on feasibility when she gets back from travel, but I would stay on STT the night before. We like Crystal Palace.
Cheers, RickG
Absolutely stay on STT the night before. Technically you're supposed to be at the airport 2 hours before your departure time and although this is generally more flexible on the early morning flights you'll still be cutting it very short on a 6AM ferry from STJ to get an 8AM flight. If Ronnie has room, Crystal Palace would be an excellent choice and he'll make sure a taxi will pick you up in time to make your flight. Alternatively, the Holiday Inn Windward Passage, Best Western Emerald Beach, BW Carib Beach and the Island Beachcomber are all close by. Have a wonderful visit. Cheers!
I just returned from STj. Had a 3:50 flight, left on the 1pm ferry on a Tuesday, Airport was not very busy, but I was suprised at how long it took to go through customs and security. Of course, my daughter got pulled for the full search. And this was the only time I didnt think doing carry on was such a great idea. I also got a long lecture from customs because I had brought 1 kids birth certificate that was only a copy not the orignal. She was definately on a power trip and quite miffed I hadnt shelled out for uneeded passports for my kids. She even went as far to tell me how the Virgin Islands government structure was set up. My hubby was impressed that I kept quiet...but I knew she could really make our worst travel nightmares come true. I had only brought the birth certificates as a precaution. Wrong on my part. I thought for a few minutes that my 13 year old son was going to get to miss a few more days of school....she said these were required to prove reisdency...i swear that is not what the website says, but she should know right?? she even went as far as to tell me that "soon" passports would be required for ALL air travel. I still dont know if she knew what she was talking about. and wish I had made note of her name...
The birth certificates are used to prove citizenship. They have the right (and some would say obligation) to make you prove citizenship. For an adult, it's a BC and a drivers license, for a child traveling with family, it's an original BC. Sometimes they are sticklers, sometimes not. But it's stricter and stricter.
To be safe, STAY THE NIGHT IN STT! Try the Green Iguana for reasonable rates and rooms that are a 10 minute drive to the airport.
I did take a guest to the airport for a 7:45 flight only to be turned away at 7(her fault waking late). They told her she was too late to check in as luggage was already on the plane and due to TSA, no more could be processed.
RL
