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Good morning! 🙂
My fiance and I will be staying on STJ from May 1 - May 10 for our wedding/honeymoon. We have everything arranged except a rental car or jeep. I've read a lot on the boards re: renting cars, but I have a few particular questions that haven't been covered in depth:
-WHEN should we make a reservation? Now, or when we arrive? I've read of some folks who reserved in advance and then were turned away anyway due to "overbooking," so I'm wondering if I should bother to reserve in advance anyway.
-Should we reserve for the whole 10 days? I assume there might be at least a couple days we'd just be vegging on the beach all day and never use the car. Is it worth knowing that "you have it" even if you don't use it?
-Are the taxis really so bad and expensive that it's worth having the rental car at all times?
-If/when we do rent, should we rent from the airport on STT or wait 'til we get to STJ?
Many, many thanks for your posts. This resource is invaluable. Looking forward to any advice anyone can share...
Wendy
You probably will not experience overbooking problems in May.
However I would definitely book in advance and follow up with a call a week to 10 days before your date.
Do you need a car/jeep for 10 days will depend where you are staying. It sure is convenient to have one. You may find that the extra day or two of cost will far out way the inconvenience of not having one.
Usually what we have done when staying 8 or 9 days is catch a cab to our place day one, because it is so late in the afternoon when you arrive. Get the driver to stop at Starfish Market - just chill and unwind making a lite dinner at our place. Then worry about the car day two. That may work for you depending on your arrival time
My advise is reserve your Jeep NOW for the whole length of your stay. I'm saying that assuming that you will be staying at a villa or the Westin but no matter where you stay on STJ you will be wanting to explore the many beaches and believe me you will want the Jeep for your whole stay. I would NEVER rely on taxis for my transportation.
As for where to rent, I personally recommend renting on STJ rather the STT. One reason is that if you have a problem with the Jeep like a flat tire or other mechanical problem you will be sorry that you rented on STT. That kind of problem you don't need on vacation. If you have a vehicle from a STJ agency you will have no problem plus many agencies allow you to park in their lots in Cruz Bay which is a big plus. The rates are pretty much the same so I'd look for an agency that has a lot where you can park like St. John Car Rental or Penn's or Conrad Sutton or Delbert Hill.
You're going to have a great time!
I have always rented on stt at the airport......Taxi will run you $40 to redhook one way and it is cheaper by $100's per week for the rental.the car ferry runs 2or 3 times an hour depending how many are running and a round trip is usualy under $30....as far as problems... I have changed my own flats ....., just like they expect you to do in stj........I would rent a jeep or 4-wheel drive for the entire trip...........just an opinion of course
