We are staying at one of the pool villas as well in Feb. My understanding is that they are turning one of the hillside buildings into timeshare villas and it shouldn't have much in pact on the remainder of the resort.

I will be there 1/18-20, I will let you all know.

If you're staying in on of the timeshares across the street from the main resort, I doubt you'll be bothered by the construction. They are turning several of the hotel buildings on the main resort grounds into new timeshares and drastically reducing the number of hotel rooms. I've heard mixed things about the construction - I think it depends on where on the property you are.

The construction is on buildings 24-27, check out the map at their website and request a room in a building as far from it as you can. I have already placed my call 😉

http://westinresortstjohn.com/location.htm here is the map to the Westin property

Is it better to pay for the transport provided by the Westin or to pay for a combination of taxi/ferry to/from the airport on St. Thomas and ferrry to St. John/hotel?

If you are going straight to the Westin from the airport use there service its not cheaper but it does seem a lot easier. They handle your bags from the time you get them at the airport to your room. Also the Ferry leaves from Crown Point Marina close to the airport no long cab ride across the island. If you get to Crown Point a few minutes before the Ferry you can run in the Gourmet Market there and grab any must have food items for the week it is well stocked.

Captain J,

I was told that you need to take a taxi that Westin provides to Red Hook? Are you sure? That would be great if you are right, just a longer ferry ride though.

The Westin Ferry may stop in Red Hook but I don't think so. I know for sure that it leaves from Crown Point Marina at Sub Base. I have a friend that runs a charter boat and that is his home base. I have personally been in and out of the Marina twice in the last twelve months. I was just there over thanksgiving and they were running from there. It also looked like they had upgraded to a new boat since last February.

This is the information from the web page for the people we used to book the trip we have coming up this February.

The easiest -- and not that much more expensive -- way is to make use of the Westin Resorts transportation package. The Westin maintains an office in the baggage claim area at the airport. There you may sign up for this package while you're waiting for your luggage. For about $65 per person (round trip, for villa guests), they take care of everything, including seeing that your luggage gets to your villa. After a very short taxi ride, a private ferry takes you to the hotel dock, where someone then checks you in right there on the beach. A bellman gives you and your party a ride to the villa, and your luggage is brought along later, usually within 30 minutes.

Given the madness of the taxis at the airport this seems to be the way to go if you are going directly to St John and the Westin. The public ferry's run both from Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook.

The Westin ferry is by far the easiest option if you're traveling with children or a lot of luggage. Captain Jay is right - they go from Crown Bay Marina. But, if your flight is later, they have been know to take you to Red Hook. Also, sometimes if the seas are rough, they take you to the Park Service Dock near Red Hook, and onto their private boat from there, since it's about a 20 minute shorter boat ride.

Lori

Thanks Captain J and Lori F.

Another followup to that question: If you want to use the Westin Ferry to go shopping at St. Thomas I am pretty sure that it drops you off at the Crown Marina, and I am assuming you need to get a taxi to take you to Charlotte Amalie. How much could we expect to pay for that taxi or is it walking distance? thanks!

The great thing about the Westin ferry pass is you can use it as many times as you want during your stay to go back and forth to St. Thomas. The boat does drop you off at Crown Bay Marina and they have taxis there that will drop you off in town for free to go shopping. It is your responsibility to get a cab back to Crown Bay Marina. It is not far but probably too far to walk. The taxi ride is about $4.00 a person back to Crown Bay Marina. Hope this helps.

Four bucks sounds about right for a cab ride to downtown. There are normally cabs there at the marina. If there aren't any cabs there just go into Tickle's Bar at the marina and they will call you one. As I mentioned before the market there The Gourmet Gallery http://www.crownbay.com/dinghy/gourmet.html
has a great selection of foods etc. also one of the best wine selections on the island so if you need some tuna and wine for the perfect sunset they will have it.

Thanks Captain J and Hub,

I copied and pasted your replies to my notes to take along!! thanks!