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Hi,
I am looking at various ways from the STT airport to the Red Hook Ferry. I am traveling with two small children. This is what I have found:
1.) Public bus. Requires at least one transfer at the hospital and lord knows how long to wait for the bus since 1 only runs every hour, and the connecting bus only runs every two hours
2.) Island Taxi will provide private taxi service with car seats at $75 each way
3.) Rent a car. This is a real possiblity but here is the scary part. Our flight gets in at 4:50 pm. I think it might be insane to think we can get in on time, get bags, get through car rental, and then to the by the last departure at 7 pm at the Global Marine's Tug Life aka Roanoke
4.) I have heard about communal vans but can't seem to find any info on them. I might be willing to take my kids on a van without car seats. Still undecided about that. How much do the vans cost, where do they leave from, how often do they run?
The vans are what they call taxis down there about 11.00 per person you will have to wait till they fill one up but it doesn't take long as so many people are going to red hook. Just tell the dispatcher where you want to go and he will point ut the van to get into.
are 3 year old and 5 year olds allowed in these vans without car seats?
are there seatbelts in the vans?
what about traveling from red hook to maho bay camps.
i think frett's is an "open air" taxi which i am not comfortable with. are there vans on the STJ side that i can hire to go to maho?
asrai, there are seat belts and the taxi's are safe... I have lil ones as well i would like to think im a responsible parent and would never put them at unnecessary risk but have used taxi's on island w/o car seats. im not going to debate car safety ( yes car seats are safer) but im 42 and not only did i not ever use a car seat ,but no seat belts, sat in front seat, sat in those tiny station wagon seats that faced each other in the back, steered on dads lap (usually because he was to drunk to steer.. lol joke) and im still here.
Yes they can be in them with out car seats yes they have seat bealts they are new. there are some vans on STJ but not as many as open air taxis.Are you tarveling alone if not when you get to stj just put an adult on each side and the kids in the middle speeds are low
Most of the taxis on St. John are open air jitneys with no seat belts. If you are very concerned about the car seat/seat belt issue I would recommend calling Maho Bay Campground and ask them to arrange pickup in Cruz Bay with a driver/vehicle that meets your needs. They'll know best who provides the service. On St. Thomas, the taxis are classic closed vans with seat belts.
The only time I've ever brought a car seat was when my youngest was 5 months old. The rest of the time it was taxi on St. Thomas and seat belts in the rental car on St. John.
You'll love Maho Bay with kids. I took mine when my youngest was 6 and she loved the environment and the large number of kids. I loved the sense of community and the tree house experience.
You can read our trip report from that trip at http://www.garvin.us/STJ/Trip_Reports/2004-Maho_Bay_Campground/St_John_Trip_Report_2004_Maho_Bay_Campground.html
Cheers, RickG
or could he just rent a car from an agency that allows their cars to be taken over to stj, i think he'd save alot of steps that way and just be done with it.
One of our factors is budget - so renting a car is an huge additional expenses we were not anticipating.
We also only need the car for short periods (to and from airport) (to and from port to maho bay). Yes having a car to explore the island is nice, but we just want to veg on the beach so it isn't vital.
Most of the car rentals are now booked (because we are leaving in a week. We weren't planning on bringing the kids at first).
Budget Cars on STT has cars available but no rentable seats.
I called Maho Bay and they weren't exactly helpful. The just said "Eh no one uses car seats just jump in a cab".
I really don't think the child seat issue is going to be one. The maximum speed is 35 mph and the norm is 20-25. Cheers!
asrai, you need to understand how taxi's work on island... to rent a car for the day, let's say $60 to $75 dollar range... would be cheaper for a family of 4 then to taxi . whether to explore the island or just to town and back or to the beach and back... its "PER PERSON" to taxi just to get you to red hook w/ a family of 4 will run you about $60... cruz bay to coral bay another $60 or so... out to grocery for one another $5 to and from. out w/ family for dinner another $40... so you are in $170 w/o blinking... next day if you just go to beach and back at $10 per person each way your in another $80... just my thoughts
If you are on a budget skip the car. One of the adults can do one or two trips to town for groceries and be fine. I would bring drink mixes for the kids and a couple of meals worth of dry foods. Juice boxes and sodas are quite expensive on island. Breakfast is great at the campground and dinner is fine as long as you go for things that are good warmed up. Maho Bay Campground has three great beaches walkable and Annaberg is a flat walk. Our two favorite beaches are Maho Bay and Francis Bay. You could spend the entire week and only use a taxi on the day you arrive and the day you leave.
Cheers, RickG
great travelogue. Thanks. Leaving in a few weeks for Cinnamon Bay and will try out the restaurants you suggested. I'll be traveling with two kids...you comments were helpful.
Sometimes a picture explains it all. In STT from the airport to red hook the taxi will probably be a large van that has seat belts
while in STJ a taxi will look for like these. They are open to take in the wonderful views - they do not have seat belts to my memory. Having said that I have written up front with the driver and they did have seat belts.
Hope this helps...
I really don't think the child seat issue is going to be one. The maximum speed is 35 mph and the norm is 20-25. Cheers!
Who would believe the safety of a child would be considered an issue. Someone who goes out of their way for the safety animals and cavalier about the safety of children (go figure).
Bottom line, the taxi vans don't have car seats for kids. So you can either spring for the private taxi with car seats, or take your chances on the cheaper vans.
And I do agree with EE, for the time you are going to be in the van and the speed you'll be traveling, I'd take the risk. Sit in the back of the van and put the kids in the middle
Linda J
Do the words "Risk Management" mean anything to you, (spring for/take your chances/I'd take the risk). I can only shake my head in disbelief!
I agree that you should not be overly concerned about the child seats. Find the best way for you to relax and enjoy the island. Thats what it is all about. Leave your worries at the airport and pick them up on your way home.
Enjoy your time on St John.
Ug! I have never, ever been so undecided about anything in my life. We have got back and forth between bring the kids, no kids, bag the trip etc. Its the first time I have considered leaving my kids so this is a big deal for me. In the end we shortened the trip and decided to just go with DH and me. At least now I can check out the car situation for myself and see what I feel about coming back with the kids sans car seats. 🙂
Asrai,
Maybe this will help. I am sorry if it freaks you out. My family and I are going to Maho here in a week. This is our second time. You will appreciate the beauty of the place. It really is pristine!! Well here is one I am going to throw your way. We are renting a car from STT when we arrive at the airport. Yes we thought we wouldn't use it much last year but we did. It was so much more convenient with kids at tow to throw them and the luggage in all at once and not worry about it until your at Maho. We tallied up the cost of renting a jeep for $380 versus the cab fair, luggage fair, ferry fair and then taxi and bag fair all over again in STT. The car rental was actually more feasible. Now the part that may freak you out. I am a paramedic so I am a firm stickler on safety seats. My worst accident involving kids -3 i have to tell you- in a vehicle was with speeds less than 30 mph. A 6 year old was buckled in a regular seat belt in which he was too small for at that age and the shoulder strap broke his neck. The 3 year old and 6month old were on parents lap. Parents who thought they were holding on securely to. Not one of the children made it. I will spare the details for respect I will tell you it was the first time in my career I needed to talk to someone afterwards. I still have nightmares. It is so heartbreaking when I hear people say take the chance. If you only knew the things I have seen with kids not belted properly. Yes we were not belted when we were younger, but times have changed! Now I am more of a safety fanatic so to speak due to being a paramedic and the things I have seen. I tell you though this will be a wonderful trip. How tragic to have a family vacation turn into a disaster. I am sorry but I wanted you to know. A car seat is the one thing we can really do to protect our precious cargo. Good luck with your decision!! Have a great trip. Who knows maybe we will run into you!!
Thanks for that. We decided not to bring the kids after all. I would rather wait, check out Maho first, and then figure out if we want to go back with them in the future. If and when we do go back I will most likely rent a car. They should also be bigger then. Carrying booster seats is not nearly as tough as hauling full on Britax Marathons (those suckers are huge!)
