Charge for infants by taxis in USVI? How about car seats?

[D. R. N.]

Hi, all.. We are planning to go to Trunk Bay on our own. However, we have a 1 year old baby. Does anyone know if taxis charge for them riding along? Also, do they have car seats for them?

Thank you in advance.

Denise

 

[my3kids]

The one we were in didn't even have seatbelts!

 

[muntzfab4]

Don't know about the car seats, but you can probably get the infant for free. We bargained with the driver and got our 6 year old for free.

 

[Serena6010]

Yes, that is correct that there are no belts, thus no way to use a carseat. You might want to rent a car.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by D. R. N.
Hi, all.. We are planning to go to Trunk Bay on our own. However, we have a 1 year old baby. Does anyone know if taxis charge for them riding along? Also, do they have car seats for them?

Thank you in advance.

Denise

Most of the taxis on St. John are the open air type where you sit on benches in the back. There are no seatbelts, and personally I feel they are very unsafe for anyone, especially little chldren. If you really want to go safely, you're best bet will be to rent a car on St. Thomas and drive over to St. John. There is a car ferry which will take you across, and then you can drive to Trunk Bay yourself. There are no car seats on the USVI available, actually they're really not even required. We go to St. John often, and I always arrange for a private taxi (one with seat belts) for our drive from the airport, and then rent a car so we can use our car seats at all times.

 

[SandraLee]

jel0511 . . . I love to hear stories about people who take the extra effort to keep their kids safe in carseats all the time.

Makes my heart smile.

 

[D. R. N.]

Thank you for your replies. I don't know what to do now. Renting a car seems a little complicated but I don't know about going in an open air taxi with my little one loose.

At least I have time to figure something out. Thanks for the info and tips!

Denise

 

[O&WMOM]

jelO511, great suggestion!!!!

A couple of questions:

1. What rental co. service St. Thomas and where are they located?

2. Where is the ferry to St. John?

Thank you so much!!!!!

 

[jel0511]

1. What rental co. service St. Thomas and where are they located?

Most of the major car rental agencies have outlets on St. Thomas, but they also are located near the airport. Budget has a location right near the Havensight Port, and they are reasonable. Here is a link to Budget's website on St. Thomas and few other car rental agencies.

http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stthomas/getting_around_stt/car_rental.php

2. Where is the ferry to St. John?

The ferry and car ferry are located at Red Hook in St. Thomas, about a 30 minute or so ride from Charlotte Amalie.

There is a third option, if you're trying to get to St. John with little ones and want them to be safe. Contact one of the taxi services in St. Thomas before you leave. They'll be more than happy to arrange to pick you up and take you to the ferry, though it will be more expensive then just getting a regular taxi, since it will be a private service. You'll need to provide your own car seat, but usually you can request a van, which will have seat belts, to secure a car seat. Then, you can ferry over to St. John and once there, you can then rent your own car from any of the agencies on St. John. It probably will cost you around $150 - $200 this way, but you won't have to worry driving around St. Thomas, and on St. John there are only three roads, so it's not very hard to get lost there!!!!! The two private taxi services we've used with no problem are Dynamic Tours 340-777-7112 and East End Taxi 340-775-6974.

If you decide to rent a car on St. Thomas and drive over to St. John, expect that to cost around $100, for the car rental and car ferry. Here is a website with information about St. John. It has the ferry times, and the car ferry, and the car rental places on St. John. We always rent from Denzil Clynes, and have never had a problem!!!

http://www.stjohnusvi.com/stjohn.html

If anyone needs anything else about St. John, please let me know! That place holds a soft spot in my heart, and I can't wait to get back next year!!!!

 

[O&WMOM]

jelO511 thanks for the great info!!!!!!!!

Sorry but I have a couple more ?'s

1. How long is the ferry ride

2. How bad is driving around St. Thomas and St John

Thanks again, we sail 11-27 and I am really starting to get into the "nervous excitement" mode.

 

[jel0511]

1. How long is the ferry ride

The passenger ferry from Red Hook is about 20 minutes, the car ferry about 30 minutes because it's slower.

2. How bad is driving around St. Thomas and St John

Driving around St. Thomas and St. John isn't for the faint of heart. I've met many people who never get car sick, but get car sick driving around St. Thomas and St. John. There are many hairpin turns, sharp drops, etc. If there is even a bit of rain on the roads, they can become impassable without a 4 Wheel drive vehicle, especially on St. John. DH and I were driving on North Shore Road (on St. John) last year, and we didn't have the car in 4 wheel drive. While trying to go up a small, yet steep hill, we began sliding backwards!! It was just drizzling out!! Well, it was slightly unnerving, because the curve was just past a sharp turn, and in front of another one (this curve is just before you get to Trunk). We were panicking as we were sliding down this hill backwards and trying to stop. Luckily we were able to stop, and not hit anything, or anyone. We got the car into 4 Wheel, and up the hill we went!!! St. Thomas is actually slightly better with the turns and stuff, but they drive CRAZY over there!!! The speed limit on the island is around 25 or so, but most of the residents drive 50, so it's gets scary!! I actually never step foot on St. Thomas, with the exception of flying and flying out, the island does nothing for me. Once you've been to St. John, you never want to travel over there!!! If I were arriving in St. Thomas for one day, and had little ones, I'd get transport to the St. John ferry and then rent a car over there. Getting to the ferry on St. Thomas isn't too bad, but I'm afraid to drive there, and we've been there 5 times!!!! St. John isn't as scary, as the tourists usually abide the speed limit and the locals there are laid back and never in a hurry. Remember in the USVI, they drive on the left, and that can get some getting used to, especially if you're driving!!!!