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Getting around St Barth #106904
09/05/2016 11:56 AM
09/05/2016 11:56 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 229
West Chester, PA
ligot Offline OP
Traveler
ligot  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 229
West Chester, PA
Taking a short trip to SXM in a couple of weeks and decided to spend a day in St. Barth arriving by ferry in the morning and leaving around 5:45 in the evening. We were going to rent scooters but a travel site comments section strongly recommended against that due to rough road conditions.

What would you suggest as another way to get to see the island in one short day. Renting a car seems like overkill for a small island and 7 hr stay.

Thanks for any feedback!
Dave


S/V Tortuga
Lagoon 46
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Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: ligot] #106905
09/05/2016 12:19 PM
09/05/2016 12:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 926
F
Fletch Offline
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Fletch  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 926
When we visit different islands for day trips we almost always hire a local taxi driver to take us around. Have done that several times on St. Bart's with great results.

Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: ligot] #106906
09/05/2016 12:32 PM
09/05/2016 12:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
SXMWendell Offline
Traveler
SXMWendell  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
I have done several day trips. On my first one I rented a car at the airport. Driving and parking is tight. Used CC for the CDW ( $500 deductible) Un beknown to me I came back with a cracked "rear bumper". I am sure it was not done by me. Probably someone parking next to me. Since it was a day trip I spent the next 2 weeks after arriving home working with the paperwork and phone calls.
Since then for a day trip I always negotiate a day price with a local taxi driver. Not much difference in price from a car rental.

Wendell

Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: Fletch] #106907
09/05/2016 12:56 PM
09/05/2016 12:56 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
We've done the car rental thing there and really got hosed on the gasoline purchase. Ended up with a car on empty - asked the station attendant for five dollars. We kept saying, "five dollars, five dollars!" He get responding, "oui oui." Twenty dollars later he clicked off the nozzle.......next few trips we did the cab and driver thing and found it much more satisfactory and about the same cost factors.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: pat] #106908
09/05/2016 01:24 PM
09/05/2016 01:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,880
B
Bahston Offline
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Bahston  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,880
I'm surprised that there was a station attendant. I've never seen one.

Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: Bahston] #106909
09/05/2016 01:29 PM
09/05/2016 01:29 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Online content
Traveler
RonDon  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
Take a cab but make sure you get a driver that speaks English---unless you speak French. We were with another couple and she had to go to the bathroom and we waited. By the time she got back the only drivers left (at the cab area from the boat) spoke only French. So now we know "ecole" is school, "arrette" is stop. Sur la Mer is ocean, all this as she pointed to objects.

Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: Bahston] #106910
09/05/2016 01:44 PM
09/05/2016 01:44 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
This was back in the late 80s - early 90s and it was the station just up the road from the airport. Back in those days it was an attended station but I can't speak to any changes that came later.

We should have known better when we returned to the rental stall at the airport and told the rental agent the car was on empty and she directed us here. I think EVERY car there was rented empty ........ And if you didn't really speak the language well, every five dollar purchase ended up that way. All in a days island adventures and a memory forever. Personally, I think the rental agency and the gas station were in collusion with each other and they probably siphoned the extra fifteen out of each returned car and kept their own vehicles filled that way. This was back in the days of the minimokes and five dollars worth of gas was enough to tour the island for a couple of days, never mind a few hours. Those were the days, My Friends........ <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: pat] #106911
09/05/2016 03:22 PM
09/05/2016 03:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 118
E
eskimo888 Offline
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eskimo888  Offline
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E
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 118
We have gone for a couple of day trips and highly recommend ATVs

Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: eskimo888] #106912
09/05/2016 04:39 PM
09/05/2016 04:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,001
Cape Cod
whammy Offline
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whammy  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,001
Cape Cod
Went over on the ferry, took a taxi tour of the island, then had lunch on the main street and walked around, ending up at the beach at the end (can't remember the name, someone here will!). It was a perfect day! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: Getting around St Barth [Re: ligot] #106913
09/07/2016 03:54 PM
09/07/2016 03:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
I
IslandBoi Offline
Traveler
IslandBoi  Offline
Traveler
I
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
Quote
ligot said:
What would you suggest as another way to get to see the island in one short day. Renting a car seems like overkill for a small island and 7 hr stay...


i think renting a car is the best way to see the island, especially for your first time...just have a loose itinerary of what you want to see/do <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />


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