Finally Returning to USVI

Finally getting back to USVI, after many year absence. Last stay near Red Hook at Sapphire Beach Marina area was in 2002 where we rented a condo for 2 weeks. All other visits have been bareboating in BVI. This time it is 4 weeks at Paradise Properties.

So we plan to rent a car for part of the time, but need info on from whom to rent a car. We typically used taxis in past years, but I imagine rates have increased. Comments?

We also plan to do day trips over to St. John, if we rent a car we would consider taking car on ferry to use while on St. John. Comments/thoughts?

We expect to do a lot of exploring with little time in the condo except for breakfast, and sleeping, etc.

I've ordered current maps and a couple books to add to my old collection. But I wondered how many other things have changed. I anticipate the grocery store is still in Red Hook, which is where we will stock up on groceries, beer, rum, etc. If we have a car we could go in to main town for bigger stores, if that is necessary.

I'll start in again reading local paper to see what is all going on and how crime has changed,etc.

But what other things should we be aware of or think of?

Anyone have information if the bar or restaurant in the area of the Paradise properties are still open?

Yes, as I recall from past years there is always confusion on what is paradise properties and what beach are we actually going to be at.... It is Sapphire Beach Resort, not Sapphire Beach itself, more like St. John Bay.

Now its time to start reading other posts again. And thanks in advance for all the help.

BobA

Oh, I forgot to include date - Jan 2015.

You'll see more development, Marina Market replaced in Red Hook with a new market with similar prices, Food Center is nearby. Cost U Less and Plaza Extra are in Tutu. The Fruit Bowl for veg and fruit is in Charlotte Amalie. There's been more development on St. Thomas, more traffic and more people. On St. John, you'll see twice as many villas and Maho Bay Campground has closed. The ferry terminals in Red Hook and Cruz Bay have been rebuilt

We always get a vehicle for our visits. St. Thomas is fine with a sedan. Check with your rental car company on taking a vehicle to St. John, many allow you to use the car barge. Sedans work on about 60% of St. John. If you want to go to Lameshure Bay or drive the hills in the rain you will need a 4WD vehicle. We generally rent our sedans from Budget or Avis and our Jeeps from Amalie.

Have fun!

Cheers, RickG

If the rental car company allows, taking your car to St.Jon is very convenient. Marina Market has been closed for a few years, however, Nutmeg says another market has opened in the same location, albeit expensive. Food Center across fro Independent Marina is well stocked, with a pretty decent wine and liquor selection.

Bob: I had to Google "Paradise Properties". It is actually at Sapphire Village, not Sapphire Beach, although they seem to have units at Crystal Cove/aka Sapphire West. That whole area is confusing because there are multiple condo properties with Sapphire in the name or that advertise as on Sapphire beach. As an aside, some of the condo associations allow individuals to rent via VRBO, etc. Some have allowed different management companies to rent units within one property. This appears to be a group managing a number of units. I can't tell how many. It does appear that check-in is at Crystal Cove. Sapphire Bar and Grill is open, along with, by the time you get here, Off the Grid, a BBQ truck at the entrance to Sapphire Village.

The east end is pretty much the same as you remember with a couple of changes. Lindquist Beach is now part of the Magens Bay Authority and has brand new facilities,although I haven't been there yet to see. The market you remember in Red Hook is long gone, but Moe's Fresh Market just opened in the same spot- completely redone inside, but same lousy parking outside. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Parking is better at Food Center, down the road a piece from Red Hook.

Red Hook still has a variety of eateries and drinkeries. We have been discussing these on a thread here.

I know people like to take their cars to St. John. One thing to think about is that the last barge is like 7 o'clock? If you want to stay for dinner, you either have to leave your car there, or take the people ferry over.

Best car rental, especially for the longish term you are staying, is Paradise Cars..they are off site from the airport and yet meet you on arrival (on time too) and complete all the paperwork right there instead of other companies who drag you out to their office somewhere. That alone is worth it, but they have excellent rate and fabulous service. Their #340-643-2692...ask for Leah or Monica ad mention my name (Debbie). I believe in their business !!

It is always confusing with the names on the east end. I'll be in a blue roof building just above the marina. There used to be a bar of sorts on the western edge between some of the blue roofed buildings. The red roof buildings are more on the beach before the Cove buildings. We use the beach in front of the red roofs, but stay in the blue roofs. It was always a long walk up the hill to a taxi.

I was thinking of using the bus system, as I recall it goes counterclockwise around island, and cost was $1 or something like that regardless of destination. Is this still kinda what is going on yet.

I didn't know there might be complications in taking a rental across on ferry, that is good to know. And I hate missing last auto ferry.

An alternative may be to rent for a week, skip a week, and on a skip a week - head to StJ and rent a car for a day of exploring.

Also good to know some rentals can't go off paved roads. I imagine I'd like to go off on gravel/dirt roads to get to some of the beaches on StJ.

A lot to cram for the trip. Packing for a month away is going to be interesting, so is all the back home prep for being away without mail, internet, phone. Still need to see if TMobile will work on StT or StJ.

Yes, blue roof= Sapphire Village. The restaurant is Sapphire Bar & Grill.

The safari is $2 for country. There are some brand new buses so I don't know what is going to happen to the safari system. It was never a regulated business and was allowed because the bus system was so poor.

Don't give up on taking the car to St John. Just do it during the day. When you want to go for dinner, take the people ferry. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't know about any off road driving. The regular roads around here are all off roads. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

phone and internet are readily available, if you want free phone service buy a prepaid AT&T in the states, no extra charges. My AT&T is free and 10gigs of data which you can tether to your laptop. The AT&T system is LTE and very fast

We are coming also for a 9 nt stay in late winter, after about 10 or 12 years of not staying on island. Thanks for all the info on groceries & link to restaurant discussion. We too are looking for a rental car -- any other reliable, "local" rental car companies (we use a "local" fellow on St. Maarten).

What concerns me so far about renting a car for a month, is that even a compact will be around $1000. Quite an added expense, and just about all rentals so far are within $100 of that figure. I have not called anyone yet, just surfing for rates. I cannot imagine spending $1000 on taxis.

try Zip car rentals, small private company older cars, Lisa and Marsellas are very fair

I finally made arrangements today with Paridise Rental for a Corolla for 4 weeks in Jan. $1300 inclusive of all fees, taxes, etc. A jeep would have been $2000. Other outfits were in the range of $1000-$1100 and I don't think all fees, ins, taxes, etc. were included. It appears this outfit is less complicated as they will meet us at airport with car and paperwork. They also allow taking car on ferry to St. John. Their insurance does carry a $2500 colission deductible so I am checking with my insurance and credit card company to see if they cover any deductible, etc. And yes I mentioned Debbie's name, so she will earn points with them.

They also have a local repair/rescue company in case you need a tow or anything and..in the tire well is a can of filler that saved me one Sunday afternoon. Stuck with a flat, I discovered it, used it and got the tire repaired (nail) for $6...bought a new can to replace the one I used too ! All in all, a great rental company !!

A lot of people these days find that their new car does not even have a spare and some don't have a place to put a spare tire. Instead more and more cars are coming with the imfamous can of stop leak and this is usually discovered as you did, on the side of the road.

There was a spare in there but there was no shoulder to manage the job... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />