It's the age old story of "you can shear the sheep many times..you can only eat them once." Nothing aggravates novice visitors to the VIs as much as taxi fees/ service.

Learned a couple decades ago that St. John Cabs would pretend they could not hear the request from Ms Lucy's in coral bay.

Took a ride on St. Thomas in the "load em up taxi" several years ago in which I thought the driver was going to assult a passenger who did not know how to tell him how to get to the small rental while we were on the way to redhook. When it was straightened out..the host was there to greet the single lady traveler and the driver began anew the screaming and cursing at the traveler and the landlord.
I've paid 180 bucks for a round trip wih 5 people from Sopers to CGB...I've paid 85$ for a horrific ride from Leverick North Sound to VGYH chandlery to pick up a part, 5 minutes from lot to store, get part, back to lot...to be left there 2 hrs while the driver obviously took other fares. Both ways ghe seemed determined to imitate a roller coaster ride in the back of that pickup. Wasting most of three hours to get a part, I did not need a near death experience going and coming.

I've paid 95$ to miss the ferry from STT to CA..and driver actually told me he wasn't going to charge me more to go across the street to the Windward Passage.

A friend staying at our place on VG wanted to go to the full moon party at Trellis with her two young children..so checked into the tamarind club ..got taxi, paid for a round trip when dropped off (a mistake but honesty should matter) , asked that he return in two hours..he gave them a card...never came back..did not answer phone.


Let it be said, there have been many other pleasant and average experiences over the years as well. Never a single time being taken advantage of from VGYH to condo...a couple times had to get a guest to Leverick for first north sound ferry ..taxi picked up at o dark thirty as agreed..no problem.

But it is a fact that taxis are way over priced by North American standards and it does indeed make a bad impression for visitors. With Cuba opening up providing likely cheaper and less costly access..not sure it's a great time to tax and taxi cost visitors to the BVI to death. As I understand it, in both the BVI and USVI taxi drivers hold a lot of political sway. Unfortunately they may have a big hand in killing the golden goose.