Islander - Question about taxi/jitney to Red Hook

[SkiCruiser]

Hi Islander!

 

Thank you in advance for providing any info you may have concerning transportation to Red Hook. Our Cruise Critic group is arriving in Crown Bay on the Emerald Princess. We will be the only ship in St. Thomas on September 9th. We are looking to take a van or jitney to Red Hook and then ferry to St. John. Our group is currently at 12 and may grow as people start reading through our Roll Call. What do you think our options will be? Could we do a van with 12? I don't know whether are any taxi laws/rules about the number of people in a vehicle in St. Thomas. I've read on other threads that jitney's can hold up to 24. Can you share any info on pricing for either?

 

The St. John Jumpers are looking for a sweet ride to Red Hook!!:D

[The Islander]

Crown Bay to Red Hook: options are taxi, public transportation, rent cars.

 

Taxi vehicles in St. Thomas vary; there are vans which typically hold 9-12 people depending on size; there are cars and SUVs, and there are safaris which are big trucks where the bed has been reconstructed with bench seats, covering etc. - these can hold 12 to 24 or 26 depending on size. Taxi fares are set by destination, per person so it would be $11 per person, one way. If you have a large group you could try to pre-arrange it and see if you can get some sort of group rate which might be a just a little cheaper but typically drivers are suppose to stick with the set rates. Try http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=st.+thomas+taxi+rates&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=st.+thomas+taxi&gs_rfai=CzehREYVZTLvtAYqINvbcmLAGAAAAqgQFT9Ch7CY&fp=8fdcd5b558eb00c3 for more on taxis.

 

For public transportation, you'd have to walk from Crown Bay to the main road in front of Nisky Shopping Center, about 15 minute walk. You'd catch the bus (public transportation, real bus, called VITRAN) or the dollar ride (not the official public transportation but something that operates like one, the drivers use the same safari type vehicles like the taxis). You'd need one heading East, Red Hook is on the East End of the island. It would be $2 per person, one way for the dollar ride and I think the public bus is a little less. One thing to keep in mind here would be if your group is large and you wait and a bus arrives and doesn't have space for everyone you'd have to decide to either split up and keeping waiting and hope the next one is empty.

 

And the 3rd option would be to rent a few vehicles, might be cheaper than the taxi if you split the cost among the people in your group. You'd need to check on prices and compare. Keep in mind parking in Red Hook cost around $10 for the day.

 

--Islander