Cheap Transportation on St. Thomas

[SJ]

Has anyone experienced these local taxis recently? We'll be in St Thomas in September. We'll also have our 17 month old with us. Are these taxis safe for babies that age?

[Brianinidaho]

Has anyone experienced these local taxis recently? We'll be in St Thomas in September. We'll also have our 17 month old with us. Are these taxis safe for babies that age?

 

These are absolutely safe for families

[SJ]

Thanks Brian!

 

BTW, what do these taxis/buses look like?

[suzski]

This is a great post! As a family of 5 needing transportation to Red Hook, I was FLOORED to find out it was going to cost me $100! We'll be the only ship in port that day, so traffic should be minimal in that sense. The website shows that we'll be arriving at the WICO pier, so does that make a difference? I'm not sure if the info on the KMart stop is for CB or WICO.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Suzan

[CaribbeanBound]

SJ: Picture a modified pickup truck with 3 or 4 rows of bench seats in the back open air area with a metal canopy. (Now think of something slightly nicer, but don't get carried away).

 

Suzan... the instructions assume you are at the Havensight pier.

 

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http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/caribbean-secrets.html

These are our very detailed personal reviews, hints, and tips for ports of call that you will be visiting.

[suzski]

SJ: Picture a modified pickup truck with 3 or 4 rows of bench seats in the back open air area with a metal canopy. (Now think of something slightly nicer, but don't get carried away).

 

Suzan... the instructions assume you are at the Havensight pier.

 

Here are more of our Secrets of the Caribbean!

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/caribbean-secrets.html

These are our very detailed personal reviews, hints, and tips for ports of call that you will be visiting.

 

Thanks for the info!:) We'll definitely use that form of transportation over the outrageous "tourist taxi".

[Lovely_Star]

Thanks for starting a great & very informative thread Brian In Idaho :)

Where does the bus drop you off at Red Hook . . . do you have to walk a couple of blocks to a stop like you do at the Kmart pick up location? How often do the buses come by Red Hook for pick ups? If our ship departs at 4pm how much time should we allow for a commute back to port from Red Hook if we are relying on the buses for transportation?

[Lovely_Star]

Okay another question :rolleyes: I was doing some research and found this website http://www.tutuparkmall.com/ttdirections.html which says that Kmart is about 3 miles from the Havensight cruise ship dock. How long was the walk? I'd like to time our commute since we have to be at Red Hook by 9am at the latest.

[Betsy's Mom]

The KMart at Tutu is not the one you want. If you have to be at Red Hook by 9 you should not rely on the open $2 taxi rides. If you have to be on the ship by 4 P.M. give yourselves at least one and half hours, but better 2 hours from Red Hook at that time of day. Traffic can be horrendous with perhaps a thousand ship passengers trying to get to the docks at the same time. With your time constraints the $2 buses do not sound like a good idea to someone who lives here. Sorry:(

B.

[hmstins]

Can someone give us information on our transportation choices if docking at Crown Bay? Is there a dollar bus pickup area close to that end of the island? Thanks.

[bluewaterfortuna]

Can someone give us information on our transportation choices if docking at Crown Bay? Is there a dollar bus pickup area close to that end of the island? Thanks.

Walk just out to the main road across from Nisky center and you will get a $1.00/$2.00 ride.

[SJ]

Is there a fare for a 17 month old for these dollar buses? If yes, is it the same as an adult?

[Lovely_Star]

SJ: Picture a modified pickup truck with 3 or 4 rows of bench seats in the back open air area with a metal canopy. (Now think of something slightly nicer, but don't get carried away).

 

Suzan... the instructions assume you are at the Havensight pier.

 

Here are more of our Secrets of the Caribbean!

http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/caribbean-secrets.html

These are our very detailed personal reviews, hints, and tips for ports of call that you will be visiting.

 

 

Thanks for the info Caribbean bound according to this it is about a 20-30 minute trip from Havensight to Red Hook. So by allotting a good hour for travel time we should be just find. Seems like you are right all the locals must be in cahoots :rolleyes:

[MaryPoppinz]

Walk just out to the main road across from Nisky center and you will get a $1.00/$2.00 ride.

 

You mean Veteran's Drive...on the side that is heading into Charlotte Amalie...right? We usually walk to town, but might be worth a try.

 

I would also love to have a bit more detail about catching a locals' bus after arriving at St. John. :)

[Betsy's Mom]

There are no $2 rides in St John. There is a Vitran bus, but it does not go by the beaches. Taxis are it.

B.

[wack001]

Great info on this board, I will need to get to "coral world", how do I get there cheap, i am well travelled.

Thanks

[The Islander]

If at Havensight you'd catch the dollar ride close to K-mart, which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the dock. If in Crown Bay you'd catch it from the road in front of Nisky Center, you'd need to be on the opposite side of road - so traffic heading into town. In both cases you need a dollar ride heading to the East End. The dollar ride would drop you on the main road by the side-road to Coki/Coral World. It's a litlte over .5 miles walk from the main road to Coral World, the area you walk through is a bit seedy.

 

--Islander

[MaryPoppinz]

There are no $2 rides in St John. There is a Vitran bus' date=' but it does not go by the beaches. Taxis are it.

B.[/quote']

 

Thanks! I was trying to figure out what this meant from earier in the thread: "Getting off the ferry from Red Hook, it was intersting to see the obvious cruise ship passengers walk toward the expensive taxis on the left, and the obvious locals walk straight out to the road to the dollar bus pick up."

[SJ]

Anyone know if infants pay the same fare for the dollar taxi?

[sweston85]

The cheap safaris are not convenient for going to Coki beach though... since you have to walk 15 minutes from the drop-off point to get there.. and, for cruise ship people this could be quite scary.. especially if they have children.. I mean, I know I was scared walking there.. but, generally, yah.. the cheap safaris aren't bad.. although they do take a little tiny bit longer than taxis.

[sweston85]

If at Havensight you'd catch the dollar ride close to K-mart, which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the dock. If in Crown Bay you'd catch it from the road in front of Nisky Center, you'd need to be on the opposite side of road - so traffic heading into town. In both cases you need a dollar ride heading to the East End. The dollar ride would drop you on the main road by the side-road to Coki/Coral World. It's a litlte over .5 miles walk from the main road to Coral World, the area you walk through is a bit seedy.

 

--Islander

 

 

You don't have to catch it next to Kmart.. you can catch it anywhere starting at where the Pueblo is.. only on the opposite side of the street. So, basically you can just wait next to the Blockbuster that is across the street and then flag it down.

[SJ]

Anyone know if you pay for an infant for these dollar buses?

[Brianinidaho]

Anyone know if you pay for an infant for these dollar buses?

 

Good one... probably follows the rules that the regular taxis charge. Maybe Ilsander knows. Either way this is a good, inexpensive alternative.

 

Be aware when we got off the ship last the "greeter" told me there was no island transportation but the taxis. What an untruth. He knew it and was trying to protect the taxi monopoly. You never see locals taking the taxis because, IMHO, the bus system is so good. Good luck.

[SJ]

Thanks for responding Brian!

 

What do the taxis charge for infants?

[The Islander]

SJ - the taxi fares are regulated. Taxis are supposed to follow the fares outlined. The rates are per person, per destination. There is no discounted rate for children. Car seats are required by law in St. Thomas, however since safari taxis don't have seat belts you can't use a car seat so the law is more of less overlooked as far as taxis are concerned. If you wanted to use a car seat you'd need to get a taxi that uses a van or car/SUV and you'd likely want to book this in advance as they aren't very common at the cruise dock. In anycase, if the infant is sitting on your lap and not in a seat on either the taxi or dollar ride pretty sure they aren't going to get charged. If they are in a seat they will get charged on the taxi and pretty sure this is the same on the dollar ride.

 

--Islander