soboyle

We will be renting a car at the St Thomas airport, then taking the ferry to St John for an 8 night rental, so we want to stock up on groceries (and beer) on the way. Our flight lands at noon, that should give plenty of time to go grocery shopping before catching a car ferry in red hook. What grocery store would be our best choice for price and selection? Thank you.

Pulley

We always stop at Cost U Less

eastenderusvi

Stop at Cost-U-Less and then fill in at the Food Center just before you get to Red Hook.

virginia

eastender, which is the bulk style store? which is the one on a curve across from boatyard? and what's the name of the small one in red hook?
thanks

soboyle

Thank You, will stop at cost-u-less on the way. I guess we can buy a cooler and ice for meat.

Pulley

We freeze all our meats and bring them in cooler on the plane. We usually fly SAV-ATL-STT. Leave home at 6:00am and check in the villa by 4:00pm. Food is still frozen. We pack the meats with ice. Saves a ton of money for 6 people!

eastenderusvi

virginia: Cost-U-Less is the bulk style store, although they have smaller portions of some things. Food Center is across from the boatyard. Marina Market is in Red Hook.

virginia

thank you eastender. my memory was shaky.

we take a cooler as well. we use no ice, just pack cooler as full as possible of frozen foods. we usually leave home by 4am & twice now the cooler has not arrived with us (AACCKK!!) but came the next day. all was still frozen both times.

susannj

Another option would be to wait until you get to St. John and/or have your villa provisioned with beer and other drinks. We have done this the past several times and its wonderful to have everything waiting for you when you get to your villa. To me, its worth it - less hassle!
http://stjohncatering.com/current-me...rder-form.html

RonUSVI

Can't see how you can save tons of money when they now charge such exorbitant fees for extra luggage.

RL

LCorner

If we are staying at Secret Harbour, do you suggest renting a car, taking a taxi or? for getting supplies. We want to grocery shop before going to the condo.

thanks for any suggestions!

virginia

you are going to love secret harbour. you will need a car to go anywhere from sh, so may as well rent at the airport. shopping advice above still stands. we did most of our shopping for food & booze at food center.
if you plan to cook most of your own meals you should take spices with you (in labeled zip-locs). they are very expensive on island and then you only use a tsp or so... you can also take coffee. do not purchase liquor at duty free as it's cheaper than milk on island.

eastenderusvi

I just want to comment on this old thread- Marina Market in Red Hook is closed. The Food Center has improved over the last year. For Secret Harbour, definitely rent a car. Taxis charge per person, so if two people wanted to go to Red Hook for dinner, you would have to add $16 to your dinner bill. That is if it is still only $4 each...

virginia

it's a shame marina market is closed. they had many yummies when i was last on island. has anything replaced it?

eastenderusvi

virginia: If you mean the space, no. Food Center is better than it was in fish and meats. Their produce is still lacking, though.

amer_can

Always found produce lacking on the island but what can you expect with imports necessary. If Red Hook has no groc. store where on earth must you drive to get food..a long, crazy road to other places! Glad Food Center has improved it needed to do so!

eastenderusvi

The best produce, IMHO, is at the Fruit Bowl which is across from the hospital and the little K-Mart. It would be on the way from the airport or on your way into town if you were going there. The second best is at Cost-U-Less, again, on the way to the east end. While Red Hook proper doesn't have a grocery, the Food Center is not that far away.

P.S. We are accustomed to going several places to get what we need.;-)

winks

We are also going to St. John,is it cheaper to rent car on STT than St. John?

amer_can

Better check out the ferry situatiuon for taking a car to St. J. They don't run as often as passenger ferries do and you amy need a resv.

virginia

also some stt rental companies will allow you to take their cars to stj others will not. many suggest renting a jeep for stj.

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/in...ok-to-cruz-bay