I'm wondering if it would be better to rent a jeep on St Thomas and take a car ferry to St John or if it would be best to rent one on St John? It will only be my husband and I with light baggage. I'm concerned about catching a car ferry around our flights. Which option is more likely to go smoothly? Thanks for all the previous advice as well!!

If you have an early morning flight back from St Thomas, I would not attempt to take car ferry and get to airport in time for security etc.

We have rented a car on St John each time we visited, and found it to be easiest. You can park for free in Cruz Bay at most of the rental places.

I would take a cab to Red Hook, then rent a car on St. John. We have done it many times and it is very easy.

Thanks so much. That's what we were leaning towards after other things I've read. It's nice to have some reassurances though, natural born worrier here. Thanks again!

if you're going to rent on st. john, why taxi all the way to red hook for the ferry. you can take a ferry right out of chaarlotte amalie and save a 45 min drive (not to mention taxi fare). yes ferry is 45 mins from char am and only 20 from red hook but still a much longer process for no reason...
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm#CASJ

The link provided by virginia is from 2001; the ferry from Red Hook runs much more frequently than the one from Charlotte Amalie, so if your arrival falls between CA ferries, Red Hook has ones that will get you to Cruz Bay without the wait.

This schedule is the most up to date I can find:
http://tinyurl.com/2ce76hz

thanks for updating me debit!

You guys are awesome!

We went to St. John for the first time in December and rented a jeep at the St. Thomas airport and drove down to the Red Hook ferry. At the time I wanted to rent in St. John but our trip was last minute and so they didn't have any jeeps available. It ended up working really well for us to rent in St. Thomas and ferry over.

If you do rent on St.Thomas, don't use Hertz. They don't allow their cars to go to St. John.

Former Virgin Island's resident here..2007/2008..I have lived and traveled to the VI for many years..When I stay on St John..I find it much easier to just rent on St John..The rental companies will meet you at the Cruz Bay ferry dock..

After a long flight it is more relaxing to let a taxi take you to one of the two ferries to St John..the drive is tough even for a local to catch the car ferry in Red Hook..

Also the car ferry runs far less often from Red Hook..You can ferry from Charlotte Amalie as opposed to Red Hook . but the ferries run more often and late into the night from Red Hook..The taxi fare to Red Hook is more expensive and much longer, but the ferry ride form Red Hook is cheaper and less than half the time..For a newcomer I think the taxi ride to Red Hook is quite interesting..Either way, renting on St John will give you far more flexibility in choosing a ferry ride to coordinate with your travel times.

For local tips on the Virgin Islands from a local..Ck this website: http://www.travelaskthelocals.yolasite.com