PMV to St. John

I have seen people carry-on guitars multiple times. I don't think many musicians trust the baggage handlers. 😉

Welcome, mistafyde!

STT: Going back and forth to St. Thomas...for some reason I can't wrap my head around this one. I understand you can ferry from Cruz Bay to Red Hook. But then once in Red Hook is it possible to get a taxi that doesn't cost a fortune?

Safari taxis are cheap and they travel set routes. Here are some threads, found via the search feature:
https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/search.php?4,search=red+hook+safari+route,author=,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=0,match_forum=4,match_threads=0

Thank you for the information!

back to the car...does it make sense to try to buy one for two months or try to track someone down to rent one?

Check the monthly rate at Rental Car Agencies.
Note: Hertz and Discount do not allow their cars on the barge to STT and most agencies in STJ do not allow thier cars on barge to STT so be sure to check what their specific policy is. Budget and Dependable Car do.

Life without a car on STT/STJ can be a pain to get back an forth where you wish to go when you wish especially if you have a time table and wish to catch the ferry. Safari's stop running after 7PM, Taxi's are expensive. You'll need transport to shop, go to beach, run errands, enjoy the nightlife, etc.

Here are a couple links for yoga in STT:
http://www.5elementstudio.com/
http://www.saintthomasyoga.com/
http://www.spausvi.com/

In STJ:
http://doyogastjohnvi.com/
http://www.greatexpectationsusvi.com/st-john-usvi/yoga-pilates-tai-chi
http://www.edeneastyogastudio.com/

Scroll down to yoga at bottom of list on this link:
In STJ:
http://www.stjohnusvi.com/medical.html

CAR - If you come in April, season will be slowing down and you may be able to get an island car fairly inexpensively that will last you a couple of months. It will likely be harder to sell said car in June if you decide not to make the move. A two-month rental with 4WD (a must for STJ living) will run you at least $1600, maybe more -- call all the rental agencies on STT and STJ and ask if they offer a monthly rate. Many will not, some will.

GIGS - yes, possible to carry on a guitar. Sunday night is open mic night at Sun Dog Cafe in Mongoose, which is great place to meet other local musicians as well as let people get to know you.

YOGA - I don't know of anyone offering certification here or on STT; all the yogis on STJ have gotten certified off island. St John is basically a very small town with very limited opportunities in many ways.

STT - as others mentioned, you will be able to catch a safari, which costs only a buck or two depending on how far you are going. Safaris do not run after dark, so at night you would have to pay for a taxi ($10+ per person depending on how far you are going). The ferry will also be more expensive for you as a visitor than it would if you were a local with local ID.

Good luck and enjoy your visit!

Keep your options open as far as which island to live on too. St John is the most expensive with the fewest employment opportunities.

I just had a guest leave that was here to check out island life and while she loved it (and my vacation rental, I might add) she could not get over the cost of living here once she took a look at grocery store and K-Mart prices. WAPA costs plus other utility costs amazed her. She decided that she'll be back......to vacation, not to live full time. STJ is more expensive to live than STT and majority of people that live there bring their vehicles to STT on barge to shop at least once a month. That being said, we all do live here, pay the high prices and deal with limited options that island life entails. As has been stated many times on this forum, "Island Life is not for everyone."

While some families take the barge over regularly, plenty do not. It depends on whether you will save more than the $50-$60 barge cost, or whether you need items quickly that simply are not available on STJ. I personally manage just fine with careful local shopping supplemented by ordering online. I don't usually have a need to go to STT more than once every six months (and often it's for just one or two items, in which case I can usually ask someone else to pick them up for me on their next trip).

There are a lot of things that statesiders take for granted that are very different on STJ. For example, say you want to go see a new movie in the theater one evening. That will cost you a minimum of $31.50 per person (assuming you get there before sunset and can catch a safari to the theater; otherwise $40.50 per person minimum) and will take about 6 hours total round trip to the movie theater on St Thomas. That doesn't even include popcorn! The other way to do it is to go to a matinee on the weekend and take the car barge over, which will cost about the same if there are two of you going. But the car barge doesn't run after 6 or 7pm depending on the day, so make sure you get to the dock in time or your car will be stuck on STT overnight.

The point I'm making isn't about going to the movies. It's that things that are often taken for granted in the states turn into an expensive logistical puzzle around here.

Fantastic information! ...greatly appreciated!

We have visited St. John and understand the high cost of living. The small town vibe is what we really enjoy about it.

Thank you for finally making me understand the barge/ferry/taxi situation with STT!

We were last on St. John in January and tried to check out the open mic at Sun Dog but there was nothing going on when we got there...maybe we just missed it or something...but will check that out for certain!

Can't wait! Thank you all!

I LOVE going to the movies here, compare to stateside they are CHEAP! I mean I get what you're saying and from STJ with the ferries it would be pricey but just tickets were $20 EACH n AZ. Here we can both get tickets and a hot dog for $20 lol. I will say that going to the movies here is a real experience. I am still confused by the laughing from locals during dramatic moments. When we saw captain phillips every time someone had a gun to their head it was all out laughter...... ?

Personally I could NEVER live on STJ. It is beautiful but just too slow pace for me. I have also never really had a warm welcome while on STJ. We've conceded that we will always take the car ferry and bring our own food and stay on the beaches and away from town while there. Sorry to say all of my rude experiences with the exception of the BMV in STT have been on STJ. I still can't figure out what it is, but I don't dig on the entitled vibe I encounter there. JUST my opinion. Sorry STJers.

It irks me most when the mostly recent residents of STJ refer to my home as Saint Trauma -- until I heard someone here say they should rename STJ Saint Martha [of Vineyard lineage] - that I could understand!

It irks me most when the mostly recent residents of STJ refer to my home as Saint Trauma -- until I heard someone here say they should rename STJ Saint Martha [of Vineyard lineage] - that I could understand!

LOL! It always makes me smile when I hear St John wait staff explaining how things work to visitors then discovering they have only been here a month.