One of the top questions I receive is do I have to rent a vehicle when staying on St. John. We do have plenty of taxis, but it isn’t always easy to locate a taxi to pick you up from your accommodation. Therefore, it is best stay directly in Cruz Bay or over at the Westin if you prefer to rely on the taxis rather than renting your own vehicle.
Where Do I find a Taxi?
The taxis park at the ferry dock in Cruz Bay. They are there morning, noon and night. Simply walk over, and tell them where you’d like to go. It’s that simple. Sometimes you can find a taxi parked in the small lot across from Morgan’s Mango or across from Mongoose Junction, too. They also park at Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay. Taxis in St. John are cash only.
Where To Stay – The Westin
Let’s start with the Westin. It is located just outside of Cruz Bay. It’s roughly a five or so minute ride from the ferry dock. (I do not recommend walking from the Westin to Cruz Bay due to a steep hill called Jacob’s Ladder.) There are always taxis waiting at the Westin to transport you to Cruz Bay, to the North Shore beaches (as far as Maho Bay) or to the Windmill Bar on Centerline Road (more so late afternoon and evening, as opposed to during the day for the Windmill). It’s tough to get a ride beyond those places. Staying at the Westin is a great choice if you want to rely on taxis, but keep in mind that the taxi fares will add up. It costs $7 per person to ride from the Westin to Cruz Bay. That’s $56 for a family of four to go to Cruz Bay for dinner, for example. Just something to think about…
Where to Stay – Cruz Bay
When you are staying in Cruz Bay, there are a few key things to look out for, specifically the hills. St. John is a very hilly island. There are numerous accommodations that market themselves as being in Cruz Bay and having an “easy walk to town.” What some of these rentals fail to mention is that there are very steep hills that you need to walk up or down during that easy walk to town.
Click here to read Accommodations FYI: Beware of the Easy Walk to Town.
If you want to stay in Cruz Bay, utilize the taxis, and avoid steep hills, the following places are great options.
- Grande Bay – completely flat
- Wharfside Hotel – completely flat
- Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel – completely flat
- Gallows Point – small hill
- Lavender Hill – small hill
- Cruz Bay Apartments (on AirBNB only, I believe) – completely flat
- Donald Schnell’s Artistic Lofts – very small hill
- St. John Inn – small hill
- Tamarind Inn – small hill
- Love City Lofts – small hill
- Dolphin Suites – small hill
- Garden By the Sea – small hill and a bit of a longer walk, but a great place to stay
- The Saint – small hill
*When I say small hill, it’s one that my seven-year-old walks up and doesn’t even complain that he’s walking uphill. It’s that small. 🙂
The taxis do not regularly drive out to Coral Bay or beyond. There is a bus that does go to Coral Bay and Salt Pont. (The bus does not go to the North Shore beaches.) We do not have Uber or Lift on St. John.
Click here to view the current taxi rates.
Explore STJ Island Tours
I’ve been offering island tours since early 2017 (the good ole days!), and I would love to show you the island if you do not rent a vehicle. Or of you are renting a vehicle and want to familiarize yourself with the island, I can do that too. I offer three and five hour tours. You can learn more at www.explorestj.com/tour.
If there is something regarding St. John that you would like to know more about, please email me at jenn@explorestj.com. I am happy to help. I am also a licensed real estate agent with 340 Real Estate if you are looking to purchase a piece of paradise.
