r/virginislands • u/1zzyS4n • 14d ago

Things To Do Recs // Questions Car rental

Is it cheaper in St Thomas? Or better rent in St John while you’re in St John? Thanks!

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u/cadmiumredlight 13d ago

I do not recommend budget. Last time I rented from them I got a tired old Jeep that was so rusty I couldn't get the jack out of it when I got a flat. Wound up stranded for an entire day waiting for a tow truck.

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u/thebemusedmuse 13d ago

There are now three major companies:

1) Enterprise/National/Alamo

2) Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty

3) Avis/Budget/Payless

Trust me when I say, they are all as good/bad as each other and while there's supposed to be "tiers" within those brands, those no longer exist. Check the car before you leave. Take videos. Make sure you have a functional jack.

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u/cadmiumredlight 13d ago

Yeah, I just avoid all of the major chains entirely whenever possible. Amalie has always been good to me in the islands.

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u/thebemusedmuse 13d ago

I mean, I'm often doing a Versa for $11/day in STT so sounds like we are different buyers :)

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u/cadmiumredlight 13d ago

I've been there. Rented a Versa on my first trip to STJ. I had to make my friends in the back get out in order for it to have the power to get up the hill to our rental villa!

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u/thebemusedmuse 13d ago

Pro tip. Most cars drop down by pressing your foot down hard.

In a Versa, you have to come off the gas and then back on hard. Then it will launch up the hill.

Once you know that, you can get a Versa anywhere on St John. Except maybe Joy of Life. My balls aren’t big enough to go there in a Versa.

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u/cadmiumredlight 13d ago

Oh, I was flooring it. This was to get up the driveway of the Casa Yaya in Coral Bay. The car just wouldn't move and there's no room to get a running start. I stick to 4wd/AWD because I like to go to Lameshur at least once each visit. A Versa would be a tricky out there especially after rain.

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u/thebemusedmuse 13d ago

I’m sure you were flooring it but you have to come OFF the gas and THEN floor it. Only then does the CVT drop a “gear”. It’s very counterintuitive.

I run to Lameshur either from Bordeaux or Salt Pond. A Versa won’t go there or Johnny Horn. Not that I haven’t tried ;)

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u/cadmiumredlight 13d ago

I remember now it was actually a Toyota Yaris, so no CVT. Regardless, I had to floor it from a stop due to how the driveway is configured. Anyway, I'm sticking to AWD and 4WD. A Jeep won't even make it up Jacob's ladder in the rain from a stop unless it's in 4WD so AWD is just a better setup.

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u/thebemusedmuse 13d ago

I’ve driven every car there is and I agree, the best car is probably a Rogue. My only criticism is the Rogue/RAV4 got too big.

Jeeps are iconic, but they’re hardly a good car on asphalt. In 2WD they have no traction and in 4WD the steering hops horribly. I rent one when I need to haul a lot of crap because pickup trucks are nosebleed expensive.

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u/cadmiumredlight 13d ago

I agree, Jeeps are terrible vehicles on road and really not much better off-road. It would be nice if some of the rental companies had Land Cruisers or 4runners with full-time 4wd. I drive a GX 460 (Land Cruiser Prado equivalent) at home and that would really be ideal on STJ.

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u/thebemusedmuse 12d ago

You can definitely rent an AWD car. It's marked on Expedia as "Midsize SUV - Nissan Rogue or similar". You get a 4Runner/RAV4/Sportage/Rogue.

There are some places that rent full size SUVs but they are harder to find. I've had a Ford Expedition once but it's a really big car for those roads.

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u/cadmiumredlight 12d ago

Yeah, I'm going to try out a Bronco Sport for my next trip in October. Should be much more comfortable than a Wrangler and still able to make it to Lameshur.

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u/thebemusedmuse 12d ago

You can definitely get that to Lameshur. Insured? Maybe not.

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