Good Morning, Good Morning! Last month when Teddy and I flew to Puerto Rico to bring Asante home for the season, we were a bit surprised when the taxi driver requested $50 as payment upon drop off at the airport. We didn’t say anything about the higher-than-normal requested rate that usually is about $20 per person, but the silent exchange between our glances must have been apparent. The driver explained that if we had got a ride a few days earlier it would have been less. But the rates had just gone up. I recalled seeing a headline about this at some point and thought, “Aha, the rate increase went through…” So, in order to keep all of you from being a bit taken aback on your next trip, I wanted to share the details on these new rates with you!
Last month, taxi fares in the USVI increased, reflecting the first change in rates by the USVI Taxi Commission since the late 1970’s. The small increase in fares encompasses the rising cost of living in the USVI as well as the recent hike in gas prices. Did you know that anyone who is legally operating a taxi in the territory has to have a taxi medallion to do so? These medallions are often passed down within a family but the cost to purchase the coveted “license” is in the realm of $60k!
Licensed taxi vehicles are labeled with a taxi placard or dome light on the roof, license plates that indicate Taxi status, On Duty/Off Duty sign in the window of the vehicle and a sign, usually on the fender, indicating passenger capacity. The drivers personal identification/taxi license should be on the vehicle’s dashboard.- VI Now
Additionally, the majority of our licensed taxi drivers own and operate their vehicles so the upkeep, the rising cost of gas and downtime due to maintenance all falls on the individual operator! So, the recent increase in rates is absolutely not surprising given the overall inflation of living costs here in the USVI. Here’s what you need to know about the rate increase if you are visiting St. John.
First, for all of you first-time visitors out there, cash is king when it comes to taxi services on St. Thomas and St. John. So, when you fly in, make sure you have cash for your ride to the ferry. Based on our experience, that rate is now $25 per person one way (we each had one bag). Also, there is no meter on taxis down here. The flat rates, as seen below, are designated by the VI Taxicab Commission and are dependent upon your departure location and final destination.
Also, don’t expect a direct drop off unless you are paying for a private cab. Most taxis will wait until their vehicle is full of passengers when leaving from a hot spot like the airport, the ferry dock, Cinnamon or Trunk. So, do expect to meet some new friends on your ride to the beach or back to town. And do expect for several stops on your way from the airport to the ferry.
Another quick taxi tip is to pre-arrange your pick-up time at drop off for some of the more “off the beaten track” destinations on STJ. For example, if you are taking a taxi to Salt Pond for some beach time and hiking arrange with the driver who drops you off to return at a set time to get you back to town safely. Cell phone service can be spotty around St. John, so it is best to air on the side of caution and set your pick-up time in advance for destinations such as Annaberg, Salt Pond, Francis, hiking trailheads not located on the main thoroughfares of North Shore Road or Centerline between Cruz Bay and Coral Bay, etc.
Ok, here are the new taxi rates as of October 24, 2022 as taken from VINow.com:
| CRUZ BAY TO/FROM: | 1 PERSON | 2+/Per Person Same Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annaberg | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Bethany | 8.00 | 7.00 |
| Bordeaux Mountain | 26.00 | 17.00 |
| Beth Cruz/Upper Deck | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Calabash Boom | 30.00 | 21.00 |
| Caneel Bay | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Catherineberg | 14.00 | 11.00 |
| Chateau de Bordeaux | 14.00 | 11.00 |
| Chocolate Hole | 11.00 | 9.00 |
| Cinnamon Bay | 14.00 | 11.00 |
| Concordia | 30.00 | 21.00 |
| Contant | 9.00 | 7.00 |
| Coral Bay | 25.00 | 15.00 |
| Dennis Bay | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Desoto Bock House (East End) | 38.00 | 23.00 |
| Estate Lindholm | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Fish Bay | 20.00 | 12.00 |
| Francis Bay | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Frank Bay | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Gallows Point | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Gift Hill | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| George Simmonds Terrace | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Goat Path/Maho Bay Beach | 17.00 | 12.00 |
| Great Cruz Bay | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Grunwald | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Haulover | 32.00 | 22.00 |
| Hawksnest | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Hurricane Hole | 29.00 | 20.00 |
| John’s Head | 14.00 | 11.00 |
| Jumbie Beach | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Lameshur | 38.00 | 25.00 |
| Leinster Bay | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Little Maho Bay Campground | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Mandahl | 30.00 | 21.00 |
| Ms. Lucy’s | 30.00 | 21.00 |
| Oppenheimer | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Pine Peace | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Privateer Bay | 45.00 | 30.00 |
| Rendezous Bay (Klein Bay) | 15.00 | 10.00 |
| Reef Bay Trail | 14.00 | 11.00 |
| Salt Pond | 30.00 | 21.00 |
| Sunset Ridge | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Susannaberg (Clinic/Laundry) | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Trunk Bay | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Vie’s (East End) | 38.00 | 25.00 |
| Westin Resort | 9.00 | 7.00 |
| Zootenvaal | 27.00 | 18.00 |
| CORAL BAY TO/FROM: | 1 PERSON | 2+/Per Person Same Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annaberg | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Blomingdale (Freeman Ground) | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Calabash Boom | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Caneel Bay (via Northshore) | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Cinnamon Bay | 13.00 | 10.00 |
| Desoto Bock House (East End) | 18.00 | 9.00 |
| George Simmonds Terrace | 14.00 | 11.00 |
| Hawksnest | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Hurricane Hole | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| John’s Folly School | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Lamishur | 15.00 | 10.00 |
| Maho Bay Beach | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Mandahl | 11.00 | 9.00 |
| Oppenheimer | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Salt Pond | 11.00 | 9.00 |
| Public Works | 15.00 | 11.00 |
| Susannaberg (Clinic/Laundry) | 15.00 | 11.00 |
| Trunk Bay (via Centerline) | 29.00 | 20.00 |
| Trunk Bay (via North Shore) | 14:00 | 11.00 |
| Vie’s (East End) | 12.00 | 11.00 |
| Zootenvaal | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| GALLOWS POINT TO/FROM: | 1 PERSON | 2+/Per Person Same Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annaberg | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Caneel Bay | 10.00 | 8.00 |
| Cinnamon Bay | 15.00 | 12.00 |
| Cruz Bay | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Coral Bay | 25.00 | 16.00 |
| Maho Bay Beach/Goat Path | 17.00 | 13.00 |
| Francis Bay | 20.00 | 15.00 |
| Golf Course/Pastory | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| Hawksnest Beach | 10.00 | 8.00 |
| Jumbie Bay | 13.00 | 10.00 |
| Maho Bay Campground | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Oppenheimer | 10.00 | 8.00 |
| Susannaberg (Clinic/Laundry) | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Trunk Bay | 13.00 | 10.00 |
| Westin | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| CANEEL BAY TO/FROM: | 1 PERSON | 2+/Per Person Same Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annaberg | 18.00 | 12.00 |
| Bordeaux Mountain | 27.00 | 15.00 |
| Chateau de Bordeaux | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Cinnamon Bay | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Coral Bay (Via Centerline) | 27.00 | 15.00 |
| Coral Bay (Via Northshore) | 20.00 | 14.00 |
| Francis Bay | 18.00 | 12.00 |
| Gallows Point | 10.00 | 8.00 |
| Hawksnest Bay | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Lamishur (via Northshore) | 35.00 | 20.00 |
| Maho Bay Beach/Goat Path | 15.00 | 11.00 |
| Pastory/Course | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Maho Bay Campground | 18.00 | 13.00 |
| Salt Pond (via Northshore) | 30.00 | 18.00 |
| Susannaberg (Clinic/Laundry) | 16.00 | 13.00 |
| Trunk Bay | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| Westin | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| WESTIN RESORT TO/FROM: | 1 PERSON | 2+/Per Person Same Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annaberg | 23.00 | 17.00 |
| Asolare/Estate Lindholm | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| Calabash Boom | 35.00 | 21.00 |
| Caneel Bay | 12.00 | 10.00 |
| Chateau de Bordeaux | 18.00 | 15.00 |
| Catherineberg | 17.00 | 14.00 |
| Chocolate Hole | 8.00 | 6.00 |
| Cinnamon Bay | 17.00 | 14.00 |
| Coral Bay | 25.00 | 17.00 |
| Cruz Bay | 9.00 | 7.00 |
| Dennis Bay | 15.00 | 12.00 |
| East End | 41.00 | 27.00 |
| Fish Bay | 15.00 | 10.00 |
| Francis Bay | 23.00 | 17.00 |
| Gallows Point | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| Gift Hill | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| Maho Bay Beach/Goat Path | 18.00 | 15.00 |
| Golf Course/Pastory | 11.00 | 8.00 |
| Hawknest Bay | 12.00 | 10.00 |
| Maho Bay Campground | 23.00 | 17.00 |
| Ms. Lucy’s | 38.00 | 23.00 |
| Oppenheimer | 12.00 | 10.00 |
| Salt Pond | 40.00 | 26.00 |
| Susannaberg (Clinic/Laundry) | 15.00 | 12.00 |
| Trunk Bay | 15.00 | 12.00 |
| Neptune Landing/Windmill To/From: | 1 PERSON | 2+/Per Person Same Group |
|---|---|---|
| Annaberg | 20.00 | 17.00 |
| Caneel Bay | 16.00 | 13.00 |
| Cinnamon Bay | 18.00 | 15.00 |
| Coral Bay | 18.00 | 11.00 |
| Cruz Bay | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Francis Bay | 20.00 | 17.00 |
| Gallows Point | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Goat Path/Maho Bay Beach | 20.00 | 17.00 |
| Hawksnest Beach | 16.00 | 13.00 |
| Jumbie Beach | 17.00 | 14.00 |
| Maho Bay Campground | 27.00 | 20.00 |
| Oppenheimer | 16.00 | 13.00 |
| Trunk Bay | 17.00 | 14.00 |
| Westin | 15.00 | 12.00 |
See you in December, for our 20 something visit. thanks for the update on this overdue and well deserved uptick for the amazing taxi drivers.
Is there a charge for children if they sit on your lap
Well, a fare jump from $20 to $25 is a 25% increase —- not 3%.
The previous rate to/from the Westin to Cruz bay for a group was $5 now $7 – that is not a 3% increase that is a 40% increase and is crazy !
I cannot believe what I am reading here. St John used to be a sweet little natural undeveloped Island. This is all too sad, the cost of living is outrageous…for the High Sidity rich n hardly famous.. I hear also rude current generation trashing the beaches. Island charm lost. The locals are beside themselves with the on going changes.
This news hear has just enabled me in making my final decision as not to Visit St John…..after 30 yrs as a resident….No thanks
No it’s a 50% increase after 17 years and we deserve every bit of it..
Does it bother you that the drivers overcharge, build in a tip and don’t charge the posted fares? According to the VI now webpage (updated to the Oct 24 increase), the rate for two or more in the same group from Red Hook to the airport is $17. It also says there is a flat rate of $3 per bag for luggage. So it should have cost you $20 per person yet your driver asked you for $50. Is that right?
https://www.vinow.com/stthomas/getting_around_stt/taxi_stt/
I understand a fare increase and don’t begrudge the drivers a living wage. It’s when I’m being grossly overcharged that I feel like I’m being ripped off. This isn’t a good way to arrive in the.
I would wish everyone complaining about the USVI increasing rates for the first time in years to go to any other island destination…. please….. and never come back.
We stopped using STT taxis for airport and hotel runs years ago after getting ripped off too many times. My husband would get so mad and argue with the cab drivers, who would just shrug and advert their eyes.
Horrible way to do business.
We give our money to a private drive now, since 2005.
We tried a private drive in 2021 and the driver never showed up for the return trip from Red Hook to STT. In February, we’ll go by taxi regardless of the rate increase.