Getting ready to leave next week for WSJ. I decided to rent a car for most of the trip. What portion of St John is driveable without 4 wheel drive? Just Cruz Bay? Also, I was contemplating ordering from the grocery villa delivery, but wanted to know if those that had used it thougt it was worth it? I know that there are stores in town, so is it best just to wait until the next morning and go grocery shopping then? Or should we order the bare minimum from the villa delivery and supplement at the grocery store? I read that grocery prices are 20-25% higher in the Virgin Islands, but the Westin website says they are 2-3 times higher (200-300%?!?) higher. I don't know who to believe.
My opinion... if you are going to rent a car why pre-order groceries? True also if you do not rent a car. You can actually walk to StJ Market (open late) next to the resort - and StarFish Market is also very close (we go to both for different things depending on stock).
Make sure you look at expiration dates for perishable items.
If you rent a car on StJ - I am not sure you even get a choice of whether or not you get a non-4WD. I am not sure if I have ever seen a rental company on StJ that had non-4WD vehicles, but perhaps so?
You can get a regular car on StT and take the car barge - but again I would still rent a 4WD. Is your reasoning trying to save a few dollars? If so, you may want to consider the risk versus the savings. We rent a 4WD on StT and take the car barge over - this works well for us. After 6 years of visiting StJ (and being a good driver and know most of the roads on StJ) - I still rent a 4WD - it is just safer overall - especially when it rains as it will most assurredly happen. Also realize that the drive on the left with cars that have the driver side on the left (American style cars) - this mean that while you go around a corner - the driver is on the outside part of the lane. Many have a hard time with this - and can be harrowing at times as the roads are narrow. I have a rule of no screaming (e.g. 'watch-out!') for my passengers - the only thing they are allowed to comment is to remind me to 'Stay Left' - especially when taking off from a parking lot.
Most of StJ is driveable (on pavement) w/o a 4WD - I think the only place you could not get to is Lameshur Bay area as it has a bumpy dirt road. However, I would recommend that a StJ visitor get a 4WD (esp a newbie)because when it rains the road can get very slippery - especially as you go from bay to bay on the northside (steep with sharp turns) - not sure why you would want to risk hitting something while on vacation. Even with a 4WD - make sure the tires are good and the brakes work well.
I have YouTube videos (blujahz) of driving on Gifft Rd (that is behind the Westin and takes you up/down from Centerline that I would be afraid to drive w/o 4WD) - there is no need to take this road as you can go around thru town, and the Road to Lameshur Bay on the other side of the island (beyond Salt Pond).
Have a great trip.
Added - the liquor at the duty free at STT is not cheaper than the liquor at the StarFish Liquor store next to the StarFish market - if it is - it isn't by very much that would make it worth it carrying (it is hot/humid) - also becareful with buying perishables for the trip over as they will be warm/hot by the time you get to your villa. I am not sure if it is worth buying anything in StT to save a few $s - we have tried this and it seems like a waste compared to the effort.
It also depends on what you buy - I always have to remind the shoppers to watch out what they are purchasing after someone bought 2 can of olives for $10 each (ouch!). But in reality - they are more expensive, but no incredibly so for most items. We used to bring a lot of stuff with us (frozen beef and chicken) - but this has changed over the years - especially after the StJ Market went in. You will be disappointed with most fruits and veggies - and some of these prices are crazy.
There is a thread somewhere that lists the things we bring - we fill our check-in bags to exactly 50# each - I have a hand-held scale that comes in very handy for trips to StJ and to HI (especially after they made me repack our bags at the LIH check-in counter for 1 bag being over by 2#).
Oh yeah... one thing we find extremely handy to bring is a Brita water filter as we go thru a lot of water and it seriously adds up. We also bring our own coffee (Peets - as we are coffee snobs)
My middle school child had a hard time making up for lost time this past December and didn't want to miss a week of 7th grade next year. It's tough when the 11 year old is the responsible one in the family!