St. John Travel Forum

Folks, I was researching a jeep rental and I ran into this strange policy from L & L Jeep Rental "Keep your jeep tops on at all times, removal of tops, $500.00 fine per day" What is up with that?? is it a policy for all rental companies there? wouldn't be better & cheaper to get a car with A/C if that is the case???

Also, has anyone used the Car Ferry between St Thomas and St John? how did that go.

Thanks a Bunch.

Yes, don't even try to remove the top. You will get in trouble.
Don't get a car in St. John if you plan to explore. There are some steep and curvy hills.

Check with the rental place. Ours did not allow us to ferry it.

i know this is on old string, but i must add my two cents: we rented from Dilbert's (winter 2005), and they didn't give two poops about the top, we had it down the whole time and waved hello as we passed them. also, don't listen to that garbage about not renting a car, the switchbacks are pretty tight but if a bus can handle it, you can handle it, and a cab all the way to the east end or the southeast beaches is probably real expensive, PLUS cruising those roads top down with the sun beating, "iron lion zion" on our speakers and the caribbean stretched out below is one of my fondest memories of st johns.

I'm glad to hear about Dilberts not giving a hoot. We rented from Conrad Sutton and got a great deal pricewise on a Suzuki Vitara. We went out to the far eastern end and stayed in a rental cottage right on the shore. When I called to extend our car rental the guy said "You've been running around with the side curtains off and the back window down out there and that's not allowed." I couldn't believe it!! His spies were reporting us!! I think their concerns are two-fold: It rains so unexpectedly that many times the interior of the car would get soaked if the thing wasn't buttoned up and 2) those tops are notoriously both flimsy and somewhat tricky for someone unfamiliar with these tops to take down and put up (although newer models aren't anywhere near the hassle of the old Jeep CJ's). So I guess he's trying to protect his investment. But really, what't the use of a car like that if not to enjoy the sunshine. The Vitara did have a tiny little part of the top that folded back easily and as long as it was down when it rained things were fine.

We too love to ride with the top down so Dilberts will be our rental agency of choice the next time we visit.

We've rented from L & L for 5 years and they are great, and very accommodating. We had some engine trouble once, and Kurt was there very quickly to exchange his brand new personal vehicle with us until the next day. It does rain unexpectedly, and the inside of the vehicle gets soaked, and when you find that it's rained, or is raining and close it up---well let's just say that's a pretty nasty smell. Salt water and a mildewy smell that smells for the world like a nasty wet dog. Pretty gross.
I've also heard it's an insurance issue. Plus you can't account for all the fools that get it off, can't/don't know how to get it on at the end of the week, and screw up or break something on the vehicle. We ride all week with the sides and back open and enjoy it immensely. My kids keep it closed up all week with the air conditioning, which we just don't get--you're on a tropical island. Anyway, at the end of the week, they seem to have less clean-up than we do, but unless it's really excess sand, I've never heard any comments about it.

It sounds like many of you have spent time on St. John -- has anyone reading this ever been fined $500 for riding with the top down, or know anyone who has? As messed up as it sounds, I'm willing to risk rolling the jeep and smashing my head in, but 500 bucks, well.....

I have a few other questions for those of you in the know: are the vehicles left or right-hand drive? Do they differ by rental company? Are there any rental companies you've heard bad things about and wouldn't recommend?

We're going on a honeymoon/graduation celebration at the end of the month, and, as much as possible, I'd like things to go well. Better than well, really, so any advice about the jeep rental situation would be very much appreciated.