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My recent stay at Universal Orlando Resort was so much fun and I’m going to share and highlight my favorite moments with you. First and foremost, I stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort on the property which allowed me early access (one hour) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. It was my first time experiencing Diagon Alley™. I took advantage of the complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and was able to … [Read More...]

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Why renting a car transformed my St. Croix holiday

I arrived in St. Croix expecting to rely on taxis, resort transfers and the occasional organised tour. That plan seemed reasonable at first. I was staying somewhere comfortable, and I assumed the main attractions would be close enough to reach without much planning. Once I started looking at the island properly, however, I realised that St. Croix’s beaches, historic towns, viewpoints and food spots are spread across a surprisingly large area.

Hiring a car changed the rhythm of my trip. Instead of arranging every outing around someone else’s timetable, I could follow the coastline, stop for a swim, linger over lunch and make an unplanned detour. For an Australian traveller used to driving between suburbs, regional towns or coastal destinations, the freedom felt familiar, although St. Croix brought its own road rules and practical considerations.

The island is larger than it first appears

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and its size is easy to underestimate when viewing it on a resort map. Christiansted and Frederiksted are separated by a considerable drive, while beaches, plantations, snorkelling areas and restaurants sit in different directions from both towns. A taxi worked for a single transfer, but it was less convenient for a day involving several stops.

I wanted to see more than the area immediately around my accommodation. A rental car made it realistic to visit Christiansted in the morning, explore a beach on the north coast, and reach Frederiksted for an afternoon walk. Without a vehicle, that itinerary would have required multiple taxi bookings, careful timing and a much higher transport budget.

That flexibility reminded me of travelling between Sydney’s eastern suburbs and the Northern Beaches, where one short-looking journey can become a full part of the day. St. Croix has fewer major roads and less traffic than Sydney or Melbourne, yet the distances still matter when public transport is limited and temperatures make long waits uncomfortable.

Taxis were useful, but they could not shape my days

Taxis remain practical for airport transfers, evenings out and occasions when I wanted to enjoy a cocktail without driving. I also found them useful for the first journey from the airport, because I could settle in before dealing with an unfamiliar vehicle and local roads. For a fixed point-to-point trip, this arrangement was straightforward.

The difficulty came when I wanted to explore spontaneously. I did not want to negotiate a new fare every time I saw a scenic pull-off or decide whether a driver would wait while I went swimming. Tours offered structure, but they usually followed a set route and schedule. My holiday became much more enjoyable once I could leave when I wanted and return when I was ready.

This was different from the way I might spend a weekend in central Melbourne, where trams and trains make it easy to move between restaurants, galleries and shopping areas. St. Croix rewards a more independent approach. A car turns separate attractions into one relaxed island day rather than a series of isolated bookings.

Driving in St. Croix required a short adjustment

The most important detail is that people drive on the left side of the road in the U.S. Virgin Islands, even though most vehicles are left-hand-drive American cars. That combination felt unusual at first. I slowed down, concentrated at intersections and gave myself extra time before making turns. The experience was manageable, but it was not something I wanted to treat casually.

Road surfaces varied, and some routes were narrow, hilly or less familiar than the main roads around Christiansted. I avoided rushing and drove during daylight while I became comfortable with the car. Australians are accustomed to left-side driving, which gave me a useful advantage, but the vehicle layout, road markings and local driving habits still required attention.

Before collecting the car, I checked the rental company’s insurance conditions, fuel policy and requirements for my Australian licence. Travellers should also confirm whether an international driving permit is recommended for their circumstances, since rules and rental-company policies can differ. I compared the excess carefully, just as I would when hiring a car in Queensland or Western Australia, where an attractive daily rate can change once cover and fees are added.

Transport choice What worked well Where it fell short
Rental car Freedom, beach access and easy day trips Insurance, fuel and left-hand-drive layout
Taxi Convenient airport and evening transfers Costly for several stops or long waits
Organised tour Local guidance and a fixed itinerary Less spontaneity and limited time at each stop
Resort shuttle Simple for selected properties or activities Restricted routes and departure times

The car opened up better beach and food days

My favourite change was being able to choose a beach according to my mood rather than according to transport availability. I could pack water, towels and snacks, drive to the coast and move on when the conditions changed. A quiet morning by the water could be followed by a casual lunch without arranging another ride.

The same freedom improved my dining experiences. I could seek out a restaurant beyond the resort area, visit a roadside food stop and still return without watching the clock. Local cooking became part of the journey instead of something limited to venues within walking distance. I appreciated having space in the boot for groceries, beach gear and a few purchases from local shops.

That independence contrasted with my experience in destinations where I have planned each meal around trains or hotel transfers. In Australia, even a suburban food outing often involves checking parking restrictions, navigating toll roads or deciding whether to use a rideshare. St. Croix had fewer urban parking pressures, although I still avoided leaving valuables visible and paid attention to where I left the vehicle.

A rental car made spontaneous exploring possible

Some of the best moments were the stops I had not planned in advance. I could pull over for a coastal view, take a slower road and spend extra time in Christiansted when the streets felt lively. Those small decisions gave the trip a personal quality that a tightly scheduled tour could not provide.

I had previously experienced a different kind of island independence during my St. Thomas scooter experience, but St. Croix felt better suited to a proper car. The longer distances, warm weather and amount of equipment I carried made four wheels more comfortable. A car also gave me greater protection from sudden rain and a secure place for beach supplies between stops.

Navigation was straightforward with a phone, although I downloaded directions before setting out and kept a charger in the vehicle. Mobile coverage can vary, and relying entirely on live navigation is risky anywhere. That preparation is familiar to Australians who drive through regional parts of New South Wales or remote stretches of South Australia, where a paper or offline backup still has value.

The extra cost felt worthwhile for my itinerary

The rental added expenses for the daily rate, insurance, fuel and possible taxes, so it was not automatically the cheapest choice. For someone staying in one resort, booking a couple of tours and travelling mostly by taxi, the calculation may come out differently. I worked out the likely cost of several taxi journeys before booking and found that the car offered better value for the amount of exploring I wanted.

Fuel prices and exchange rates also affected the budget. I monitored spending in U.S. dollars rather than mentally converting every purchase into Australian dollars, then reviewed the total later. That approach was less stressful than constantly comparing prices with petrol in Brisbane or Adelaide, where local fuel cycles and supermarket discounts can influence when people fill up.

The car also saved time, which mattered as much as the money. I did not spend holiday hours waiting for transport or returning to the resort between activities. By the end of the trip, renting a car felt less like an optional convenience and more like the feature that allowed St. Croix to become a complete destination rather than a resort base with occasional excursions.