Flat per-person fares make the Airport Shared Taxi Stand easy
Right outside Terminal 1 arrivals at V. C. Bird International Airport, the Airport Shared Taxi Stand lines up minibuses and cars that leave once enough seats fill. Look for the official taxi desk and sign as you exit customs; staff direct you to the shared taxis instead of private cabs if you ask.
Shared taxis here run on fixed, government-approved per-person fares to main areas like St. John’s, Dickenson Bay, Runaway Bay, and English Harbour. Expect rates posted in Eastern Caribbean dollars, usually with a US$ equivalent listed at the stand so you don’t have to guess the conversion.
Services typically follow flight banks, with the stand active from the first morning arrivals around 7:00–8:00 until the last incoming flights at night. If you land on a late inbound, ask the dispatcher at Terminal 1 before exiting the building to confirm the shared option is still running for your route.
Shared taxis wait until they have enough riders heading in roughly the same direction, so your car might stop at 2–4 hotels or guesthouses along the way. Travel time from ANU to central St. John’s runs about 15–20 minutes; to Dickenson Bay or Runaway Bay, budget closer to 20–25 minutes with extra drop-offs.
Payment is usually in cash, with EC$ preferred and US dollars widely accepted; drivers often round to simple amounts like US$8–15 per person to common resort areas. Ask the dispatcher for the exact fare before getting in, and confirm the price again with the driver at the Taxi Stand just outside Terminal 1.
Step-by-step: how to use the Airport Shared Taxi Stand
- 1. Clear immigration and customs in Terminal 1 and exit into the public arrivals area.
- 2. Follow the “Taxi” signs outside; look for the official taxi dispatch booth near the curb.
- 3. Tell the dispatcher your hotel or area (for example, Dickenson Bay or English Harbour); ask for the shared taxi per-person fare in EC$ or US$.
- 4. Wait at the spot they point out while they group you with others going the same direction.
- 5. When the driver calls your destination, load bags into the trunk and confirm the fare one more time before sitting down.
- 6. Pay in cash near the end of the ride; keep small bills like EC$10–20 or US$5–10 to avoid change issues.
- 7. At drop-off, double-check you have all bags before the taxi moves on to the next stop.
One tip: if you land with a group of 3–4 and the shared taxi price per person seems close to a private taxi quote from the same stand, ask the dispatcher for both numbers and pick whichever gets you to your hotel faster.