It is possible to visit St. Barts and get along without a rental car. You can walk nearly everywhere, and because it's such a friendly island,  often people will offer you a ride. People of all ages hitch, but you may have more success if you're on the younger side.  It is safe, and a great way to make friends, but you do need to be careful in areas where there is more traffic and mopeds zipping around.

If you want to see more of the island at a quicker pace, renting a car is a good idea. You can also be generous (but careful) and offer walkers like little kids coming home from school, other tourists or the elderly a lift.

There are always cabs by the airport, and also in Gustavia by the harbour where the ferries come in. You can also get Taxis number's from your hotel and call for a taxi from where ever you are. Unlike some islands, the taxis pretty much work around the clock.

A Few Notes About Car Rentals

You can rent from Hertz, Budget or from an agency called Top Loc.  A Budget car can cost about $600 a week for an airconditioned 4 door; a medium sized car from AAA with Hertz can cost as little as $179 for a medium sized car. With Top Loc, you can spend about $500 for an eight day rental of a new airconditioned 4 door vehicle. As a good consumer, you should always do your due diligence - as the saying goes: you get what you pay for...