Maurice Car Rental: Your Keys to St Barths, Delivered
Family-run island rental with 35+ years and 24/7 hand-holding
Why Go
Step off the tarmac at Gustaf III and your keys are basically waiting for you — Maurice's counter is right at the airport in St-Jean, so you're driving the ridge to your villa before your suitcase has time to sweat.
The Experience
Maurice is the local car-rental institution St Barths regulars quietly pass along to first-timers. Three-plus decades on the island mean owners Francis Questel and Nancy Jaunin know every hairpin between Gouverneur and Colombier, and their fleet is built for exactly that terrain — nimble Minis and Suzuki Jimnys for the switchbacks, open-top Mokes for sunset cruises, and a discreet luxury tier (Mini Cooper Cabrios, Range Rover Evoques) for guests skipping in off a superyacht. Pickup happens where you actually are: the airport if you're flying in, the Gustavia quay if you're stepping off the ferry from St Maarten, or your hotel's lobby if you'd rather not touch a shuttle. And because they answer the phone at 3 a.m. as reliably as at 3 p.m., a flat tire on a Corossol back-road becomes a 20-minute story instead of a ruined day.
What to Try
Ask for a Mini Moke or a small convertible — the island's roads are narrow, steep, and made for open-air driving; anything larger fights the switchbacks and the tiny Gustavia parking spots. If you're staying a full week or arriving in high season (Christmas–New Year, February), reserve months out and request delivery straight to your villa so you skip the airport queue entirely.
Insider Tip
The real Maurice trick isn't the pickup — it's the drop-off. Call the day you're leaving and they'll meet you at the airport curb, take the keys, and hand you your boarding time back. No return paperwork line, no fuel receipt scramble. Also: fill up at the Vitogaz station in Lorient before returning; the airport-adjacent pump runs consistently a few centimes higher.
The Practical Stuff
Main desk at Aéroport Gustaf III, St-Jean (open aligned with flight arrivals). Reservations: info@mauricecarrental.com or +590 590 27 73 22 (US line: 059 027 7322). 24/7 roadside assistance included. Drivers must be 21+ with a valid license held for 1+ year; credit card required for the deposit. Book 2–3 months ahead for winter high season, 3–4 weeks otherwise. Pay attention to insurance excess — the standard cover has a deductible worth asking about before signing.
Pair It With
- Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy / Rémy de Haenen Airport Guide — Maurice's main counter sits right at the terminal — the natural first (and last) stop of any St Barths trip.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — The Colombier hillside hideaway is only reachable via a steep, winding road; a nimble Maurice Mini or Jimny makes the drive genuinely fun instead of white-knuckle.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Studio is up in Gustavia with limited parking — a compact Maurice rental slots into the tight village spaces morning classes require.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Reaching St Barths' scattered dinner spots after dark means driving yourself; having a car on-call from Maurice beats hunting for the island's few taxis at 10 p.m.
