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General
Information
St. Thomas combines the natural
beauty of the islands with a cosmopolitan
atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie,
the capital of the U.S. Virgin
Islands, is one of  the
most beautiful harbors in the
world and the most visited port
in the Caribbean. Elegant dining,
exciting nightlife, and world-class
duty-free shopping are abundant
in Charlotte Amalie. The city's
reputation as the shopping mecca
of the Caribbean draws visitors
from all over the region and around
the world.
A mountainous island, St. Thomas
offers stunning vistas in almost
every direction. While Charlotte
Amalie is full of energy, St.
Thomas also provides natural wonders
such as the indescribably beautiful
Magens Bay and stunning views
of the Caribbean from 1,500 feet
above sea level. Drake's Seat
is particularly famous for its
vistas.
 St. John, the
smallest of the three U.S. Virgin
Islands, retains a tranquil, unspoiled
beauty uncommon in the Caribbean
or anywhere else in the world.
Settled in the early 1700s by
Danish immigrants attracted to
the island's potential as a sugar
cane-producing colony, St. John
soon blossomed into a thriving
society. The ruins of the Annaberg
Sugar Plantation and other smaller
plantations on the island attest
to the island's agricultural history.
Today, two-thirds of St. John
is part of the Virgin Islands
National Park, featuring fascinating
trails, secluded coves, and dazzling
white beaches. The Reef Bay Trail
takes hikers through dense forests,
plantation ruins, and rock outcroppings
marked by well-preserved petroglyphs.
Trunk Bay, Hawksnest Bay, Cinnamon
Bay, and Maho Bay are just four
of the dozens of beaches. Cruz
Bay, the center of activity on
St. John, contains colorful shops,
lively bars, and fabulous restaurants.
St. Croix's rich culture
and history, along with its beautiful
beaches and world-class recreational
activities, create an experience
unlike any other in the Caribbean.
Since the day Christopher Columbus
first arrived at Salt River on
St.Croix more than 500 years ago,
sugar and rum have shaped the
island's life and land. Fifty-four
sugar mills, each with imposing
windmill towers and factory chimneys,
still rest in the shadows of stately
eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century
homes. Located on the west end
of the island, Estate Whim Plantation
is just one example of these "greathouses."
With acres of rolling green hills,
St.Croix's plantation estates
also bore crops of okra, cabbage,
corn, and other vegetables still
prominent in Caribbean cuisine.
As the sugar industry declined
after the 1960s, tourism became
the most important industry on
the island.
 Christiansted and Frederiksted,
the two main towns of St. Croix,
flourished as commercial ports
during the eighteenth century
and nineteenth century. Distinct
architecture reflects the seven
flags--Spanish, Dutch, British,
French, Knights of Malta, Danish,
and American -- that have flown
over the island. Today, visitors
to St. Croix can enjoy a number
of indoor and outdoor activities,
from fine dining, shopping, and
a casino, to golf, scuba diving,
and horsback riding.
St. Thomas offers plenty of shallow
reef sites teeming with colorful
tropicals and tons of soft corals.
Sites such as Cow and Calf Rocks
provide caves, caverns and swimthroughs,
while Sail Rock has fast current
thrills and the chance to see
large critters.
Diving St. John is quite similar
to St. Thomas. Lots of dives with
extended bottom times. Check out
the Major General Rogers, a Coast
Guard tender ship, intentionally
sunk in just 65' of water as an
artificial reef. You will be amazed
at the swarms of schooling fish
and large barracuda patrol the
wreck on a regular basis.
What so different about diving
St. Croix? Walls! Sites such as
Cane Bay Drop-Off provide walls
starting in as little as 40'.
Along the crest of the walls,
hard and soft corals are found
in abundance. St. Croix also offers
a great selection of wreck and
shallow reef dives.
Getting
There
The U.S. Virgin Islands have daily,
non-stop flights from New York,
Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, and
Miami. Connecting  flights
are availabe to and from Chicago,
Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Miami,
and Atlanta via the San Juan hub.
In addition, there's connecting
service from Canada, Europe, South
America, and the Far East. Commuter
service between San Juan and St.
Croix and St. Thomas is also available.
These airlines offer service from
the U.S. mainland to the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
American
Airlines
Continental
Airlines
Delta
Airlines
United
Airlines
U.S.
Airways
Inter Island Travel
Travel between the U.S. Virgin Islands
is simple and convenient. St. Thomas
to St. John is just 20 minutes from
by ferry (and 75 minutes to St.
Croix (seasonal - November to May).
There is also daily direct service
between St. Croix and St. Thomas
by small plane. The trip takes about
25 minutes. Helicopter service also
connects the islands. Don't limit
your choices, because you can easily
include all three islands in your
visit.
Ferry Service - V.I.
Fast Ferry
The following companies provide
service between St. Thomas and St.
Croix, and
San Juan and St. Thomas / St. Croix:
Air
St. Thomas
Air
Sunshine
American
Eagle
Bohlke
International Airways
Cape
Air
Leeward
Island Air Transport (LIAT)
Seaborne
Airlines, Inc.
Entry Requirements
Passports for U.S. Citizens are
not required for the U.S. Virgin
Islands, but you must be prepared
to show evidence of citizenship
upon leaving (such as a birth certificate
and photo ID). Citizens of countries
other than the U.S. should follow
U.S. travel regulations. Travel
outside the U.S. Virgin Islands
requires valid passport. Health
certificates are not required if
you're entering from the U.S. or
Puerto Rico; citizens entering from
other countries should follow the
same guidelines as for the mainland
U.S.
Travel
Tips
Getting Around
Driving
Any U.S. driver's license is good
for 90 days on the USVI, and while
the minimum age for drivers is 18,
many agencies won't rent to anyone
under the age of 25. Driving is
on the left-hand side of the road,
even though the steering wheel will
be on the left-hand side of the
car. In addition, the law requires
everyone in the car to wear seat
belts. Many of the roads are narrow,
and the islands are dotted with
hills, so there's ample reason to
put safety first. A variety of automobiles
are for rent, from sporty four-wheel
drives to air-conditioned sedans.
Mileage is unlimited, you pay for
gas.
St.
Thomas
Taxis are common throughout St.
Thomas. Buses run regularly between
Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook (on
the eastside of the island) and
Charlotte Amalie and Bordeaux (to
the west). For more information,
call the VITRAN office at 774-5678.
Charlotte Amalie also offers city
buses for local transport and to
and from the airport.
Most major car rental companies
and several local rental companies
rent automobiles on St. Thomas,
offering everything from four-wheel-drive
jeeps to luxury sedans and minivans.
Most major roads are well-maintained
asphalt.
St. Croix
Buses run regularly between Christiansted
and Frederiksted from 5:30am to
9:30pm except Sunday. Service is
also available from both cities
to and from the airport. Exact change
is required. For more information,
call the VITRAN office at 773-1290,
ext. 2291.
Taxis are readily available on St.
Croix. In Christiansted, taxi stands
are located near the Government
House on King Street, and on Market
Square. Frederiksted's taxi stand
is next to Fort Frederik.
Most major rental companies and
several local rental companies rent
automobiles on St. Croix, offering
everything from four-wheel drive
Jeeps to luxury sedans and minivans.
Parking can be limited in Christiansted.
Most major roads are well-maintained
asphalt.
St. John
Taxis are available on St. John.
Visitors can take a two-hour tour
of the island by taxi for a set
fee. For more information, call
the Taxi Commission at 776-8294.
Buses run from Cruz Bay on the west
side of the island every hour on
the half hour to Coral Bay on the
east side of the island. Fares are
one dollar each way.
A limited number of auto rentals
are available in Cruz Bay.
Helpful
Information
- The
U.S. Virgin Islands are in the
Atlantic standard time zone, one
hour ahead of Eastern standard
time (during daylight savings
time only).
- Should
you rent a car, remember to obey
traffic laws wear your seat belt,
and dive on the left side of the
road!!
- English
is the official language.
- Currency
is the U.S. dollar. Traveler's
checks and all major credit cards
are honored.
- The
U.S. Postal Service provides mail
services for USVI.
- You
can direct-dial from the United
States Virgin Islands to the U.S.
mainland. The service connects
callers to Europe and South America.
- The
electrical current is the same
as in North America (standard
120 volt/60 cycle).
- Tipping
of 15 percent to 20 percent is
customary for good service. Some
hotels automatically add a service
charge.
- Bring
casual clothes for warm weather,
as the average temperature ranges
between 77F and 83F. Swimsuits
should not be worn around town.
Bring plenty of sunscreen and
use it!!
- Most
visitors drink the local tap water
with no harmful aftereffects.
Those with more delicate stomachs
might want to stick to bottled
water.
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