Getting Around

Air

There are lots of flights between St Croix and St Thomas. Seaborne Aviation (T7736442) has a daily service between Christiansted Harbour and Charlotte Amalie, nine times a day, arriving at the dock in 18 minutes, US$55 one way for non-VI residents.

Advertisement

• St Thomas: The Cyril E King (STT) airport; the taxi stand is at the far left end of the new terminal, a long way from the commuter flights from Puerto Rico and other islands.

Land

Car: Driving in Charlotte Amalie during business hours is a slow business. It is best to park and walk (municipal car park beside Fort Christian). Country speed limits are 35 mph, in towns they are 20 mph, although the traffic is so heavy you will be lucky if you can go that fast. On St John the speed limit is 20 mph everywhere. Driving is on the left, even though the cars are lefthand drive. There is a seatbelt law for the driver and front seat passenger that the police enforce with a vengeance (US$50 fine). Donkeys, goats, chickens & cows have the right of way.

• St Thomas: Car park - US$0.50 per hour, US$4 per day, east of Fort, access from Hospital Gade behind Zora Sandal Shop, facing Public Safety Building.

Car Hire: In St Thomas rental agencies include Budget (T7765774), Cowpet (7757376), Avis (7741468), Sun Island (7743333), Discount (7764858), VI Auto Rental (7763616, Sub Base); most have an office by the airport. Rates range from US$40 to US$80 per day, unlimited mileage, vehicles from small cars to jeeps. Honda scooters, from A1’s, T7742010, for example, range from US$25 to US$40 per day. Budget US$45 with 2nd day free and coupons for entry into local attractions.

• St John: Vehicles may be rented, but parking is very difficult and you may have to walk a long way from where you can leave your car. There are 3 service stations, open 0800-1900, in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay, may be closed on holidays. Rental agencies include: Hertz, T7766695; Delbert Hill’s Jeep Rental, T7766637; Budget, T7767575; Avis, T7766374; Cool Breeze, T7766588, St John Car Rental, T7766103; rates start from US$50 per day.
• St Thomas: All types of wheels are available and with rental firms are plentiful. About US$35 per day, or from Budget US$42 with 2nd day free and coupons for entry into local attractions. See below fort Taxi Information.
• St Croix: The major car rental agencies are represented at the airport, hotels and both cities. A four-wheel drive car (US$40-50 a day) is ideal to drive along the scenic roads, for example to Ham’s Bay or Point Udall. There is a distinct lack of road signs on St Croix, so if you use a car, take a good map. Rental agencies include Avis, at the airport, T7789355/9365. Budget at the airport, T7789636, or Christiansted (King Christian Hotel T7732285), also Hertz, T7781402, or Buccaneer Hotel, T7732100 Ext 737; Caribbean Jeep and Car Rental, 6 Hospital Street, Christiansted, T7734399; Green Cay Jeep and Car Rental, T7737227; Berton, one mile west of Christiansted, T7731516.

Taxi

• St Thomas: Taxi to town US$5 per person (US$5 for each additional passenger). There are public buses every 20 mins 0600-1900 from the terminal to the town, US$1. Boats come in to Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook in the east. Cabs are not metered but a list of fares is published in St Thomas This Week and What To Do; a fares list must be carried by each driver. Rates quoted are for one passenger and additional passengers are charged extra; drivers are notorious for trying to charge each passenger the single passenger rate. Airport to Red Hook is US$10 for one, US$6 each additional passenger, town to Magens Bay is US$6.50 for one, US$4 for extra person. When travelling on routes not covered by the official list, it is advisable to agree the fare in advance. There are extra charges between 2400 and 0600 and charges for luggage. A 2 hr taxi tour for 2 people costs US$30, additional passengers US$12 each. VI Taxi Association T7747457, Wheatley Taxi Service and Tours, T7751959. Gypsy cabs, unlicenced taxis, operate outside Charlotte Amalie; they are cheaper but if you use one make sure you agree fare and route before you get in.
• St John: Official taxi rates can be obtained from St John Police Department or by asking the taxi driver to show the official rate card (see page 537 for details). A 2-hr island tour costs US$30 for 1 or 2 passengers, or US$12 per person if there are 3 or more. Taxi from Cruz Bay to Trunk Bay, US$5; to Cinnamon Bay US$5.50. It is almost impossible to persuade a taxi to take you to Coral Bay, so hitchhike by waiting with everyone else at the intersection by the supermarket deli.
• St Croix: Taxis from the airport to Christiansted are US$5, to Frederiksted, US$4. A taxi dispatcher’s booth is at the airport exit. A taxi tour costs US$25 per person, less for groups; contact St Croix Taxi and Tours Association, Henry E Rholsen Airport, T7781088, PO Box 1106, Christiansted, F7786887; Combined Tours, T7722888. Taxi vans run between Christiansted and Frederiksted, US$1.50.

Bus

St Thomas: Vitran bus services (US$0.75 city fare, US$1 country fare, exact change) have 34 a/c buses that run from town to the university (passing near Yacht Haven Marina), to Four Winds Plaza and to Red Hook (past the hospital, K-Mart, Kost U Less), every hour. Hourly open-air taxi-buses charge US$3 for the trip from Red Hook to Market Square. All types of wheels are available and rental firms are plentiful.
St John: There are three main roads though government maps show more roads that are barely passable 4-wheel drive dirt tracks. The road from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay is only 7 miles but it takes about 40 mins to drive it. Long distance backpacking is not recommended as a way of getting around as the island is hot and hilly. You can always start walking and then catch a taxibus. Hitchhiking is easy. There are 2 Vitran buses, US$1 exact change only, from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay and Salt Pond about every hour. If one breaks down you have to wait for the next, a/c turned-off going up hill, turned on for descent.
St Croix: A bus service runs between the airport and Christiansted every 1½ hrs, change buses at La Reine terminal. Getting around A bus service runs between Christiansted and Frederiksted. The bus service runs between Christiansted and Frederiksted, 0530-2130 every 30 mins (every hour on Sun), US$1, timetable from airport or bus driver.

Sea

Ferries

St Thomas: A hydrofoil goes from Yacht Haven Marina, St Thomas, to Gallows Bay Dock, St Croix at 0715, 1445, return 0915, 1630, in winter (in summer 0715, 1515, return 0915, 1700) US$37 one way, US$70 return, T7767417. Ferry St Thomas-St John, 20 minutes from Red Hook (US$3 adult, US$1 child), 45 minutes from Charlotte Amalie (US$7 adult, US$3 child), Cruz Bay-Red Hook hourly, Cruz Bay-Charlotte Amalie seven a day. There are a number of ferry boats to various destinations, including one from Red Hook to nearby St John (every hour from 0800 to 2400 plus 0630 and 0730 Mon-Fri, takes 20 mins, US$3 each way). Charlotte Amalie to St John, US$7, 45 mins; there is also a ferry from downtown to Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Hotel and Morningstar beach, this ferry is free for hotel guests, US$3 each way, leaving every hour 0900-1700, 15 mins, a nice way to go to the beach. Dohm’s Water Taxi can meet you in the USVI and take you to the BVI, clearing customs as well, T7756501.

St John: To St Thomas: Hourly 0700 to 2200 and 2315 to Red Hook, every 2 hrs 0715 to 1315, 1545 and 1715 to Charlotte Amalie

Ads