Guidebook for St. Thomas

Renting a car is one of the top choices for getting around St. Thomas. There are car rental agencies located at St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport, just outside the airport, near the two cruise ship docks, and at some resorts. Rental car choices in St. Thomas generally include compact, full size, SUV, jeep, minvan, and truck.

Taxis in St. Thomas are abundant, well organized, and reliable. They are readily available at the airport, cruise ship docks, resorts, and at popular beaches and attractions. Licensed taxis are regulated by the VI Taxicab Commission. Taxi regulations include fixed rates per person, by destination.

The popularity of private and luxury cars in St. Thomas has increased in recent years as travellers seek to travel in comfort and style, have their needs met, and customize their experience. Luxury cars and limos are available for airport transfers, corporate transfers, tours, events and more. Accessible private car services are also available, including wheelchair/scooter rentals.

St. Thomas is a popular base for island hopping by ferry. Public ferry service in St. Thomas is timely and reliable. Within the US Virgin Islands, you can take a ferry between St. Thomas and St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix, and St. Thomas and Water Island. Ferry service from St. Thomas to the four main islands of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is usually available. Due to COVID related restrictions however, service is currently available only between St. Thomas and Tortola (BVI). Several resorts offer ferry service in St. Thomas. These include the private Westin ferry for resort guests t

Water taxis in St. Thomas are a popular choice for those seeking personal service, when the ferry schedules do not work with a traveler’s schedule, and when the destination is not accessible by ferry. Water taxi service is available from St. Thomas to St. John, and St. Thomas to the various islands of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Due to COVID travel restrictions, water taxi service between St. Thomas and the BVI is currently limited.

There is usually only one shop that rents scooters and motorcycles on St. Thomas at any given time. St. Thomas is not considered a bicycle friendly island due in part to its hilly nature and lack of bike lanes and bike trails. It is however possible to explore parts of the south side of St. Thomas by bicycle, primarily along the harbor front and around downtown Charlotte Amalie.

1. Day pack 2. First Aid Kit 3. Neck Wallet 4. Portable phone charger 5. Waterproof phone case 6. Underwater camera 7. Packing cubes 8. Travel Insurance for Virgin Islands 9. Bug Repellant 10. Beach Bag 11. Bikini Cover Up 12. Sun Rash Guard 13. Nice +Dinner Outfit 14. Walking Shoes 15. Virtual Private Network (VPN) 16. Quick Dry Travel Towel 17. Windproof Travel Umbrella

Caribbean and American, that is a description of culture in the United States Virgin Islands. You will find fast-food restaurants like Subway and McDonalds next to local restaurants serving pates and boiled fish. You will find large grocery stores selling everything from Campbells Soup to Sara-lee pound cakes. Around the corner from the grocery store will be a fisherman selling a fresh catch from his truck. On the radio you can hear calypso music, reggae, American pop, salsa, blues, oldies, rock and roll and many other genres. Florida oranges and strawberries are sold as are kenips, mangos and

Fashions include jeans, t-shirts, jerseys, polo shirts and other Western style dress. Local sports enthusiast watch and play baseball, basketball and football. And CNN news is broadcasted daily and discussed just as often as local gossip. Together the American and Caribbean combination makes the United States Virgin Islands a unique and interesting place.

The population in the Virgin Islands is largely made up of Caribbean people whose ancestors were Africans and Europeans. You will find people from all across the Caribbean living in the Virgin Islands as well as Americans from the mainland, Europeans and Hispanics.

English is the main language in the USVI and the majority of the population speak, write and read English only. Some residents speak quickly and with an accent making it difficult to understand. Emigrants from other islands have brought other languages to the Virgin Islands therefore it is not uncommon to hear Spanish, French-Patois and Creole.

Virgin Islanders are religious people. Popular religions include Baptist and Catholic. Superstitions and storytelling are very common. There are often stories about jumbies (spirits) that walk around in homes, on the street and anywhere the person telling the story wants them to be. Jumbie stories are a Caribbean tradition and are often used as cautionary tales for children. Bru Nansi, a spidery-man who prevails in the most adverse circumstance, is a popular story character.

Mocko Jumbies - colorfully costumed stilt dancers Quelbe - style of music and dance Kenips - fruit; green outer shell and fleshy edible meat

1. Saint Thomas Beaches 2. Zipling 3. Take in the Views 4. Swim with Turtles 5. Kayak in Mangroove Lagoon Day Trip Options 1. St John 2. British Virgin Islands 3 Water Island 4. Lovango Beach Club