The taxi service is the best alternative option for getting around the island, and always use a taxi with traffic lights and license plates from the British Virgin Islands. Cell phone service: Each cell phone provider has its own service policy in the U.S. UU. A big part of planning a vacation in St.
Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is figuring out how to get around. From taking a taxi, going from island to island by ferry or using affordable public transportation, these are the best ways to get around St. Renting a car is one of the best options for getting around St.
There are car rental agencies located in St. King Airport, just outside the airport, close to the two cruise docks and in some resorts. Thomas generally includes full-size compact vehicles, SUVs, jeeps, minivans, and trucks. Thomas are plentiful, well-organized, and reliable.
They are easily available at the airport, cruise ship docks, resorts, and at popular beaches and attractions. Authorized taxis are regulated by the VI Taxi Commission. Taxi rules include fixed rates per person, per destination. Thomas private cars (26% luxury accessible) St.
Thomas is a popular base for going from island to island by ferry. Within the U.S. Virgin Islands, you can take a ferry between St. Usually, Thomas to the four main islands of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is available.
However, due to COVID related restrictions, the service is currently only available between St. The barge carries vehicles along with the passengers of the vehicle. A number of resorts offer ferry service in St. These include the Westin private ferry for resort guests traveling between St.
Thomas and the Westin Resort, St. The Lovango Resort & Beach Club operates a ferry between St. Thomas and the island of Leuven for use by their resort customers, restaurants and beach clubs. Thomas offers a ferry between his Frenchman's Cove Resort and the islands' main port city, Charlotte Amalie.
Thomas Ferry schedules and fares: water taxis in St. The Thomas are a popular choice for those looking for personalized service, when ferry schedules don't fit the traveler's schedule and when the destination cannot be accessed by ferry. Water taxi service is available from 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 British Virgin Islands are currently limited. The best way to get from island to island from St. Thomas to the neighboring islands and cays, according to his own schedule, is to rent a boat with the captain.
The captain will help you plan the itinerary, experiences and destinations. Options include motorboats, sailboats and catamarans. The most popular options are half-day and full-day tours from St. If one day isn't enough, consider taking an overnight trip or renting a yacht.
Thomas by Boat Travelers can fly to St. Croix, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations from St. Taking a helicopter is one option to get there from St. John, who has no airport, and to travel to some of the neighboring small islands and cays.
Planes, seaplanes and helicopters are available in St. Thomas by Air Three things to keep in mind: VITRAN does not cover the entire region of St. Thomas Island, so check out the routes to see if it might work for you. Second, VITRAN has a reputation for being late, so leave extra time or use another transportation option if you have a tight schedule.
Third, a VITRAN Plus service is available for passengers with disabilities. Documentation is required to demonstrate that the passenger meets the ADA paratransit requirements in the state or jurisdiction in which they reside, along with completing an application (which must be made prior to arrival on the island). Drivers who travel with a Thomas dollar use safari buses, many regular taxis also use them. Safaris are trucks, the truck platform is equipped with a cover and there are bench-type seats for passengers.
The sides are open air and there are no seat belts. Since many regular taxi drivers use their safari buses to operate as licensed taxis, and the trip in dollars is done by taxis from the same safari buses, it can be confusing to differentiate them. The best tip is that if you stop at or near a bus stop, it's probably a dollar trip. The most important thing to remember is that a regular taxi and a one-dollar ride don't have the same fare.
Ask other people waiting at the bus stop for help. If there are no other passengers to ask, ask the driver if they cost a dollar before boarding. Also ask where you're going, to make sure you're going the way you want to go. One-dollar vehicles don't have destination signs or route numbers like public buses do.
There is usually only one store that rents scooters and motorcycles in St. Thomas is not considered a bicycle-friendly island due in part to its mountainous nature and lack of bike lanes and trails. However, it is possible to explore parts of the south side of St. Thomas by bike, mainly along the harbor coast and through downtown Charlotte Amalie.
Thomas has not designed, in recent decades, around pedestrians. There are some sidewalks, but not enough yet, there is currently only one official hiking route, there are still no priority spaces for pedestrians and vehicles are currently allowed everywhere where there is a public road. Thomas, as your main option for getting around, ranks low among the options available. That said, there is some hope, especially in the main city of Charlotte Amalie.
The historic main town of Charlotte Amalie and neighboring Frenchtown can be explored on foot. In addition, the Charlotte Amalie Harbor Boardwalk has recently been expanded. The Veterans Drive improvement project, a major road initiative that is still under way, includes the new expanded walkway with the promise of natural and cultural improvements for pedestrians. John doesn't have an airport; passengers usually land first at St.
Thomas, then take the 20-minute ferry ride to St. The ferry service is a vital link in the Virgin Islands and a wonderful and peaceful way to see these beautiful islands from the water. Virgin Islands, public ferries between St. John (private water taxis also operate on this route) runs regular schedules throughout the day.
Launch services connect Red Hook, on the east end of St. Thomas, with Charlotte Amalie at St. Thomas and Cruz Bay in St. John (not to mention Tortola and Virgin Gorda).
At press time, there was no regular ferry between St. Croix (although plans for a high-speed ferry service between the islands were underway at press time). Ferries are also a vital link between the U.S. Virgins and B, V, I.
and public inter-island ferries are generally a cheaper alternative to flying between the U.S. Ferries depart from both ferry terminals in St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook) to the West End or Road Town in Tortola, a 45- to 55-minute drive. In the B, V, I.
Please note that on some of the more remote islands, boat service may only be once a week. Many private island resorts, such as Peter Island, offer speedboats from Tortola or St. The Virgin Islands are located in Charlotte Amalie, in St. Thomas, and at Christiansted, in St.
Croix (in Frederiksted, you can usually park on the street). Most hotels, except those in the congested downtown Charlotte Amalie, have free parking. Thomas has many service stations, especially on the outskirts of Charlotte Amalie and at strategic points in the north and in the more congested East End. Croix, most of the gas stations are in Christiansted, but there are also some along the main roads and in Frederiksted.
John, be sure to fill up your tank in Cruz Bay before you head out to tour the island. Gas stations aren't as plentiful in the British Virgin Islands. Road Town, the capital of Tortola, has the most gas stations; fill up here before touring the island. Virgin Gorda has a limited but sufficient number of gas stations.
Chances are you won't use a car in the other smaller British Virgin Islands. Taxes are already included in the printed price. A gallon equals 3.8 liters or. FAULTS: All major islands, including St.
. Always call the rental company first if you have a breakdown. If your car requires extensive repairs due to mechanical failure, a new one will be sent to replace it. Taxis are the main mode of transportation in all of the Virgin Islands.
Thomas, taxi vans carry up to a dozen passengers to various destinations; smaller private taxis are also available. You'll find plenty of taxis when you arrive at the airport. John, both private taxis and vans for three or more passengers are available. Croix, taxis congregate at the airport, in Christiansted and Frederiksted, where cruise ships arrive.
Across the islands, you'll see more and more outdoor safari buses (more like refurbished platform trucks) with a capacity of 30 passengers, which taxi drivers primarily use to transport groups (e.g. cruise passengers) on island tours and excursions. Increasingly, these safari buses are also used as pick-up and delivery taxis. In the U.S.
U.S., U.S. In the U.S., local government sets standard taxi fares per person (look for a full list of fares in St. Thomas (airport) or in free local magazines (such as “This Week”), but it's always good to confirm the fare before the trip starts. In the British Virgin Islands, taxis are easily available and, on some of the smaller islands, they are usually the best way to get around.
The service is available in Tortola, Virgen Gorda and Anegada, and the rates are set by the local government. The only islands with a recommended bus service are St. Thomas, buses depart from Charlotte Amalie and surround the island; in St. Croix, there are air-conditioned buses that go from Christiansted to Frederiksted.
Bus service elsewhere is very erratic; it is mainly used by locals who come and go to work. Thomas is definitely your best option. You don't have to rely on taxis, buses or legs to get around, so you can explore and play as you please. But if the thought of driving on the left causes you a panic attack, or if your budget isn't enough to cover a car rental, you can still enjoy a full and exciting vacation in St.
Thomas without really getting behind the wheel. Thomas is full of taxis, both official and unofficial. There are unofficial taxis (gypsy taxis) outside most grocery stores, the mall and the two Kmarts. Gypsy taxis are not licensed and therefore run the risk of being taken advantage of without any resources.
Unless you can't catch an official taxi instead (unlikely), leave the gypsy taxis for locals to use. In areas with less traffic, as long as you have mobile phone service, you can call any number of taxi companies and they will take care of picking you up at your place. However, keep in mind that if you want to stay in a remote neighborhood or in a villa on a very difficult road, be prepared to wait, as you might have difficulty getting a taxi to go there, in which case you will definitely need to rent a vehicle during your stay. We don't recommend exploring the back streets of downtown Charlotte Amalie (or any other neighborhood) at night.
If the area doesn't seem tourist-friendly, it probably isn't, and you'd be better off going back to the main roads. To get from any of these areas to the beach or to a restaurant on the north side, you'll need to use a combination of taxis and the one-dollar safari bus. These are Avis, Budget and Hertz. There are also some locally owned companies that some regular VI visitors prefer to do business with.
One of them will pick you up at the airport and take you to your nearby office to complete the paperwork and hand you the rental wheels. Some people prefer this so they don't have to stand in line at the airport. It is very important to note that, since the storms, some rental agencies have not reopened. Be sure to call ahead to confirm that the company is open and also to confirm the availability of your selection.
If you're tempted to rent a sports car, you can do so in St. Thomas, as long as you don't stay anywhere with access only by a steep hill or an unfinished road. You should stay on the main roads with a sports car and be very careful about speed bumps, unless hitting rock bottom once or twice a day is your idea of having a good time. Scooters can be rented in St.
Depending on how light you like to travel, this can be practical and fun for you. If you decide to rent a motorbike, be careful. The dollar ride is a popular option among island residents who rely on public transportation or prefer to use it. Alternatively, you can take the passenger ferry and take an outdoor taxi to any of the popular spots on the island.
Thomas is a fairly large island and, aside from the major city areas of Charlotte, Amalie, Havensight and Red Hook, there is a significant lack of sidewalk space. Thomas) and Tortola (Road Town); Charlotte Amalie and Virgin Gorda; Tortola (Road Town and Beef Island) and Virgin Gorda. If you really don't feel comfortable driving, I recommend that you stay at one of the best beaches in the area, such as Sapphire Bay or Secret Harbor, and hire a driver to take you around the island for at least a day. The lack of road signs in most parts of the island makes navigation difficult, so make sure you have a working GPS, maps without an Internet connection, or directions based on landmarks and mileage, rather than street names.
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