FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Do I need a PASSPORT or PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP?
A: According to The US Customs and Border Patrol of Homeland Security,
territories are a part of the United States. U.S. citizens returning
directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. and
do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following:
Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. If
the traveler also visited non-U.S. territories, (BVI) he/she is required to
present a passport.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/air_travel/faq_requirements/whti_faqs.xml
Although U.S. citizens are not required to present a passport upon departure
from the U.S. territories, travelers are encouraged to travel with a
passport or other proof of citizenship, as they will be asked questions
about citizenship and any goods they will be bringing to the U.S. mainland
upon their departure from U.S. territories.
Additionally, although not required to present a passport, travelers
departing the U.S. territories for the U.S. mainland are subject to customs
and agriculture restrictions. Travelers are entitled to a $1,200 duty-free
exemption, as long as they remained in the U.S. territories for 48 hours or
longer. After the $1,200 duty-free exemption, travelers will be required to
pay a flat rate of 1.5% on the next $1,000 worth of goods purchased.
CBP officers may also conduct baggage checks or ask additional questions
as
part of standard inspections of outbound passengers, to prevent any
non-native species of plants, pests or plant diseases, which may be present
in one of the islands from being introduced to the mainland. For example, a
pre-departure examination is performed on all passengers and cargo moving
from Hawaii to the mainland U.S. The purpose of this examination is to
prevent movement of fruit flies and fruit fly host material. These rules
also apply to Caribbean islands, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico. For more information on what agricultural goods can be brought
from U.S. territories and Hawaii, please visit the USDA Web site. ( USDA )
Are there ATM/Cash Machines?There are two ATM machines in Cruz Bay, at First Bank (near the Ferry Dock) and at Scotia Bank (near Starfish Market). There are other In-store ATM’s around the island, but are not always reliable.
Currency
The American dollar is used throughout the Virgin Islands, including St. John USVI.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at all major banks on the island.
What Time Zone is the Virgin Islands in?
St. John USVI lies within Atlantic Standard Time, four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. We do not have daylight savings time. In Summer we are on EST, in winter, we are 1 hour ahead of EST.
What about RENTING A CAR?See our "Services" page.
Driving
Cars drive on the left-hand side of the road on St. John, (opposite the US) but steering wheels are on the left (as in US).
What should I bring?First and foremost, an "Island Attitude!" Then bring along sunscreen, bathing suit, cover-ups (required in town); personal toiletries, medicine; sunglasses, camera and film. Pack light! St. John is a very casual island. Temperatures range from mid-80's during the day, to mid-70's at night. (Summer/Fall temperatures are a bit higher) See our helpful packing list.
Voltage
Outlets on St. John, USVI use the same voltage as the mainland US, 110 volts.
Will I be able to use my CELL PHONE? Is there INTERNET CONNECTIONS? Your rental home is equipped with a telephone line, restricted to local calls and outgoing long distance calls. You'll need to use a calling card or credit card to make outgoing long distance calls. (Phone cards are also available in many places on St. John). Cell phone coverage is hit or miss here, due to the hilly terrain of our island. Sprint and AT&T (Cingular) are our main carriers in the USVI. Many of our homes have Wireless DSL, and if this is an important preference, just let us know! There are many WiFi ‘hot spots” such as The Beach Bar and certain areas of Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay and Donkey Diner in Coral Bay. Places for quick Internet access include Connections in Cruz Bay ,Grotto Deli in Mongoose Junction, Quiet Mon Pub (although it’s not too quiet there normally ), and Connections East (by Skinny’s) in Coral Bay.
What about GROCERIES, RESTAURANTS, CATERING?St. John has many grocery stores which we have found to cover most of your needs. We provide certain incidentals in each villa, and we recommend making your shopping list before you arrive on St. John so you don’t forget that ever important spice or dressing. Starfish Market is the largest market, located in The Marketplace Shopping Center. (This is where the Drug Store and bakery Video rental store is as well). Other markets include Dolphin Market and Pine Peace in Cruz Bay, and Love City Mini Mart and Lilly’s in Coral Bay.
St John Restaurants:
Restaurants vary in price and selection, from casual to elegant, take out to fine dining. In each villa, there is a three-ring binder filled with menus for you to review. Choices range from inexpensive BBQ or burgers, to four star menus. All of our high-end restaurants encourage reservations in advance to assure your dining time. See link file this page.
Catering and Private Chefs;Private Chefs are popular and well received by St. John Villa guests who want a personal dining experience in the luxury of their vacation villa. Consider hiring a personal chef for a special birthday or Holiday experience; chefs are available for single dining experiences or to prepare and/or provide meals for your entire stay.
Can I have food DELIVERED before I get there?Villa Provisioning
You may wish to have certain food and drinks in your villa when you arrive. Your first day on St. John should be a relaxing time instead of running to at the grocery store. Both arrival provisioning and weekly grocery shopping can be arranged. Light snacks, cold drinks and a nice bottle of wine is a welcome sight after a long day of traveling. We wouldn't want you to miss that first morning sunrise without your cup of tea or coffee. and your first morning’s coffee upon wakening to sweeping views each of our villas offer our guests. See some of our favorite
provisioning and catering services and restaurants. See link file this page.
 |
Contact Information