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Introduction
The US Virgin Islands (in English, Virgin Islands of the United States) is a territory of the United States located in the Lesser Antilles. It is made up of four islands south of the archipelago of the virgins and its nearby keys, while those of the north correspond to the British Virgin Islands. To the west is Puerto Rico and to the east, Eel Y Saba. It is an important tourist destination, receiving several cruises that travel the Caribbean, in addition to a recognized tax haven.
Understand
History
On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma, the strongest Atlantic storm on record, passed with winds of 321.87 km. per hour and caused significant damage to the islands of Saint John and Saint Thomas. On September 19, 2017, Hurricane Maria passed southwest of Saint Croix, causing damage to infrastructure and destroying the island's power grid. Before the disaster, the local government faced a financial crisis due to a debt of $ 2 billion and a structural budget deficit of $ 110 million. Hundreds of virgin islanders have migrated to the continental United States for a better life and better health care.
Weather
Tropical, tempered by trade winds from the east, with relatively low humidity, little seasonal variation in temperature; rainy season from May to November. It has experienced several hurricanes in recent years, as well as frequent and severe droughts and floods.
Geography
The terrain is mostly mountainous to rugged and mountainous with little level land. The highest point is Crown Mountain, at 474 m. There are occasional earthquakes.
The islands are an important location along the Anegada Passage, a key shipping route for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best deep-water natural harbors in the Caribbean.
History
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and one Danish. Sugar cane, produced by slave labor, boosted the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the United States bought the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
National holidays
Holidays include: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the USA), March 31 (1917); Emancipation Day, July 3 (1848)
Regions
Saint John
It is one of the three islands best known for its white beaches, a great diversity of animals from the under the sea for the greatest snokel, and a beautiful and exuberant vegetation with trails to enter the interior of the island and let yourself be carried away by the peace of the nature with its abundant silence, just feeling those small waves reaching the shore of the sand.Among its most well-known and endorsed by tourists resorts are Gallow Point Resort and the famous well-known Caneel Bay, both with private beaches to rest and dive .
Saint Croix
It is a place widely appreciated by people who love diving, thanks to its coral reefs, fish and sea turtles. Feel an atmosphere of Hollywood love being talked about in the lush tropical jungles that set the stage for tropical delight. Fall in love with the charm of its two historic cities, Christiansted and Frederiksted. One of its most luxurious hotels to stay in is The Buccaneer St Croix.
Saint Thomas
Home to the bustling capital of the US Virgin Islands, the most populous island.
To get
There are no border controls when arriving in the US Virgin Islands from any point of departure in the United States. Flights to the US come with the benefits of traveling within the country, including online check-in, to make traveling to the US easier than ever. Any ID accepted by TSA for domestic flights is sufficient for inbound travel to the US Virgin Islands. from Puerto Rico or the continental United States. The entry requirements for arrivals from outside the United States (primarily from the British Virgin Islands) are the same as for any point of origin other than the United States.
Travel to a US destination From the US I: US citizens must show proof of citizenship and photo ID; Non-US travelers must show a valid passport. The territory is a "free port" in a customs zone separate from the continental United States; This means that everyone going to the mainland must go through customs, even if there are no customs when arriving from the mainland.
While not required, a valid passport is recommended for US citizens to expedite their return. You will need to plan your purchases accordingly and allow a little extra time for your outbound flight.
In addition to citizens of the countries of Canada, Bermuda, and the Visa Waiver Program, the US Virgin Islands also allow citizens of the British Virgin Islands to enter visa-free.
By plane
Flights are to St. Croix or St. Thomas. St. John does not have an airport, but it is easily accessible via St. Thomas.
Many flights connect through San Juan, Puerto Rico, but direct flights from the continental US mean less hassle and less flight time.
Direct flights to St. Thomas can be found from Charlotte, Miami, New York-JFK and Philadelphia on American Airlines, Atlanta and JFK on Delta Air Lines, Ft. Lauderdale on Spirit Airlines and Newark, Houston, Washington-Dulles and Chicago-O 'Hare at United Airlines.
Direct flights to St. Croix can be found from Charlotte (seasonal) and Miami on American Airlines and Atlanta (twice weekly) on Delta Air Lines. St. Croix is also easily accessible from the mainland via St. Thomas by flying Cape Air (which flies between St. Thomas and St. Croix airports) or Seaborne Airlines (which flies seaplanes between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Christiansted, St. Croix).
Boat
Ferries operate between the three US Virgin Islands, as well as to and from the British Virgin Islands and, depending on the season, Puerto Rico. Please note, when returning to the US Virgin Islands from the British Virgin Islands, everyone, including US citizens, must carry a valid passport and clear inspection by Customs and US Border Protection Especially when traveling with a large number of other people, such as on a ferry, this can add two to three hours to travel time.
Travel
Getting around any of the Virgin Islands is pretty easy. All the islands have bus service and / or regulated taxi service. When docking in Cruz Bay, taxis, rental cars, and scooters are available.
By car
With much to explore on all the islands, car rental agencies are recommended. From lush rainforest to picturesque Christiansted, driving to St Croix Island is both a scenic and a visual pleasure. Stay to the left and with a good handful of hairpin turns, take your time navigating the roads. Remember that you are in "island time".
In general, car rental rates will be comparable to the continental United States (around $ 500 per week or $ 80 per day). If you make reservations in advance, the rates are generally lower. Take out the insurance if you plan to go four-wheelers on the steep mountain roads. Throughout St. Thomas, there are colored directional signs to major destinations.
Unlike other US territories, traffic in the Virgin Islands moves to the left. To add to the confusion, unlike most other places where traffic moves to the left, most cars in the Virgin Islands are left-handed as they are generally imported from the mainland of the United States. The potholes are large and numerous, similar to the end of a snowy New England winter. Drivers often slow to around 5 mph or head into oncoming traffic when they encounter the largest holes. For both of these reasons, you should always pay special attention when driving and watch out for drivers driving on the wrong side of the road. Unmarked one-way streets, very narrow two-way streets, lack of lane stripes, and a high incidence of drunk drivers also contribute to the relatively high rate of accidents among drivers in the Virgin Islands.
To avoid collisions on sharp turns in mountainous areas, stay to the left and slow down to 5 mph. Some unpaved mountain roads require four-wheel drive, and some drainage ditches wash through the paved roads in the rainforest. There are generally no sidewalks outside of cities, so pedestrians and bicycles frequently travel along the main road.
There is a rudimentary road numbering system. The roads are marked with circular signs. Numbers beginning with 1 and 2 are used in St. John, with 3 and 4 in St. Thomas, and 5 to 7 in St. Croix. The roads are not very well marked, some are not marked at all, and the designations can be confusing. Some roads simply have a dead end or end at an unmarked intersection. Signage can suddenly disappear without warning; For example, when heading south on Route 40 towards Charlotte Amalie, the signage is nowhere to be found, as they lead you to one-way streets. It is not uncommon to come to a junction where one must turn to stay on the current path. Locals are more likely to know the names of the roads; on the contrary, tourist maps generally emphasize numbers.
By taxi and bus
Upon landing at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, one could rent a taxi or take buses to Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook, which have ferry service to Cruz Bay, St. John. You can "haggle" for most things on the islands, but taxi and bus fares are regulated. Taxi fares are published by the Virgin Islands Taxi Commission. If you are interested in saving $ 8, you can walk 3/4 of a mile to Vetern's Drive and take a safari bus that will take you into town for $ 1 or $ 2 if you have a minimum luggage.
Taxi fares are charged per person one way. For example, a one-way trip from Charlotte Amalie to Magens Bay costs $ 10; A round trip for four people will cost $ 80. If you plan to visit multiple destinations, renting a car might be cheaper.
Boat
Sailing charter in Red Hook will allow you to move on water. If you plan to sail to the British Virgin Islands, a passport is required as of 2007. Although US citizens do not require passports to travel to the US Virgin Islands, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act 2004 ( IRTPA) has much more stringent documentation requirements.
On St. John, get the best idea of the island by renting a boat for a full day. By doing this, you will not only have a wonderful snorkeling day, but you will also see the island from a local's perspective. Try St John Yacht Charters at 340-998-9898.
There is a car ferry between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. The pier is separated from the passenger ferries. The sign is really small, so if you can't find the pier, ask the workers for the passenger ferries.
Lastly, for a unique resource listing charter companies operating in the US Virgin Islands, consider visiting the Virgin Island Charter Yacht League site. The site lists images and contact information for charters ranging from monohull to motor yachts.
To buy
Money
| Exchange rates for US dollars As of October 21, 2019:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available at XE.com |
The US Virgin Islands uses the US dollar, denoted by the symbol "$"(ISO currency code: USD). It is divided into 100 cents.
Tips
Tipping is expected in the Virgin Islands. In the US Virgin Islands, tip as you would in the continental US In restaurants, it is customary to leave at least 15 percent of the total bill, before any special discounts or discounts. Most servers at fast food or self-service restaurants do not require a tip, but when dining at a full-service restaurant with a large group, remember that tips are almost never included (except for parties over 10).
When checking luggage, tip the porter at least a dollar per bag. You should also tip the waitresses, and depending on the level of service, it is polite to tip your concierge. If your hotel offers valet parking, it is also advisable to leave a tip.
Shopping
St. Croix is rich in artists. Christiansted is home to many galleries, including Island Boy Designs, owned by jewelry designer Whealan Massciott (Kenny Chesney is a fan), and the Maria Henle Gallery.
The islands are duty free and have all kinds of shops, with a special emphasis on rums, tanzanite, and diamond and gold jewelry. See the same topic under St. Thomas for discussion.
Eat and drink
To eat
St. Croix is home to a week-long culinary festival held each April called the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, which includes wine seminars, dinners with celebrity chefs (Kevin Rathbun, Rocco DiSpirito, Robbin Haas, Gerry Klaskala , Richard Reddington are just a few who joined in the fun) and the main event, A Taste of St. Croix, showcases foods from more than 50 of the islands restaurants.
For a list of restaurants on the island, see GoToStCroix. Excellent local food can be found at Harvey's (goat stew), Singh (roti) and Norma at the Domino Club in the jungle always have something to cook.
For a nice dinner, try Tutto Bene, Bacchus, Savant, and The Galleon.
To drink
- In San Juan, dollar drinks are available across the street from the National Park office, next to the ice cream parlor.
- In St. Thomas, there are several drinking establishments in Red Hook, in the East End, including: Caribbean Saloon, Duffy's Love Shack, Fat Boy's, Molly Malone's, Island Time Pizza, and XO Bistro.
- In St. Croix, Cruzan rum is made in a distillery that you can tour. Make sure to take the tour and participate in the tasting afterwards! Cruzan rum is available almost everywhere, but there are certain flavors (i.e. Clipper) that are not sold in the US, so take a bottle with you. In the seaside town of Christiansted you will find the Brew Pub, which makes several good beers. And, when you are at local venues or events, always ask if there is a local drink. Be wary of homemade recipes (ie Mama Wanna), they are STRONG!
- Unlike the mainland of the USA, the drinking age in the Virgin Islands it is 18 years.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on US Virgin Islands.w: US Virgin Islands
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about US Virgin Islands. Commons
