About Your Vacation in the US Virgin Islands  

These islands are the only US territory in the Caribbean, and offer the traveler a chance to experience life island style with an American touch.

Located only 80 miles east of Puerto Rico, the US Virgins are near the "top" of the Caribbean chain, and some of the shortest air flights from Miami or other stateside departure points.

The US Virgins consist of three main islands: St. Thomas, which is the capital; St. Croix, and St. John. Travel between the three islands is easy and inexpensive; both tourists and residents frequently use water or air taxi services for shopping and business.

Each island is unique. Casual St. Croix boasts the farthest east land in the United States - Point Udall - a terrific photo opportunity. It also has a complex eco system with a rainforest on the west end of the island and the east end being arid - almost desert. Both St. John and St. Croix have National Parks with underwater self-guided tours. St. Thomas has a sophisticated modern port reknown for duty-free shopping, and is home of pirate 'castles'. St. Thomas and St. Croix are popular romantic wedding islands as well as great family vacation destinations.

Visit our individual Virgin Island information pages for more about St. Croix and St. Thomas.

The principle language of the islands is English, with some Spanish and Creole. From its British roots, the islands retain driving on the left side of the road!

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

History of the Islands
The U S Virgin Islands have been inhabited for thousands of years by early settlers who migrated from South America. The three most prominent groups were the Ciboneys, Arawaks and Caribs. In 1493, Christopher Columbus landed in St. Croix and, since then, seven flags have flown over the islands including Spain, Knights of Malta, France, England, Holland, Denmark and the United States. Early in the island's history are tales of the great pirates, Bluebeard and Blackbeard.

In 1917, during World War I, the United States bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark to prevent the Virgin Islands from becoming a German submarine base in the Caribbean. During World War II, St. Thomas was developed as a military base.

In the 1950s, after Cuba was closed to American travelers, the Virgin Islands moved into a new position of importance as a preeminent tourist Mecca. In the 1960s, St. Croix's economy expanded with the construction of the Hess Oil refinery and Harvey Alumina bauxite refinery. Today, the Virgin Islands economy is a healthy mix of tourism, light and heavy industry.

Politically, the Virgin Islands is a Territory of the United States. The Territory was managed by the Departments of Defense and Interior until the passage of the Organic Act (our Constitution) in 1936. Today, the people of the Virgin Islands elect a governor, lieutenant governor, fifteen senators and one non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives every four years.

Virgin Islanders are U.S. citizens but do not vote in national elections. The income tax system mirrors the Internal Revenue Code but all taxes remain in the Virgin Islands.

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

Money and Banking
Currency:
U.S. Dollars. Credit cards and traveler's checks are generally accepted.

Banks:

• Bank of St. Croix
• Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
• Bank of Nova Scotia
• Chase Manhattan Bank
• Citibank
• First Federal Savings
• Virgin Islands Community Bank

Banking hours:
Monday to Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm. Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. Chase Manhattan Bank and Banco Popular De Puerto Rico: Saturday 9:00am-12:00n. Please check with individual banks for variations in banking hours.

Business hours:
Summer shopping - Monday to Friday 8:00am-5:00pm with exceptions.
Winter shopping hours may be extended.
Restaurants may close for a few hours between lunch and dinner.
Please check with individual stores and businesses.

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

USVI Public Holidays
January 1: New Year's Day
January: Three King's Day
January: Martin Luther King Day
February: President's Day
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Monday
May: Memorial Day
June 17: Organic Act Day
July 3: Emancipation Day
July 4: Independence Day
July 22: Supplication Day
September: Labor Day
October: Columbus Day
October 21: Local Thanksgiving
November 1: D Hamilton Jackson Day
November 12: Veteran's Day
November: US Thanksgiving
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

Taxes and Service Charges
Resort tax: 8%. Service charge: 10%. No sales tax. Tips or gratuities are "american style" and usually not included in your charges (unless specifically included), and are up to your discretion for service received.

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

Geography of the US Virgin Islands
St. Croix, the largest (82 sq. miles) is the easternmost Atlantic point of the United States and is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. Just offshore St. Croix near the east end, you'll find Buck Island Reef National Monument. St. Thomas (32 sq. miles) and St. John (20 sq. miles) are next to each other 35 miles north of St. Croix. They lie between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Highest points above sea level are: Mt. Eagle St. Croix 1,165 ft. St. John Bordeaux Mountain 1,277 ft. St. Thomas Crown Mountain 1,556 ft.

Back to top - St. Thomas Travel Information.
 

All US Virgin Islands Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time +1 hour. Greenwich Mean Time -4 hours. No daylight savings time. Generally, sunrise is between 5:30am and 6:30am and sunset 6:30pm-7:00pm, all year around.

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

Climate
Average daytime temperature 78 degrees in winter and 82 degrees in summer, low humidity.

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

Tourism Offices
St. Thomas: Division of Tourism, Box 6400, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas 00804
Tel: 340-774-8784.

St. Croix: P.O. Box 4538, Christiansted, St. Croix 00822. Tel: 340-773-0495

Chicago: 500 N. Michigan Ave, Ste 2030, Chicago Ill 60611 Tel: 312-670-8784

Los Angeles: 3460 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 412, Los Angeles CA 90010. Tel: 213-739-0138

Miami: 2655 Le Jeune Rd, Ste 907, Coral Gables, Fl 33134. Tel: 305-442-7200

New York: 1270 Ave of the Americas, Suite 2108, New York, NY 10020. Tel: 212-332-2222

Washington: The Hall Of States, 444 North Capital Street, Suite 298, Washington DC 20001. Tel: 202-624-3590

Atlanta: 225 Peachtree St. N.E., Ste 760, Atlanta GA 30303. Tel: 404-688-0906

San Juan: 1300 Ashford Ave, Condado, Santurce, P.R. 00907. Tel: 787-724-3816.

Toronto: 245 Britannia Road East, Missassauga, Toronto L4Z 2Y7, Canada. Tel: 800-465-8784

U.K.: 2 Cinnamon Row, Plantation Wharf, York Place, London SW113TW. Tel: 171-978-5262

Italy: Via Gherardini 2,20145 Milano, Italy. Tel: 02-33105841

Denmark: Park Alle 5, DK-8000ArhusC. Tel: 45-86-18-19-33. Fax: 45-86-18-06-60

Note: Locations and contact numbers may change without notice.

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.
 

USVI Resorts
Antilles Resorts presents seven USVI properties on St. Croix and St. Thomas:
On St Thomas:
Anchorage Resort   
Crystal Cove Resort    
Point Pleasant Resort
Sapphire Beach Condominium Resort    
Sapphire Village Resort
On St Croix:
Club St Croix Resort    
Colony Cove Resort

Back to top - US Virgin Islands Travel Information.

 

---

© 2007 Antilles Resort Management, Inc. St. Thomas US Virgin Islands and Dibbern & Dibbern. All contents of this site are copyright protected. Any reproduction of these images, art and contents is prohibited without specific permission.

About the U.S. Virgin Islands

USVI Travel Information

Antilles Resorts
St. Thomas, St. Croix,
USVI