The best way to travel
between the islands is by boat. Frequent ferries depart from Charlotte
Amalie and Red Hook on St Thomas for the short jaunt to St John. There are
also dozens of yacht charter companies providing visitors with the
opportunity to sail from island to island at their own pace. To travel
between St Thomas and St Croix, there's a choice of seaplane (several
times a day, 20 minutes).
Hiring a car, jeep or
scooter is a good way to get around the islands, though finding a parking
space in Charlotte Amalie can be troublesome. Signage around the islands
is usually restricted to route numbers - make sure your map includes these
and remember to drive on the left. There are decent, bus services
on St Thomas and St Croix, and a fledgling service on St John that runs
between Cruz Bay and Salt Pond. Taxis are abundant on all islands. They
charge a set rate, based on the destination and how many passengers are
carried.
Safari
buses are open-air buses that are very popular among the local population.
To 'catching a safari,' just ask the driver if he is going to the
destination you want to go to. If the driver is going your way, just ask
the price. If the fare seems reasonable to you then agree on that price
then hop on in.
You
won’t find any yellow-checkered taxis in the Virgin Islands. Most taxis
are either small covered trucks or large vans. The Virgin Islands Taxi
Association's licensed taxi vans are labeled with a Taxi placard, usually
on the roof of the vehicle and a labeled license plate. There are standard
rates for most destinations.
Country
Buses travel between town and Red Hook on St. Thomas every hour.
They start running at 5.30 am from town and end at 8.30pm from Red Hook.
There are buses that travel past the airport toward Bordeaux. City buses
travel between the Hospital area to town starting at 6.15 am until 10.15
pm. The first bus from the Airport to town is at 6 am and the last
is 9.30pm. Country Bus Fare $1 and City Bus $.75
Renting a car will allow you to see the island at your own pace. Rental
agencies are located at most hotels and in the airport luggage claim area.
There are several agencies to choose from.
Major airlines such as American Airlines, Continental, Delta and United Airlines, along with smaller local airlines such as Air Sunshine, American Eagle and Cape Air, connects St. Thomas, and St. Croix to other Caribbean islands and the World. These islands are also connected to the world by international and domestic flights. St. John, being the smallest of the islands, does not have an airport so a short 12-15 minute ferry ride from St. Thomas is the only way to get there. Helicopter, charter plane and seaplane services are also available for your transportation pleasure.
Note: To get great travel deals, contact your local travel agent or such online services as Travelocity.com, Expedia.com and Priceline.com.
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