St. Thomas Travel Tips

Travel to St. Thomas is a snap for those visiting here from the U.S. mainland.  You know the language, the money is the same, no visa needed….. the only real challenge, and it is a small one, is driving. It is on the left hand side of the road. Be careful with that and you are in for a great time here.

Tips for Traveling in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Activities
Loads of activity choices exist here, selecting what to do is the challenge. A popular activity is a Treasure Hunt, which is patterened after one created by a resort in California a few years ago.

Banking
Many of the typical mainland U.S. banks have branches in St. Thomas, along with a few local island banks.  Hours usually run weekdays from 9AM until 4PM, staying open later on Fridays until 5PM.  A few banks may also have hours on Saturdays.

Clothing
Dress comfortably and casually, but please be tasteful – beachwear is appropriate for the beach and swimming pools only.  Some of the nicer restaurants and nightclubs may have a classier dress code so be sure to pack at least one nice outfit. Winter evenings can be cool so a light jacket or sweater is also a good idea.

Driving
Driving in St. Thomas is on the left hand side of the road, which can be tough during the day and downright challenging at night after a few cocktails. We suggest that you find a back road where you live, something without traffic, and practice up a bit. Car controls are situated on the left-hand side.

Your standard stateside drivers license will work fine here.

The roads here are twisty, steep and dark. Locals tend to drive fast and that, combined with left hand driving, means you need to pay full attention all the time.

Electricity
Same current as the mainland, 110V with American-style outlets.

Favorites
OK. These aren't businesses in St. Thomas but they are our favorites in our summer home, Park City.

Health
Bug spray is strongly suggested as many of the mosquitoes carry a variety of tropical diseases that are unpleasant at best and life threatening at worst. It is also advised to get a Hepatitas A vaccine before arriving. There are a bunch of videos of people at resorts who should have worn bug spray.

Medical Facilities
There is one hospital in St. Thomas which has good and modern medical care and a decompression chamber.

Money
The official currency of St. Thomas is the US Dollar.

Passports & Immigration
St. Thomas is part of the U.S., so no passport or visa is necessary when traveling here from the mainland.  Just remember your photo ID.

Personal Safety
Fruits and vegetables should only be eaten if they have been peeled and thoroughly cooked.  Otherwise, just use common sense.  Use the hotel safe, lock your doors and don’t leave personal items where they can walk off.

Storage
Just a plug for our friends at Sugarhouse Self Storage. If you need self storage in Salt Lake City, this is it.

Taxes
Hotel tax is 8% but that’s it. No sales tax.

Telephones
Just like in the states, 1 + area code + 7 digit number.

Tipping / Gratuities
Tipping is the same as back in the states. 15% is good, 20% is even better. Show your appreciation!
TIP: Some establishments will automatically add a gratuity to your dining tab so be sure to always check first before adding yours.