Island Creatures

The Virgin Islands are also home to several non-venomous snake species, including the Virgin Islands Tree Boa. The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists the Tree Boa as an endangered species. VIMSIA has developed a tree boa conservation program in conjunction with The Department of Planning and Natural Resources. There are also small garden snakes, but seeing them is also fairly uncommon. We do have spiders, lizards, tarantulas and scorpions. House spiders are fairly common, they build webs in the corners of ceilings; and while hiking you might see orb spiders in the trees. Tarantulas and scorpions generally live in burrows or hide under rocks and logs; and they stay in those hiding places by day, coming out to hunt at night. So it’s not likely you will see either. The mongoose is native to Eurasia and Africa and were introduced to the Virgin Islands. The Iguana, a large reptile, grows up to 6 feet from head to tail.  Though they have a scary appearance, they scare fairly easily. If you are prone to allergies you may have similar reactions to various insect bites and stings. Chickens, cats, dogs and iguanas are a regular sight.

Quick Tips For The Virgin Islands

• Keep Left! Driving is on the left in the Virgin Islands.

• Island time is real - things are slow!

• In the Virgin Islands saying Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Night are not the same thing as saying Hello or Hi; the former is a warmer greeting and is the norm for friends and strangers.Use good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight when greeting everybody. It goes a long way!

• There is limited recycling here so do your best to reduce waste! Bring a reusable water bottle, coffee mug, and tumbler.  They go through plastic here like nobody’s business!

• The sun is strong! The sun is stronger here.  Keep hydrated and protected.

Map of St Thomas

Saint Thomas is divided into the following subdistricts: Southside includes downtown Charlotte Amalie, East End, Northside, Tutu (Country), Water Island, West End. VIMSIA is located in the East End. There is a little '“x” about where school is.

Language

There are many West Indian dialects which you may hear, most of them are predominantly English based. There are people from all over the Caribbean living here so if you don't understand what has been said to you, politely ask for the person to repeat what they have said. Preface all questions and requests with a greeting first. Customarily, "Good Morning" or "Good Day" will get you prompt service and many smiles.

Residency

Living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, you are going to have a governor that oversees the administrative tasks of being a territory. Because St. Thomas is not part of a state, then your legal residence there will disqualify you from voting for a presidential ticket.  We do have a Delegate in the United States House of Representatives. 

Cost of Living

The USVI uses the US dollar as its currency. In general, the cost of living in the islands is higher than on the mainland. Almost everything we purchase is imported. Electricity is also expensive. Real estate taxes, however, are relatively low. Federal income taxes in the USVI are the same as they are on the mainland. 

Taxes

Our taxes are identical to the United States, as we mirror federal tax codes at our own Virgin Island Internal Revenue Bureau (BIR).  As a USVI resident, tax returns are filed in person with the IRB, instead of the Internal Revenue Service. There is not an option for online filing. Refunds are delayed by several years, so it is best to take more deductions. It is better you owe a small amount than wait for a substantial refund.  There is no sales tax in the Virgin Islands and there are no state income taxes. You do have obligations to pay into the Social Security program and federal taxes (deductions via your paycheck).

Healthcare

We have good facilities, and excellent physicians. Air medical insurance is available with the school provided insurance.  If our hospital can not treat you in the  case of an emergency, you will be flown to a doctor/health facility of choice. For medical emergencies you can call 911 or visit the emergency room at the St. Thomas Hospital. 

Banking

The currency of the US Virgin Islands is the US Dollar. Major credit cards are accepted in many but not all establishments. Ask before you make a purchase or order food. ATM machines are located in banks and at other commercial locations. The banks are your only option if you need to exchange currency. More than 50 ATMs are available on the island. The following banks operate in the US Virgin Islands:

• FirstBank Virgin Islands  Tel 340-775-7777

• Oriental Bank  Tel 340-774-0037 

• Banco Popular Tel 888-724-3650

Transportation

Cyril E. King International Airport (STT airport code) serves St. Thomas and St. John. Flying time is approximately 3.5 hours from New York and 2.5 hours from Miami.  The only way to get to St. John or Water Island is by ferry from St. Thomas; however, ferries operate between all the islands.

VITRAN provides public transportation in St Thomas. 

Open Air Safari (Dollar Bus) are converted trucks. Their truck beds are customized with bench seating in an open-air covered area. They are available from University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) to Red Hook. Safaris run throughout the island in a giant loop. The route extends from UVI to downtown, past Raphune Hill, to Tutu Park Mall, throughout the countryside, back to Tutu Park Mall and back to UVI respectively. The fares are outlined below:

• Any destination within the countryside $1.00

• Any destination within downtown $1.00

• From downtown to countryside and vice-versa (Raphune Hill is considered the middle point. Past that and you are officially on the other side.) $2.00

• From countryside to UVI or vice versa $3.00

• If you are going from one location to another in the country you may have to change at Tutu Park Mall as the safaris only travel in one direction.

Taxi Service is available on the island. They usually charge per person. A complete listing can be found in the local phone book. Here are a few for easy reference:

• Wheatley Taxi 340.775.1959

• East End Taxi Service 340.775.6974

• VI Taxi Association (Dispatch) 340.774.7457

Taxi Tips:

• Taxis are almost always available at the airport, within the shopping districts in downtown Charlotte Amalie and usually at large hotels and popular restaurants/bars. Licensed taxi vehicles are labeled with: a taxi placard or dome light on the roof, license plates that indicate Taxi status, On Duty/Off Duty sign in the window of the vehicle and a sign, usually on the fender, indicating passenger capacity. The driver's personal identification/taxi license should be on the vehicle's dashboard. 

• There are drivers that run “gypsy taxis” in their personal vehicles. They do not adhere to the rules of the taxi commission and are used at your own risk. They often hustle outside bars and grocery stores.

SORRY You won’t find Uber, DoorDash or Postmates here. 

Personal Vehicles

The U.S. Virgin Islands are the only United States territory which drives on the left. Most cars being imported from the mainland United States are left-hand drive. You can ship your personal vehicle to St. Thomas prior to your arrival.  If you choose this option it is highly recommended that the shipping company handles the clearing and registering of your vehicle.  As St. Thomas is a transient community, people leaving the island are always posting their vehicles for sale.  

• If you decide to purchase a used vehicle from an individual, please inspect and drive the vehicle prior to purchase. You will have to notarize title and bill of sale, obtain your own insurance. Once you have completed paperwork (registration, notarized title and bill of sale, insurance and a copy of the seller's ID), you will drop your paperwork to the  Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to do the official transfer of ownership to your name. They are located at Tutu Park Mall.  This process may take longer than one day.  Note, depending on the age of the vehicle you may also have to get it inspected.  The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has more information and frequently asked questions.

• If you prefer, there are dealerships that can assist you with the purchase of a new or used vehicle.  Dealerships will do all the paperwork and call you to pick up your registration and plates. Here a list of dealerships on island:

• Drive Green (Nissan) 340.693.6014

• Caribbean Auto Mart (GMC/Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep) 340.777.7600

• Toyota of St. Thomas  (Toyota) 340.715.3132

• Metro Motors (Ford) 340.775.4900

• You register a vehicle with a stateside drivers license. You  have one year to get a St. Thomas drivers license. 

Ferry Service

Ferry Service is available between St. Thomas and St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island and St. Thomas/St. John and the BVI. For details on ferry schedules, prices, operators and length of ferry ride per destination visit Ferry Schedules. Visiting close neighboring islands on your own while in port is possible through the use of these inter-island ferry services.

Communications

The U.S. Virgin Islands area code is 340.  Liberty and VIYA are the most popular cell phone providers (see utilities section for contact information, Liberty is somewhat iffy lately).  Verizon, T-Mobile, and other cell phone services are available but international roaming charges may apply and service may not be reliable.  You can make calls just as you would in the United States. 

The islands have AM and FM radio stations (mostly on St. Thomas and St. Croix) broadcasting music, religious, and news programming. The U.S. Virgin Islands has 5 local television stations including PBS, ABC, CBS and NBC; extended cable and satellite television channels are also available.  Newspapers include The Avis, The Virgin Islands Daily News, St. John Tradewinds, St. Thomas Source, St. Croix Source and St. John Sun Times.

Mail

The Virgin Islands is a territory of the United States and the US Postal Service is the most viable option.  Most residents can not have mail not delivered to their home (physical) address. You will have to secure a box with the US Postal Service or one of the many mail services on the island.  Many of our staff use Red Hook Mail Services because it is close to the school.

Utilities

Electricity/Water 

• The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) is an autonomous agency of the Virgin Islands Government which produces and distributes electricity and drinking water to residential and commercial customers in the territory. Residential rate for electricity is $0.383605 per kWh up to 250 kWh then goes up to $0.411969 kWh. Residential rate for water is $5.03 per gallon up to 1000 gallons.

• Cistern - A cistern is a necessary container for water storage and is required in all St. Thomas homes. Most homes have a cistern.  The cistern collects rain water but during the drier months and depending on your water consumption, you may have to have water delivered.  The average cost for one load of water is $300.00.

• When deciding on a place to live, check to see if utilities (water/electric) are  included.  Does the home have a generator, as we experience frequent power outages?

Telephone/Cable/Internet

• Viya provides a full suite of telecommunications and entertainment services. Services include wireline and wireless voice service, fixed and mobile broadband and cable television service.

• AT&T is supported in the Virgin Islands.  Please note, cell service in the U.S. Virgin Islands is supported by Liberty Latin America who acquired AT&T’s operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Contact number is 340.777.8492

• Broadband VI offers internet service  Contact number is 340.719.2943

• DISH, via Today's Satellite Television USVI (an DISH Authorized Retailer).

Grocery Shopping

It is important to find the right grocery store to meet your needs, especially if you’re watching your wallet. The majority of produce, meat, dry goods, dairy, and other products in Virgin Island grocery stores must be shipped in. This adds to their shelf price, making groceries more expensive. In particular, those which must be kept refrigerated or frozen during shipping can really rack up dollars on the receipt. Here is a list of the top places to find the groceries you’re looking for, no matter your budget. These stores are not placed in any particular order or ranked, and while there are some grocery stores which didn’t make the list, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth visiting. Many residents regularly shop at more than one of these stores!

• The Market is a longtime staple for island groceries. Adjacent to Tutu Park Mall, its convenient location makes it popular with many residents. The Market is one of the largest grocery stores on island, but isn’t wholesale, making their wide selection and low prices all the more impressive. It has meat and dairy departments and all the Indian food staples you can ask for. Fruits and vegetables are stocked on Sunday, so shop Sunday and Monday for the freshest produce. 

• PriceSmart is the place to go for all your bulk shopping needs.PriceSmart is spacious and very popular. To avoid crowds, do your shopping late in the day on Friday or early morning on weekends. Many products in the store are the same brands carried by similar wholesale grocers on the U.S. mainland. This often makes for good deals and quality, but just like most wholesale stores, a membership is required to shop.

• The Fruit Bowl, established in 1975, provides fresh produce for shoppers hailing from places both far away and right around the corner. Don’t be fooled by the storefront’s small size: the space is absolutely packed with the island’s widest variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other produce. Shoppers love the store’s cleanliness, friendly staff, and happy atmosphere. Produce is stocked on Monday morning, if you’re looking for the absolute freshest selection.

• Food Center located across from both the Independent Boatyard & Marina and Oasis Cove Marina, Food Center is a supermarket serving visitors and residents on the east end of St. Thomas. A large grocery store also offers hot plates of local food. Shoppers at Food Center appreciate the stateside, supermarket quality of the store and its selection. With a wide variety of international food products, and an impressive hot sauce collection, it is regarded as the staple grocery store for many living and visiting out east. It’s a large one-stop shop for all of your grocery needs.

• Moe’s Fresh Market (with 4 locations - Red Hook, Yacht Haven, Northside, and waterfront) the business of fine wines and delicious food. Buying local for everything they can, and seeking only the highest quality produce, meat, cheese, coffee, and more for everything else, shoppers at Moe’s appreciate knowing they’re browsing one of the best grocery selections on island. Locally-caught fish is sold there. There are plenty of specialty items to choose from.

• Pueblo (with two locations Longbay and Subbase) carry the freshest meats and best selection of produce in the neighborhood. In addition, they have a wide variety of liquor, beer, wine and spirits.  Many locals choose to stop there after work so be aware of crowds around 5:30PM! You can find fresh fruit and the standard dry goods.

Shopping/Dining Areas

Havensight Shopping Mall:  In Havensight you will find several bars and restaurants. It is  located right next to the primary cruise ship dock and the shopping area is made up of Havensight Shopping Center, Buccaneer Mall and Port of Sale. Long buildings house some 60+ stores. You can have lunch in Havensight also, there are several good restaurants to choose from and plenty of parking.

Yacht Haven Grande: Shopping area located within walking distance from Havensight Mall. Enjoy shops, plenty of parking and nice places to eat. 

Charlotte Amalie (Downtown): The greatest density of stores is in Charlotte Amalie. The principal street there is Dronningens Gade, better known as Main Street. Parallel to Main Street is Back Street and Waterfront. Stores line each of these main roads, and in between the three roads are side streets and alleys where even more shops are located.  In the alleys, like Royal Dane Mall, Palm Passage and Riise Alley, you will find many unique shops and boutiques. The stores in Charlotte Amalie are housed in and among historical buildings; so shopping and sightseeing in one trip is easy. Small cozy restaurants and a couple fun bars are located among the stores, perfect for lunch or a refreshing drink. 

Frenchtown: Frenchtown was settled by immigrants from the French Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy in the late 1800's through mid 1900's. The area became a fishing village. In the middle of Frenchtown is a hill crowned by St. Ann's Catholic Church. The small French Heritage Museum in Frenchtown is worth a stop if it’s open. Frenchtown is a popular spot for its assortment of bars and restaurants.

Red Hook: There is a marina; ferries; island-style shops; restaurants and bars; offices; banks and more! Everything is within walking distance. Parking is limited.

Crown Bay Center: The newest addition to St Thomas' shopping districts has a nice assortment of retailers from jewelry stores to cameras and electronics, linens, local arts and crafts. Lots of parking.

Weather

Sunny, year-round temperatures range in the 80's during the day, 70's most nights with summer somewhat warmer. Easterly trade winds blowing gently across the islands keep the humidity low. Most island showers are quick, tropical, and are over in minutes. Temperatures are fairly consistent year round, with the hottest temperatures, during summer, in the 80s and 90s.  The winter months are the coolest with temperatures ranging between 70 and mid 80s. Average annual rainfall is 50 inches with September and October less dry than the winter months. As there are few wells, residents collect rainwater from rooftops into household cisterns. Salt water distillation plants help the supply. But at best, water is scarce, so use sparingly.

There are many ways to check on the weather. Weather.gov, youtube’s Mr. Weatherman is focused on the Caribbean and updates frequently when weather is looking treacherous.

Hurricane Season (June to November)

Hurricanes can be a significant problem for the USVI. St. Thomas sits in the warm Atlantic waters that mingle with the Caribbean to create tropical storms and large storms that can create numerous issues. A direct impact by one can be enough to wipe entire neighborhoods off of the island. Even if you only get a close shave by the outer edge of the cyclone, you’ll be dealing with significant storm surges that can cause plenty of flooding issues. Downed power lines, felled trees, and general havoc occur whenever one blows through. You’ll need to start paying attention to the weather report in May each year. VITEMA is the territorial agency with the primary responsibility for ensuring the territory's resilience to disasters. VITEMA’s staff of professional planners, communications specialists, logisticians, operations managers and support personnel is committed to an all-hazards approach to emergency management. Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist.