Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HASSEL ISLAND
In the same bay, and even closer to shore, is
Hassel Island
(www.hasselisland.org).
This island is almost completely deserted, and is protected as part of a U.S. National
Park, which prohibits most forms of development. There are no hotels or services of
any kind here, and swimming is limited to narrow, rocky beaches. Even so, many visi-
tors hire a boat to drop them off for an hour or two.
A hike along the shoreline is a welcome relief from the cruise-ship congestion of
Charlotte Amalie. The island is riddled with some trails which can be traversed,
taking you across gentle hills with dry woods, lots of plants, and plenty of cacti—
you'll think you're in the Arizona desert. Beach lovers head for the western shore,
where they'll find white sands shaded by sea grapes. You can also explore the ruins
of early-19th-century English fortifications and mid-19th-century shopping and coal
stations. Bring water and food if you plan to spend more than 3 hours. The rather
barren island has little shade, so dress accordingly and make sure you carry plenty
of drinking water.
A small ferry runs from the Crown Bay Marina on St. Thomas to Hassel, costing
$5 to $10 round-trip.
ST. JOHN
An even better option is a day trip to
St. John
(www.stjohnusvi.com/ferry.html),
home of the world-famous Trunk Bay Beach. To get there, you can take one of many
ferry services. Boats depart from Charlotte Amalie at Vendors Plaza or, more fre-
quently, from Red Hook, and arrive in St. John's Cruz Bay. The one-way fare is $7 for
adults from Red Hook and $11 for adults from Charlotte Amalie. The fare for chil-
dren 11 and under is $1. Near the access ramp of the pier in Cruz Bay, St. John, you'll
find rows of independently operated taxis and their drivers, who will take you on a
tour of the island. Independent-minded visitors can usually get a 4-hour guided tour
for $60 (often shared with another passenger or two). Cruise-ship passengers are
generally charged $50 for a 2-hour tour. A full day (7 hr.) is $75 (children 12 and
under, $65). If you want to skip the tour of St. John and head right to the beach at
Trunk Bay for the day, simply negotiate a fare with one of the taxi drivers at the pier.
Be sure to arrange a time to be picked up at the end of the day, too. The cost of a
one-way trip is usually $5 to $10 per person, depending on how much the cabby
thinks he can get out of you (note that $10 is the most expensive charge). See chapter
4 for more on St. John.
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SHOPPING
The discounted, duty-free shopping in the Virgin Islands makes St. Thomas a shop-
ping mecca. It's possible to find well-known brand names here at savings of up to 60%
off mainland prices. But be warned—savings are not always good, so make sure you
know the price of the item back home to determine if you are truly getting a good
deal. Having sounded that warning, we'll mention some St. Thomas shops where we
have indeed found really good buys. For more help, the local publications
This Week
in St. Thomas
and
Best Buys
have updates on sales and shop openings.
Most shops are open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Some stores are open
Sunday and holidays if a cruise ship is in port.
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