Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Address Chaos
In both Christiansted and Frederiksted,
in St. Croix, buildings are numbered
consecutively on one side, stretching all
the way across town; then the numbers
“cross the street” and begin consecu-
tively on the opposite side. That means
that even and odd numbers appear on
the same side of the street. The num-
bering system begins in Christiansted
at the waterfront. In Frederiksted, the
first number appears at the north end
of town for streets running north-south
and at the waterfront for streets run-
ning east-west.
Getting Around
If you plan to do some serious sightseeing on the island, you'll need to rent a car, as
getting around by public transportation is a slow, uneven process. There is bus ser-
vice, but you might end up stranded somewhere and unable to reach your destination
without a taxi.
BY CAR
Remember to drive on the left. In most rural areas, the speed limit is 35 mph;
certain parts of the major artery, Route 66, are 55 mph. In towns and urban areas, the
speed limit is 20 mph. Keep in mind that if you're going into the “bush country,” you'll
find the roads very difficult. Sometimes the government smoothes the roads out
before the rainy season begins (often in Oct or Nov), but they rapidly deteriorate.
St. Croix offers moderately priced car rentals, even on cars with automatic trans-
missions and air-conditioning. However, because of the island's higher-than-normal
accident rate (which is partly the result of visitors who forget about driving on the
left-hand side of the road), insurance costs are a bit higher than elsewhere. Avis
( &   800/331-1212 or 340/778-9355; www.avis.com), Budget ( &   800/472-3325
or 340/778-9636; www.budget.com), and Hertz ( &   800/654-3131 or 340/778-1402;
www.hertz.com) all maintain headquarters at the airport; look for their kiosks near the
baggage-claim areas. Collision-damage insurance costs $14 per day, depending on the
company and size of car, and we feel that it's a wise investment. Some credit card
companies grant you collision-damage protection, if you pay for the rental with their
card. Verify coverage before you go.
BY TAXI
At Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport, official taxi rates are posted. From the
airport, expect to pay about $16 to $36 to Christiansted and about $12 to $24 to
Frederiksted. Cabs are unmetered, so agree on the rate before you get in. Taxis line
up at the docks in Christiansted and Frederiksted; otherwise, call the St. Croix
Taxicab Association ( &   340/778-1088 ).
BY BUS
Air-conditioned buses run between Christiansted and Frederiksted about every 45
minutes daily between 5:30am and 8pm. They start at Tide Village, to the east of
Christiansted, and go along Route 75 to the Golden Rock Shopping Center. They
transfer along Route 70, with stopovers at the Sunny Isle Shopping Center, La Reine
Shopping Center, St. George Village Botanical Garden, and Whim Plantation
Museum before reaching Frederiksted. The fare is $1, or 55¢ for seniors. For more
information, call &   340/773-1664.
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