Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Postal rates in the British Virgin Islands to the United States or Canada are 35¢ for a
postcard (airmail), and 50¢ for a first-class airmail letter (
1
⁄
2
oz.). Mailing a postcard to the
U.K. costs 50¢ and a first-class letter via airmail costs 75¢ (
1
⁄
2
oz.).
Medical Requirements
Unless you're arriving from an area known to be suffering
from an epidemic (particularly cholera or yellow fever), inoculations or vaccinations are
not required for entry into the U.S. Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands.
If you have a medical condition that requires
syringe-administered medications,
carry
a valid signed prescription from your physician; syringes in carry-on baggage will be
inspected. Insulin in any form should have the proper pharmaceutical documentation. If
you have a disease that requires treatment with
narcotics,
you should also carry docu-
mented proof with you—smuggling narcotics aboard a plane carries severe penalties in
the U.S.
For
HIV-positive visitors,
requirements for entering both the U.S.V.I. and B.V.I. are
somewhat vague and change frequently. Anyone who does not appear to be in good
health may be required to undergo a medical exam, including HIV testing, prior to being
granted or denied entry. For up-to-the-minute information, contact
AIDSinfo
(
&
800/448-
0440
or 301/519-0459 outside the U.S.; www.aidsinfo.nih.gov) or the
Gay Men's Health
Crisis
(
&
212/367-1000;
www.gmhc.org). Also see “Health.”
Mobile Phones
In the U.S. Virgin Islands:
The two largest cellphone operators in the
U.S.V.I. include Sprint PCS (www.sprint.com) and AT&T Wireless (www.att.com/wireless),
which is still referred to by some locals as Cingular. Phones operating in the mainland U.S.
under those plans will usually operate seamlessly, and without any excess roaming
charges, in the U.S.V.I. If your phone presently operates through some other carrier, it's
wise to call them before your departure about signing up (at least temporarily) for one of
their international plans, which will save you money on roaming charges during the dura-
tion of your trip. If your cellphone is not equipped for reception and transmission in the
U.S.V.I., consider renting (or buying) a cheap cellphone for temporary use, or, less conve-
niently, head for a Sprint PCS or AT&T sales outlet (each maintains offices on all three of
the U.S.V.I.'s major islands) for a substitute SIM card, a key operating component that can
be inserted into your existing phone, making it operational. Throughout the U.S.V.I., the
electrical system is the same as within the U.S. mainland (115 volts and female sockets
which accept the U.S.-style “flat” plugs), so most U.S. residents won't need any special
transformers or adaptors.
In the British Virgin Islands
: The two largest cellphone operators in the B.V.I. include
CCT Global Communications (www.cctwireless.com) and Digicell BVI (www.digicelbvi.
com), both with offices in Road Town and on Virgin Gorda. Other than that, the cellphone
situation is roughly equivalent to what's described immediately above in the U.S.V.I. The
electrical system in the B.V.I. is the same as that within the U.S.V.I. and the mainland U.S.
(115 volts), so British and European visitors may want to bring adaptors and transformers.
7
What Things Cost in St. Thomas
US$
Taxi from airport to Charlotte Amalie
$15.00
Double room, moderate
$140.00
Double room, inexpensive
$100.00
Three course dinner for one, no wine, moderate
$24.00
Cup of cof ee in a cafe
$2.75
Bottle of beer
$3.50
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