Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hotels in the B.V.I. often have the appropriate adaptors, and in some cases, those
adaptors are physically built directly into the wall sockets.
Money & Costs
THE VALUE OF THE U.S. DOLLAR VS. OTHER POPULAR CURRENCIES
US$
Can$
UK£
Euro (€)
Aus$
NZ$
7
$1.00
C$1.30
£0.73
1.50€
A$1.50
NZ$2.00
The U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands both use the
U.S. dollar
as the form
of currency. Frommer's lists exact prices in the local currency. The currency conversions
quoted above were correct at press time. However, rates fluctuate, so before departing
consult a currency exchange website such as
www.oanda.com/currency/converter
to
check up-to-the-minute rates.
Banks on the islands are your only option if you need to
exchange currency.
These
rates can be expensive, and additional charges are often tacked on; it is best to change
money before you arrive.
There seems to be no shortage of
ATMs
in the Virgin Islands, all of which dispense U.S.
dollars. They are everywhere—on the downtown streets of Charlotte Amalie, within the
large resorts, and in shopping arcades—making it easy to get quick cash. ATMs are most
prevalent in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, and in Christiansted on St. Croix. They are
also available in Cruz Bay on St. John, and in the British Virgin Islands on Tortola and Vir-
gin Gorda. The other islands do not have ATMs, so if you're planning a visit, be sure to
visit an ATM to get some cash first. Each machine charges around $2 to $3 for a transac-
tion fee. Nearly all of the machines are operated by three banks:
Scotiabank
(www.
scotiabank.com),
FirstBank
(www.firstbankvi.com), and
Banco Popular
(www.banco
popular.com/vi).
Many establishments in the Virgin Islands, including most of those recommended in
this guide, accept
credit cards.
MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted on all the
islands that cater to visitors, especially Virgin Gorda, Tortola, St. John, St. Croix, and, of
course, St. Thomas. In the past few years, there has been a tendency to drop American
Express because of the high percentage it takes from transactions with shopkeepers.
However, visitors should not rely solely on credit cards, as many establishments in the
Virgin Islands accept only
cash.
Often, villas and condos or small inns will only accept
cash or personal checks in advance. You will also want to arm yourself with cash while
browsing the small boutiques and curio shops throughout the islands, as most do not
take credit cards.
Beware of hidden credit card fees while traveling. Check with your credit or debit
card issuer to see what fees, if any, will be charged for overseas transactions. Recent
reform legislation in the U.S., for example, has curbed some exploitative lending prac-
tices. But many banks have responded by increasing fees in other areas, including fees
for customers who use credit and debit cards while out of the country—even if those
charges were made in U.S. dollars. Fees can amount to 3% or more of the purchase
price. Check with your bank before departing to avoid any surprise charges on your
statement.
For help with currency conversions, tip calculations, and more, download Frommer's
convenient Travel Tools app for your mobile device. Go to www.frommers.com/go/mobile
and click on the “Travel Tools To Go” icon.
Newspapers & Magazines
Daily U.S. newspapers are flown into St. Thomas, St.
Croix, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. For local papers, see “Fast Facts” in individual island
chapters. The B.V.I. have no daily newspaper, but the
Island Sun,
published Wednesday
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