Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
W
United States
To find your regional passport office, check the U.S. Department
of State website (travel.state.gov/passport) or call the
National Passport Informa-
tion Center
(
&
877/487-2778
) for automated information.
Petrol
Please see “Getting Around,” earlier in this chapter for information.
Pets
To bring your pet to the U.S.V.I., you must have a health certificate from a main-
land veterinarian and show proof of vaccination against rabies. Very few hotels allow ani-
mals, so check in advance. If you're strolling with your dog through the national park on
St. John, you must keep it on a leash. Pets are not allowed at campgrounds, in picnic
areas, or on public beaches. Both St. Croix and St. Thomas have veterinarians listed in the
Yellow Pages.
Your dog or cat is permitted entry into the B.V.I. without quarantine, if accompanied by
an Animal Health Certificate issued by the Veterinary Authority in your country of origin.
This certificate has a number of requirements, including a guarantee of vaccination
against rabies.
Police
Dial
&
911
for emergencies in the U.S.V.I. In the B.V.I., the main police head-
quarters is on Waterfront Drive near the ferry docks on Sir Olva Georges Plaza (
&
284/
494-3822
) in Tortola. There are also police stations on Virgin Gorda (
&
284/495-9828
)
and on Jost Van Dyke (
&
284/495-9345
). See individual island chapters for more
detailed information.
Safety
The Virgin Islands are a relatively safe destination. The small permanent popu-
lations are generally friendly and welcoming. That being said,
St. Thomas
is no longer as
safe as it once was. Crime against tourists has been on the rise, and muggings are fre-
quent. Wandering the island at night, especially on the back streets of Charlotte Amalie
(particularly on Back St.), is not recommended. For a town of this small size, there is an
unusually high crime rate. Guard your valuables or store them in hotel safes if possible.
The same holds true for
St. Croix
and the back streets of Christiansted and Frederik-
sted. Although these areas are safer than St. Thomas, random acts of violence against
tourists in the past, even murder, have been known to happen. Know that most crime on
the island is petty theft aimed at unguarded possessions on the beach, unlocked parked
cars, or muggings (rarely violent) of visitors at night. Exercise the same amount of cau-
tion you would if you were traveling to an unfamiliar town on the mainland. Whether on
St. Thomas or St. Croix, always take a taxi home after a night out.
St. John
is a bit different, because there is no major town and most of the island is
uninhabited. Muggings and petty theft do happen, but such occurrences are rarely vio-
lent. You are most likely to find your camera stolen if you leave it unattended on the
beach.
The
British Virgin Islands
are very safe. Crime is practically nonexistent on these
islands. Minor robberies do occur on Tortola, with less trouble reported on Virgin Gorda.
In general, the Virgin Islands' steep, curvy roads are often poorly lit at night. St. Croix's
road network is particularly poor and is composed of rocky, steep dirt roads through the
interior. As a result, car-rental insurance is higher on this island than the others. For those
travelers who are unaccustomed to driving on the left, we suggest leaving the night driv-
ing up to a taxi driver. Do not attempt the most rural roads at night, as cellphone service
is spotty at best and breakdowns or robberies are an all-too-perfect way to ruin your
Virgin Islands vacation; see “Getting Around,” earlier in this chapter.
Student Travel
St. Thomas has the most youth-oriented scene of any of the Virgin
Islands, British or American. Some areas of St. Thomas are more popular than others with
young people, especially the bars and restaurants around Red Hook. The major resorts at
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