Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Did You Know . . . ?
W
In 1825, the last pirate was hanged at
St. Thomas.
W
St. Thomas was a base for blockade
runners and privateers sympathetic to
the Confederate cause in the Civil War.
W
The U.S. Senate in 1870 rejected a
treaty signed with Denmark agreeing
to pay $7.5 million for the U.S. Virgins.
W
The U.S. Virgin Islanders celebrate
more holidays than anywhere else in
the U.S., 23 in all.
W
Charlotte Amalie was named after a
queen of Denmark.
W
A Jewish synagogue in Charlotte Ama-
lie is the oldest in the U.S., and still
maintains its sand floors.
W
Locally made products from St.
Thomas are not taxable.
W
For centuries, St. Thomas had the
largest slave auctions in the Caribbean
Basin.
3
or 340/776-5774; www.budgetstt.com), and
Hertz
(
&
800/654-3131
or 340/774-
1879; www.hertz.com). You can often save money by renting from a local agency,
although vehicles sometimes aren't as well-maintained. Try
Dependable Car
Rental,
3901 B Altona, Welgunst, behind the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Medical
Arts Complex (
&
800/522-3076
or 340/774-2253; www.dependablecar.com),
which will pick up renters at the airport or their hotel; or the aptly named
Discount
Car Rental,
14 Harwood Hwy., outside the airport on the main highway
(
&
877/478-2833
or 340/776-4858; www.discountcar.vi), which grants drivers a
12% discount on rivals' rates.
Note:
There is no tax on car rentals in the Virgin
Islands.
DRIVING RULES
Always drive on the left.
The speed limit is 20 mph in town,
35 mph outside town. Remember, there is often a lot of traffic on the roads going east
out of Charlotte Amalie. Take extra caution when driving in St. Thomas, especially at
night. Many roads are narrow, curvy, and poorly lit.
PARKING
Because Charlotte Amalie is a labyrinth of congested one-way streets,
don't try to drive within town looking for a parking spot. If you can't find a place to
park along the Waterfront (free), go to the sprawling lot to the east of Fort Christian,
across from the Legislature Building. Parking fees are nominal here, and you can park
your car and walk northwest toward Emancipation Park, or along the Waterfront,
until you reach the shops and attractions.
BY TAXI
Taxis
are unmetered, but fares are controlled and widely posted; however, we still
recommend that you negotiate a fare (usually per person) with the driver before you
get into the car. A typical fare from Charlotte Amalie to Sapphire Beach is $13 per
person; to the East End, it's about $25 per person. Surcharges, one-third of the price
of the excursion, are added after midnight. You'll pay $2 to $4 per bag for luggage. You
can easily hail a taxi in Charlotte Amalie, although it's not so easy throughout the
island. Reason? The taxis are all waiting for cruise passengers at the dock in Charlotte
Amalie. You will more than likely have to call a taxi to pick you up while out on the
island. Of course, your hotel can always call one for you. For 24-hour radio-dispatch
taxi service, call
&
340/774-7457.
If you want to hire a taxi and a driver (who just
may be a great tour guide) for a day, expect to pay about $40 per person for 2 hours
of sightseeing in a shared car, or $55 to $80 per hour for two to four people.
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