Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
w
TIP:
Ask for a seat on the left side of
your plane for the best view.
This is your initial view of St. Thomas from the window of
your plane as it banks to land at picturesque
Cyril E. King
Airport
. Named for the first elected governor, it was for-
merly Harry S. Truman Airport. The tin-roofed arrival ter-
minal served as an Air Force hanger until 1950. The airport
has been modernized and the runways extended in the last
few years. You'll appreciate these modernizations when you
leave, since the departure lounge is now air-conditioned.
Stop for a welcome drink provided by Virgin Island Rum,
then head for one of the two baggage retrieval areas. This
might be the perfect time to begin winding down your inner
clock, no doubt set at a much faster pace than that of the is-
landers. Limin', the local word for loafing, is the way to ap-
proach a vacation anywhere, but especially on the islands.
Several inter-island carriers have niches in this building
offering information about air excursions to nearby islands,
and all the major car rental agencies (Hertz, Avis, Budget)
are clustered near the exits. If you've arrived without reser-
vations (a big mistake in the high season), head for the
Ho-
tel Reservation Desk
, where a helpful person will assist
you (free of charge). Nearby is an
Information Center
,
where you can pick up some useful literature. Take a copy of
St. Thomas This Week
, a yellow magazine that has the
latest information about special events.
Getting to Your Hotel
By the time the first beads of perspiration appear on your
brow, you will be ready for your hotel. If you haven't rented a
car (see below), your best bet is to hop in a taxi. The airport is
located on the southern shore of St. Thomas, just a
10-minute drive to downtown Charlotte Amalie. Most hotels
will be within 25 minutes of the airport. Taxi fares, com-
puted not only by distance but by the number of passengers
