Getting around the US Virgin Islands

If you are a US citizen, all you need is proof of your citizenship like a driver’s license to enter the US Virgin Islands. However, due to new US travel laws, all US nationals must hold a valid passport in order to re-enter the US. Tourists from other countries must hold a valid passport and ticket to visit here.

If you are traveling by air, airports on the islands of Saint Thomas and Saint Croix handled most of the airline traffic. A majority of international flights come to St. Thomas via Puerto Rico. Air St Thomas, Air Sunshine, Cape Air and American Eagle, are some of the popular airlines to land here. If you like you can also visit the US Virgin Islands by cruise ship. St. Thomas is a popular cruise ship destination in the Caribbean serving more than 1000 port arrivals annually.

If you like you can get to the US Virgin Islands via the neighboring British Virgin Islands with some affordable and economical ferry services from Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda to St. Thomas and St John. However to travel by ferry you will need a valid passport for the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Smiths Ferry Service, the Road Town Fast Ferry, Speedy’s and the Nubian Princess are some of the well known ferry service operators in the region. You can also get to the US Virgin Islands from Puerto Rico by ferry service. The Caribe Cay is a high-speed passenger ferry that goes once a week every Saturday to St. Thomas.

Once in the US Virgin Islands, the best way to get around is by air. Seaborne Airlines offer regular flights between St. Thomas and St. Croix via a floatplane offering some excellent aerial views along the way. To get from Saint Thomas to Saint John there is a ferry service that leaves every 20 minutes from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. A ferry service also operates between St. Thomas and St. Croix. Regular and very affordable, these ferry services are a quick way to get around if you are traveling on a budget.

On the islands themselves, buses, cars and taxis are all available making getting around the US Virgin Islands quite easy. Air conditioned buses run on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix from morning till 9:30 pm for just US$1. Cars are the most convenient way to travel, but remember here driving is on the left hand side of the road. Traffic laws are not well enforced here, so do be careful while driving around. There are plenty of rental car agencies here to choose from. If you like you can always hail a cab, which are open air pick up trucks that seat up to 12 people.