St John US Virgin Islands
General Information for Luxury Vacation Villa Rentals

St. John USVI is a very casual island, which is part of the appeal, because you can dress-up if you care to but there is no real dress-code for the restaurants. With the exception of Caneel Bay, no restaurants require a coat or tie, but shirts for men and cover-ups for women are required in Cruz Bay at all times. Temperatures range from the mid-80’s during the day to the mid-70’s at night, with an average daily temperature of 82 degrees. The days and nights are warmer in the summer, but there is likely to be a Caribbean breeze. Rainfall tends to come at night in brief but sudden showers, and rarely does a storm linger over the island for more than a day.

WHAT TO BRING?

Sunscreen, bathing suits, cover-ups (required in town), personal toiletries, medicines, sunglasses, camera. insect repellant, passport

MONEY, CURRENCY

The U.S. dollar is the local currency in the U.S. and the British Virgin Islands. There are ATM machines on St. John at Scotia Bank, which is located at Marketplace and First Bank, which is in Cruz Bay.

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP

lthough we are a U.S. territory, you will be required to clear U.S. Customs and Immigration on your departure from the airport in St. Thomas. You will need either a valid or expired passport or an original or copy of your birth certificate along with a photo ID. It is recommended to arrive at the airport in St. Thomas at least two hours before your departure time. As of 12/31/06, if you plan to travel to the British Virgin Islands during your stay, you will need a valid passport. No exceptions.

ACTIVITIES

Activities on St. John range from snorkeling, diving, fishing, sailing, hiking; day trips to nearby islands, power boat rentals, shopping, dining to simply “limin’” in town. There is parasailing and golf available on St. Thomas. We will be happy to make recommendations and help book your charters. One of the favorite activities of our guests is merely lounging around your private pool, enjoying the spellbinding views and reading or relaxing in the splendid privacy and comfort of your own beautiful home.

INTERNET/CELL PHONES

otunda is equipped with a telephone line restricted to local calls. You will need to use a calling card or credit card to make long distance calls. Cell phones work reasonably well from the terrace at Rotunda. We have DSL and wireless access

JEEP RENTALS

A four-wheel drive jeep or sport utility vehicle is recommended for your stay. We arrange jeep rentals as a courtesy for our guests. There are so many wonderful beaches and hiking trails that it is a good idea to rent a car if not for the whole week, then at least for a few days.

TRANSPORTATION

Taxis are readily available at the airport to take you to the Red Hook ferry or the Charlotte Amalie ferry which will transport you to St. John. The cab ride to Red Hook takes about 35-40 minutes and you should plan on $13.00 per person, plus $3.00 per bag. The Red Hook ferry to Cruz Bay, St. John takes about 20 minutes and costs $6.10 per person plus $2.00 per bag. This ferry leaves every hour from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. The cab ride to Charlotte Amalie takes about 10 minutes and costs about $7.00 per person, plus $2.00 per bag. The Charlotte Amalie boat takes about 45 minutes, costs $11.50 per person and leaves approximately every 2 hours from 9:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In the off-season, the Charlotte Amalie ferry schedule may change, so we recommend the Red Hook ferry which always runs every hour on the hour. We can arrange private taxi service in advance with rates starting at $75.00 for four people, and $18.00 for each additional passenger. You can take Click here for ferry schedules.

ARRIVAL

ou will be met at the passenger ferry dock in St. John and be escorted to your rental vehicle and then to Rotunda for an orientation. We will be on-call during your stay, to assist with anything you may need. In addition to arranging your rental vehicle, we can assist you with planning boat charters, catering and dining recommendations.

GROCERY STORES

We have three well-stocked supermarkets in Cruz Bay, all located 15 minutes from Rotunda. The prices are higher than stateside markets, and you might need a little flexibility with some recipes, but you can buy most everything you will need. Starfish is located on the first floor of Marketplace and is the largest of the markets. Dolphin Market is on Centerline Road on the left hand side just as you are leaving town. Pine Peace Market is on the South Shore Road. If you are driving towards the Westin, turn left as soon as you pass Caravan Auto Parts store. Pine Peace is on your left-hand side.

RESTAURANTS

St. John has more than 35 places to dine, ranging from chic and expensive restaurants to funky beachside food stands. If you are coming to St. John during the busy months, it is a good idea to make reservations for dinner, particularly, if you have a larger group. The website www.stjohnusvi.com lists most of the restaurants and phone numbers. There are two delis that have great sandwiches to take to the beach. The Deli Grotto is located in Mongoose Junction and Baked in the Sun is located on the second floor of Marketplace.