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What to bring? Here are some thoughts, followed by some basic
travel info (currency, etc.)
Passport
Not needed. St. John is in the U.S. Virgin Islands, so if you are a U.S. citizen, no
passport is needed. Although not required, a passport (or a birth
certificate with a driver's license) may facilitate your re-entry into
the US, which is why your rental company may have suggested that you
bring it with you. In fact, the pat response is that a passport
"is strongly preferred." If you have one, even an expired one, throw it
in your bag. Also, if you want to travel to the
very, very close by
British Virgin Islands (e.g., Tortola), you will need a passport.
What to Pack
You can buy almost anything down there, but
it will be much more expensive than here. Especially if you are planning
to buy alcohol, consider purchasing items in St. Thomas when you arrive
(see below for stores in St. Thomas).
- Casual, comfortable clothes! Nothing more than shorts
are needed! The only places where nicer attire is requested
are the two resorts: Caneel and the Westin. If you aren't planning
to go to these, no need for dressy clothes. For those who feel
uncomfortable with the idea of wearing your bathing suit under
shorts to the ceremony, there are changing rooms.
- Sunglasses
- Bathing suits (plural)
- Hats/protective wear, long-sleeve shirts
- Light sweater/Wind breaker jacket
- Footwear:
-- Sandals
-- Hiking shoes, if interested in Park trails
-- Beach/water shoes (although north shore beaches are white
sand, others are rocky)
- Flashlight
- Toiletries:
-- Soap
-- Shampoo/conditioner
-- Toothbrush/paste
-- Hand lotion
- Extra set of glasses or contact lenses and prescription
- Linens: (ask if your accommodations provide)
-- Beach towel (s) or large sheets for beach
-- Bedding/sheets
-- Wash cloths
-
Camera/film
- Medicine/First aid: e.g.,
-- sunscreen
-- insect repellent
-- painkillers
-- antihistamines
-- aloe cream or other sunburn care
-- bug bite care (e.g., products with ammonia)
-- jelly fish treatment (e.g., meat tenderizer)
-- hydrocortisone cream
-- chapstick/lip sunscreen
- Binoculars for bird or whale watching (May in end of
Humpback passage season)
- Ice packs
- Ziploc-type baggies
- Mask/fins/snorkel and/or diver certification card (some
villas will have this equipment; ask)
-
"Dry bag" for water sports
-
Frisbee/beach football
-
Tennis racket
Note about prices: Buy groceries/alcohol in St. Thomas?
St. John is relatively remote; they get provisions from St. Thomas
and the cost of that transport is reflected in prices. So,
groceries can be pricey. For example, a friend who was in St. John last
year said that milk was about $5/gal. If that doesn't bother you,
you can stop reading.
If you want to save a few bucks (especially if you are buying
alcohol), buy your provisions in St. Thomas on your way over to St. John
(or arrange a separate trip). St. Thomas stocks the cruise ships
that come daily, so they have some warehouse type shopping areas
including a discount liquor store. There are even two KMarts on
St. Thomas that carry inexpensive wine/spirits. From
Fodor's:
Grocery Stores: St. Thomas
Cost-U-Less
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-777-3588
St. Thomas
This store sells everything from soup to nuts, but in giant sizes and
case lots. The meat and seafood department, however, has smaller,
family-size portions. The store is 1 mi (1½ km) east of Charlotte
Amalie on Rte. 38 (¼mi/½ km west of Rte. 39 intersection).
Fruit Bowl
Wheatley Center, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-774-8565
St. Thomas
For fruits and vegetables, this is the place.
Gourmet Gallery
Crown Bay Marina, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-776-8555
St. Thomas
Visiting millionaires buy their caviar here. There's also an excellent
and reasonably priced wine selection, as well as specialty ingredients
for everything from tacos to curries to chow mein. A full-service deli
offers imported meats, cheeses, and in-store prepared foods that are
perfect for a gourmet picnic. Other Location: Havensight Mall, Charlotte
Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 340/774-4948.
Marina Market
Across from Red Hook ferry, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-779-2411
St. Thomas
You won't find a better fresh-meat and seafood department anywhere on
the island.
Plaza Extra
Tutu Park Shopping Center, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-775-5646
St. Thomas
This supermarket has a large selection of Middle Eastern foods.
Pueblo Supermarkets
Four Winds Plaza, across from Tillett Gardens, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin
Islands
Phone: 340-775-4655
St. Thomas
You'll find stateside brands of most products at these large
supermarkets - but at higher prices because of shipping costs. Other
Locations: Sub Base, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 1 mi (1½ km)
north of Havensight Mall, 340/774-4200; Estate Thomas, St. Thomas, U.S.
Virgin Islands, 1 mi (1½ km) north of Havensight Mall, 340/774-2695.
Wine/Spirits: St. Thomas
A. H. Riise Liquors
37 Main St., at Riise's Alley, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-776-2303
St. Thomas
This Riise venture offers a large selection of tobacco (including
imported cigars), as well as cordials, wines, and rare vintage Armagnacs,
cognacs, ports, and Madeiras. It also stocks fruits in brandy and
barware from England. Other Location: Havensight Mall, St. Thomas, U.S.
Virgin Islands, 340/776-7713.
Al Cohen's Discount Liquor
Long Bay Rd., Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-774-3690
St. Thomas
The wine selection at this warehouse-style store is very large. It's
across from Havensight Mall, Long Bay Rd.
Kmart
Sunshine Mall, Rte. 70, Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-692-5848
St. Croix
The two branches of this discount department store - a large one in the
Sunshine Mall and a smaller one mid-island at Sunny Isle Shopping Center
- carry a huge line of discounted, duty-free liquor.
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