For a good time,
try to go to "Jump Up" (also known as Harbor Night) in Christiansted
which is held several times a year. This "carnival-like" evening
in Christiansted is filled with steel bands, dancing, local arts and
crafts, food, and fun! Both towns have duty free shopping and great
places
to eat!
St. Croix lies approximately
40 miles south of St. Thomas and St. John and is separated from them
by a deep oceanic trench plunging down over 10,000 feet! St. Croix has
beautiful sandy
beaches.
In fact, some of the best swimming, snorkeling, and diving to be found
in the Caribbean is right here on St. Croix.

Historic
plantations
from the days when agriculture drove the economy are scattered throughout
the island. St Croix also has fine
shopping
areas and a variety of activities to keep tourists entertained. Among
it's natural attributes are natural reserves for plant and animal life
(Buck Island Reef National Monument with an underwater snorkeling trail),
a rainforest, and botanical gardens.

The
Cruzan Rum
factory is also based in St. Croix.
Other
Facts about St. Croix
St. Croix's currency
is US Dollars. Most credit cards and travelers checks are accepted.
No sales tax.
The language is English, yet many locals also speak English with a Caribbean
twist. For instance, the 'H' is often discarded ("thing" becomes "ting",
and "thanks" becomes "tanks...mon").
The climate is subtropical with a year round average of about 78*F/26*C
with easterly trade winds to help keep the humidity level comfortable.
Seasonal temperatures fluctuate less than 10*F/6*C. Average annual rainfall
is only 50 inches/1270 millimeters and occurs more in late spring and
late summer. The island is more susceptible to potential hurricanes
September - October.
Electricity - the current and wall outlets are 110v/60 cycles, like
those in the U.S.
The water is safe to drink at most hotels and in town. Bottled water
is preferred, but not entirely necessary elsewhere.
St. Croix is on Atlantic Standard Time zone year-round (1 hour ahead
of Eastern Standard Time).
St. Croix has many festivals throughout the year, but any time is a
great time to visit St. Croix.
Travel Document
Requirements - Passport Requirements

***** U.S. Citizens do not need a passport
to travel to St. Croix!!! *****
Click
here for more
info.
The current passport requirements
DO NOT apply to U.S.
citizens traveling to or
returning directly from
a U.S. territory.
U.S. citizens returning
directly from a U.S. territory
are not considered to have
left the United States and
do not need to present a
passport. U.S. territories
include the following: Guam,
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, American Samoa,
Swains Island, and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana
Islands. |
Background
The Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act
of 2004 requires the Department of Homeland
Security and Department of State to
develop and implement a plan to require
all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign
nationals alike, to present a passport
or other document, or a combination
of documents, that denote identity and
citizenship when entering the United
States. Congress amended portions
of the Act in 2006. The Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the
Administration’s proposed plan to implement
this mandate.
The goal of the Initiative
is to strengthen border security and
facilitate entry into the United States
for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign
visitors by providing standardized,
secure and reliable documentation which
will allow the Department of Homeland
Security to quickly, reliably and accurately
identify a traveler.
More
Information from the U.S. Customs and
Border Protection Website
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI) will not affect travel between
the United States and its territories.
U.S. citizens traveling directly between
the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa,
Swains Island and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands will continue
to be able to use established forms
of identification to board flights and
for entry. U.S. citizens need only a
government issued photo ID to travel
to/from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service
The U.S. Immigration
and Naturalization Service maintains an office in St. Croix and is happy
to assist visitors by answering any immigration questions. Their telephone
number: (340) 778-6559. At the airport, their number is (340) 778-1419.
When you leave St. Croix by air, give yourself at least an hour and
a half at the airport to go through customs and immigration checkpoints.
At the airline counter you will be required to show photo identification
for security purposes, check your bags and you will be given a Customs
Declarations form.
Fill in the Customs
Declaration form you were given at check-in and proceed to Customs.
Present your declaration form, along with your passport. If you are
a U.S. citizen and have not gone out of the U.S. Virgin Islands, you
only need a valid, government issued I.D., such as a driver license.
U.S. You then collect your bags from the luggage carousel and
pass through Immigration where you present your identification and Customs
Declaration form. Be prepared to have all your bags checked thoroughly,
inside and out.
Once past Customs
and the airport screening area there are new gates with comfortable
chairs and a small snack bar which serves light snacks, soft drinks,
beer and cocktails.
Driving is on the left side of the road! Rentals cars are all left hand
drive models.
|