Travel Info
Welcome to St. John! We are the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands, measuring approximately 5 mile wide x 9 miles long, and 1300 feet high. Two thirds of the island is designated as a US National Park, giving it an unspoiled beauty and unique character, which makes it the crown jewel of the Virgin Islands. We have world-class beaches, water sports, nature trail hikes, cultural demonstrations, duty-free shopping and fine dining.
St. John has a distinctive atmosphere, an air that combines a solid West Indian tradition with a more contemporary and cosmopolitan attitude. This combination of worlds is a direct product of its status as a US territory. Here, one can indulge in the pleasures of the islands while still enjoying the convenience and security of the United States. This unique quality has made St. John a favorite hideaway for artists and other escapees from the mainland as well as vacationers seeking a quietly exotic yet comfortably familiar getaway.
Weather: St. John is a tropical environment and shifts between excellent and outstanding, with temperatures ranging from 68 to 85 degrees F in the winter months and 78 to 95 degrees F in the summer months. The trade winds bring in occasional shower, which is usually very short-lived (5 to 15 minutes), and then the sun pops back out!
Currency: We use the American dollar here. Most establishments also accept most major credit cards and traveler's checks. If using a credit card, ask before shopping or dining.
Language: The official language is English, but some Spanish and West Indian English may be heard.
Passports and Visas: All persons traveling to and from the Caribbean are required to have a passport for re-entry into the US. Birth certificates with raised seals are no longer an acceptable.
Time: We are on Atlantic Standard Time and don't change for daylight saving time. In the summer we are the same as Eastern Standard and in the winter we are one hour ahead of Eastern Daylight Savings Time.
Electricity: The power is 110 volts same as in the States.
Taxis: Are available in town and at all hotels and resorts. Taxis are on standby at most beaches until late afternoon. Rates are posted and all drivers are friendly, courteous, and trustworthy.
Airports: There is no airport on St. John. Everyone flies into the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and catches a taxi to the St. John ferry dock in Red Hook. From there, it is only a 20 minute ferry ride to Cruz Bay.
Medical: St. John has a well-staffed hospital, The Myrah Keating Smith Clinic, as well as several private doctors, dentists, and a pharmacy.
Driving: We drive on the left side of the road here, and have many steep and winding roads.
Ferries: Ferries are available between Cruz Bay and Red Hook every day. This is a short 20 minute ride. For current pricing and schedules please check with Transportation Services or Varlack Ventures. There is also ferry service to several of the British Virgin Islands. Schedules and fares vary. Please check with Inter Island Boat Services.
