A Travelers Guide to St. John Virgin Islands

Unless you have your own boat, the only access to St. John is by ferry boat from St. Thomas which runs ,depending on the weather, most of the day everyday. Upon arriving at the ferry on St' Thomas passengers are met by locals offering to help carry their baggage to the boat (for a small fee.) If all you have are a small number of carry-on bags there is no need to pay someone $5 to help you go 20 feet. You can also transport your vehicle via ferry if you've rented on St. Thomas.

The ferry arrives right in the heart of downtown Cruz Bay and visitors can easily walk to an assortment of shops, restaurants or bars in a matter of minutes. Taxi's are also available for those needing a short ride to the their hotel, campground or rented villa. Car rentals are also within walking distance for travelers wanting to have freedom to explore the island during their stay, ( four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to the hilly terrain found on most of the island )

A word of caution to first time visitors of this tropical wonderland, driving is done on the "wrong" side of the road. So if you're used to right side driving prepare for the uneasy feeling of left side travel. This can be especially tricky after visiting any of the local "watering holes." Seat belts are NOT a requirement on the island and there are no laws prohibiting drinking while driving so again, caution is highly recommended. There are taxi's ( converted pickup trucks with seats and a sun cover over the bed ) constantly going in all directions, so the safest way from place to place is to use one of them.

The drinking age on island is 18 however it is not enforced so families with teenagers should be aware that anyone who has the money and can at least look over the bar can and will most likely be served. Another "feature" on this island paradise is the availability of marijuana. For the most part this is not "pushed" on tourists and the local sign for this is when a native islander ( complete with dreadlocks ) approaches you and while tapping his shirt pocket asks " You alright Mon'." They're not really concerned for your well-being as much as they're asking if you'd like to get high.