We have Verizon as well, and will be traveling to St. John soon. I recommend that you visit your Verizon store and review the options for adding an international plan to your phone account, even for a temporary period. I am guessing that the international roaming charges levied by the BVI firms would be quite steep, and I am not going to leave this question to chance. Good luck, and have a safe trip!

Check your plans with your provider.
In Coral Bay, you are more likely to PU the BVI cell tower so check what your phone is using prior to making any calls. I don't think Verizon works here. AT&T does but watch your roaming or your next bill will make you faint and be as costly as your vacation..

Be really careful! Roaming and usage charges from Verizon are atrocious here! (i believe in the range of $1.79 a minute). Check out getting a pre-paid phone from AT&T. We have found it a much more economical approach.

We were able to use the phone in the villa where we stayed in Coral Bay. Don't know if this is common practice.

Just make sure the phone says AT&T before you use it. Coral Bay is the side of the island where it is harder to get an AT&T signal but sometimes you will get one. Be very careful because they told us we had service there and so 2 years we used it whenever and wherever we wanted. We had $2000.00 bill one year and 3,000.00 the next. They took of it off but told me they would never do it again and to make sure it says AT&T before using it which they had not previously told us. Also, we now turn off our roaming data when we go there, because a few years ago we were awakened by a text message from AT&T at midnight telling us what we would be charged for this. We always stay in Coral Bay, the East End or John's Folly Bay area--all areas where you have to be careful about picking up British towers or a cruise ship using British towers.

Have a great time. We will be there again this May. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

The Bordeaux Mountain tower in Coral Bay has ATT on it. The reception is great, as long as you have line of site. Areas with no ATT service are Annaberg/Leinster Bay, north side of East End, Coral Bay past Cocolobo Plaza. YMMV.

Turn off roaming and data roaming on your phone and you won't have any surprises.

Cheers, RickG

It's good to know about the potential roaming charges from the BVI's. Personally I'm going on vacation to get away from everything at home so my phone will go in airplane mode and just use it as an iPod to play some Bob Marley and maybe Toots and the Maytals.

I might check for texts / emails over the wifi in my Hotel in Cruz Bay once or twice but the last thing I want to do is talk to home 🙂

Euphoria II wrote: Personally I'm going on vacation to get away from everything at home so my phone will go in airplane mode and just use it as an iPod to play some Bob Marley and maybe Toots and the Maytals.

I might check for texts / emails over the wifi in my Hotel in Cruz Bay once or twice but the last thing I want to do is talk to home 🙂

How refreshing! I've never understood the need to 'phone home constantly while basking on a beautiful Caribbean beach and yattering away about how lovely it is. Sheesh, lay back and relax and enjoy it - save the commentary for those interested when you're back home. I'm trying to read and enjoy the soft sound of the surf, the breeze soughing through the palms and the chatter of the birds - not listen to your constant loud chit-chat. Vent over!

I've actually had pretty good luck when it comes to Verizon service on STJ. In my experience, some beaches on the north side you'll get service, some you won't, and some you'll get BVI towers. Cruz Bay is always the best for service, and we didn't spend a ton of time on the east end, FWIW.

This year, I'm looking into the international options, just to be safe, but I never have before.

Verizon does NOT work at all in STJ... ATT works but if you are on the east side, you will roam on LIME from Tortola ...