Here is some information that I hope will make your stay in St. Croix an enjoyable experience. Although we had a terrific time and enjoyed the culture of the island, there were some surprises we could have done without. If you have questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me [email protected]

Before I start, here is the most important tip: You must have Birth Certificate with 'raised seal' and valid goverment photo Id. Both were checked at least three times, each way throughout the check-in process.

Arrival:
We arrived on time at 6/14/04 and walked down the steps of the plane onto the runway to the open air baggage claim at short distance away. We quickly got our luggage and was approached by a man who loaded our luggage on a cart and took us past a row of shiny vans to a prehistoric van that looked like it was reincarnated from the junk yard.
Tip: Ask travel agent/hotel who is picking you up and the vehicle you should expect.

Colony Cove Condo Info....
We arrived in Christiansted in 20 minutes and had a quick check-in at the outdoor front desk which closes at 6P.m. We had ocean front condo that was mainly neat and clean. The bedrooms were air conditioned but not the entire unit. One air conditioner was broke but was replaced on the second day by Manager who real helpful. If two couples staying in one unit, they will make two twin beds in 2nd bedroom into king bed. The balcony was nice but the decorative bars got a bit annoying. The condo's have very visible security but the burlary rate is very high in that area. Per the local paper, the St. Croix Abis, there were 3 robbies in 1 night. Club St. Croix was burglarized twice on 6/15 at 5:32 a.m. & 8:25 a.m. Sugar Beach Condo's at 9:24 a.m. There are three government run housing complexes in that area. The crime rate goes up when the kids are out of school, per comments from locals. Although we didn't require much assistance, the staff were primarily friendly and helpful. The manager encourages comments both good and negative. The kitchen was fully stocked if you planned to eat in, including dish washer, washer/dryer which were helpful to reduce luggage. Tip: Take basic clothes, don't overpack, everything is very casual, exept a few places.

Car Rental...
Although our travel agent mislead us and said we didn't need a car....rent one if you plan to see the island. Although there are plenty of taxi's and tours, it's great to explore on your own. Judi of Croix, Inc. was recommended to us and they were great. Chisty and Chris, her husband are awesome. They delivered our Grand Vitara in 20 minutes from the time we called. Christy gave us many good tips and was just plain great to deal with. Their telephone # is 340-773-2123. Rates were comparable.

Buck Island...
The half day trip was great but the full day trip would give you abour one more hour to snorkel. Our tour was through Mile Mark and they are from 9:30 - 1:00 or 1:30 - 5:00. If your not sure if you'll like snorkling, you can take the 1/2 day and you'll be offered a BOGO deal at the end so you can go back another day at 1/2 price. The tour was good but the captain wasn't too pleasant. Many locals use and suggest Big Beards which offers the same types of trips.

Horse Back Riding...
Paul and Jill's near Fredricksted is a nice place to ride. You go in groups of about 8 and the ride is 1 1/2 hours long. It's $50 per person but the horses are very well kept and well behaved. Jill is the guide and she gives a good deal of information about the plantations you go through and the history of the plants and animals of the island. If your a avid rider you won't be too impressed but as someone who rides once every couple years I really enjoyed the ride and scenary. The horses are very well behaved for younger riders. After the ride, you can pick star fruit, mangos and other island fruit from their many trees. We even stayed a bit after the ride to help water and feed the horses which was a nice experience. Tip: If you plan a trip with another stable, ask if they are a licensed stable....some are not....Paul and Jill's is licensed to provide rides.

Shopping....
Shopping in Christiansted consists of small shops that are open from 9:00 - 5:00 p.m. 'Many Hands' has a nice variety of local artists work and you must visit the shop of Jan Mitchell. Her glasswork, sculptures and other artwork is great and reasonably priced. It's worth taking a few hours to work up and down the streets around behind the boardwalk which is about 2-3 blocks long.

Groceries, etc.
There is a K-mart five minutes outside of Christiansted and one on the opposite side of the island but don't expect a huge selection. They have the basics. Schooner's Market has excellent meat and seafood as well as awesome hoagies. Food Town is also a good place to go. Pueblo's is not recommended...meat is bad and stores are not the cleanest and also had issue in parking lot from someone who watched me take out money in store that required security. Many roadside fruitstands and markets for fresh seafood but lobsters and shrimp usually not available until about noon.

Food...
'Breezez' (near Colony Cove) had a nice colorful atmosphere by beach., the food is great and the prices reasonable. Excellent dinner for 4, for about $100.
'Bombay Club' on King Street in Chrisitansted was in basement of old 1800's stable...atmosphere was extremely unique and comfortable, excellent food. Lunch for 4 was $50.
'CheeseBurgers' are known for their burgers and they lived up to their reputation. They were great for $8 burgers that come with two sides. With a couple beers ($2.50), Lunch for 4 was $50. About 10 minutes outside of Christiansted.
' Carabola Beach Resort'. You can't miss the Friday night buffet from 6-9 p.m. King Crab legs, shrimp, steak, goat (popular on island), several types of fish, about 20 different kinds of side dishes, awesome deserts. $37.50 p/person but well worth it. Take your camera because they have entertainment that starts at 8:30. The resort is absolutely beautiful and the staff is remarkable.

Rum Factory Tour...
The tour is $4 for adults and $3 for children. It's was interesting and their are complimentary drinks rum drinks afterwards. You can sample as much as you want with many mixes available. The last tour is at 4 p.m. so go earlier if you want to hang out afterwards for several cocktails.

Parking.....
When parking in Christiansted for tours, shopping, etc., park in the government lot near the end of King Street (by boardwalk). Lot has attendant and they will wash vehicle for $15. They do an excellent job and the locals really appreciate the business. If they wash it one day, they won't ask again each time you return. Nice people. Parking is $5 for full day. Tip: Don't leave anything visible in vehicle and DO NOT put valuables (wallets, etc.) in glove box. Park on well traveled roads (King Street, etc.) versus side streets. Use caution at night.

Driving...
Driving on the left side of the road is a change for most. Use caution at the intersections which is the most difficult to get used to. Left turn on Red is legal unless marked. Right turn on Red is not legal. Get good directions from where you are staying as there are few signs to guide you. Many signs have still not been replaced after hurricane Hugo although it was several years ago. Taxi drivers are helpful in most cases. Get gas during daylight hours.

Beaches...
The best beaches are without question at Cane Bay. Some of the other resorts have beautiful beaches as well such as The Buccaneer, Carabola Beach Resort, Cramer Beach as well as Sand Castle on the Beach. All resorts provide beach access to the public and most will rent their lounge chairs even if not staying at resort. ALL beaches are open to the public. No Dogs are permitted on any beach. Nudity is not permitted on any beach although I was able to sneak a couple skinny dip on more secluded beaches earlier in day. Sunday is the beach day for the locals who often bring more speakers for music than your average concert arena.

Diva Carino Casino...
The casino is nice and about 20 minutes from Christiansted. Secure parking athough someone was mugged while we were there. Don't flash around your money and if you win, keep a low profile. Do Not draw attention to yourself if you win. Set your limit...one of the guys on the trip lost a good deal of money with the help of the free drinks while gambling.

Island Overall...
The island is very laid back and the people are primarily friendly. They do expect you to great them first, with a simple 'good day'. If you don't great them, most won't speak to you, unless your in the shops. They don't tolerate loud obnoxious behavior which is nice. The gay lifestyle is tolerated but not widely accepted. Sandcastles on the Beach is a good place to stay for the gay traveler which is near Fredricksted. Shirts must be worn most everywhere on the island except beaches/poolside. There is a high crime rate in various areas around the island and you must use caution as you need to do most anywhere you travel. Most beaches are not safe to walk at night. It is completely dark by 8:00 p.m. and the sun rises at about 5:00 a.m. There is a great deal of history to the island and most locals, except business owners don't encourage major development. Don't be afraid to explore as there are many beautiful places on the island, including the scenic trails and awesome beaches, sugar cane ruins, etc., Just be use caustion and be sensible and you'll have a great time. Enjoy.