2019
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Maps • Shopping DEals • Beaches Taxi Rates • Fun & much More!
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2019
on the cover St Thomas is A Shopper’s Paradise! Photo by Don Hebert Photography www.donhebert.com
Send us photos from your USVI trip!
We will select photos for publication online and in our magazines and winners will be selected for a chance to win prizes from local merchants. Email high-res photos with details to catkins@morriscaribbeanpublications.com Put “Pictures from America’s Paradise Contest” in the subject line and include your name, email and home city.
Shopping and Dining Districts ............................................14 Duty Free Shopping..............................................................16 St. Thomas Island Map....................................................18,19 Taxi Rates........................................................................18,19 Charlotte Amalie DownTown Map.................................20,21 Havensight Mall.............................................................22,23 Yacht Haven Grande Map.....................................................22 beaches.................................................................................24 Crown Bay Center and Map............................................26,27 St Thomas History...............................................................28 helpful info.........................................................................30 Special Offers/Coupons................................................ 31-33 St. Thomas in a Day Published by Morris Caribbean Publications (340)774-2500 or email: catkins@morriscaribbeanpublications.com virginislandsthisweek.com Copyright 2019. No part may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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7A Main Street St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802 1.800.232.6229
shopping & Dining districts St. Thomas is a shopper’s dream with our duty-free offerings and friendly, welcoming merchants. We also have eateries all over the island offering dishes for just about any taste. By shopping and dining during your visit, you’re helping our island recover from the impact of two Cat 5 hurricanes. Thanks for shopping and dining!
Downtown Charlotte Amalie Perhaps one of the most famous shopping districts in the Caribbean, Main Street is lined with duty-free stores. You’ll find plenty of expert jewelers as promised, but you can also find liquor, perfume, fashion, local art and home décor, and souvenirs galore. Be sure to venture down our side streets and historic alleys that have more stores and boutiques plus restaurants and bars. Old warehouses, built from bricks carried across the Atlantic on colonial trading ships, line the alleys of this historic shopping district.
Havensight Shopping Mall Located right on the WICO Cruise Ship dock, Havensight Mall is a convenient, less-crowded way to shop for your duty-free purchases. All the major retailers have well-stocked stores with the same merchandise and prices as downtown. And if you make a purchase in a Havensight Merchants’ Association member store, your purchases will be 100% guaranteed! Look for the Association logo on the doors of the member merchants. Be sure to get your special memento before you get back on the ship!
Yacht Haven Grande Located within walking distance from the Havensight Mall and the West Indian Co. cruise ship dock is the home of upscale international and local retailers and restaurants. If you’re venturing around, have your taxi drop you off on the way back to the dock. Some of the upscale boutiques are Louis Vuitton, Gucci and White House Black Market. It is also home to several popular restaurants and bistros.
Crown Bay Center This shopping area, located on the Crown Bay cruise ship dock, features internationally renowned duty-free shops as well as vendors of local arts and crafts. You will find many of the same stores as you will find downtown. Relax for a bite and a drink too. Convenient to dine, shop and easily take your treasures back to your ship! 14
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duty free
shopping
Few visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands return home without doing a little shopping. Who can resist the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean? With an allowance of $1,600 — double that of other Caribbean islands — U.S. residents, including children, can enjoy the shopping experience without thought of duty or taxes. Members of a family residing in one household and traveling together may make a joint declaration. For example, a couple traveling with two children may
bring articles free of duty valued up to $6,400. You may send gifts to friends and relatives (excluding tobacco and alcohol), but no more than one package per day to the same address — up to $100 in value. These items need not be declared. Perfume, jewelry, tobacco (you can take up to 5 cartons of cigarettes), cameras, china and electronics are available for 30-60 percent off U.S. mainland prices. If you’d like to take advantage of our great prices on liquor, take back up to five (1 liter) bottles, as long as one is made in the Virgin Islands.
So shop, shop, shop! 16
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St. Thomas island map 0
Hull Bay Beach
1/2 1 mile
ST. THOMAS
WEST END 30
30
33
40
MOUNTAIN TOP
4 Corners
CRUISE SHIP DOCK
Caribbean Ocean
Taxi Rates
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Charlotte Amalie
Brewer’s Bay 30 Beach AIRPORT 302 30 Emerald Beach ResortCrown Bay HASSEL 33
N
Mage Be St Peter GreatHous 37
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ISLAND
WATER ISLAND
One Way, Per Person, 2 or More People
Havensight Dock to/from Town.........................................$4 Havensight Dock to/from Magens Beach........................$8 Havensight to/from Red Hook Ferry...............................$10 Havensight to/from Coral World.......................................$9 Magens Beach to/from Town.............................................$8 Town to/from Mountain Top...............................................$8 Town to/from Coral World..................................................$9 Town to/from Red Hook (for Ferry to St. John)..............$10 18
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Atlantic Ocean
ens Bay each 35 42
Coki Point Beach CORAL WORLD OCEAN PARK 42
Lindquist Beach
38 39
313
CRUISE SHIP DOCK
Havensight
Sapphire Beach
38 32
30
t. J oh n
38
38
RED HOOK
oS
40
5
yt
42
Fe rr
se
32 30
Crown Bay Dock to/from Town..........................................$4 Crown Bay to/from Magens Beach.................................$10 Crown Bay Dock to/from Havensight...............................$6 Crown Bay Dock to/from Coral World............................$10 Crown Bay Dock to/from Emerald Beach.........................$4 Crown Bay Dock to/from Red Hook.............................$11
Higher Prices for Single Fares and Private Parties Ask to see Official Tariff Sheet Taxi fares are subject to change. www.virginislandsthisweek.com
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charlotte amalie
Synagogue CRYSTAL GADE
BACK STREET Market Square
Enid M. Baa Library
kris ing RS by liv ELE en JEW d jewels e den e 308
Tompeter Gade
Royal Dane Mall
Royal Dane Mall
Royal Dane Mall
Palm Passage
STORE TVAER GADE
International Plaza
STRAND GADE
GUTTET’S GADE
MAIN STREET
Parking
To AIRPORT
and Crown Bay Dock
WATERFRONT HIGHWAY
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Some of St. Thomas’ best stores do not pay to be promoted on board your cruise ship. Don’t miss out on some of the island’s best shopping.
Shoppers’ Paradise St. Thomas has long been the place to shop in the Caribbean. Our friendly merchants have stores filled with beautiful items ranging from jewelry, fashion and cosmetics to art, home décor, souvenirs and more. You can shop with confidence at the stores advertised in this booklet. So be sure to visit one or more of our major shopping districts – Downtown Charlotte Amalie, Havensight Mall, Yacht Haven Grande and Crown Bay Center. The Publisher of this Magazine is a Member in Good Standing of:
The Havensight Merchants Association St. Thomas - St. John Chamber of Commerce USVI Hotel & Tourism Association 20
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E
US
HO
GARDEN STREET
NYE GADE
99 Steps
Seven Arches Government Museum House KONGENS GADE
S ER nd EL A ND W N I E LE ERLA ND diamo J ER T S T ’ LL LI TILTEZ RLA no y PE S BBY BA IM T TZE ER LSIW BO mila I EL SW Galler JEW DRONNINGENS GADE NORRE GADE dow FY car EF S Y Y A R W N EA EFF OM EL DO POST jewelers TH EW AR IBB OFFICE ST INE J C AR IAL Dazzlers H C R S E AyL L SF JA P AND E A E IM nRast TL RL OY F R JEW KAY A LIT ITZE dy H EO N S SW U PE FREE HO Y Emancipation UT D Park H Historic AJA R Danish F ND Warehouse E O St Thomas LE LA Historical ITT ITZER A.H. Riise L Trust Mall SW Museum OR ND OLLOR CE LEE ERLAAND C U T L O OD LITTL TZ RL CA L C Vendor’s PR LITSWIITZE LOOCA H Plaza ES SW L R F WIMMELSKAFTS GADE
Parking
FORTET STRADE
FORTET PLADSEN
Frederick Lutheran Church
Paid Parking
TOLBOD PLADSEN
TOLBOD GADE
Post Office Alley
Cardow’s Walk
A. H. Riise Mall
King Christian Walk
Hibiscus Alley
RAADETS GADE
Drake’s Passage
L RIA
Fort Christian Museum
To Yacht Haven Grande & Havesnight Mall & Cruise Ship Dock
HAVENSIGHT MALL AREA: VI Legislature
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ATM To TOWN and the AIRPORT
N
yacht haven grande
30
313
Wendy's PORT OF $ ALE MALL
HAVENSIGHT MALL W
T ES
IN
AN DI
CO
A MP
D NY
OC
K
ATM
3
Buccan eer Mall Paradise
VII
Point
INFO
I II 30
III
VI IV
Skyride
30
LEGEND
ENTRANCE
T
Guardian Building
V ENTRANC E
T
Taxis
ATM
Bank
Restrooms
Al Cohen Mall
HAVENSIGHT MALL
Store: BLDG Little Switzerland.................................................II Local Color......................................................... VII Miners Gems............................................. I, II & III Dynasty Dazzlers...................................................I Milano Diamond Gallery.....................................I
Yacht Haven Grande Louis Vuitton Gucci Sunglass Hut La Royale Boutique Men’s Corner
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Fresh Bistro Fat Turtle Urban Eats Bad Ass Coffee Grande Cru
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local beaches All beaches in the Virgin Islands are open to the public. Some have dressing facilities and showers.
COKI BEACH – Located on Coki Point right before Coral World Ocean Park, this white sand beach with crystal clear water offers excellent snorkeling and diving. Beachside restaurants serve picnic fare including burgers, sandwiches and some local dishes. There is a dive shop, jet ski rental and several vendors renting snorkel gear, beach chairs and floats. MAGENS BAY BEACH – This beautiful one-mile stretch of beach is St. Thomas’ most famous beach and is a public park. The water is usually very calm in this heart-shaped protected bay. Picnic tables located all along the beach and there is plenty of space to stroll around.
SAPPHIRE BEACH – The sapphire-blue waters here are great for snorkeling, windsurfing, jet skiing and more. There’s a little beach bar on site too. The beach is located on the east end of St. Thomas at Sapphire Beach Resort.
LINQUIST BEACH – One of St. Thomas’s most virginal and pristine beaches, Lindquist Beach is on the east end of the island. The water is crystal-clear and typically calm. The left side of the beach is great for snorkeling. Owned by the Virgin Islands government, it is well-maintained and kept clean. There are a few picnic tables, but get there early!
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local history about the virgin islands The U.S. Virgins Islands – St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix – and the British Virgin Islands (to the north and east) are among the most beautiful geographical areas in the world, blessed with powdery beaches and sun-drenched weather. But our islands are also rich in history. The islands lie in the path of soft trade winds blowing directly from Portugal, which perhaps accounts for the fact that “Santa Cruz” was among the first islands to be sighted by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage westward. He then sailed northeast, passing St. Thomas, St. John and Tortola and called them collectively “Las Virgenes.” In the centuries after, this area was once one of the top pirate lairs in the Caribbean, making us rich in pirate stories and lore. After Columbus’ visit, the islands went back to sleep for more than 150 years. They woke to find the flag of Denmark planted on St. Thomas, the French Tricolor on St. Croix and the Union Jack flying over Tortola (where it still flies). The Arawak Indian population had disappeared. Denmark later claimed St. John, bought St. Croix and built the Danish West Indies into thriving sugar cane and trading islands. Slaves were imported early to work the growing number of sugar plantations. The islands were also used as a base for reshipment of slaves to other areas. After the 28
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Danish abolished slavery in 1848, planters began to abandon their estates and the population and economy dwindled. Threatened by German expansion during World War I, the U.S. bought the Danish West Indies (now the American Virgin Islands) on March 31, 1917. Even then the islands were expensive real estate – almost $300 an acre. In 1927, residents were granted U.S. citizenship. Until 1931, the islands were administered by the U.S. Navy. Then they were placed under the Department of the Interior with a Governor appointed by the President. A locally elected legislature (15 members from all three islands) has operated since 1852, but it wasn’t until 1970 that islanders could vote for their own Governor, and in 1972, a delegate to the U.S Congress. Though U.S. citizens, residents have no vote in national elections. Nor does the Washington representative have a vote on the floor of the house. We celebrated the Centennial as a U.S. Territory in 2017. Want to learn more? Take a historic walking tour, local safari bus tour or visit the local shipwreck museum! www.virginislandsthisweek.com
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helpful info SIZE St. Thomas – 32 Square Miles St. John – 19 Square Miles
POPULATION St. Thomas has 52,000 residents St. John has 4,300.
CAPITOL Charlotte Amalie (See downtown map)
LANGUAGE The official language of the Virgin Islands is English.
CURRENCY & CREDIT CARDS The currency of the U.S Virgin Islands is the US Dollar. Major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.
MAIL The US Virgin Islands use the same postal system and US mail rates. You can mail an unlimited amount of locally purchased gifts back to the states.
DRESS We are more than just a beach destination and bathing suits worn elsewhere, especially in town, tend to offend local residents. So, please wear proper attire (no bare midriffs or chests) in town and public areas, away from the beach.
PHONES The Virgin Islands area code is 340. AT&T, Sprint and Verizon provide domestic service. 30
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