Fast Facts

American Express -- The American Express travel representative is Southerland, Queen Cross Street, Carvelle Arcade Building, Christiansted (tel. 800/260-2603 or 340/773-9500).

Banks -- Several major banks are represented in St. Croix. First Bank is at 1101 King St. in Christiansted (tel. 340/773-1200). Most are open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm and Friday from 9am to 4pm. Virgin Islands Community Bank has a branch at 12 King's St. (tel. 340/773-0440) in Christiansted and another branch on Strand Street in Frederiksted.

Business Hours -- Typical business hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Cameras & Film -- There is no specific outlet devoted to cameras and film. The best stock, however, is found at Kmart at the Sunny Isle Shopping Center, Space 1 (tel. 340/719-9190).

Doctors -- For a referral, call Sunny Isle Medical Center (tel. 340/778-0069).

Drugstores -- Try the Golden Rock Pharmacy, Golden Rock Shopping Center (tel. 340/773-7666), open Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 8am to 3pm.

Emergencies -- To reach the police, fire department, or an ambulance, call tel. 911.

Hospitals -- The main facility is Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center, 4007 Estate Diamond Ruby (tel. 340/778-6311).

Internet Access -- Go to Strand Street Station, 1002 Strand St., Christiansted (tel. 340/719-6245), which charges $6 for 30 minutes. You can also go to A Better Copy, 52 Company St., Christiansted (tel. 340/692-5303), which charges $10 for every hour.

Laundry -- Try Tropical Cleaners & Launderers, 16-17 King Cross St. (tel. 340/773-3635), in Christiansted. Hours are Monday to Saturday 7:30am to 5:30pm.

Newspapers & Magazines -- Newspapers such as The Miami Herald are flown into St. Croix daily. St. Croix also has its own newspaper, St. Croix Avis. Time and Newsweek are widely sold as well. Your best source of local information is St. Croix This Week, which is distributed free by the tourist offices.

Police -- Police headquarters is on Market Street in Christiansted. In case of emergency, dial tel. 911; for non-emergency assistance, call tel. 340/778-2211.

Post Office -- The post office is on Company Street (tel. 340/773-3586), in Christiansted. The hours of operation are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Restrooms -- There are few public restrooms, except at the major beaches and the airport. In Christiansted, the National Park Service maintains some restrooms within the public park beside Fort Christiansvaern.

Safety -- St. Croix is safer than St. Thomas. Although there have been random acts of violence against tourists in the past, even murder, most crime on the island is petty theft, usually of possessions left unguarded at the beach while vacationers go into the water for a swim, or muggings (rarely violent) of visitors wandering the dark streets and back alleys of Frederiksted and Christiansted at night. Exercise caution at night by sticking to the heart of Christiansted and not wandering around in Frederiksted. Avoid night strolls along beaches. Night driving in remote parts of the island can also be risky; you might be carjacked and robbed at knifepoint.

Taxes -- The only local tax is an 8% surcharge added to all hotel rates.

Taxis For an airport taxi, call tel. 340/778-1088; in Christiansted call tel. 340/773-5020.

Telephone & Fax -- You can dial direct to St. Croix from the mainland by using the 340 area code. Omit the 340 for local calls. A local call at a phone booth costs 25¢. Make long-distance, international, and collect calls as you would on the U.S. mainland by dialing 0 or your long-distance provider.