Banks -- FirstBank Virgin Islands (tel 340/775-7777; www.firstbankvi.com) has six locations on the island, with 24-hour ATMs at Crown Bay Center, East End Plaza, FirstBank Plaza, the Waterfront, and Yacht Haven. Scotiabank (tel 340/776-5880; www.scotiabank.com) has six locations on St. Thomas, including Havensight Mall and Tutu Park Mall; all branches have ATMs. Banco Popular tel 800/724-3655; www.popular.com/vi) has branches in Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook. Most island banks are open Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 3pm, and Friday 8:30am to 4pm. The banks are your only option if you need to exchange currency. More than 50 ATMs are available on the island.
Business Hours -- Typical business and store hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. Some shops open Sunday for cruise-ship arrivals. Bars are usually open daily 11am to midnight or 1am, although some hot spots stay open later.
Dentists -- The V.I. Dental Center, Foothills Professional Building, 9151 Estate Thomas, Ste. 203 (tel 340/772-6000; http://videntalcenter.com), has a team of dentists that are members of the American Dental Association. Call for information or an appointment.
Doctors -- Schneider Regional Medical Center, 9048 Sugar Estate, Charlotte Amalie (tel 340/776-8311; www.rlshospital.org), provides services for locals and visitors.
Drugstores -- Go to Havensight Pharmacy, Havensight Mall, Building 4, Charlotte Amalie (tel 340/777-5313).
Emergencies -- For the police, call tel 911; ambulance, tel 911; fire, tel 921.
Hospitals/Clinics -- The Schneider Regional Medical Center is at 9048 Sugar Estate, Charlotte Amalie (tel 340/776-8311; www.rlshospital.org). For 24-hour medical care call the Red Hook Family Practice (tel 340/775-2303) or Doctors on Duty (tel 340/776-7966).
Hot Lines -- Call the police at tel 911 in case of emergency. If you have or witness a boating mishap, call the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue (tel 787/729-6800), which operates out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Scuba divers should note the number of a decompression chamber (tel 340/776-8311) at the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.
Internet -- Most hotels and resorts now offer free Wi-Fi in the lobby. Many bars and restaurants also offer free Wi-Fi.
Laundry & Dry Cleaning -- The major hotels provide laundry service, but it’s more expensive than a Laundromat. For dry cleaning, go to One-Hour Martinizing, Barbel Plaza, Charlotte Amalie (tel 340/774-5452).
Mail -- Postage rates are the same as on the U.S. mainland: 34¢ for a postcard and 49¢ for a letter to U.S. addresses. For international mail, a first-class postcard or letter stamp costs $1.15.
Newspapers & Magazines -- Copies of U.S. mainland newspapers, such as “The New York Times,” “USA Today,” and “The Miami Herald,” arrive daily in St. Thomas and sold at newsstands. “The Virgin Island Daily News” (http://virginislandsdailynews.com) covers local, national, and international events. “St. Thomas This Week,” packed with visitor information, is distributed free on the island.
Police -- The main police headquarters is currently located in the Alexander Farrelly Criminal Justice Center in Charlotte Amalie (tel 340/774-2211). The Crime Line phone number is tel 340/777-8700.
Post Office -- The main post office is at 9846 Estate Thomas, Charlotte Amalie (tel 340/774-1950), and is open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5pm and Saturday 7:30am to noon.
Safety: The Virgin Islands are a relatively safe destination. The small permanent population is generally friendly and welcoming. As in any locale, be careful when wandering alone at night, especially on back streets. Store valuables in hotel safes if possible, and make sure you keep doors and windows shut at night.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
