Sail SVI Voyagers,
We are very excited to explore by sail, the vast beauty of the Virgin Islands, Spanish and otherwise. We have some travel tips.
We update this page when we have new info. For bigger updates, we email our fellow Adventurers.
Travel …
Flying from the continental US to the USVI is considered domestic travel.
The fly-in airport is STT (Cyril E. King Airport) in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI.
The yachts are at the Dream charter base at Compass Point Marina, address below.
All travelers to USVI must receive a green QR code from USVITravelPortal.com to show to airlines. You must submit a negative Covid test to the online portal. See details under Covid below. Not all tests are accepted.
For this exotic adventure, our plan is to sail to the SVI from the USVI. It is just a dozen miles away. Subject to weather and regulations of course.
We have the yachts for seven days from December 4, 1700 (5pm) to December 11, 1000 (10am).
Flying out. The yachts will be back at the dock by 1000 (10am) on December 11.
The base is on the southeast side of St. Thomas. It is about 8 miles from the airport, a short taxi ride and through town.
Puerto Rico and USVI are on Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4) with no daylight savings. It’s always good to arrive at a destination a day or so before a sail to acclimate a bit to the time and the culture. Or stay after the voyage to visit places you’ve learned about.
Airport Transportation …
STT airport is served by taxis. The base says that taxis from the airport to Compass Point Marina are 15-20$. And some cabs charge a fee for luggage. The base recommends, “arranging your transfer a few days before
arrival. This will prevent you sharing an open–air cab or large van with other travelers where the marina is the last stop.
The base recommends these taxi providers …
–Rachel Brown Taxi & Tours: (340)-771-2986
–A&P Taxi Service: (340)-642-4966
-Big Love’s Taxi: (340) 201-7299
–Mr. Nice Guy Taxi: (786) 296-8767
–Prestige Taxi: (340) 643-7002
And car rentals from …
–Paradise Rental Car 340–643–2692
–Discount Car Rental: 340–776–4858
The Charter Base …
Compass Point Marina. 6300 Est Frydenhoj, St. Thomas, USVI. Dream Yacht Charters.
Covid …
Everyone must complete the online portal questions within 5 days of your flight into the USVI. USVItravelportal.com.
The USVI requires a negative Covid-19 test result prior to travel. See important details on the portal page.
Acceptable tests:
- Negative result from a COVID-19 antigen (rapid) test (not an unmonitored home test) OR
- Negative result from a COVID-19 nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) test (e.g.,RT- PCR, NEAR, TMA, LAMP, HDA, CRISPR, SDA).
More info … Usviupdate.com & Covid19usvi.com/covid-19/travelers.
Masks are currently required inside businesses.
The Spanish Virgin Islands also have an online Travel Portal to enter …
https://www.travelsafe.pr.gov/#travel-requirements.
Requirement are currently proof of vaccination OR negative test within 72 hours of entry. Subject to change.
Vaccines are required for all employees of Hotels, Paradores etc. (beach restaurants that we may be visiting). Guests without vaccine proof will need to produce a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours.
A negative test may be required at the airport prior to flying back to the US.
Hotels …
Hotels.com, Airbnb.com, VRBO.com all have local selections. I found a little place near town for the day prior. I only saw the name Galleon, the price and that it had free breakfast – sold.
Places to stay, recommendations from the base.
-On the East End of St. Thomas, near the base–
• Secret Harbor
• Kathie’s Condo Rentals at Sapphire Beach
• Two Sandals by the Sea Inn
• Ritz Carlton
-Downtown Charlotte Amalie Area–
• The Green Iguana Hotel
• Mafolie Hotel and Restaurant
-By the airport–
• Emerald Beach Resort
You will have received … Crew Questionnaire, What to Bring, Marina and Final Info emails. Let us know if you have not. As always ;), there will be lots of information posted to the site here and you will get emails notifying you of updates. If you have information that is helpful to our flotilla, please email Woody or Tania and we’ll post it here.
Questions … Woody@AdventureVoyaging.com. If he’s sailing, contact Tania@sover.net (though she might be out sailing too ;).
Speak Spanish!
Yes – Si (see)
No – No
Please – Por Favor (pour fah vor)
Thank You – Gracias (grah see us)
Good Morning – Buenos Dias (bwen ohs dee ahs)
Good Night – Buenos Noches (bwen ohs no chase)
How are you? – Como Esta (ko mo es tah)
Good Bye – Adios (ah dee ohs)
How much – Cuanto es? (kwan tow es)
Bano – Bathroom (ban yo)
Where is – Donde esta? (dohn day es tah)
Restaurant – restaurante (restaurant ay)
Video and pronunciation of top useful phrases in Spanish, Youtube.com/watch?v=WvnBAQFsmu0
Money is US dollar. Puerto Rico is a US territory and it’s people are US citizens. They have a non-voting member in Congress. The people vote in local elections but not in US federal elections.
More Travel Info …
-US gov info on traveling ‘abroad’, Travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html.
-Offset your voyage footprint. We have you fully covered on the yachts. Offset your flights if you like, Cotap.org/offset-co2-by-the-tonne or use Cotap as your Amazon Smile charity (free).
-Travel Insurance? Do confirm that it covers you properly. Most only pay if you have a doctors note. Worldnomads.com, Travelinsurance.com.
-Puerto Rico’s tourist webpage, pretty pix, Discoverpuertorico.com.
-Puerto Rico’s travel guidelines, Discoverpuertorico.com/info/travel-guidelines
-USVI’s tourist webpage, Visitusvi.com & Visitstthomas.com.
-All of our pages on Sail SVI, Adventurevoyaging.com/category/21svi/
Email CaptainWoody@AdventureVoyaging.com to add tips or make changes to this page.
