It shouldn’t need to be said but when traveling to new destinations, making an effort to observe local culture and traditions is always appreciated. It will generally make for a better experience. Remember, you are in their home, if you want people to welcome you, then respect them. During your visit to St. Croix, be prepared.
St. Croix and the rest of the US Virgin Islands are part of the United States . The residents are US Citizens but you will find that many more of the customs and traditions stem more from the European and African roots. St. Croix does have many stateside conveniences but there are many things that you may not be used to such as the rough roads and the tropical flora.
No need to worry though, we have you covered! Below you will find the best tips, tricks and hacks for an enjoyable and easy trip, vacation or even wedding in St. Croix!
Culture and Customs
1. Use the proper greetings and use them at the appropriate times. Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Goodnight (not good evening) are the standard greetings. Good Day is also an option. It is typical to say this if you are close enough to make eye contact. Do not try to avoid eye contact or just smile quietly as this comes across as rude.
2. It is also considered rude to wear your swimsuit anywhere but the beach or pool. If you are running into a gas station or grocery store, walking down the street in town, etc. the polite thing to do is wear a covering. If you opt to not observe this custom, you will possibly be met with stares and/or comments.
Driving and Getting Around in St. Croix
3. Potholes are everywhere, be careful! The roads are rough. Large potholes and ruts can be found everywhere. Gravel, dirt or partially paved roads are also not uncommon. It is customary to swerve around potholes when driving, you will experience this frequently and it may appear that someone is drunk when really they are just trying to prolong the life of their vehicle by avoiding the potholes and ruts.
4. Do not text or talk on your phone while driving, roads are rough and curvy and this is extremely dangerous. If you need to use your phone please stop and pull off.
5. Keep left – although we are part of the US, we drive on the left side of the road and it is VERY important to not forget this, for your own safety and the safety of others.
6. Google maps works well for businesses but physical addresses do not work like they do in the states so most likely if you enter an address, it will not be found. Check Google for your destination ahead of time, if it isn’t found then ask a local resident for directions.
7. When driving, you may notice someone honking at you, waving or flashing their lights – this is most likely because they are letting you go in front of them/turn, etc. or they are thanking you for letting them go.
It is common for someone to just stop in traffic to let you go. Remember, you are on island time, no one is in a hurry and they are trying to be kind! Please return the favor with a friendly wave, honk or flash of the lights to say thanks.
8. The drinking age is 18, not 21 and it IS legal to drink and drive and have open containers but the legal limit is still .08.
Other Useful Tips and Information:
9. Reef safe Sunblock is the new law starting in 2020 but surprisingly it is still fairly difficult to find on St. Croix. The chemicals oxybenzone or octinoxate are killing the coral reefs and following the lead of Hawaii, the Virgin Islands had banned these ingredients. Need help finding Reef safe Sunblock? My personal favorite is Alba Botanica SPF 30 Hawaiian Sunscreen, it smells great and doesn’t make you look like you have paste on your skin like some other varieties.
10. Do not drink the water in most cases, if you are at a restaurant in town that has “city” water you can drink it or if you are staying or visiting a place that has proper filtration you can drink it. Outside of town most places depend on a cistern (rain water) that is not treated (it is fine for showers and brushing your teeth however!). Ask your hotel or vacation rental host about the water at their particular location during your visit to St. Croix. Some of the hotels or condos have their own water treatment facility and some homes have filtration systems.
11. Be Conservative! Most places depend on rain water to fill their cisterns, islanders tend to be very conservative. If a cistern runs out of water the only way to replenish it is to pay for a water truck to fill it. This is very expensive. Keep your showers short and flush as necessary!
Island Time is Real….
12. Things happen on island time, DO be patient and DO Be friendly and you will be treated the same, be rude, you will also receive the same treatment. Relax and enjoy the slower pace during your visit to St. Croix.
13. Drink mixers are often more expensive than the alcohol they are mixed with. This means drinks tend to have more booze than mixer. If you do not have a very high tolerance that you order your drinks with a “stateside pour“!
14. Don’t leave valuables in your car or on the beach when you aren’t around. Like most tourist destinations, petty thieves prey on those who leave valuables in their cars or on the beach. It is recommended that you just bring with you what you need – i.e. your ID, 1 credit card and/or a small amount of cash, leave your full wallet at home. This way if something gets lost or stolen, you have another method of paying for things stashed away!
15. Be smart and aware of your surroundings like you would in any other city. St. Croix is a sleepy, safe small town however, like anywhere, there is crime. Don’t walk alone, get accurate directions, if it feels like you shouldn’t be somewhere then don’t be there. If there is a private property sign, respect this.
16. St. Croix is a very relaxed, laid back destination and there isn’t a lot of nightlife. Most things will wind down early, it is rare to be out after 11pm.
Be Careful
17. Power is expensive, if you are staying at a vacation rental/private residence especially, please turn off fans/AC/lights, etc. The Virgin Islands literally the most expensive power in the world at $.44 per kilowatt hour …..to put it in perspective, Wisconsin is about $.10 per kilowatt hour, Hawaii is about $.33, Australia $.25-$.33 per kilowatt hour, the most expensive in Europe is $.28 per kilowatt hour. Help keep prices of vacation rentals down and be conservative! Also, pay attention to the rules regarding AC use so you don’t end up with surprise bills.
18. Beware of the manchineel trees – AKA little apple of death. These trees are commonly found near the shore on the island of St Croix (as well in other areas of the Caribbean, Florida and South America) and are known to be the most dangerous tree in the world. The spade shaped leaves and green apple like fruit (eventuality turning black before falling to the ground).
All parts of the tree are poisonous and should be avoided. Leaves, branches and fruit are often on the beach, rake them out of your way before sitting down, avoid touching, eating, etc.
No deaths have been recorded in modern day but it is said that the manchineel is what killed Ponce de Leon.
Be Considerate
19. Most homes do not have garbage pickup, residents take their own trash to the dump (or in the case of a vacation rental, your housekeeper). Be responsible and respectful. Furthermore, you are going to drive by a dump at some point, it is a nice touch to drop off your own.
20. Recycling is a newer concept in St. Croix, most clear plastics and all aluminum cans (not tin cans, just beverages) are recyclable, no other recycling is currently in place. Most vacation rentals probably don’t recycle because it is not easy to get your recyclables to where the need to go.
If you would like to recycle your cans, you can bring them to Leatherback Brewery any time they are open or to Plaza West on Saturday mornings. Plastic is at Plaza West only.
There you have it, the top 20 tips, tricks and hacks for your perfect visit to St. Croix for your vacation or wedding. Have a wonderful time!
