Transportation to BVI & other islands

i live in the bvi & travel to st. john & st. thomas for shopping, etc. from c/a it's about a 45 min. ferry ride-1/2 hr. from red hook. the ferries go daily at varying times. you need to bring your passport or birth cert/photo id (as of 12/31 will need a passport to get back into the us). customs & immigration can be quick depending on the amt. of folks on the boat/how many boats are there ahead of yours/if people have alot with them.

Thanks, Nemo....what about from STX?

First of all, you have to get to St Thomas... either by sea plane (year-around) or ferry (November through April).

Ahhh.... gotcha. How is the seaplane experience? Ever done it?

Alix- Here are some websites to check out.

FERRIES/SMALL PLANES

virginislandsfastferry.com
smithferry.com
tortolafastferry.com
roadtownfastferry.com
seaborneairlines.com

Thanks, Aimee....have you ever been on the seaplanes? I am wondering how the trip is, price, (which I can look up), the overall experience.

Thanks for giving me a heads-up on the websites....I appreciate it!

Alix

Alix: I have taken the sea plane (seaborneairlines.com in Aimee's post) to San Juan. It is a great deal of fun taking off and landing on the water, especially when the ferry pulls out..right in front of you!! Whee! Check the website for fares, around $100 for St Thomas to St Croix, I think.

Excellent....I can't wait to do it myself....sounds like a great couple of days away from STX when we have some time....thinking of camping or something. Appreciate the info! If anyone else wants to share their seaplane experiences, please do....I check the site several times a day to see what is going on here.

Alix

Hello Alix,

I've taken it several times between STT and STX. Its fine. Reliable. Nice view of Christiansted and Charlotte Amalie when landing.

Island hopping from St. Croix isn't easy/inexpensive (compared to paying $6 to get from St. Thomas to St. John round trip for example) but is possiable. To get to St. John or the BVI by ferry you'd have to get to St. Thomas first. You can fly to Puerto Rico or to other islands in the Caribbean for long weekends.

Sidenote: Sometimes they give away free tickets for the seaplane and the fast ferry at the crab races on St. Croix as a prize so hey you might attend the crab races for fun/dinner, pick a crab and maybe win a trip. (They have other prizes too, trip to Buck Island, bottles of rum, sunset sail, gift certificate to a store...) Here is an article on the crab races if you aren't familiar with them. http://www.vinow.com/news/jul03/crab.php

--Islander

HI Nemo!

I would like to know more about living in the BVI and being able to go back and forth to the USVI for shopping, etc. Could someone live in the BVI if they had an internet-based home business from the states? That way they wouldn't have to have work permits? Is it OK for an American citizen to just live there? What about paying custom fees/import fees to bring in goods you purchased in the USVI? What about schools for children?

We are planning to move to ST. Croix, but had assumed that living in the BVI would not be an option as American citizens. But now, you have me wondering about the possibility. I heard the BVI's have a lot less crime?

Any of your input, advice, suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

My understanding is you can only spend six months a year in the BVI without being a citizen or having special government approval.

The more you look at living in the BVI the more you will see they want you as a money spending tourist, but not as a resident.

Jim

Are there people who have private tranportation that take people over to St. Thomas?

Hello Melody,

St. Croix is 40 miles away from St. Thomas, can be a rough boat trip so no its not common for boaters on St. Croix to come over to St. Thomas on a regular basis or from St. Thomas to St. Croix. You certainly could find boaters, with a suitable size boat, willing to do it for a price; can't imagine it would be cheaper then the seaplane though because of the distance but I've never looked into it so really don't know.

There are occasions where boat owners on St. Croix head over to St. Thomas/St. John/BVI for long weekends and boat events... so sure if you were friends with someone that did this and could tag along that would be an option - not sure that is what you were asking about though.

--Islander

Alix--
Haven't had the chance to fly Seaborne airlines yet but I have taken a simalar flight in Hawaii(island hopping) and my uncle owns a plane that I flew a couple of times as a kid. They can be noisy and you may feel a little unstable at first but you will soon be distracted by the awesome views. Bring a digital camera w/ you on the flight. I recommend digital because it will minimize the flash reflecting off of the window.(if taken correctly)

Thanks that gives me some idea of the limitations and the possibilities

Alix, I took the seaplane and ferry recently from STX to Tortola and back. It was a fast trip but it was a blast. Very smooth flight and boat trip. The plane flies quite low so it's an excellent view. If you go to the Vacation Message Board and use "seaplane" to search you'll find my trip report posted on March 31.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

If you own property in the BVI (must go through a lengthy non-belonger land holders lisc. process) you can stay for up to 6 mos at a time. Tourists get a 30 day entry stamp. In order to stay longer you must have a work permit (renewable annually) or be here on a spouse's work permit (normally without permission to work or seek employment).

Thus, no, Americans can't just live in the BVI, nor can they run an internet based company & by-pass the work permit.

Coming in with goods from the outside of the BVI you must pay customs duty. It ranges from 15-20%.

The public schools are overcrowded, so you must get permission & secure a place. There are private schools on island that many expat children (along with local children) attend.

Although no place is completely without crime, the BVI has a very safe feeling & is relatively without many of the crime incidents that plague other areas.

It is possible to live in the BVI as an American (I do), but surely more difficult than a move to the USVI as a US citizen.

Nemo,
Do you work in the BVI or come & go?

JW

haha. i wish i was retired & just coming & going. my husband & i both work here.

We've been going to the BVI sailing & land trips since 1990 last time on Tortola July 04. A friend of mine owns the Virgin Queen downtown. Ever stop in?

Jim W

ANy idea how to work as a nurse in the BvI?

good pizza!

re:nursing. you apply to the government. they do hire nurses on contract & have a need. that said, it is a very arduous process requiring frequent (very) follow up on your part.

http://www.bvi.gov.vg/template.php?main=cahe&section=job_search&sub=job_applications

Awsome, thanks for the info. I plan a trip to tortola this summer so i'll check out peebles hospital.
sidnie

you actually need to apply via human resources. there are nursing positions in the clinics as well, so peebles is not the only option.