USVI-On-Line

What is the best way to pay for everything when on island? Obviously all the larger things are reserved and paid for already (flights, villa). But when it comes to food & activities, do you bring that much cash with you? Bring some cash along with credit cards? Traveler's checks?

I usually bring cash. I stay away from travelers checks. What I have started doing recently is I have a seperate account just for when we travel. I have a debit card with it and use that for any bigger purchases. We don't have credit cards, so this works for us!

several places are cash only so you def. need cash. there's a thread on cash only places. if you can't find it say so, I have a list on my computer but it might not be up to the minute. We usually split our $$ between cash and credit.

this is the list I collected over time. anyone chime in on inaccuracies

Ferries
Taxi’s
Gas station Coral Bay (closed)
Trunk Bay fee
Trunk snack stand
Trunk rentals


Baked In the Sun
Deli Grotto
Vie’s
Uncle Joe’s
Quiet Mon
Smoothie truck
Donkey Diner
Tourist trap
G Spot ??

Some of the boat/snorkel charters want cash or check

Is the Mexican place still cash only?

mbw1024 wrote:this is the list I collected over time. anyone chime in on inaccuracies

Ferries
Taxi’s
Gas station Coral Bay (closed)
Trunk Bay fee
Trunk snack stand
Trunk rentals


Baked In the Sun
Deli Grotto
Vie’s
Uncle Joe’s
Quiet Mon
Smoothie truck
Donkey Diner
Tourist trap
G Spot ??

I think this is a very good list. We just got back and I think we took $400 with us and brought most of it back. Most places take a Master Card or Visa. Don't bring Travelers Checks. Nobody wants them down there.

We mostly use credit cards but take a few hundred dollars in cash for cash only places like the smoothie truck.

We do cash and credit cards both. We plan to use the card for large grocery purchases, car, gas and fancy dinners only. Then we play our St John on $40 a day game. So any breakfasts, lunches, drinks, entrance fees, bribes or whatever come out of cash. Both my wife and I take a $20 dollar bill each every day and then try to cheat each other into spending their $20 first. Of course we make allowances for going over budget. Then whoever has the most cash left at the end of two weeks wins and pays for the ferry and cab home for being the biggest cheat.

What can I say, we've been married for 34 years. It keeps it interesting. By the way, she can be very clever, I don't win often. Or maybe at all.

If you do not frequently travel outside the US, or have not made any trips lately, it is a good isead to let your credit card company know that you will be traveling to St John in the USVI. Through the years, some of us have had our initial purchases declined because the CC company thought the charges were fraudulent. We were caught short a time or two at Starfish and now advise the bank regularly.
Recently when I have advised my bank about the travel, they have asked me what other islands or countries I would be visiting on the trip and how long I would be out of the country. So dont forget about shopping in St Thomas or a trip to the Baths or maybe a T shirt purchase at Sopher's Hole if you are going to Tortola.

the ferry from stj to jost takes credit cards

We take $500 cash, plus our debit and CC's. We prefer to use Amex (which many places take but not all). IT's always good to have a back up CC though in case you lose your primary card.

I know that last June, one forumite had an issue at the Beach Bar. They gave the bartender their CC to run a tab and then when they went back to settle their bill, the bartender had inadvertently given their credit card to someone else! It was a major pain to cancel and get a new card. Although I will say they were more calm about the whole thing than I would have been!

I never mess with TC's. Haven't used them in years.

Always call your CC Co in advance and let them know where you'll be traveling and when. This includes your debit card.

Also, check with your CC's about additional charges for "foreign transactions" cause, get this: most CC's will charge a foreign transaction fee for charegs made on places like JVD or BVI's even though they technically use the US dollar for currency.

There are a few that don't. Just know before you go!

I'm compiling a list of who takes a bunch of cash. If I get jammed up, I'll know who to roll.

Hey Gromit, you did say $500, right?

Jason