USVI-On-Line

do you hang at the airport or is there a bar to checkout nearby?

Coming or going? How long do you have? VERY close by (about 3 min. by cab but not really walkable) the Best Western Emerald Beach has a bar you can go to and sit almost on the beach near the pool for cocktails. Cab prices and drink prices vary by attitude. Nothing in STT airport really..In May when we were leaving (SAD moment) the power was out at the airport. That was wierd.

There is a small bar inside the secure airport area. Just outside the parking area is Atlantic Seafood which also has a bar - and good food - a lot of the taxi drivers hangout there.

Let's be clear. If you check in for your flight and want to check bags, you must go into the secure area. I don't know if you can then leave and come back into the secure area.

When you check your bags at the counter they tag them and give them back. You must then go to customs, and agriculture checks with your bags. After that you go to TSA where they take the checked bags and you get your security check. I don't know if they would let you give them your checked bags and leave.

Does anyone else have any experience in this area?

JIM

It has been my experience that once they take your bags, they route them through customs and there is a very limited time that you have to claim them and go forward. They will call you on the PA system inside the airport and if you dont respond they will send your bags out and can/will cancel your reservation. It happened to us 2 years ago when I was traveling in a wheelchair, checked my bags thru to customs and then DH and I waited for about a half hour another couple to help us through. We did not hear them call us as we were outside waiting by the arrival area.
It was at that time that they outlined the rules to us, and made it seem that they were doing me a special favor to even allow us to enter and board the flight. They also told us that once you get through customs you cannot leave the airport for any reason.
Of course it was done in the customary off-putting officious way that is not uncommon behavior for the personnel at the STT airport. We have accustomed ourselves to this nonsense( the officious behavior) over our 15 years of travel to Paradise. Small price for getting to ST John.

Yes - if you have checked bags and gone through Customs, Agriculture , Immigration and TSA you are INSIDE the secure area and the small bar and cafeteria type food is the only option.
They no longer put your bags on a conveyor at check in - you carry, pull, drag everything to the Customs desk and on to loading on the Baggage Carousal. Then you proceed to Immigration and then TSA - no stops.