United States Virgin Islands: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive United States Virgin Islands feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 80 written places.
Caribbean courtesy runs on greetings; open with good morning and the whole day goes smoother.
✓ Considered polite
- Say Good morning, Good afternoon or Good night before any question - business starts after the greeting
- Tip US-style - 15-20% in restaurants, as on the mainland
- Dress up a notch for church and nicer restaurants - islanders do
- Slow down to island pace - patience is read as good manners
✗ Better avoided
- Walk around town in swimwear - cover up once you leave the beach
- Rush staff or sigh at unhurried service
- Launch into a request without greeting first - it reads as rude
- Photograph locals without asking
Worth knowing
- Driving is on the left even though the cars are American left-hand drive
- US dollars, US plugs and no passport needed for US citizens - it is domestic territory
- Safari taxis - open-air trucks on set routes - are the cheap way around St Thomas
- Many shops close on Sunday and some keep short Saturday hours
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.