Don’t Worry About Big Airports, Fly to St. Croix!
My St. Croix post may include paid links for which I earn a commission
Landmarks and the Technical Part
St. Croix (IATA: STX, ICAO: TISX, FAA LID: STX). Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, formerly Alexander Hamilton Airport, is a pubic airport located 6 miles SW of Christiansted on the Island of St. Croix in the U.S Virgin Islands. At an elevation of 74′ it’s a small international airport with one long asphalt (10/28) runway that measures 10,004′. The commercial traffic is provided by American Airlines daily from Miami but seasonal flights are added from Charlotte, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale by US Airways, Delta, and Spirit.
There are also regional airplanes for a quick flight to St. Thomas provided by Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines and LIAT.
Transport
St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport offers several transportation options between rentals and taxis but be forewarned, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are not allowed in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As mainlanders we are somewhat dependent on instantaneous gratification and it just doesn’t occur to us that the rest of the world isn’t on the same page. You can get also get a pre-arranged private pick up.
All taxi are locally owned and operated and governed by the Virgin Island Taxi Commission. The Taxis from Christiansted include Rolly’s Transportation Services, Taxi Service & Tours, St. Croix Taxi & Safari Tours and Rudy’s Taxi Service. There’s also a handful of smaller taxi services all over the island. Grab a cab from the airport by the baggage claim.
Renting a car is easy enough but remember which side of the road to drive on if you’re from the mainland. Also know that you must be 25 here and hold a valid drivers license to rent. Budget, Hertz, Avis and Skyline Car Rental are here additionally there are 5 more locally owned car rental agencies available.
There is also bus service, and though it’s cheap it’s also not recommended if you have any time constraints. Remember, you’re on island time here and so is just about everybody else.
Ferry crossings from St. Croix to St. Thomas take a little under 2 1/2 hours or a sea plane will get you there in less than 30 minutes.
Things To Do!
Well, It seems a lot of people go here to get married. It’s a hotspot for destination weddings. From the elegant Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort to the more casual Tamarind Reef Resort you won’t find more beautiful surroundings. However, don’t go with your significant other dreaming about a spontaneous barefoot beach wedding as there’s an 8 day waiting period for a license.
Cane Bay, North Star, and Pavilions on the North Shore are great places for scuba diving and snorkeling as are Salt River Canyon and Sandy Point. The best shallow dive where you can spend all day seems to be a pretty unanimous Frederiksted Pier.
Next, would be just enjoying the beach, a good book, no electronic nonsense, and a sunset. This is the place to relax and recharge. Be amazed that you can see the bottom of the ocean right through that mesmerizing Caribbean water. Find the Eastern most point of the United States at Point Udall marked by the Millennium Monument. This is this first spot in the U. S. to see the sunrise! The world is hard so take it easy and enjoy. Although I know that’s a big ask, for some people, you won’t regret it.
Island tours are everywhere but if you prefer go explore the island on your own. A lot of resorts offer different packages that include activities but as it’s only 27 miles long and about 7 miles wide at the widest point so you can’t even get that lost. Try some horseback riding or kayaking add a little fishing or sailing and you’ll need a vacation to recover from your vacation.
If you have time go see the Buck Island National Monument. Believe it or not, it’s an underwater National Park!
Where to Eat in St. Croix
St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and has two towns so your choices are in Christiansted in the center of the island or Frederiksted at the SE end. Both towns are filled with typical Danish architecture and Christiansted was the capital of the Dutch East Indies from1755 to 1871.
La Reine Chicken Shack in Christiansted is the number 1 choice all around. Followed by Savant and No Bones Cafe for seafood and Blues’ Backyard BBQ & Grill for burgers, BBQ, and live music. Also highly rated was Island Vybz Grill, Caroline’s Breakfast, Cruzarican, and Cruzian Bayou Bistro. For great sunsets on the harbor it looks like Rum Runners Restaurant is one of the best seats in town. Although I think it’s pretty hard to find a bad view here. If you’d like you can hang with the locals and learn a new cooking skill.
Frederiksted offers Turtle’s Deli, Polly’s at the Pier, and Rhythms at the Beach. You can also enjoy the breeze at the Six Nine Restaurant & Bar. For a romantic dinner coupled with a beautiful view try the Beach Side Cafe.
St. Croix Pubs and Hangouts!
If you explore the North Shore you might wind up close to the The Landing Beach Bar at Cane Bay if you do have a drink and a meal after a day at the beach.
You could also check out the view at Carambola Beach Resort or take a water taxi to Protestant Cay and enjoy a lazy afternoon and evening.
As we all know, Caribbean Rum is the best in the world so for a unique perspective on what it takes to be the best take a tram ride through the Captain Morgan Distillery. You’ll learn a little history and get a taste of a few of the many different varieties of Captain Morgan. If rum is a favorite there’s also the Cruzan Rum Distillery with charming old buildings and insight into the distillation process. Both are in Frederiksted.
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Thank You!
A shout out to Jan Stinnett for the destination suggestion and Mike Mullett of Laser Aviation Inc. for the photos! I appreciate it!
Once again, safe flying, safer landings,
Please note: If there are not links to an establishment it simply means they don’t have a website, their site is not secure, or it redirects you to another site. You can still look them up. You can find most of them on Facebook or Instagram.
jo@jettreks.com