The following listings and useful information will help you save precious holiday time while getting around the islands.

By Eugenia O'Neal

You must use the area code 284 before the seven-digit telephone number when calling from outside the local calling area.

PASSPORTS AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS
The U.S. government may have changed the documentation requirements for international travel since you last traveled abroad. Americans planning travel to British Virgin Islands should be aware of the information provided at travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1079.html.

Or, go to travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html for information about how to apply for, or renew a U.S. passport.

BANKING SERVICES
There are several major banks in the British Virgin Islands: Banco Popular, FirstBank, First Caribbean International Bank, National Bank of the Virgin Islands (formerly Development Bank) and Scotiabank (British Virgin Islands). Hours vary, but most are open Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. They all have extended hours on Fridays. Banco Popular opens a teller drive-through window from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. FirstBank is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Learn about BVI international financial services and about buying real estate in BVI, here.

BUSINESS HOURS
Most businesses open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Many merchant stores, including pharmacies, are closed after 1 p.m. on Saturdays and all day on Sundays, but a few open if cruise ships are in port. Supermarkets open earlier and close later, and most are open on weekends and holidays. Bobby's Supermarket in Road Town is open from 7 a.m. until midnight every day. Call a specific business for its hours of operation.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January	Midwinter Regatta
February	Annual Sweethearts of the Caribbean Annual Classic Yacht Regatta
March	BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival Dark and Stormy Regatta
April	Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Spanish Town Fisherman's Jamboree Annual Wahoo Fishing Tournament
May	BVI Music Festival Jazz on the Hill in Virgin Gorda Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta
July/August	BVI Emancipation Festival
October	Start of HLSCC Performing Arts Series
December	Christmas on Main Street Christmas in Spanish Town Long Bush Christmas Parade New Year’s Eve Party on Jost Van Dyke

Please see our Events section for more events and festivals.

CLIMATE
The islands benefit from the trade winds that keep humidity low, but temperatures rarely go above 95 degrees or below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The wettest months are between September and November, coinciding with the height of the hurricane season.

CREDIT CARDS AND ATMs
Many BVI establishments accept credit cards, generally MasterCard or Visa; some, but not all, take American Express. There is an American Express Office at Romney Associates in Road Town. There are several ATM machines on Tortola located in Road Town, Cane Garden Bay, West End and at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island, as well as in The Valley on Virgin Gorda. FirstBank offers services in Anegada on Wednesdays only. There are no banks or ATM machines on Anegada, Jost Van Dyke or Peter Island. Please note that there is a 10-cent stamp duty charged on all cheques, including traveller's cheques.

CRUISING PERMITS
A cruising permit is required for all boats cruising in the B.V.I.

The rates change depending on the season (subject to change):

From December through April
Recorded charter boats - $2.00 per day, per person
Non-recorded charter boats: $4.00 per day, per person

From May through November
Recorded charter boats - $0.75 per day, per person
Non-recorded boats - $4.00 per day, per person

All boat operators should contact the B.V.I. Customs Department for current Cruising Permit requirements.

CURRENCY
The U.S. dollar is the only legal tender in the BVI. Major credit cards are accepted in many, but not all, establishments. It's advisable to travel with U.S. traveller's cheques.

CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION OFFICE LOCATIONS
    Tortola - Road Town and the West End
    Virgin Gorda - at the Virgin Gorda Airport, the St. Thomas Bay Terminal, and
    the Owen Harrigan Visitors Centre at Gun Creek
    Jost Van Dyke in Great Harbour

Contact the Chief Immigration Officer, Immigration Department, BVI Government at: Tel: 284-494-3471 or 284-494-3701 Ext. 4700.

Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm. Closed Sundays and on BVI public holidays. After-hours clearing may be arranged in advance; additional fees will apply. Call Customs at (284) 494-3475 and Immigration at (284) 494-3701 (ext. 2538) to make after-hours arrangements.

DEPARTURE TAX
After you have checked in at the airport or at any seaport, look for the departure tax window. Every air travel passenger must pay a $20 departure tax in cash or by Visa or MasterCard (cheques are not accepted). Those leaving by sea pay $5, while cruise ship passengers pay $7.

DIVING & SAILING
Many diving and yachting companies specialise in helping you take advantage of BVI's excellent diving sites and the fact that it's the sailing capital of the world.

DRESS
Bathing suits and other beachwear are only considered appropriate on the beaches, at the pool or on a boat. Topless bathing and nudity on the beach are frowned upon. In general, day and evening dress is casual.

DRINKING WATER
Tap water on Tortola and Virgin Gorda is generally desalinated. Some hotels have their own desalination plants and cisterns. Other islands rely on private supplies from cisterns, but bottled water is available throughout the islands.

DRUGS
Recreational drugs are strictly forbidden. Their possession, sale, use or distribution is a criminal offence punishable by law. Conviction can lead to heavy fines and jail sentences.

ELECTRICITY
Electricity is supplied by the BVI Electricity Corporation. The standard electrical current is 110 volts on all the islands.

SERVICE CLUBS
Several service clubs operated in the BVI. Among them are Lions, Interact, Toastmasters, Rotaract and various Rotary Clubs, including the Rotary Club of Tortola, which meets every Thursday at noon at The Moorings Mariner Inn. Fellow club members visiting the Territory are always warmly welcomed. Enquire at your front desk for more information on the clubs and their meeting times.

FISHING
Non–British Virgin Islanders need a recreational fishing permit to remove any marine organism from BVI waters. There are closed seasons for harvesting certain species of fish and other seafood. Call the Conservation and Fisheries Division at 494-5681 for information. Recreational fishing permits will be issued at all ports of entry for $45. A licence is required for every adult on the vessel that will be fishing.

FLORA & FAUNA
Common trees in the British Virgin Islands include the white cedar (the national tree); fruit trees such as the tamarind, mango and papaya; sea grape trees; and spectacular flowering trees such as the flamboyant and yellow poui. Oleanders, bougainvilleas and hibiscus are also common in local gardens and along the roadsides. The indigenous Anegada rock iguana, found nowhere else outside the Territory, is a protected species. The islands also have a variety of lizards. Hummingbirds; the pretty, yellow-breasted bananaquit; brown pelicans; and laughing gulls are amongst the bird species found throughout the islands. Snorkellers and divers will see schools of snapper and grunt as well as many other fish, brain and elkhorn coral and other sea life.

INTERNET
There are several places throughout the islands that offer Internet access. Most have free wireless connections and can be found at the following locations: Saba Rock, North Sound, Virgin Gorda; Trellis Bay Cyber Café, Beef Island; De Loose Mongoose, Beef Island, Trellis Bay; Lambert Beach Resort, Tortola; Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola; Village Cay Marina, Road Town; Myett's Garden Inn and Grille, Cane Garden Bay; Samarkand Jewellers, Soper's Hole; Foxy's, Jost Van Dyke; The Watersports Centre, Jost Van Dyke; Anegada Reef Hotel, Anegada.

ISLAND INFORMATION ONLINE
The BVI Tourist Board's updated website (www.bvitourism.com) offers printable online information about each island, useful schedules and much more. The BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA; www.bvihotels.org), BVI Government, BVI Welcome Magazine and three local newspapers also host helpful links to other websites belonging to various individual hotels and organisations. You may also want to visit www.experiencethebvi.com for useful information about the islands.

LANGUAGE
English is the official language, and communication is fairly easy around the islands. Islanders speak a local dialect, which is easily understood. Spanish is also spoken by many members of the growing immigrant population, many of whom come from the Dominican Republic.

MARRIAGE
To get married in the British Virgin Islands, you will need original copies of divorce decrees (if applicable), an original copy of your spouse's death certificate (if applicable), stamps purchased for a marriage tax ($50 if you have been in the BVI for 15 days or more, or $110 if less) and two witnesses. You must be in the BVI for a minimum of three business days prior to the wedding service. Marriage licence applications are made at the Attorney General's Chambers in the Government Administration Complex.

MEDICAL
Peebles Hospital is the main general hospital in Road Town, Tortola, but health clinics are available at villages on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and other sister islands. There's also a government dental clinic in the Glancina George Building in Road Town.

Dr. Adamson, Crown Dental, Premier Dental, Dr. Rhymer and B&F Medical Complex provide experienced general dental services, whilst Vision Center offers advanced eye care.

The B&F Medical Complex, the Pickering-Smith Medical Complex and Eureka Medical Clinic in Road Town and The Valley, Virgin Gorda, provide modern diagnostic and treatment facilities. All accept walk-in patients and provide X-ray and CT scan services.

The Bougainvillea Clinic, overlooking Road Town, specialises in aesthetic reconstruction and general surgery and is now affiliated with the Eureka Medical Clinic. Staffed by resident and visiting specialists from the United States and continental Europe, the clinic attracts patients from all over the world.

Several pharmacies offer prescription and over-the-counter services in Road Town. These include J.R. O'Neal, Ltd. (Drug Store) on Main Street; Medicure at Omar Hodge Building (with another location on Virgin Gorda); Reliance Pharmacy on Wickham's Cay 1; Vanterpool Enterprises on Wickham's Cay 1; and Qwomar Trading, Ltd., Blackburne Road.

MONEY TRANSFER
MoneyGram and Western Union provide services to receive and send money worldwide.

NATURAL HAZARDS
There are no poisonous snakes or other dangerous animals in the BVI. The leaves of the oleander and elephant ears are poisonous. Be careful of the manchioneel tree (or poison apple tree), which grows near beaches. Its leaves, fruit and sap are dangerous to the eyes and poisonous when ingested. Underwater, fire coral can cause a nasty sting and subsequent rash if touched. The spiny black sea urchin is very painful if stepped on or brushed against, and jellyfish and lionfish should be avoided, as both can cause serious injury.

NEWS, NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES
Several weekly and monthly publications are available in the BVI and by subscription. The Island Sun, BVI Beacon and VI StandPoint keep readers up to date on events and general news occurring locally and regionally; they're also available online or have a Facebook presence. BVI Welcome Magazine offers information for tourists, and Limin' Times offers a free detailed Weekly Events Guide that is available at most supermarkets, hotels and other outlets. The BVI Marine Guide is a definitive reference keeping boaters updated annually. The BVI Property Guide has combined with the Yacht Guide to provide information for yachties and those interested in real estate in the BVI. Business BVI, a business and investment magazine, is published annually. Also, www.BVINews.com, www.VirginIslandsNewsOnline.com and www.BVIPlatinum.com are Internet services that provide daily news updates on the BVI.

PETS
Pets are allowed into the Territory only after an import permit is obtained from the Department of Agriculture. For regulations concerning animal importation, contact the Department of Agriculture, Paraquita Bay, Tortola; tel. 495-2532 and fax 495-1269.

POST OFFICES
The main post office in Road Town also has a philatelic counter. There are sub post offices on Beef Island (Airport), East End and West End on Tortola, and on the larger sister islands. Most hotels and resorts offer daily mail pick-ups. Virgin Islands' stamps are worldwide collectors' items. The BVI Philatelic Society (494-7789) organises an annual stamp exhibition, usually held in the spring, that attracts a wide range of enthusiasts.

BVI PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Christmas Day	Sun. 25 December 2011
Boxing Day	Mon. 26 December 2011
New Year’s Day	Sun. 1 January 2012
New Year's Day	(observed) Mon. 2 January 2012
H. Lavity Stoutt’s Birthday	Mon. 5 March 2012 (in lieu of 7 March)
Commonwealth Day	Mon. 12 March 2012
Good Friday	Fri. 6 April 2012
Easter Monday	Mon. 9 April 2012
Sovereign’s Birthday	Sat. 9 June 2012 (to be confirmed)
Whit Monday	Mon. 28 May 2012
Sovereign's Birthday	Sat. 9 June 2012 (to be confirmed)
Territory Day	Mon. 2 July 2012 (in lieu of 1 July)
Festival Monday	Mon. 6 August 2012
Festival Tuesday	Tue. 7 August 2012
Festival Wednesday	Wed. 8 August 2012
St. Ursula’s Day	Mon. 22 October 2012 (in lieu of 21 October)
Christmas Day	Tue. 25 December 2012
Boxing Day	Wed. 26 December 2012

RADIO AND TELEVISION
Local radio stations, most of which are available online, include ZBVI (780 AM), ZKING (100.9 FM), GEM (90.9 FM), ZROD (103.7 FM), ZCCR (94.1 FM), and ZVCR (106.9 FM). Local cable channels include 1, 51, 52 and 55. Public service channels include 12 (WCJX, St. Thomas, USVI), and 25 (BBC World). A few channels broadcast in Spanish, including Channel 4 (Azteca). News and entertainment are also available on cable channels beamed from numerous U.S. cities and satellites.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES
There are Methodist churches throughout the BVI. Other Christian denominations represented include the Anglicans (Episcopalians), Baptists, Roman Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists and various Pentecostal sects. Many of their churches are located in Road Town, but there are churches on almost every corner throughout the islands. There is a mosque in Road Town, and the Baha'i and Hindu faiths also have their adherents.

SHIPPING
There are various shipping and courier facilities conveniently located throughout the Road Town area. Virgin Gorda also offers several options for your shipping needs.

SMOKING
Smoking in public places such as restaurants, bars, shopping malls, recreational facilities, offices, public transportation terminals, etc. is forbidden, in accordance with the Tobacco Products Control Act of the BVI. It's also forbidden to smoke within 50 feet of these public spaces. A person found smoking tobacco in a public place will be subject to a fine. In the BVI, it's illegal to sell cigarettes to persons who are under 18 years old.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The area code in the BVI is 284.

LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless [West Indies], Ltd.), which stands for Landline, Internet, Mobile and Entertainment, provides digital, national and international telecommunications services and broadband Internet access. Full IDD (international direct dialling), facsimile and data services, including IDAS (international database access) and private leased circuits, are available. Inbound 800 numbers accessible from the United States, Canada and the rest of the Caribbean are also available. LIME also offers competitive wireless services, and you can purchase SIM cards, handsets and TopUp credits at locations throughout the BVI.

CCT Global Communications, the first provider of wireless communications in the BVI, offers 3G wireless broadband Internet service throughout the islands and offers CDMA and GSM roaming services, with more than 140 roaming partners worldwide. CCT SIM cards are available from authorised resellers throughout the BVI.

Digicel, the newest provider of cellular phone service, also offers a range of wireless services throughout the BVI. Digicel SIM cards and TopUp credits are available at locations throughout the BVI.

There are public call boxes at various locations on the main islands, including marinas and ports of entry. In Tortola, you'll find call boxes in the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Beef Island; opposite the East End Jetty; the East End Post Office; and the LIME offices, Road Town. Credit card calls may also be made from these public phones. Phone cards are available at the public offices on Wickham's Cay 1, Tortola and in The Valley, Virgin Gorda. Many phone card agencies have been established throughout the islands.

TIPPING
A 7 percent government tax is usually added to your hotel bill, as well as a 10 percent hotel service charge. Additional tipping is optional. It's customary to include a 15 percent tip when dining out. Most restaurants automatically include this on the bill as a service charge.

US EMBASSY - BVI
The nearest U.S. Embassy to the BVI is located in the Wildey Business Park in St. Michael, Barbados. The Consular Section can be reached by telephone at 1-246-431-0225, by fax at 1-246-431-0179, or by e-mail at ConsularBridge2@state.gov. The Embassy website is barbados.usembassy.gov/general_citizen_services.html.

The U.S. Consular Agent in Antigua, located at Jasmine Court, Friar's Hill Road, St. John's, tel. 1-268-463-6531, is closer to the BVI and can also assist in some limited non-emergency cases, by previous appointment only.

TRANSPORTATION
Air:Regional airlines connect Beef Island with international hubs (e.g., San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Antigua) and other Caribbean islands. Small planes fly between Beef Island and Virgin Gorda and St. Thomas, USVI. Charter planes are also available to the outer islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the airport on Beef Island.

Land: The British Virgin Islands have 150 roads, of which 118 are paved. The two main roads on Tortola are Blackburne Road, which runs along the seashore from the eastern to the western end of the island, and Ridge Road, which runs centrally over the hills. Both offer spectacular scenic views of the islands.

Buses: Mini and safari bus outings are usually arranged by the hotels and are also available for other long group trips and scenic sightseeing.

Car Rentals: Renting a car is both economical and convenient. There are several agencies offering reasonable rates, unlimited mileage, emergency services and additional insurance. Credit card or cash deposit and a driver's licence are required. At a cost of $10 (and with a valid driver's licence from another country), a temporary licence can be obtained from the Traffic Licensing Office or car rental agencies. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.

Ferry Services: The main ferry docks on Tortola are in Road Town and at West End. Inter-island boat services operate several times per day between Tortola and several other islands in the BVI (including Marina Cay, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island and Jost Van Dyke) and the USVI (St. Thomas and St. John). Ferry services to Anegada are provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Departure and arrival information can be obtained at the front desk of your hotel.

Taxis: Taxis are available at the airport, hotels, taxi stands and other venues throughout the islands. Some hotels have a franchised taxi arrangement for guests or will quickly order a taxi from the front desk. Taxi drivers usually provide running commentaries on local history and other useful information. New government rates are now in effect. It's a good idea to check the fare with your driver in advance.

• Tortola: A fare for one person from the airport to Slaney is $30. A chartered taxi from Road Town to any of the villages can range from $15 to $27 for one person depending on the distance, and the regular fare around town is $5. Farther out to the suburbs is $6, and the fare from Road Town to West End is $27. From the cruise ship dock to most beaches the range is from $24 to $27 for one person, but for three or more people the fare ranges from $8 to $12 each.
• Virgin Gorda: : From The Valley to The Baths is $6, and from Gun Creek to the Yacht Harbour is $30.
• Anegada: From the airport to Loblolly Bay is $7, whilst to Setting Point is $14.
• Jost Van Dyke: One person going from Great Harbour to White Bay pays $10, and to Bubbly Pool, $20. Three or more people going to Bubbly Pool pay $10 each.
• Tours: A one-hour tour for up to two people is $55 (fixed rate), whilst for up to three people the cost rises to $70. A group of five persons is $100 (each additional person over the five pays $15). A two-hour tour starts at $110 for up to two people. Waiting charges: First 15 minutes are free, but every subsequent block of 15 minutes is $10. Tour costs are the same for all islands.
  
  Children three years or younger travel at no cost, children ages 4–10 pay half fare, and children 11 and over pay the full fare. Between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. there is a surcharge of 30 percent on all fares. Always discuss the rates with your driver in advance.
  
  There is a limited bus service running from Road Town to East End. The fare is $3.

For full details about inter-island and on island transportation, please visit Transportation section.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Ambulance	999 or 911
Fire	999
Police	999
Hospital	284-494-3497
VISAR	284-494-4357 or 767 (S.O.S.) (Virgin Islands Search & Rescue)

AIRLINES

Air Sunshine	284-495-8900
American Airlines/American Eagle	284-495-2559
Cape Air, Ltd.	284-495-2100
Caribbean Wings	284-495-6000
Fly BVI	284-495-1747
Island Birds	284-495-2002
LIAT	284-494-1187
VI AIR LINK	284-495-1652

OTHER USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

AA, Al-Anon	284-494-3125
BVICCHA	284-494-3514
BVI Folk Museum	284-Folk Museum
BVI Red Cross	284-494-6349
BVI Tourist Board	284-494-3134
CADA (Drug Information)	284-494-3125
Family Support Network (FSN)	284-494-7622
Humane Society of the BVI	284-494-2284
Main Post Office	284-468-3701
Old Government House Museum	284-494-4091
Virgin Islands Public Library	284-494-3428

THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS PORTS AUTHORITY
The BVI port facilities and main functions:
Port Purcell, Tortola - container cargo
Road Town - Jetty, Tortola passenger facility, cruise ship tenders and mini cruise ship use.
Cruise Pier, Tortola - the new cruise pier (230 meters long) with berthing space on both sides.
West End Terminal, Tortola - Main ferry terminal at Soper's Hole. Used for passenger arrival and departure, customs and immigration and ferry ticketing.
Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda - Accommodations for ferry, mini cruise ships and barges at St. Thomas Bay.
Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke - Two Jetties. The larger of the two #1, handles passengers and light cargo, while jetty #2 accommodates cruise ship passengers, inter island ferries and pleasure yacht dinghies.

For the cruise ship schedule, cargo information, contact info and ferry schedules please visit www.bviports.org.

Antilles Helicopter Services Ltd. – VI
Tel: 441-7335; 342-1321
E-mail: fly@ahs-vi.com
Web:www.antilleshelicopterservices.com
The Virgin Islands are undeniably one of the most beautiful places on earth; a helicopter scenic flight adds an exhilarating and breathtaking dimension to your visit and will enhance your experience tenfold — guaranteed! Check our website for available Air-ventures that will unlock Nature’s Little Secrets, a must-do activity your soul will thank you for.

Cape Air
660 Barnstable Road, Hyannis, MA 02601
Tel: 800-352-0714; 495-2100
Fax: 508-775-8815
E-mail: lduda@flycapeair.com
Web: www.flycapeair.com
Flying with Cape Air is like a new experience. Start your trip in a vacation state of mind. Island-hop to and from San Juan and spend less time waiting. You can even earn Continental Airlines OnePass miles on flights connecting with Continental.

Dohm’s Water Taxi
Red Hook, St. Thomas
Tel: 340-775-6501
Fax: 340-715-1398
E-mail: vitaxi@viaccess.net
Web: www.watertaxi-vi.com
Operating like a land taxi, Dohm’s Water Taxi leaves the dock of your choice at the time you choose and takes you exactly where you want to go — practically anywhere in the USVI and BVI.

Island Birds — Private Air Charter
Tortola, BVI and St. Thomas, USVI
Tel: 495-2002 (BVI);
877-515-5066 (U.S.)
Fax: 495-0143
E-mail: info@islandbirds.com
Web: www.islandbirds.com
We invite you to experience our unparalleled VIP service, transporting you seamlessly from the arrival gate to the paradise that awaits you. Up to nine passengers, direct service to Virgin Gorda or any other Caribbean destination. No lines, no delays... no worries. Yes, you can afford it. When travelling with four or more people, the trip often costs less than most scheduled airlines. So why fly any other way?

Mahogany Car Rentals
Spanish Town, The Valley
Tel: 495-5469
Fax: 495-5072
E-mail: mahoganycarrentals@surfbvi.com
Web: www.mahoganycarrentalsbvi.com
“Mahogany is especially helpful.” — Fodor’s Travel. Explore the crown jewel of the BVI with a dependable Jeep or car from Mahogany. Island-wide delivery is free in Spanish Town. Guided tours and open-air buses are available. Ask about year-round discounts and group rates.

Speedy’s
The Valley
Tel: 495-5240
Fax: 249-5755
E-mail: speedysbvi@surfbvi.com
Web: www.speedysbvi.com
Providing inter-island travel for more than 30 years, Speedy’s offers daily trips between Virgin Gorda and Tortola, with an evening schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays so you can dine on a different island. Ferry service to St. Thomas is available three days a week. Jeep rentals, taxis and safari tours offered on Virgin Gorda. Transportation is the company’s speciality.

Get the calendar of events for BVI festivals, sailing and sporting events, public holidays and not-to-be-missed, Bomba's Full Moon Party dates here.

Book your hotel direct and save! Get a complete list of BVI hotels, here.