2007-08-08 09:57:51 · 4 answers · asked by nipsy3 2 in Travel ➔ Caribbean ➔ Virgin Islands
I know there are checks in St. Thomas and St. John and in the BIV at Jost and Virgin Gorda, but not at some of the other smaller islands, that I'm aware of. Do people skip them and do they ever get caught, even if they aren't up to something illegal.
2007-08-08 23:46:29 · update #1
there are Customs offices on St John and St Thomas in the USVI and on Jost, West End and Roadtown Tortola and Virgin Gorda BVI.
Every commercial boat.....ferries, day charters etc which stand to loose a lot if caught go through Customs on both ends.
Having lived on STT and been in the boating business 30 years I would say few small private boats do the legal thing on either end.
When they get caught there is BIG TROUBLE.......the BVI especially loves to seize the boat and it takes months to get it back.
Since it takes less than a hour to clear in and out and loosing your boat thousands of dollars in fines and your name in the computer forever is the down side, why bother trying to "get away" with something?
2007-08-10 02:22:02 · answer #1 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People do hop from say, St John to Jost Van Dyke for the day to drink & lay in the sun-- there is not customs office there.-- Cooper Island has a bar & maybe a tiny little B&B... but as for "regularly island hopping" doesn't happen & you will get caught if you try.
2007-08-09 06:33:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has been my experience in the Caribbean, even in the USVI, that you should always carry your passport. Whenever I visit, I always island hop because I think each one has unique qualities that I don't want to miss. Travel by seaplane when you can. Unless you are a seasoned boater, the waters can get choppy on the ferries (except between downtown St. Thomas and St. John).
2007-08-09 11:31:22 · answer #3 · answered by Beach Saint 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's ALWAYS a Customs check between the USVI and BVI.
Customs checks aren't required for most travel between St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix though. By seaplane and by boat there's no check. If you go through the airport though you'll have to pass through TSA...but no Customs check.
2007-08-08 11:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by Hector S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋