Do you need a passport when traveling to St. Thomas?

The answer is No, however, would recommend it and here’s why.

US Passport

I decided to travel in the fall of 2010 to the Virgin Islands without my passport (it expired).

What you need is your birth certificate and driver’s license. I had both, but I ran into issues.

I was not able to do the usual “check in”. I had to go to the counter at the airline in which she ~~retarded airline attendant~~ tried to say we were not permitted to travel to the Virgin Islands without a passport (which isn’t the case).

After going back and forth, with the attendant for about 25 min ~~and wanting to ring someone’s neck~~ .

Finally, after she did some research and investigated. (which all along I knew what I had was fine)

She said we could board.

She’s a stunner

Now, on your return flight, you still need to go through customs. With a passport it’s a breeze to go through. This is not the case without it. You have to spend a little more time with customs twiddling your fingers hoping all is okay…then you are able to go through.

Which is why I recommend a passport, less hassle while traveling, it does make it easier.

If you don’t have one, you will still be okay just may be a bit more stressful for you. In that case it’s never too early to start drinking. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, eh?

Getting off the plane in St. Thomas

A lot of people are a bit shocked in how they exit off the plane.

Like most tropical places, they do not have the typical “jet bridge” that connects you to the terminal (the little tunnel you are use to walking through).

Nope, they pull up these stairs on wheels to the entrance of the plane (if lucky will open 2 doors) and you have to walk down the stairs onto the runway lugging your carry-on with you.

Getting off the plane in St. Thomas

Now, you are on the runway after you come down the stairs. They will escort you towards the front where the luggage pick up is. (outdoors). You will most likely be greeted with Cruzan Rum shots (made in the virgin islands) kick back as many as you want (they encourage you). The airport is a typical “outdoor lanai” style. Pretty basic with a few shops and rental car agencies.

The return home is pretty much the same. If hungry, there’s only one place to eat in the whole airport serving up mostly Caribbean grub. You wait at your terminal, when called same thing, climbing up the stars into the plane.

I have always been curious in what they do for those who are handicapped. Do they pull open the slide and have them slide down upon their arrival? Just a thought… Hmmmmm

And when departing, do they mysteriously take them in their wheel chair to the edge of the runway and dump them in the sea? We will never know.