Good to know
Good to Know
- ATMs are most abundant downtown and near cruise docks; for best rates, use bank-owned ATMs inside FirstBank or Banco Popular branches rather than standalone machines
- When paying by card internationally, always choose to be charged in USD (local currency) to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees
- Contactless payment coverage is still emerging; carry a physical card and cash as backup
- Safari taxis (colorful shared open-air vans, $1–$2 per short trip) accept cash only and are common transport
- Many small local restaurants, beach bars, and vendors accept cash only; plan accordingly
- Restaurants often add automatic 15–18% gratuity, so check your bill before adding an additional tip
- For security, withdraw cash during daylight hours and keep valuables secure
Currency
- Currency Name
- US Dollar
- Currency Local
- USD
ATM Details
- Availability
- Abundant in downtown Charlotte Amalie, near cruise terminals, resorts, and shopping arcades
- Transaction Fee
- $3.00
- Currency Dispensed
- US dollars only
Typical Operators
- Scotiabank
- FirstBank
- Banco Popular
No Sales Tax
The U.S. Virgin Islands is duty-free with no sales tax; price on tag is the final price
Tipping Norms
Hotel Staff
- Porters Bellhops
- $1–$2 per bag
Taxi Drivers
- Percentage
- 10–15% of fare
Restaurants Bars
- Percentage
- 15–20% standard for good service
- Auto Gratuity Note
- Many restaurants automatically add 15–18% to the bill, especially for groups; check bill before tipping
Boat Tours Charters
- Percentage
- 15–20% if crew provided particularly helpful service
Card Acceptance
- Overview
- Widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, major shops, and duty-free outlets downtown.
Amex Discover
- Status
- limited
- Details
- May have limited coverage in smaller boutiques or local eateries
Visa Mastercard
- Status
- Widely accepted
- Details
- Most common cards for Charlotte Amalie and St. Thomas
Cash Only Venues
- Beach Access
- Magens Bay charges $5 entrance fee (cash preferred)
- Small Vendors
- Beach bars, food trucks, small local restaurants, some vendors
- Taxi Transport
- Safari taxis (open-air shared vans) accept cash only
Contactless Mobile Payment
- Status
- emerging
- Details
- Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted at modern establishments in Charlotte Amalie but not universal
Payment Regulations
- Legal Requirement
- Virgin Islands law requires businesses to accept at least two distinct payment methods
- Minimum Purchase Limit
- Businesses can require a minimum of $10 for credit card purchases
Daily Cash Recommendation
Carry $40–$100 in small denominations ($1, $5, $20 bills) for practical transactions
Banking
- ATM Fees
- Approximately $2-3 per transaction
- ATM Operators
- Scotiabank, FirstBank, Banco Popular
- ATM Availability
- Widespread throughout downtown Charlotte Amalie, near cruise terminals, in shopping centers and malls; dispensed currency is USD
- Account Opening Process
- Possible but time-consuming; may involve restrictions for new residents (e.g., savings-only initially without checking privileges)
Major Institutions
St. Thomas Federal Credit Union
- Phone
- (340) 774-1299
- Type
- Federal credit union (non-profit)
- Hours
- 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Location
- 5027 Norre Gade, Charlotte Amalie
- Established
- 1952
1FIRST BANK
- Phone
- (340) 777-1222
- Hours
- 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Location
- 4700 Estate Charlotte Amalie, Suite 101
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Charlotte Amalie
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.