Can I use a card to pay for taxis in US Virgin Islands, or should I carry local cash?
Came off a cruise ship at Crown Bay and needed a quick ride to Magen’s Bay - no card accepted. One driver said his terminal broke months ago and laughed when I asked. Thankfully, we found an ATM nearby. Cash is the way to go for taxis in the US Virgin Islands. I'd suggest budgeting $30-40 in small bills for short trips if you're doing day tours or beach hopping.
I was in St. Thomas last month and assumed I could just tap and go like back home - nope. Took a cab from Havensight to Charlotte Amalie and the driver wouldn’t even consider card payment. It's just not a thing here. I’ve since learned that most drivers expect exact cash and don’t appreciate haggling. The only time I was able to pay by card was for a private airport transfer booked online ahead of time.
Just returned from a week in St. Croix. Not a single taxi accepted card, even the ones stationed outside Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. Some had Square readers but said “connection not working.” It’s standard practice to carry cash for taxis here. Also, Uber and Lyft don’t operate in the USVI, so taxis are your main option unless you rent a car. For short hops, I kept a stash of $1 and $2 bills since change is often an issue.
Taxis in the US Virgin Islands are almost entirely cash-only, especially in St. Thomas and St. John. I asked three different drivers about card payment and all said “cash only.” Rates are fixed by zone, so you usually know the price upfront, but drivers don’t carry change often. Best to have small denominations - $5s and $10s. Only a few hotel-affiliated or tour-booked taxis might accept cards. Don’t count on it though.