To reserve one of my vacation rentals, just call me, Nancy, at 301-792-2263 or 301-963-5912 (USA) … or go to the Contact Me link and send me an email.

St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).  The USVI are a U.S. Territory comprised of the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.  Since the U.S. Virgin Islands are part of the USA, traveling here is no different than driving from one U.S. state to the next.  Therefore, if you do not intend to travel beyond St Thomas/St John, all you will need is your drivers license. If you want to be abundantly cautious, also carry a copy of your Birth Certificate

If you live in the U.S. and are traveling directly to St. Thomas, a U.S Passport is NOT required.  Nonetheless, if you have a Passport, I recommend that you take it with you so that you have the option to go into the BVIs should the opportunity present itself.

If you are traveling to St. Thomas THROUGH another country (for example, traveling through Canada), you DO need a U.S. Passport.

Summary: The following credentials can be helpful but are NOT all required:

Driver’s License (Needed if you intend to drive OR if you do NOT have a Passport and do NOT intend to travel to the BVIs)

Birth Certificate (Helpful, but not required.  Used for ease of the Customs/Immigration process on your departure day if you do NOT have a Passport)

Passport or Passport Card (Only required if you intend to travel into the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) or the Spanish Virgin Islands)

Global Entry Card (This will help you avoid long lines at the airport on your day of departure)

The Pixel Labcorp at-home Covid test kit is a popular testing service that people are using for their travel requirements for submission to the USVI travel portal.

Currently (Dec 2021) you can get a single test kit for $119.

You should order the test kits well in advance of needing them.

You do NOT need a test to return from St Thomas to the mainland U.S.

In case of emergency, call me, Nancy, at 301-792-2263 (cell).

Updated Dec 2021

Food in St Thomas is very expensive and recently has been impacted by high inflation. For example, BBQ chicken wings at a local restaurant recently increased from $8 to $15 over the course of just two months. It is not uncommon to now pay over $300 for 2 bags of groceries.

On our most recent trip here, we packed frozen meats such as steak, turkey, chicken, etc.  If you choose to bring frozen meats, just wrap them in a towel and place in your checked baggage so that it travels in the cargo hold of the aircraft. It will still be frozen when you arrive.

If this is your first visit to St Thomas, you will quickly discover that the Islander’s, (more accurately known as “St Thomians”), are relaxed to a fault! In fact they are so relaxed that it can drive you crazy if you are accustomed to a hectic lifestyle in a bustling city.

The best way to relax into the environment is with a very relaxed attitude from the very start. Forget about fast service and do not expect the service to be perfect. The more you push the servers, the slower they will seem to go. After a while you will realize that they are not going to speed up on your behalf. It is against their culture.

Don’t fight it! … RELAX! … Take a deep breath … Slowwwwww Dowwwwwwnnn … You are on “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!”

We Americans tend to like to get-to-the point quickly. Whereas the Islander are very greeting conscious. Make sure you pause, smile and say “Morning-Morning”, “Good-Day”, “Good-Afternoon”, or “Good-Evening” to the Islanders before starting a conversation. This small gesture will go a long way to making your interactions with the Islanders a pleasant experience.  

The locals will often great you with “Good Night” which to most of us Americans is what you would say when you leave each other, not when you first encounter each other.  Still throws me off!

Resort Address:

The Elysian Beach Resort
6800 Nazareth Road
St. Thomas, USVI 00802

Directions to the individual vacation rental units will be supplied with your Welcome Letter.

We have found the following drivers to be reliable and reasonably priced. Nonetheless, you should ALWAYS ask the price BEFORE you book your taxi.

Junior – (404) 580-9394

Abraham – 340-514-3119

Joseph – (340) 473-8034

There is a $30.00 charge for lost keys.

If you lose your keys, call me at 301-792-2263 and I will provide you with the combination to the emergency lock box to access an additional set of keys.  The lockbox will be located near the front door of each of my St Thomas Vacation Rentals. You must return the keys to the lock box immediately after you use them each time.  If these keys are lost, there is a $100 charge for the locksmith to produce an expedited set.

You will find your Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rental by owner to be furnished with bedspreads, linens, blankets, pillows, towels, kitchen appliances and utensils, TV’s in every living area and bedroom, and furniture on the balconies. There is a hair dryer in each bathroom.

I provide a starter supply of toilet paper, paper towels, and dish soap. 

I supply laundry detergent.

I do not supply hand and body soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and tanning lotions. I recommend that you pick these items up along your way from the airport to your vacation rental unit.

While staying at Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, I recommend you rent a car at the airport.  You can also get around by taxi or shuttle bus if you prefer not to drive.


If you elect to rent a car, go online and reserve a rental car at the St Thomas airport (ATA: STT) prior to your departure from the US.  Make sure you select a rental agency that is located at the airport.  I have found Budget car rentals to be the cheapest.  If you prefer a taxi, be aware that the taxis do not use meters.  You should ask the taxi drivers about the fare before you get in the cab.


If you are driving a car, pay attention to landmarks such as stores, obscure turns, and mail boxes, wherever you go.  You will quickly learn St Thomas after just a few spins around the island.  The islanders, who are very friendly, don’t pay much attention to street names and addresses so won’t be much help when asked for directions.

We have found the following drivers to be reliable and reasonably priced. Nonetheless, you should ALWAYS ask the price BEFORE you book your taxi.

Junior – (404) 580-9394

Abraham – 340-514-3119

Joseph – (340) 473-8034

Quote from local: “We drive on the left in the USVI.  We also have a few rather peculiar habits.  Mostly on St. Croix, honking is the island way of indicating a hello, or an acknowledgment of some sort.  All the islands have drivers who stop in the middle of the road to load or unload passengers or talk to friends.  You have to be aware of this habit and drive cautiously.  Also pedestrians & animals must be watched for at all times, driving carefully and at the speed limit is recommended.”

Some of the roads in St. Thomas can be very steep!  Driving should be done with caution. You should be prepared for the slow speeds at which everyone travels. St. Thomas is very small and you can usually drive to most destinations within 15 minutes, even while traveling at an average of 35 mph.   On St. Thomas and St. John, you drive on the left side of the road.  Most cars will have their steering wheels on the left side.  Stay alert!  It is not unusual to come across a stray cow, goat, sheep, or chicken in the middle of the road.

Your Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rental by owner should be ready for Check-in by 4:00 P.M. on your Arrival Date. Any exceptions to the regular Check-in and Check-out times must be requested and approved in advance. Early check-in may be allowed if the property is clean and ready for occupancy ahead of schedule.

On your scheduled departure date, Check-Out time for Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rental by owner is 10:00 A.M. sharp so that the housekeeping staff has enough time to properly prepare for our next guest.  Any exceptions to the regular Check-out time must be requested and approved in advance. 

Late check-out can be considered only if there are no guests arriving on your departure date.

On your departure date, please:

• Close and lock all balcony doors.
• Turn ALL air conditioning units to 80F and put in DRY mode.
• Close ALL shades and blinds.
• Leave the ceiling fans on and set to the medium speed.
• Load dirty dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on.
• Place all trash bags in trash can at the entrance to the building.
• Make sure the house is generally “picked up” and ready to be vacuumed and cleaned.
• Put all dirty towels in the clothes basket.
• Remember to take the keys with you so that you can mail them back to me.

Please make sure the property is empty of your personal belongings. I am not responsible for items left behind.

Instructions for what to do with the keys at the end of your stay will be in your Welcome Letter.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE …

• Do NOT drop the keys off at the front desk!  They will not know what to do with them!
  
• Leave the pool cards hanging on the key holder near the front door.

Your security deposit will be refunded as soon as I verify, through our maid, that there has been no damage to the unit or its contents and that the keys have been returned to the lockbox.

At Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, you will discover the weather on the island to be fairly consistent year-in and year-out.  From June to October the average high is 91F, with an average low of 78F.  Between the months of November and May the average high is 86F, with an average low of 72F.   The record high was 99F.  The record low was 56F.

Click HERE to get the current weather report.

St. Thomas is in the Atlantic Standard Time zone which is one (1) hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. However, they do not honor daylight savings time.

Items to consider:

• Sun protection products (may need to be placed in your checked baggage)
• Hair care products (may need to be placed in your checked baggage)
• Oral care products (may need to be placed in your checked baggage)
• Sandals, Tennis shoes, Flip-Flops
• Bathing Suits, T-Shirts, and Cover-Ups
• Sun Glasses
• Hat
• Cooking Spices
• Coffee
• Snorkeling gear: There are a lot of beaches with snorkeling.  See FAQ on Snorkeling Gear.

Updated Dec 2021

Some of our rental units may contain some gear but there are no guarantees that it will be there and if it is, it may not fit you.  Otherwise, there are several places around the island where you can rent snorkel equipment.

If you enjoy snorkeling and are looking to purchase and bring your own, these are exceptionally good masks for the money, they fit all face sizes and they come in a variety of colors for those of you who are into underwater fashion 🙂 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BKPX729

If you prefer a straight tube snorkel: https://smile.amazon.com/Silicone-Snorkel-Underwater-Snorkeling-SN52S-BLACK/dp/B08L37TH64

If you prefer a snorkel that gets less water in it: https://smile.amazon.com/AQUA-DIVE-SPORTS-Snorkeling-Freediving/dp/B07WC486YY

For fins, I would spend a little extra money and invest in a pair of these. They have an extremely well fitting heel and the charter boats are buying up every pair they can find on the island because of such positive customer feedback. White fins are the most visible under water. https://www.diversdirect.com/p/scubapro-go-travel-fin

If this is your first trip to Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, you will overpack. Once on island, you will quickly learn that you spend most of your time in bathing suits and coverups. For a 1-week stay, you will probably need no more than two pairs of shorts and a few shirts/tops. It is unlikely that you will dress up at all, so can probably leave the formal wear at home. A good rule of thumb is to pack and then unpack and leave 1/2 of it at home! If you are not taking snorkeling gear, frozen foods or large liquids, you should be able to pack most everything you need in a carry-on bag.

While a guest at Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, Pool/Beach Towels are complimentary and available at the front desk of the Elysian Beach Resort.  You can drop your used towels off outside the hotel lobby and pick up fresh towels every day.  If no towels are made available for you at the hotel lobby, please call Nancy at 301.792.2263.

Power outlets at Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner use the same 110 volt currents as North America.  It is very common for the power to go out during a storm.  This is normal.  It will come back on in a few hours.

Electric and water are extremely expensive on St. Thomas.   Most hotels and condo owners assess an “energy surcharge” of up to 18% to recover electricity and water costs. Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner does not assess this type of charge.  Instead we ask our renters to help us conserve energy and water so we can continue to maintain our low rental rates as compared to what the Elysian Beach Resort charges for similar accommodations.

A few ways you can help:

• Please do not run the AC with the sliding doors opened.
• Open the sliding doors instead of running the A/C.  If you open the front door a wonderful breeze blows through the unit.
• If you are leaving for a few hours or more, turn the A/C off and close the blinds. The A/C can cool the rooms in 5-10 minutes when you return.
• Keep your showers short.  There is a hot water tank in each unit and it only takes a few seconds for the hot water to reach the shower head.
• Please strive to not just let the water run while you are brushing your teeth.

The proper name of St John … is St John!  It is not plural.  An easy trick to remember the correct pronunciation is to think of St Thomas … it is not St Thomas’s!  They are both singular.

Updated Dec 2021

Covid Update:

Traveling to the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), such as Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Cooper Island, etc., is now possible provided you follow the current process (subject to change at a moments notice).  

What we are now hearing is that, to clear British Customs and Immigration, you will need a COVID vaccination card and a negative COVID screening test that is less than 48 hours old.  This will get you both into and out of the BVIs if you do a day trip.  If you spend the night in the BVIs, depending on the date/time of your COVID test, you may need to get a new COVID test to meet the requirements of International Travel to re-enter St Thomas.  

See FAQ information on COVID Testing.

The currency on St. Thomas is the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency can be exchanged at most major banks on St. Thomas and there are local bank branches throughout the island. Major credit cards and traveler’s checks are widely accepted, but it is advisable to carry some cash as well.

Wireless Phone service is available in the USVI from AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless. 

Check with your carrier to see if they offer domestic service.  

You may also want to check with your carrier on International coverage if you intend to visit the British Virgin Islands (BVIs).

At Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, there are televisions with 32+ Cable TV channels in each living area and bedroom.

Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner provides free WIFI in each rental unit. The WIFI signal is generally reachable from the pool and beach. There is also a computer with Internet access and a printer in the “Owner’s Lounge” located in the front office of the Elysian Beach Resort. As our guest at Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, you have Owner’s privileges and access to the Owner’s Lounge.

General info about St. Thomas and St. John: http://www.vinow.com

General information about Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda:  http://www.bviwelcome.com/

St. Thomas is a great base camp from which you can visit the British Virgin Islands of St. John, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, and many of the smaller islands, such as Cooper and Peter islands.

To help enjoy your adventure, familiarize yourself with the geographic layout.  Do some research through wikipedia:

• St. Thomas, USVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas,_U.S._Virgin_Islands
• St. John, USVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_John,_U.S._Virgin_Islands
• Tortola, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortola
• Jost Van Dyke, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jost_van_dyke
• Virgin Gorda, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Gorda
• Norman Island, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Island
• Peter Island, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Island
• Cooper Island, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Island_(British_Virgin_Islands)
• Saba Rock, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saba_Rock or http://www.sabarock.com/
• Necker Island, BVI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necker_Island_(British_Virgin_Islands) 

• Great Maps: http://www.virginislandsmap.com
• USVI Maps: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/vi.htm
• BVI Maps: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/vg.htm

The village of Red Hook is less than 2 miles from Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals.  In Red Hook you can rent sailboats and powerboats (with or without a Captain).  You can also hop on the People Ferry and go to St. Johns or Tortola.  The Ferry to St. John is about a 20 minute ride. 

The Ferry’s leave on the hour from 8AM to midnight.

• Click HERE for Ferry Schedule and Rates to St. John
• Click HERE or HERE for information about all Ferry Schedules

There is also a Car Ferry (Barge) if you prefer to take your car to St. John instead of renting a jeep.  A car is fine if you are going to Trunk Bay or Caneel Bay.  But, if you want to go into the hills or to one of the remote beaches (e.g. Lamepshur Bay), rent a Jeep!  The roads are steep!

If traveling by Ferry, make sure you verify the time for the last Ferry back to St. Thomas in the evening.  You won’t want to miss it!

The Elysian Beach Resort has one of the most exquisitely designed and landscaped pools on the Island, complete with a rock grotto waterfall and hot tub.

General pool hours are 7AM – 10PM (subject to change).

YOU CAN PICK UP A FRESH TOWEL EVERYDAY!  Drop used towels off in the hotel lobby or swimming pool area and pick up fresh towels.

While staying at Nancy’s St Thomas Vacation Rentals by owner, you are welcome to use the tennis court whenever you like.  Sign up for a tennis time at the front desk of the Elysian Beach Resort.  The front desk can provide you with loaner tennis equipment.

Our tennis court is striped for Pickleball.  Bring your own gear (e.g. paddles, balls, shoes).

Pickleball is a good first-thing-in-the-morning exercise before it gets too hot. 

Moe’s Fresh Market in Red Hook (6205 Smith Bay Road) is the most convenient and is a great little market.

Food Center on the East End is also good. 

There is a PriceSmart in Tutu which is the equivalent of a Costco or Sam’s Club.

Plaza Extra, also in Tutu, is very good and has some of the best prices.  Plaza Extra, and Food Center always seem to be well stocked and clean.  There is a Pueblo in town that is a bit run down, but has reasonable prices.

There is an ice maker in each refrigerator.

There is an ice making machine near the entrance of Building H, albeit it is frequently out-of-service.

Bags of ice can be purchased at Food Center and Moe’s Fresh Market in Red Hook.

Although it is extremely unlikely that you would be on the island during a hurricane, you can draw comfort in knowing that the Elysian Beach Resort is built using poured concrete and has successfully survived hurricanes Hugo (1989), Marilyn (1995), Irma (2017) and Maria (2017).  It has served as a safe haven for our friends and employees during the hurricanes.