Palatka Travel Guide

American Express -- You'll have to visit St. Thomas for service. The representative is Caribbean Travel Agency/Tropic Tours, 9716 Estate Thomas, Havensight (tel. 800/524-4334 or 340/774-1855).

Banks -- First Bank Virgin Islands is at 90C Cruz Bay (tel. 340/776-6881).

Business Hours -- Stores are generally open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Cameras & Film -- To purchase film or have it developed, go to Sparky's, Cruz Bay Park (tel. 340/776-6284).

Currency Exchange -- Go to the branch of First Bank Virgin Islands in Cruz Bay (tel. 340/776-6881).

Dentists -- The Virgin Islands Dental Association (tel. 340/775-9110) is a member of the American Dental Association and is also linked with various specialists. Call for information or an appointment.

Doctors -- Call tel. 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, go to St. John Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, 3B Sussanaberg (tel. 340/693-8900).

Drugstores -- Go to Chelsea Drug Store, Marketplace Shopping Center, Route 104, Cruz Bay (tel. 340/776-4888). The staff here not only fills prescriptions but also sells film, cameras, magazines, and books. Hours are Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm. The pharmacy is open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 4:30pm.

Emergencies -- For the police, an ambulance, or in case of fire, call tel. 911.

Internet Access -- Go to Connections, Parcel Street, Suite 6D (tel. 340/776-6922). Expect to pay $5 for 30 minutes. You can also use the computers at the Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library, Enighted Street (tel. 340/776-6359), for a charge of $2 for 1 hour.

Laundry -- Try Santo's Laundromat, 1321 Cruz Bay Valley (tel. 340/693-7733); Super Clean, Enighted Street (tel. 340/693-7333).

Newspapers & Magazines -- Copies of U.S. mainland newspapers, such as the New York Times and The Miami Herald, arrive daily and are for sale at Mongoose Junction, Caneel Bay, and the Westin Resort St. John. The latest copies of Time and Newsweek are also for sale. What to Do: St. Thomas/St. John, the official guidebook of the St. Thomas and St. John Hotel Association, is available at the tourist office and at hotels.

Post Office -- The Cruz Bay Post Office is at Cruz Bay (tel. 340/779-4227).

Safety -- There is some crime here, but it's relatively minor compared to St. Thomas. Most crime against tourists consists of muggings or petty theft, but rarely violent attacks. Precautions, of course, are always advised. You are most likely to be the victim of a crime if you leave valuables unguarded on Trunk Bay, as hundreds of people seem to do every year.

Taxes -- The only local tax is an 8% surcharge added to all hotel rates.

Telephone & Fax -- All island phone numbers have seven digits. It is not necessary to use the 340 area code when dialing within St. John. Make long-distance, international, and collect calls as you would on the U.S. mainland by dialing 0 or your long-distance provider.