Transportation
2024 Region II Head Start Conference
Region II Special Offers
Flying to St. Thomas
The Region II Head Start Association is pleased to announce a new partnership with American Airlines that offers substantial savings!
We are pleased to offer a group rate of $650 per passenger to/from JFK and STT. Act now! We have limited seats available at this special price!
Details - Depart from JFK on Sunday, October 27th at 6:30am
Return - Depart from STT on Thursday, October 31st at 5:18pm
We are beyond excited to welcome you to the US Virgin Islands for the conference!
St. Thomas is a beautiful place and we know you are going to have a wonderful time. Like most islands, the transportation options are a bit different than the mainland. We are working closely with trusted local transportation companies to ensure you have an exceptional experience. Please read the below information so that you are fully aware of some of the offerings we have made available. We encourage you to take advantage of the transportation options that are listed below.
Some things to note
We are beyond excited to welcome you to the US Virgin Islands for the conference!
St. Thomas is a beautiful place and we know you are going to have a wonderful time. Like most islands, the transportation options are a bit different than the mainland. We are working closely with trusted local transportation companies to ensure you have an exceptional experience. Please read the below information so that you are fully aware of some of the offerings we have made available. We encourage you to take advantage of the transportation options that are listed below.
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Things to Note:
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No Uber or Lyft Services: St. Thomas, USVI, does not have Uber or Lyft services. There are no rideshare services available in the USVI.
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Taxi Service: We are expecting a large number of attendees at our conference. There are only so many taxis in the USVI and the service can be sporadic. It is common practice for an additional charge for multiple passengers and for each piece of luggage.
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Rental Cars: Rental cars are costly, and parking at the Westin is extremely limited and can cost up to $60 per day.
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Driving: Remember, driving on the island is on the left side of the road, opposite to the mainland United States.
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What identification can a U.S. citizen use to enter the United States Virgin Islands?
U.S. citizens do not need a passport when entering the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the official U.S. Virgin Islands passport requirements, but you may be required to show proof of citizenship (raised-seal birth certificate and valid government-issued ID card such as a driver’s license) when departing the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.
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Even though you are not required to have a passport to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands, you may want to take a passport versus having to carry the two forms of identification needed for departing the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For individuals wishing to take a taxi, transportation can be arranged outside of the baggage claim area. Taxi cab prices to the Westin start at $18.
Drive time from the airport to the Westin is approximately 15-20 minutes.
Car Rental
Arrivals in St. Thomas occur outside on the tarmac. Arriving passengers disembark using an outdoor portable staircase. Guests then walk along an outside corridor, eventually arriving at the indoor baggage claim area. There are car rental options located at the airport - and other car rental options (Major rental car providers include Hertz, National, Enterprise, Alamo and Avis) located via a short shuttle bus ride away.
Please note: If you are renting a car - vehicles travel on the LEFT side of the road in the US Virgin Islands. St. Thomas is also a mountainous island - and there are many elevation changes as you transit/drive on the island.
Arriving at the Hotel
The hotel property has two distinct areas - the Westin at Frenchman’s Reef and Buoy House. The conference room block is at the Westin - which has a seperate lobby and registration area than the Buoy House. The Buoy House is located a bit farther down the hill. Please note if you are staying at the Westin or the Buoy House prior to arriving, because it will make a difference as to where you need to go to check in. For the vast majority of guests, you will be staying at the Westin.
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When arriving at the Westin, guests enter into an open-air lobby. The registration desk for the hotel is against the back wall. Hotel check-in is at 4pm. There are areas to sit in the main lobby and there is a bell desk that is able to hold luggage.
The hotel is built into the side of a mountain. Level 4 is the lobby level. Our conference activities, including the conference registration and meeting rooms, will occur one level below, on the 3rd floor. You may access the conference registration desk and meeting rooms by going down the stairs that are located on the right side of the hotel lobby, just past the men’s restroom.
Guest rooms are located on levels 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Please note, if you are staying on floors 1 or 2 - then you will need to take the stairs or the elevator down from the main lobby and also the conference meeting rooms to access your room.
