Island Expectations

Etiquette

There is a very important protocol for meeting, greeting and doing business with people in the Virgin Islands. Go Slow; take time to make eye contact, smile and greet everyone you meet with a "Good Morning," "Good Afternoon" or "Good Evening" before starting to do business. "Island Time" is Slow, Easy and Polite.

Electricity

Power is provided to St. John via an underground cable from St. Thomas. Our power supply is not always reliable and power outages are not uncommon. They are typically short lived, but can last for a few hours. These outages can happen with or without warning from the island’s power company, known as WAPA. We will do our best to keep you comfortable and informed. Antares strives to make your villa stay as comfortable and trouble free as possible. Please understand that power outages are out of our control. Please note, water will not work during an outage. There are no refunds for power loss.

Water

Fresh water is a very precious resource on the island. Villas are equipped with gutter systems that collect rainfall and store the water in large cisterns. Many of our villas also feature filtration systems so that the tap water is completely safe to drink. It is important to conserve water when possible and try to avoid any unnecessary usage.

Insects & Wildlife

Flying and crawling insects, (and unfortunately rodents too) are part of tropical life. While all of our homes are safely exterminated on a monthly basis, you may see these creatures. Remember we are in their space! Recommended daily cleaning and immediate food storage reduces the likelihood of these visitors, but may not prevent their visits.

Donkeys are a favorite among island visitors. You may see them lounging around and even enjoying beach time. Please remember that these are wild animals. Do not feed the donkeys. This will encourage donkeys to approach vehicles looking for snacks, which leads to car accidents. Additionally, foods outside of their diet cause health issues. If you’ve ever noticed donkeys that look “lumpy”, that is because they are suffering from Cushing’s Syndrome. If you care about the donkeys then please let them forage, they have been here for a long time and know how to survive.