Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Cyril E. King Airport. Use an ATM with a no-fee card — the ATM gives you the real mid-market rate, while airport exchange booths charge 10–20% above it. On a $500 exchange, that difference is $50–100 in hidden costs.
The key rule
Airport currency exchange booths typically charge 10–20% above the mid-market rate.
On a $500 exchange, that is $50–100 in hidden fees. The ATM is almost always better — even with a bank fee. And with a no-fee card, the ATM is unambiguously better.
None. No currency exchange counter operates at Cyril E. King Airport.
This isn't a gap travelers need to worry about: the U.S. Virgin Islands use the U.S. dollar, as do essentially all of STT's destinations — the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico, and even the British Virgin Islands (Tortola), STT's one genuinely 'international' route, which also uses USD as its official currency. There is effectively no foreign-currency need connected to this airport.
A First Bank ATM is located in the terminal building; additional bank branches (including the main First Bank/Banco Popular branches) are a short drive away in Charlotte Amalie.
USD is the only currency in play, so any standard U.S. debit card works without conversion. If you're arriving from outside the U.S. banking system, a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) still saves on ATM surcharges, though there's no exchange-rate markup to worry about here since everything is already in dollars.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for STT
Bring or withdraw U.S. dollars before you arrive if possible — STT has just one terminal ATM, and since the entire St. Thomas/BVI travel corridor runs on USD, there's no exchange step required at all.
Pro Tip
Don't waste time looking for a currency exchange counter at STT — it doesn't exist, and because the USVI (and neighboring BVI) use the U.S. dollar, you won't need one.
Before you leave
Order foreign currency from your bank before departure — Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all offer currency ordering at branches and online (3–7 business days). Rates are better than airport booths, and you avoid the airport rush entirely.
At your destination
Withdraw from a local ATM at your destination — you get the real mid-market exchange rate, minus a small network fee. A no-fee card eliminates even that. This is almost always the cheapest option.
In transit
Currency exchange at city banks or post offices in your destination country is typically far better than airport rates in both countries. Most major cities have walk-in currency exchange with rates 5–10% better than airport booths.
Is it better to exchange currency at STT airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Cyril E. King Airport charge 10-20% above the mid-market rate. At your destination, ATMs give the real interbank rate minus a small network fee — typically saving $50-100 on a $500 exchange versus the airport booth.
Where are the ATMs at STT airport?
A First Bank ATM is located in the terminal building; additional bank branches (including the main First Bank/Banco Popular branches) are a short drive away in Charlotte Amalie. USD is the only currency in play, so any standard U.S. debit card works without conversion. If you're arriving from outside the U.S. banking system, a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) still saves on ATM surcharges, though there's no exchange-rate markup to worry about here since everything is already in dollars.
Which currency exchange is at STT airport?
None. No currency exchange counter operates at Cyril E. King Airport. This isn't a gap travelers need to worry about: the U.S. Virgin Islands use the U.S. dollar, as do essentially all of STT's destinations — the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico, and even the British Virgin Islands (Tortola), STT's one genuinely 'international' route, which also uses USD as its official currency. There is effectively no foreign-currency need connected to this airport.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at STT?
The Charles Schwab debit card is the top choice — it reimburses all ATM fees worldwide and charges 0% on international transactions, giving you the real mid-market exchange rate. Wise and Revolut travel cards are strong alternatives with similar 0% fee structures. Avoid using a standard bank debit card, which typically charges 1-3% foreign transaction fee plus an ATM surcharge of $3-5.
See also: Getting around STT airport · Live STT TSA wait times
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