The official website of the USVI Chess Federation

Following on from the first enquiries we have received for the tournament we have put together some more information on the questions that have been asked. Hopefully this will give you a better understanding of what to expect. Please do reach out to us if you have any more queries. You can also follow us on facebook - you can find the direct link on our "Contact" page - updates are published there as well.


Once the registration deadline has passed we will be publishing a list of the confirmed participants.


How to get to St Croix?

There are various direct flights to Henry E Rohlsen Airport (STX) on St Croix.

The easiest option is through Miami International (MIA), with American Airlines flying up to twice a day.

Seaborne Airlines are flying from San Juan (SJU) on Puerto Rico up to three times a day. There are also flights up to 4 times a day with Cape Air from SJU to St Croix. However, Cape Air planes are small (8 Seater Planes) and might not be suitable for everyone.

Alternatively, there is also the option to fly into St Thomas (STT) and continue from there onto St Croix via Seaplane (operated through Seaborne Airlines) with up to 12 flights a day. The Seaplane Port is a 5minutes ride away from the airport and offers early luggage drop off as well.


Transportation from airport to hotel


Transport from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport will only be provided on the official arrival day - December 7th - and the official departure day - December 14th. Anyone who is arriving on any other days will have to arrange their own transport and take care of the payment themselves.

 What are the amenities at the hotel?

The hotel is currently undergoing major refurbishment. The rooms are up to the usual standard of a Divi Resort, including a small refrigerator. The layout of the hotel allows everyone to have a view of the sea. There will be an area where everyone can have a drink in the evenings and get together in the evenings within the hotel. However, the pool will not be available. The Casino, which is located across the road from the hotel offers nightly entertainment, as well as a simple menu with snacks and burgers.

Both breakfast and lunch are included in the rate, every participant is free to choose where they want to eat dinner. There will be the opportunity to venture out into Christiansted for dinner time, making the most of the opportunities of tasting the local cuisine. We will be able to give more information on where to go during your stay on St Croix.

What is important to know about the USVI?

Nicknamed “The Don’t Hurry” St Croix has a very laid-back mentality and is the perfect place to slow down, relax and recharge your batteries. Christiansted and Frederiksted have a variety of craft shops offering lovely handmade produce.

As an US territory the USVI are a very safe place to be in the Caribbean.  No vaccinations are required for you to enter the territory. No passports are required for US citizens. It is recommended to make sure that comprehensive travel insurance cover has been taken out before the start of the trip.

The local cuisine has international influences and there is a variety of different cooking and food styles available. With two distilleries on the island there is also plenty of variety to keep you hydrated. Various activities are also available on island and there will be opportunities to try some of them out during the free day.


There are several  car rental companies  available. Be advised that we drive on the left side in the Virgin Islands.  There are taxis available, and we will be able to assist and make sure you will get around the island easily.

Most of restaurants, tourist attractions and shops accept credit cards and cash. There are ATM's available on the island.


Feel free to have a look on the different websites offering more information such as

https://virginislandsthisweek.com/#st-croix;  https://www.visitstcroix.com/ ; https://www.visitusvi.com/stcroix/homepage and http://www.gotostcroix.com/ . These are external websites and we don't take any responsibility for any information published on the websites. 
 

Which regulations does the tournament follow?


This tournament will be held according to FIDE (World Chess Federation) Laws of Chess as well as the regulations of the CCA (Confederacion de Ajedrez Para America) for this particular tournament. All those regulations can be found online on the respective websites. Chess boards and clocks will be provided.



How is the payment working?

The registration fee as well as the CCA fee (US$100 + US$40) must be paid to the US Virgin Island Chess Federation. Fees from US participants may be mailed (postmarked no later than November 8, 2018) to United States Virgin Islands Chess Federation, P.O. Box 26066 GBS, Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, 00824. Wire transfer details can be found on the invitation. Please remember that any fees must be covered by the federation making the transfer.


HOTEL RESERVATIONS:

To pay for the accommodations a separate process is available to pay the hotel directly with a  Credit Card. If you wish to make use of this please contact Courtney at CMixon@divicarina.com Please use this email address to make your reservation at the hotel - the hotel is undergoing refurbishment and is not accepting any payment through the website or on the phone. 

Please contact the federation if you have any questions: usvichess@gmail.com


We look forward to seeing all of you in sunny St. Croix soon!