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You can work up a major thirst in the hot tropical climate. If you have a refrigerator in your hotel room, do what islanders do – freeze bottles of water for use when you’re out so you can drink the water as it melts. The bottles will sweat, so wrap in a washcloth and place in a plastic bag.

Instead of eating at the hotel’s dining room, buy picnic fixings at the local supermarket. If you don’t have a rental car, you may find a convenience store within walking distance of your hotel. Many hotels have their own convenience stores. Even if you must pay high prices at those stores, it’s still cheaper than dining at a restaurant.

Get more space plus save money by cooking meals when you rent a condominium or villa. Most come with a full set of kitchenware and gadgets. Even if local supermarket prices make you gasp, you’ll still save money over eating out. Useful option when traveling with children.

If island hotel rates are out of your price range, trying camping. The Cinnamon Bay Campground in St. John (seeCinnamon Bay Campground, St. John) gives you the best deal for renting a space if you bring your own tent. Campgrounds also rent tents already in place as well as cooking gear and coolers.

You can pick up the ingredients for a full-course dinner complete with a dessert at the islands’ supermarkets, but it’s their take-out sections that tempt most vacationers. While the prices are on the high side, most supermarkets sell full dinners hot and ready for eating. Don’t look for extensive salad bars such as those you’ll find at many US supermarkets.

The USVI’s VITRAN bus service is slower than molasses, but it gives you an unusual look at the islands. Bus stops are marked along major roadways. Check with the driver to determine its destination. The bus is also a low-cost way to see the islands and to mingle with the locals. There is no regular bus service in the BVI.

Rather than trying to find a good read at gift shops and the bookstores in St. Thomas and St. Croix, ask around for a book exchange at hotels and marinas. There’s no requirement to leave a book when you take one, but they’re a good place to get rid of the already read books you brought from home.

Pack small amounts of coffee, tea bags, and spices in your luggage to avoid paying top dollar at island stores for larger quantities than you can consume during your trip.

A few restaurants have early bird specials, but you won’t find the menu as extensive as later in the evening. However, you’ll have plenty to pick from, the restaurant will be less crowded, and you’ll have the rest of the evening to enjoy a stroll on the beach. Ask at your hotel for suggestions.

Trunk Bay in St. John and Magens Bay in St. Thomas charge a nominal admission fee, but if you have a family, the dollars add up. Wait until late afternoon, when the fee collector goes home, for a trip to the beach. In summer, you’ll still have several hours of daylight to enjoy the beach.