St. Thomas and St. John: How to Have a Memorable Vacation
If you’re thinking about a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, I highly recommend visiting St. Thomas and St. John. Exploring these beautiful islands was on my bucket list for several years. Recently, I was looking for a vacation destination with a relaxed vibe and decided to head to the islands, where flip-flops and beachwear are your everyday attire.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting St. John and St. Thomas, including how to travel to and between the islands, where to stay, and activities you can enjoy.
Traveling to St. Thomas and St. John
We booked our flight in November for a late March departure from LAX. This gave us time to plan our trip and book a car service to get to the airport, as leaving your car at LAX is pretty pricey.
Tip: Avoid using Uber from the airport as it seems they've hiked up their prices. I recommend booking a car service instead.
If you’re closer to the east coast, Miami is also a great place to fly out of because there’s a direct flight to the islands.
American Airlines usually offers the most flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands, so you’ll often find the best flight options with them. With that said, we originally booked our trip with American Airlines and they canceled the flight both ways, so we ended up flying with Delta. It seems that many airlines going to the islands have delays and cancellations, but some people luck out with no issues.
Either way, I recommend having travel insurance in case you run into any issues that could cause inconveniences and unexpected fees. I talk more about that in this blog article.
You’ll likely have a layover in Atlanta or Miami on your way to the islands. We were originally set to have our layover in Miami. However, when American Airlines canceled our flight, and we booked with Delta, our layover was in Atlanta. It’s a huge airport, so make sure you leverage the customer service desks when trying to navigate the airport. They also have several Delta Lounges, which is convenient when you’re spending a few hours in the airport.
Once you arrive on St. Thomas, you’ll immediately notice that the airport is very small. While entering the island is pretty easy, you’ll want to complete the entry form via the U.S. Virgin Islands travel portal 4-5 days before getting there.
When it’s time to leave the island, try to get there a few hours early. My family members who left the day before me mentioned that it took them 2 hours to check bags and make it through security.
Getting Around St. Thomas and St. John
Another thing I highly suggest doing before you take your trip is planning ahead for a rental car on the islands. You’ll definitely need a car to get around and explore. Taxis are pricey on the islands and aren’t always reliable.
I suggest renting a Jeep as the roads are pretty rough, and Jeeps are also great for throwing your beach gear in the back.
Note: Parking on St. John is tough. There are a few parking lots, so it’s best to go ahead and pay for one to park as soon as you spot one. Otherwise, you can easily spend half an hour looking for parking.
Safety on St. Thomas and St. John
When planning a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, people often wonder about safety. I never felt in harm's way on our trip. While there were definitely some strange encounters at night when driving or walking around, it wasn't much different than what we've experienced in other places we've traveled to. Like anywhere, be mindful of your belongings and surroundings, and you should be just fine.
Guide to St. John
We started our trip on St. John and loved it. The island is beautiful, has delicious food, and the locals are friendly.
Where to Stay on St. John
There are several resorts and hotels on the island and many vacation rentals. If you choose to book a vacation rental, you'll want to do this early. We booked 5 months before our trip, and many places were already rented.
We rented a house in Great Cruz Bay, which we were very happy about. The bay was quiet at night since there aren’t any restaurants (aside from The Westin). Most residents seem to shut things down around 9 PM, which allows for a great night’s sleep.
When you’re booking your accommodation on St. John, you’ll want to make sure there’s parking available for you. You’ll also want to double-check that there’s AC. I would also suggest booking a place with a pool as it’s really nice to have one after a long day at the beach or if you prefer to spend some time away from the beach.
St. John Beaches, Activities, and Dining
First and foremost, the beaches on St. John are insane. They’re comparable to beaches in the Philippines and definitely beat many in Thailand. Be sure you arrive early as parking spots quickly fill up. Most beaches also have affordable beach gear rentals, including snorkel equipment, beach chairs, paddleboards, and kayaks. You can also find food and drink shacks, although we brought our own food and drinks with us.
Trunk Bay: This was one of my favorite beaches on the trip. The location was great and was easily accessible from the parking lots, but arrive before 8:30 AM if possible.
Cinnamon Bay: This beach is close to Trunk Bay and has gorgeous views, water, and sand.
Maho Bay: This one’s another awesome beach you’ll need to get to early. There are picnic tables, places to buy food, and beach equipment rentals. The bay is home to sea turtles, which you can see if you swim far enough out.
Another fun St. John activity we did was a full-day catamaran experience, which took us from Cruz Bay to Maho Bay. We traveled around the entire island and stopped at Lime Out, a restaurant famous for its tacos. We also saw sea turtles at Maho Bay and went snorkeling.
We also enjoyed these restaurants:
Dave and Jerry’s Steakhouse: Although the power was out when we arrived, we stuck around, and it was great. The steak menu was limited, but the food and service were excellent.
Greengo’s: We came here for lunch on our way back from a beach day. It’s located in Mongoose Junction and on the way back from beaches on the North side. While the service was subpar, the tacos and taco bowls hit the spot. There’s a Greengo’s on St. Thomas and St. John.
1864 The Restaurant: This was one of the best dinners we had on St. John. The food and drinks were off the charts, and everyone left with a full stomach.
The Longboard: We had this spot as a must-go on our list but couldn’t fit it into our schedule until one of our last days. It doesn’t open until 2 PM and is pretty crowded due to limited seating, so I recommend going as soon as they open. We appreciated that the food felt very clean after we had spent the week indulging in food and drinks.
Ocean 362: We ate here after our sailing trip, and the view was amazing. They’re known for their seafood, but since we enjoyed so much of that already, we went with the short rib pasta. It was amazing, along with their cocktails.
The Windmill Bar: This one’s another spot with fantastic scenery. We came on the same day we went to Maho Bay because there’s a path through the middle of the island to The Windmill Bar.
To shop on St. Thomas, we stopped at Mongoose Junction a few times. There are several restaurants and shops, where you can buy anything from small trinkets to a Rolex. The prices are a little steep, but there are tons of options for things to buy.
For provisions, we stopped at Dolphin Gourmet Market and Starfish Market. Both had many excellent options and everything we needed.
Traveling From St. Thomas to St. John
After spending time in St. John and loving it, I recommend just a short trip to St. Thomas. You can take a day trip to St. John from St. Thomas or spend a night or two to explore the island.
There’s a ferry that leaves every hour, which makes the trip from St. Thomas to St. John pretty easy. You can buy your tickets when you get to the landing, but I highly suggest buying ahead of time online. If you’re bringing your bags, you’ll need to pay for this ahead of time. You can carry a backpack at no extra cost.
Guide to St. Thomas
St. Thomas and St. John are both beautiful islands with amazing food and fun activities. With that said, St. Thomas is more populated and busy. Both islands are well worth checking out, but most people prefer one over the other, depending on their vacation style.
Where to Stay on St. Thomas
Like with St. John, we booked a vacation rental on St. Thomas. There are many vacation home options, as well as hotels and resorts. Again, you might want to make sure there’s available parking, AC, and a pool.
We also spent one night at The Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas as our rental ended a day before we were leaving the island. I typically don't use my travel budget on nice hotels, but we couldn't resist. While many of the reviews for The Ritz Carlton aren't great, we enjoyed our experience as we understand it isn't easy to get materials on the island in the same way hotels on the mainland can. The service, room, and dining were excellent.
How to Get Around St. Thomas
Like with St. John, it’s best to get around St. Thomas using a rental car. I recommend booking it in advance. Although the roads are rough, it’s easier to get around in a Jeep. Taxis are pricey and not very dependable.
St. Thomas Beaches, Activities, and Dining
Again, St. Thomas’ beaches are beautiful. Like with St. John, you can find picturesque scenery and snorkeling opportunities. There are plenty of places to rent beach gear equipment, too.
St. Thomas is also known for excellent hiking opportunities if you’re interested in getting away from the beach. There’s also more shopping than you’ll find on St. John.
There are also fantastic dining experiences on St. Thomas. One of our favorite spots was The Tap and Still. We picked up food here twice, and it seemed like a lot of locals frequented it. We ordered burgers and fries each time, and they didn’t miss. It’s a great spot for the night when you want to stay in and don’t feel like cooking.
Enjoy St. Thomas and St. John
I hope my experiences and this guide have inspired you to check out the U.S. Virgin Islands for yourself. Many people also add St. Croix to their itinerary. The islands offer a relaxed vibe, incredible beaches, and unmatched scenery!
