As a United States-based non-revenue traveler, US territories are a great option. There’s no need for a passport when traveling to a US territory. For my husband and I, there are also no taxes charged for the flights. These factors make the US Virgin Islands tempting, even for a quick trip. One nice thing about planning something like this on the fly is that you can account for the weather. People often avoid Caribbean locations during hurricane season. Going last minute allows for checking the incoming weather right before your trip. Choose one of these Caribbean paradises depending on which has the best flight seat numbers and island hop from there!

General Information

• St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John are U.S. territories, a passport is not required when traveling here from the USA.
• English spoken
• USD used
• Mineral Only Sunscreen
• Cheapest in the summer
• Island hopping: Virgin Islands Ferry, offers ferries, if you don’t have a passport make sure you’re staying in the USVI, check prices on Ferry website (example fare: $21 one way from St. John to St. Thomas)
• St. Thomas can be crowded with tourists from cruise ships
• Some things were damaged from a hurricane
• Don’t leave valuables visible in the car
• Check with rental car companies about island hopping with your rental
• Many activities aren’t island specific and can be done on any island (water activities, boat rides etc)
• Restaurants can be slow and expensive
• Restaurants close relatively early, wise to make reservations
• St. Thomas is the busiest, most upscale and developed
• St. John best for nature and solitude
• St. Croix best for culture and food

St. Croix (STX) (Virgin Islands)

Transportation

• Rent a car (no tax, cheaper gas)
• Drive on the left side of the road but vehicles oriented the same as in USA
• Island is 28 miles across
• Slow speed 2 lane roads
• Honking is a hello or giving you the right of way
• Animal crossings
• Watch for potholes

Activities

• Buck Island Reef National Monument, free (Snorkeling)
• Rainbow Beach (sea glass)
• Point Udall
• St. George Village Botanical Garden $10
• Sandy Point Beach (possible turtles)
• Hike up Goat Hill, 2 miles
• Salt River Bay National Park, free
• Virgin kayak tours, bioluminescent water $65 pp, evening, 2 hrs, bring cash tip
• Estate Mount Washington Plantation
• Tamarind Leaf Beach (snorkel)
• Fort Christiansen, $10

Hotels

Historic hotels

• $239 Company House Hotel
• $227 The Fred, some roach complaints and don’t eat here
• $189 Feather Leaf Inn
• $209 Caravelle Hotel and Casino, parking fee
• $209 King Christian Hotel, parking fee

(see post on making hotel bookings)

Eats

• Conch
• Fraco
• Gooseberry ice cream
• Johnny cake
• Pate
• Pot fish and fungi
• Itil in Paradise $$$
• Toast Diner for rum cake French toast $
• Rowdy Joe’s for fresh fish $$

St. Thomas (STT)

Transportation

• Drive on left side of road
• Island is 13 miles long
• Slow speed limit

Activities

• Skyride to Paradise Point $25, includes drink, scenic tram
• 99 Steps
• Kayak mangroves at sunset $40
• Ancient St. Thomas Synagogue
• Plantation Crown and Hawk Botanical Garden $18
• Fort Christian $10
• Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden $10
• Drake’s Seat hike
• Cycleboats to honeymoon beach with rum punch
• St. Peter Greathouse Estate and Gardens $12
• Parasail $146 1 hour
• Sunset sail $109
• Duty free shopping for US citizens up to $1600 (for all USVIs)

Beaches

• Sapphire Beach
• Coki Point Beach
• Honeymoon Beach (via ferry)
• Lindquist Beach, $5 per person and $2 parking
• Secret Harbor

Hotels

• Emerald Beach Resort $209 per night, all inclusive,  oceanfront
• Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham  $205, oceanview
• Windward Passage Hotel, $195, budget pick

Food/Drinks

Drinks

• Banana Daiquiri
• Painkiller
• Bushwhacker

Food

• Fungi (side dish, not mushrooms)
• Johnny cakes
• Kallalo (soup)
• Pate
• Roti
• Conch
• Bullfoot soup (made with bulls feet)
• Dumb bread

Restaurants

• Mountain Top Bar $$
• Blue 11 $$$$ (9 course tasting menu)
• Side Street Pub $$
• Dinghy’s Beach Bar & Grill $$
• Twisted Cork Cafe $$$
• Gladys’ Cafe $-$$

St. John (no airport)

Transportation

Rent a Car

• Drive on left
• Slow speed limits
• Only 2 gas stations, most reliable one in upper regions of Cruz Bay by Route 104
• Parking can be challenging
• 20 miles square (island size)

Taxis

*Somewhat walkable, especially Cruz Bay

Activities

• Many of the same types of activities as on the other islands (zip line, parasail, snorkeling etc)
• Virgin Islands National Park
• Annaberg Sugar Plantation
• Reef Bay Valley Petroglyphs
• Ram Head Trail
• North Shore Road Scenic Overlooks

Beaches

• Trunk Bay, kayaks, stand up paddle board and more
• Majo Bay Beach, snorkeling, kayaking, less crowds, sea turtles (don’t touch!)
• Cinnamon Bay Beach, longest beach, deer
• Honeymoon Beach, day pass for equipment rentals
• Little Cinnamon Beach, reach by hike, plane wreck snorkeling
• Drunk Bay, reach by hike 
• Salt Pond Bay

Hotels

• Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel $256
• Garden by the Sea B&B $270

Not many hotel options

Eats

• Key lime pie
• Red Grout (dessert)
• Many of the other food suggestions from the other two islands can also be found here

Restaurants

• Lime Green Taco Boat, $$ boat accessable only
• Skinny Legs $-$$
• Rhumb Lines $$
• Salty Mongoose $$
• Ekaete Pink Corner prices unknown
• High Tide $$$-$$$$
• The Longboard $$ (happy hour)
• Cruz Bay Landing $$$
• Rum Hut $$-$$$
• St. John Brewers $$
• Morgan’s Mango $$$-$$$$

*prices may vary for hotels, activities etc

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