Chill on gorgeous beaches, ply Caribbean waters, tour historic attractions and shop duty-free on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John—while leaving your passport at home.
gillianleigh
The U.S. Virgin Islands are a territory of the United States consisting of three main islands—St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John—along with many smaller islands and cays, which are mostly undeveloped. They are among the closest Caribbean islands to the mainland United States, situated just 90 miles east of Puerto Rico. That proximity, together with the stunning natural beauty of the islands—great for diving and snorkeling, boating and fishing—and the fact that no passport is required for American visitors, has made the islands a tourism haven. The English language also reigns in the U.S. Virgin Islands as does the U.S. dollar. Add to that no need for electric adapters and cell phone coverage as if you were stateside and it doesn’t get any easier for a Caribbean vacation getaway.
Note: Though no passport is required for U.S. visitors, citizenship evidence is required such as a raised-seal birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.
The high season for hotels in the U.S. Virgin Islands is from around mid-December through early April. Try the shoulder seasons in May and November for better bargains, or venture to the Caribbean during the rainy summer season (mostly afternoon showers but with the chance of hurricanes, especially in August and September).
The islands are served via two international airports, Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) on St. Croix, both of which have daily flights from numerous U.S. cities. Cape Air and other airlines provide regularly scheduled flights for travel between St. Thomas and St. Croix. Visitors to St. John typically arrive via the St. Thomas airport and then take a taxi to Red Hook for the short ferry ride to St. John.
Courtesy of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
As for touring the islands, taxis on St. Thomas are very expensive, and their drivers have a well-deserved reputation for rudeness. Rent a car if you plan to tour much of the island (people in the U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left side of the road). On the other hand, St. John and St. Croix are the complete opposite of St. Thomas, with talkative, friendly drivers and reasonable fares.
An ideal itinerary for a seven-day vacation that explores more than one island is three days on St. Thomas and four days on St. John, or an interchange of one island with St. Croix. Make it a 10-day tour and visit all three islands for the perfect U.S. Virgin Islands trifecta.
Columbus “discovered” the islands on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, but in fact, Arawak and Caribe Indians inhabited the area long before. It wasn’t until the late 1500s, however, that Europeans started arriving from places like Britain, Denmark, France, The Netherlands and even the Knights of Malta. Among those nations, it was the Danes that prevailed, setting up sugar plantations in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the late 1600s and importing slaves from Africa for labor.
Courtesy of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
Eventually the slaves revolted and were emancipated 17 years prior to the U.S. mainland emancipation. The African culture, however, seeded many of the customs prevalent today in the Virgin Islands, including the unusual lilt of English, the food and music, and the colorful annual carnival celebrations held on each of the islands. Blended together with a European touch, along with residents from the “down-islands”—namely the Caribbean islands which are further south—and it all adds up to a lively culture in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The United States purchased the islands from the Danes in 1917 for their strategic position with the onset of World War I. But far from being critical in wars, the territory instead developed over the years as a tourism mecca. The beauty of the mountainous tropical islands is exquisite, the seas are bountiful with colorful aquatic life and the beaches are some of the prettiest in the world. So don your sandals and get ready to kick up some sand!
[Page 2: Vacation Planning Tips for St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix]
Comments
3 Comments on this article | read all commentsby gypsychant on July 11, 2009
Everyone has to arrive in Cruz Bay, I would quickly find myself a ride to Coral Bay or one of the many beautiful beaches. Cruz Bay is just too crowded these days. Soloman beach can be reached by foot from Cruz Bay. It is a beautiful place.
by kfanning9 on February 2, 2009
Cinnamon Bay Highly recommend Cinnamon Bay for a great beach day. Right next to Trunk Bay, but with few tourists, no boats, and no destroyed coral. We found a spot just off the beach where thousands of small fish had attracted several large tarpons. Amazing snorkeling, when all you can see is shiny silver fish until they dart away and you see a 4 foot tarpon swimming toward you!
by Jack on January 11, 2009
Sail Safaris on St John offers award winning snorkeling tours to the islands in the National Park and beyond. They have a fleet of boats from fast and fun beach catamarans that can land right on the islands to snorkel or a larger six passenger catamaran ideal for excursions to the British Virgin Islands.