A Complete Guide to Planning the Perfect US Virgin Islands Vacation
The US Virgin Islands are one of the absolute best vacation destinations to take from the United States. The US Virgin Islands are a US Territory in the Caribbean which means you can easily travel to the islands from the United States without needing a passport!
While the US Virgin Islands are owned by the United States, you can still immerse yourself in Caribbean culture, enjoy white sandy beaches and crystal clear Caribbean waters while escaping to a tropical climate.
In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to plan the perfect US Virgin Islands vacation! Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, enjoy a luxury resort, do some snorkeling and diving, or maybe even enjoy nature and do some hiking, there is something for every traveller in the US Virgin Islands!
The best part is, USVI is only a 2-hour flight from Miami and easily accessible from most major US cities!
How to get to the US Virgin Islands
If you’re planning a US Virgin Islands vacation, you’re probably wondering the best way to get there. Luckily, most major airlines will fly to the Virgin Islands! When planning my US Virgin Islands vacation, I found that most of the best flights were on American Airlines with a connection in Miami because of its close proximity to the islands.
It is important to note that you will want to book your flight to fly into the airport on St. Thomas. There is not an airport on St. John, so if you plan on staying on St. John, you will need to fly into St. Thomas and then take a ferry over to St. John!
If you are planning to travel to St. Croix, there is an airport you can fly into, but there are more flights available to St. Thomas, so I would still recommend flying into St. Thomas for your U.S. Virgin Islands vacation no matter what! It is pretty easy to travel between the islands one you are there.
Check available flights here:
When to visit the US Virgin Islands
The best time to take a US Virgin Islands vacation for the best weather is December – March. During this time you will have mostly sunny days with temperatures around 85 degrees. The downside to traveling during this time is that you may experience more crowds and higher prices on flights and hotels.
If you want to avoid the crowds and prices while still experiencing decent weather, it is best to travel to the US Virgin Islands during the shoulder season which falls during the months of April and May.
The Caribbean hurricane season falls from June through November and I recommend to avoid travelling to the USVI at this time. These are the hottest months of the year in the islands you run the risk of traveling during a tropical storm or hurricane. This is the best time to travel for the lowest prices and least amount of crowds.
Where to stay in the US Virgin Islands
There are many options for places to stay during your US Virgin Islands vacation! From luxury resorts to Airbnb’s, there is an option for you whether you’re a solo traveler, couple, family, or traveling with a group.
Where you will end up staying depends on which island you decide to visit. I personally recommend visiting at least 2 islands, St. Thomas and St. John. You can actually stay on St. Thomas and just take the ferry over to St. John for a day trip if you prefer. While St. John is definitely worth the visit, there are more hotel and resort options on St. Thomas. If you are planning to stay at an Airbnb or VRBO, you will have plenty of options on St. John!
Best Hotels on St. Thomas
Bolongo Bay (All-Inclusive), Pink Palm Hotel, The Westin St. Thomas, The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas, Buoy Haus Beach Resort, Margaritaville Vacation Club, Marriott Frenchman’s Cove
Best Hotels on St. John
Best US Virgin Islands Beaches
If beaches are what you’re after on your US Virgin Islands vacation, then you’re in luck! The US Virgin Islands have some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, and whether you are on St. Thomas or St. John, you’ll have endless options of perfect beaches with white sand and clear blue water to choose from! While in the US Virgin Islands, you can even visit the number one ranked beach in the world for 2024, Trunk Bay which is located on St. John.
Below, you’ll find some of my favorite beaches to visit in the US Virgin Islands. For a full guide on the best beaches to visit on your US Virgin Islands vacation, make sure to read my post on the best beaches in the US Virgin Islands!
Best beaches on St. Thomas
Magen’s Bay Beach, Lindqvist Beach, Sapphire Beach, Coki Beach
Best beaches on St. Thomas
Trunk Bay Beach, Maho Bay, Cinnamon Bay
Snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands
When taking a US Virgin Islands vacation, snorkeling is a must on your itinerary! While the snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands is not the best I’ve seen in the Caribbean, it is worth it to get the boat tour around the islands!
There are many options for snorkel trips to book on your US Virgin Islands vacation, and you can also bring your snorkel gear and snorkel right off the beaches! Some beaches in the US Virgin Islands are better for snorkeling than others. I’ve listed all of my favorite St. John snorkel spots in this guide!
On my US Virgin Islands vacation, I booked this snorkel tour while in St. Thomas. This was a half day tour that departs from The Westin St. Thomas and takes you for an hour of snorkeling off of Lovango Cay. After snorkeling there is an open bar on board and you’ll cruise around the islands on the way over to St. John. Once you get to St. John you get lunch with tacos and drinks at Lime Out Vi which is a floating taco bar off the coast of St. John! This was definitely a highlight on my trip!
Things to do on a US Virgin Islands Vacation
Aside from relaxing on the beach and spending time underwater, there are tons of activities to do on your US Virgin Islands vacation! Each island will offer a different range of activities but theres something fun to do for everyone on each island.
If you’re a nature lover, St. John will be the best island for you since it consists mostly of the Virgin Islands National Park. Because of this, St. John is much less developed than St. Thomas. For a full breakdown of St. Thomas activities, check out my full guide of the best things to do on St. Thomas!
Best things to do on St. Thomas
- Visit Mountain Top Gift Shop: A souvenir shop located at the highest point on St. Thomas. There is a bar in the back that serves the world-famous banana daiquiri, and then you can enjoy the observation deck that overlooks all of the Virgin Islands
- Enjoy the beaches: Magens Bay, Smith Bay, Coki Beach, & Sapphire Beach
- Shopping in Charlotte Amalie
- Shop & Dine in Red Hook at the marina
- Go on a snorkel tour
- Day trip to St. John
Best things to do on St. John
- Spend the day at Lime Out floating taco bar
- Visit the #1 beach in the world: Trunk Bay
- Snorkel the underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay
- Snorkel with sea turtles at Maho Bay (Remember to keep your distance & never touch the turtles)
- Cinnamon Bay Beach
What to pack for a US Virgin Islands Vacation
Snorkel Gear: If you book a snorkel tour, they will likely provide you with snorkel gear. I personally recommend to bring your own because many of the beaches in the US Virgin Islands you will be able to snorkel for free right off the beach!
Bug Spray: Especially if you are visiting St. John, you will want to make sure you pack some sort of insect repellent. At Trunk Bay, the mosquitoes were terrible, and my biggest mistake was not bringing any sort of spray!
Reef Safe Sunscreen: I always try to travel with reef-safe sunscreen when traveling to a tropical destination, but some sunscreens are banned on the island of St. John! Blue Lizard is a reef-safe brand and a safe bet whenever you’re looking for a good sunscreen!
After Sun Care: Even when you’re applying sunscreen, the sun in the Caribbean is harsh! I always travel with aloe vera gel as an extra precaution when traveling to warmer destinations.
Electrolytes: If you’re planning a US Virgin Islands vacation, you’re probably going to spend a lot of time in the sun and heat, and maybe drink a few rum punches and pina coladas. I always travel with electrolytes to stay hydrated in the sun.
