The Location

Three islands, one team. St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.

Your Base

St. Thomas

St. Thomas packs a lot into 32 square miles. Cyril E. King Airport has nonstop service from more than a dozen U.S. cities, including New York, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston, Philadelphia, Newark, Washington Dulles, Houston, and Chicago, and U.S. citizens don't need a passport to get here. The currency is the dollar, the language is English, and most villas are within 30 to 45 minutes of the airport. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, is worth an afternoon. Fort Christian dates to 1680, and the waterfront is lined with duty-free shops selling jewelry, rum, and local crafts. The Frenchtown neighborhood, less than a mile from downtown, has some of the island's best restaurants and a lively bar scene that runs late. The water is the main event. Magens Bay is widely cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and the snorkeling off Coki Beach puts you in the water with parrotfish and the occasional sea turtle. Average highs run around 85°F in winter and 90°F in summer, with trade winds keeping things comfortable year-round.

A Ferry Ride Away

St. John

St. John has no airport. The fastest way is the ferry from Red Hook on St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, a crossing of about 20 minutes that runs roughly every hour. Ferries also depart from Charlotte Amalie, though that crossing takes around 45 minutes and runs only 3 to 4 times a day. About 60% of the island is Virgin Islands National Park, which means most of it will never be developed. Trunk Bay has an underwater snorkel trail, the first of its kind when it opened in 1962, with plaques identifying the coral and fish along the route. Cinnamon Bay and Hawksnest are quieter alternatives with little to no crowds. On land, more than 20 hiking trails cross the park, some leading to the ruins of 18th-century sugar mills and Taino petroglyphs carved into the rocks. Cruz Bay, the main town, has a small but serious dining scene. Tables at the better spots fill up, so book ahead. Our concierge can point you to what's open and worth the drive.

The Largest Island

St. Croix

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and sits about 40 miles south of St. Thomas. Henry E. Rohlsen Airport has year-round nonstops from Miami and San Juan, seasonal service from Atlanta and Charlotte, and a new Newark route from late 2026. U.S. citizens travel without a passport. The pace here is quieter than St. Thomas, and the island rewards guests who want more room to spread out. Christiansted, the main town on the north shore, has a well-preserved Danish colonial waterfront, a handful of good restaurants, and a small boardwalk that makes for an easy evening. Frederiksted on the west coast is home to the island's most talked-about dive. You walk in from the shore and the pier's coral-covered pilings hold seahorses, frogfish and flying gurnards, creatures most divers spend years trying to find elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Good to Know

Before You Arrive

No Passport Required
U.S. citizens can travel to all three U.S. Virgin Islands with a government-issued ID. A passport is still the easiest option.
U.S. Dollar, U.S. Plugs
The currency is the dollar and outlets run on standard 120V. No currency exchange or adapters needed.
Drive on the Left
All three islands follow left-side driving. A valid U.S. license is accepted for 90 days.
Warm Year-Round
Average highs are around 85°F in winter and 90°F in summer, with trade winds keeping it comfortable year-round.
Ferry to St. John
Red Hook to Cruz Bay takes about 20 minutes and runs roughly hourly. The Charlotte Amalie ferry takes around 45 minutes and runs 3 to 4 times a day.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen Only
Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene are banned in the USVI. Bring mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.