Things To See And Do In The Battery
- Visit Fort William, built in 1698 to protect the English against French opposition.
- Wander around Signal Hill to experience the history of the city.
- Head up to Chain Rock, which was once pivotal in the citys defense against German U-boats during World War II.
- Visit the War Memorial to pay your respects to the past.
We Were Happy To See More Visitors This Year
We were happy to see more visitors this year. Last year – post-hurricane – it was sad that more people did not come because the recovery and cleanup crews and volunteers did a really remarkable job making the beautiful beaches at Trunk Bay, Cinnamon, etc., visitor ready. Yes, there was a tremendous amount of rubble, but that was all moved back and paths were cleared so people could get to the beaches. This year, the cleanup up had made even more progress, and the people are as welcoming and easy going as ever despite what they’ve been through. We ate at some of our favoirite haunts: Margarita Phil’s, Morgan’s Mango, Aqua Bistro, etc., and still miss others like Shipwreck Landing that didn’t make it. We were combing our mostly leisure time with a tiny bit of business and, were rewarded by being able to see students from the Gift Hill School doing their ballroom dancing, and greeting a visiting Young Adult author to speak. In town, that hurricane makes one think about how grateful we all should be for volunteers who are continuing to work on the cleanup, for all who step up.
What Is The Best Area To Stay In St Thomas
Red Hook and the East End The East End is home to the majority of the phenomenal beaches such as Lindquist Beach, Sapphire Beach, Great Bay, and Secret Harbor Beach, which are all within a 10 minute drive from each other. This is our top pick for the best area to stay in St. Thomas for beach bums and snorkel lovers.
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How To Get To Saint John
To get to Saint John, first you will have to fly to Saint Thomas. There is no airport on Saint John.
From Saint Thomas, take a ferry to Cruz Bay, Saint John. There are two types of ferries: car ferries and passenger ferries.
If you plan to rent a car on Saint Thomas, you will take the car ferry from Red Hook. There are several car ferries that travel between Red Hook and Cruz Bay: Love City Car Ferry, Global Marines Tug Life, Big Red Barge Company, and Boyson, Inc.
Love City Car Ferries makes frequent trips back and forth between the islands each day . You can see the ferry schedule and get updated pricing on their website.
In general, there is no need to reserve a spot in advance . With four ferry companies running, there almost always seemed to be a ferry coming or going. We simply showed up and got in line for the next available ferry and never had to wait longer than 20 minutes. We took the Big Red Barge Company ferry from Saint Thomas to Saint John and the Love City Car Ferry from Saint John to Saint Thomas.
The first and last ferries of the day tend to be the fullest. If you plan to take the last ferry of the day, get here at least 30 minutes early to make sure you get a spot. With Love City Car Ferries, you can make a reservation, which is a good idea if you plan to catch the last ferry of the day.
Magens Bay Best Area On St Thomas For Families
On the north side of the island, Magens Bay is the most famous beach in St Thomas. Despite this fame, it still maintains a calm atmosphere compared to the capital. For this reason, we reckon it is a great choice for families.
It might have a calm atmosphere, but that doesnt mean there isnt plenty to do. The beach itself is just the beginning, there are some excellent hikes nearby. The restaurants in the area are a little more understated than those in the capital, giving you a calm and peaceful atmosphere by the sea.
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How To Get To Red Hook
At the airport, exit to find a taxi stand outside. Taxis are priced per person based on your destination. Many run like a shuttle, in a large van with other travelers. Get an idea of rates and destinations here.
Some travelers prefer to rent a car on St. Thomas and use a car ferry to get to St. John.
If youd like to prebook a private transfer from the airport to Red Hook, here are some options with online ratings and booking:
What To Do In St John Usvi
For a small island there sure is plenty to do on St. John during a vacation. Here are some of the best choices:
- Obviously, the beach is the number one activity on St. John, especially those along North Shore Road. All are gorgeous and have something unique to offer, from stand-up paddle boarding to complete relaxation.
- If you can, I highly recommend catching a charter in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay and doing a little island hopping. One of the best places to go is White Bay on Jost van Dyke to visit the Soggy Dollar Bar.
- Do a kayak tour of Hurricane Hole, located in Coral Bay.
- Hike on one of St. Johns many trails. Those seeking a challenge may choose to do the Reef Bay Trail, which will take you 3 miles down to the ruins of an old sugar mill and a beach.
- Snorkeling: The existence of a nearby coral reef means there is a lot of great sea life near St. John. At every single beach you can find people snorkeling.
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Final Thoughts On Where To Stay On St Thomas
St Thomas is a gorgeous destination nestled in the heart of the Caribbean! Only a stones throw away from Puerto Rico, it offers much of the same scenery without the busy crowds of Boricua and enjoys some amazing weather. The cultural attractions are pretty low-key, and youll find some fantastic deals on villas and condos dotted around the island.
If we had to pick one destination the really stands out, it would be Downtown Charlotte Amalie. This neighborhood is well connected to everywhere else mentioned in this guide and has an endless array of attractions on offer in its own right.
That being said, the best destination for you really depends on what you want to get out of your stay. We hope we have managed to help you narrow down your options for your upcoming trip to St Thomas.
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.
And dont forget to take out Travel Insurance for your trip! I have been using World Nomads for some time now and made a few claims over the years. Theyre easy to use, professional and relatively affordable. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once youve started your trip and are already abroad which is super handy.
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Quaint Hotel In Frenchtown Olgas Fancy
This quirky little hotel comes with artsy interiors and traditional furnishings. The luxurious bars and restaurants of Frenchtown are only a short walk away and you can also enjoy stunning sunset views across the bay from your front door. There is a small communal terrace where you can mingle with other guests, plus a garden for some peace and quiet.
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Garden By The Sea B& B
Enjoy one of 3 romantic suites, Garden Suite, Terrace View Room, Wild Ginger Room. A FULL breakfast, HOMEMADE from scratch daily, on the shaded veranda surrounded by local Genip, banana, and a variety of palms trees. Enjoy fresh ground coffee, tea, juice, and fresh fruit daily along with our famous Eggs Benedict, Pina Colada French Toast with Bananas Foster sauce, potato crusted quiche, and much more! Beach chairs, beach towels, blankets, and coolers to enhance and ease your vacation experience. Access to the common kitchen area with microwave, refrigerator, blender, and all for your convenienceSorry, no cooking! Garden by the Sea details!
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Discover St John
St John is perhaps best know for its world-renowned North Shore Beaches! Trunk Bay is not only ..
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Definitely A Hidden Gem
“The location was perfect”
Address: 5000 – 4A Estate Enighed Route 107, St John 00830, U.S.V.I – Click to Call for Reservations at
Rated a Wonderful! hotel on Expedia, and located in the heart of Cruz Bay, is , which takes its name from the popular gathering spot The Marketplace. St. John is known as the Beverly Hills of the Caribbean, and a stay at this luxurious suite with its beautiful décor and spacious rooms puts you this close to a dizzying selection of unique storefronts. In short, a stay at this gorgeous hotel is basically a shopaholics dream. Make sure you reserve enough funds to splurge on the myriad of outdoor activities, vibrant dining and entertainment scenes that await you there, too.
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Getting To St John Island
So where is St. John? Is there a St. John airport? No. A four-hour direct flight from nearly any major East Coast Hub lands you on St. Thomas next door.
St. Thomas is an island noticeably denser and more commercial than St. John, but also a great place to get acclimated, allowing travelers the opportunity to downshift one gear at a time.
Greeted by a rum tasting station, a newly refurbished airport with air conditioning and friendly porters to help get your luggage to a taxi, travelers get their first glimpse of Virgin Island paradise.
Let the dispatchers know youre headed to St. John, and theyll do their best to group you with others on the same path. Grab a roadie from the well stocked bar in baggage claim, because you are on vacation, then sit back on the 30-45 min trek to the ferry dock.
You can ignore the cruise ships they do not dock on St. John.
Ferries reliably run every hour on the hour from 6am until midnight from Red Hook port on St. Thomas and take less than 25 mins to reach St. John. Red Hook is further than the Charlotte Amalie port from the airport but a shorter ferry ride. Charlotte Amalie is closer to the St. Thomas airport, but only offers one scheduled ferry per day to St. John.
As you disembark the ferry to St. John, porters will greet you with another round of flavored rum! Its your vacation.
Where To Stay In St Thomas
St. Thomas is a island of fun. Which offers a variety of unique hotel accommodations providing a rare combination of excitement, tranquility and personal service – all located on one of the most beautiful pieces of real estate in the world.The amenities abound within and near our island hotels, from spectacular beaches, freshwater swimming pools, to golf courses, tennis, restaurants and cafes.
Our St. Thomas Hotel Guide spans a wide variety of unique and interesting hotels including… Renting a privately owned home, villa, or condominium can be a fun, rewarding and cost effective way to enjoy your vacation or extended stay in St. Thomas. Various types of accommodations and locations are available.There are two ways to rent a beautiful and spacious privately owned property. Renting a privately owned home, villa, or condominium can be a fun, rewarding and cost effective way to enjoy your vacation or extended stay in St. Thomas.
events This Month In st. THOMAS
St. Thomas Is plusCroix and John Open!
AsWith The Mainland United States, The US Virgin Islands Is Being Impacted By TheCOVID-19 Disease. Hotels & Other Accommodations , Restaurants, & Activities Providers Are Open. Please Check With Them For Details.
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St John Is A Us Territory Safe Beautiful Beaches Nice
St. John is a US territory, safe, beautiful beaches, nice selection of restaurants, no pressure shopping, etc. If you stay around Cruz Bay, you can get by without a rental car. There are plenty of open air taxis to take you to most of the North shore beaches . For 6-7 dollars each way pp. A rental Jeep runs 80-90 dollars/day and you have to have somewhere to park it at night.If you like a warm, relaxing vacation of beach, snorkeling, and eating out, St John is a great option !
Best Area To Stay On St Johns
We are a group of 3 adults and 2 kids and are looking for recommendations on great places to stay on St. Johns.
We are staying on St. Thomas for a week and thought about staying on St. Johns for 6 days as well but are not sure what the best area would be for our family.
We would love a beach front condo where we can cook and not have to lug all our belongings to get to the beach if we want but do look forward to exploring the island somedays.
Priorities are a quiet, family friendly place, ideally with a pool and nice beach to swim and maybe snorkel.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
4 replies to this topic
St. John is 3/4 US National Park. There are only like 4 places on the entire island to stay on the water. as the Park is protected. There are no high rise hotels or resorts. It is a DIY island. Most people rent Villa’s on the hillsides, rent a Jeep and explore. I would look at Grande Bay which is right in Cruz Bay or Gallows Point in Cruz Bay.
Westin has timeshares that you can somehow rent and is on a drudged beach, not suitable for swimming at times, but is a great homebase for kids and has a great pool. If you want waterfront, it would be a private villa on more than likely a rocky beach if that matters. No condos on the water unless you stay right in town, but that is not where you’d go to the beach for the day.
Kallaloo is right across the street from Gibney Beach, one of the lovliest on STJ.
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Downtown Best Area To Stay In St Johns For Nightlife
The Downtown area is the center of the city. This is where youll find all the best shops, restaurants, and hotels. If you like to be in the center of everything when you travel, this is the best neighborhood to stay in St. Johns.
The two busiest parts of Downtown are the areas around Water Street and Duckworth Street. So, if you enjoy the crowds and a lively nightlife, find a hotel near these streets.
Theres a lot of life in this city, from the bustling music scene to the hip restaurants, and the crowded pubs. Youll find that the best places to stay in St. Johns are found in this part of the city and are appealingly quirky and welcoming.
In fact, the whole city is like that, and if you enjoy that kind of vibe then youll enjoy yourself in this neighborhood.
Red Hook Exciting Neighborhood On St Thomas For Nightlife
Nestled on the far east of the island, Red Hook is another major hub for tourists on St Thomas. Whilst we wouldnt call the US Virgin Islands a major nightlife destination, the bars in Red Hook are great for getting you hyped. Taxis to the capital stop at 9pm, so youll need to stay here to experience the nightlife.
During the day, Red Hook completely transforms. The restaurants still have a buzzing atmosphere, but the calm beaches are a great place to relax and sunbathe away the hangover.
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Best Places To Stay On St John Usvi
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by Kristin Young | Updated On: January 17, 2022 | St. John
Known as the crown jewel of the US Virgin Islands, in this article I will be sharing our favorite St John US Virgin Islands hotels as well as Villas and Airbnbs, so you know where all the best places to stay on St John USVI are.
St John is also the smallest of the US Virgin Islands, and thats part of the charm. Accessible only by boat, helicopter or ferry from St Thomas, the US Virgin Islands national park occupies over half of the island, making this a great choice for nature lovers. St John is home to dolphins, hawksbill and green turtles, and of course amazing snorkeling, plus lush interiors with plenty of hiking.
Ferries from St Thomas come into and out of Cruz bay, which is the main town on the west end of the island, and a good starting point for looking for hotels on St John. Resorts in St. John are for the most part located on the west of the Island around Cruz bay. Due to national park restrictions, theres little development in the center of the island. You also wont find any all inclusive resorts on St Johns.
Most Visitors Stay At One Of Over 800 Vacation Rentals That Dot The Island
While St John is not the least expensive destination you will find places to stay from the affordable to ultra lux, and everything in between. Whether you are looking for a romantic island cottage with privacy and ocean views. Or perhaps you prefer the convenience of an in-town condo? Or, youre more interested in the privacy and amenities of an ultra luxury villa. St John caters to you! Youll find a huge inventory of places to stay, all direct with owners and island managers, on St Johns Book Direct Vacation Rentals site.
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