Do panoramic views, incredible beaches, national park hikes, boat trips, and fantastic food sound like your perfect vacation? St. John, of the United States Virgin Islands may be the island vacation for you.
St. John is the smallest and (arguably) the most pristine of the three major United States Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John). The island is best known for its unspoiled white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and fantastic snorkeling. The USVI have actually been voted as some of the Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Islands in the World.
Being a part of the USVI, St. John is an unincorporated territory of the United States. This means that United States citizens are able to visit the island without a Passport or Visa.
Facts about the island
- The United States purchased the island in 1917 from Denmark to use as a naval base during WW1.
- Today the island’s economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism.
- Virgin Islands National Park covers almost 60% of St. John, USVI
- Much of the National Park was donated by the Rockefeller family.
- The island is only about 20 square miles in size.
- The island is nicknamed Love City.
How to visit St. John, USVI
St. John is not one of easy access as the island does not have an airport. To get to the island you will need to fly into St. Thomas (STT) and then take a ferry. Luckily, there are multiple ways to get to St. Thomas from the US.
Via cruise ship
St. Thomas is a popular cruise ship stop. Even visiting St. John for just a few hours is worth the ferry ride. You can get to St. John via an excursion from the cruise ship or grab a ferry to Cruz Bay on your own. Depending on where your cruise ship docks, there are multiple ferry options. Ferries run to Cruz Bay, St. John from Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, or Crown Bay. These rides will take anywhere from 20-45 minutes depending on your departure port. Just remember that if you are exploring on your own, you will need to make sure you are back to the boat on time. The cruise ship will not wait for you.
Via plane
Personally, a cruise ship stop will not provide you with enough time to really enjoy the island of St. John. We would recommend visiting for a few days to really enjoy the island. First things first, if you plan on staying on the island you will need to look into flights. St. Thomas is relatively easy to assess as there are direct flights to STT from a handful of different airports within the United States. Including DFW, IAH, MIA, FLL, MCO, ATL, CLT, ORD, MSP, IAD, PHL, EWR, JFK, BOS.
After landing, you will take a taxi to either Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, or Crown Bay to catch your ferry. Crown Bay is the most convenient ferry port from the airport. However, there are only a couple of ferries that run per day so make sure you check the timetable when planning your arrival to STT.
Travel seasons
High Season
- December to April
- Temperature: mid-70s to low 80s
Shoulder Season
- May to August
- Temperature: mid-80s to low 90s
Low Season (also Hurricane Season)
- June to November
- The highest risk of hurricanes run from August and October with September being the wettest month of the year.
Our favorite time to visit
- Thanksgiving is a great time to visit as it is at the tail end of the low season and right before high season. While the holiday will bring slightly higher room rates, prices are still a bit lower than high season starts. For our recent visit to St. John we arrived on island on Thanksgiving Day and returned home the following Wednesday, spending 6 nights on island.
- Holiday travel is also a great way to capitalize on your employer provided paid time off.
7 day / 6 night itinerary
- Day 1: arrive on island and grab dinner in Cruz Bay or at your hotel.
- Day 2: pick a beach, we recommend Trunk Bay as your first beach on island as it’s the most iconic (complete with an underwater snorkel trail)
- Day 3: take a hike and go for a snorkel
- Day 4: Did you bring your passport? If so, there are a handful of day trips to the British Virgin Islands. We loved our trip to The Baths in Virgin Gorda and White Bay in Jost Van Dyke.
- Day 5: yes, another beach day (pick from the list below)
- Day 6: St. John boat trip – we highly recommend Stormy Pirate’s food tour which stops at Lime Out (a floating taco bar), Pizza Pi (a pizza boat), and an incredible snorkel spot where you will likely see a handful of turtles.
- Day 7: last morning of relaxation prior to heading home
Top 3 beaches
- Trunk Bay Beach: This beach is continually named on top beach lists for a reason. With pristine white sand, crystal clear water, and breathtaking views, this beach is spectacular. There is a underwater snorkel trail right off the beach and you can rent a snorkel and even beach chairs at the beach. There is also a bar and a grill which are fantastic for lunch on the beach. This beach is a part of the Virgin Island National Park (as are most beaches on island); however, entry to this beach requires a small fee.
- Maho Beach: One of the most relaxing beaches on the island, Maho Beach is also one of the best beaches for snorkeling with sea turtles. This beach is right off the road, making it easily accessible, has shallow water perfect for kids, and even provides an abundant amount of tree coverage right off the beach providing relaxing shade.
- Cinnamon Bay Beach: The longest beach on the island is also home to a campground that you can stay at. With a restaurant, shops, and a recently upgraded campground, you can wake up to Cinnamon Bay every morning of your stay.
- Runner up beaches that deserve a visit
- Honeymoon Beach
- Hawksnest Beach
- Caneel Bay Beach
Getting around the island
While the U.S. Virgin Islands is the only location in the United States where you drive on the left side of the road, the steering wheels still sit on the left making for an interesting drive. While you can rent a car on island, parking is difficult in Cruz Bay. We find it easier to catch a safari taxi.
There are mainly open-air safari taxis providing transportation around the island. They are reliable and amply located downtown at Cruz Bay, the beaches, and most accommodations. The safari prices are fixed rates per person and dependent on destination.
Accommodations
There are many accommodation options on St. John, USVI. From luxury villas, to boutique hotels, to reasonable priced condos, there will be a perfect place for you on the island. Keep in mind, prices will vary depending on the season in which you choose to visit. Here are a few of our recommendations.
The Westin St. John Resort Villas ($$$)
The Westin can be booked via Marriott or via villa rental sites. Located about 5 minutes from downtown Cruz Bay, the property has a fantastic beach and pool as well as condo style rooms. The property is also in walking distance to a store which will allow you to purchase food and cook at your villa. The beautiful property is a great place to for a family to stay for a week. Click here for more information on the resort.
Grande Bay Resort ($$)
Grand Bay is a great condo location as it sits in Cruz Bay. Cruz Bay is the hub for restaurants and shopping on St. John and our favorite area to stay at on island. Grand Bay Resort has multiple accommodation options from efficiency rooms to multiple bedroom penthouse suites all with kitchens. The convenience to town, the ability to cook meals in your room, and pool on site makes this a fantastic option for a place to stay in St. John. See more information on the property via this link.
Wharfside Village Hotel ($$)
The new 15 room boutique Wharfside Village Hotel may be our new favorite place to stay in Cruz Bay, St. John. The wonderful staff and beautiful rooms are located just above the Wharfside Village shopping area in the heart of Cruz Bay. Even though this boutique hotel doesn’t have a pool, we could not recommend it more! See this link for booking options.
A few of our favorite places to eat and drink
- High Tide – favorite breakfast spot
- The Longboard – frozen painkillers and the best queso on the island (we’re Texan and know what were talking about)
- Morgan’s Mango – for your fancy dinner
- Windmill Bar – sunset drinks
- The Beach Bar – late night drinks
- Woody’s – late night drinks
Final thoughts
St. John will always be one of our all time favorite islands to visit in the Caribbean. With its incredible beauty, relaxing atmosphere, wonderful food, and impeccable beaches, St. John, USVI is the perfect place to spend a week of vacation. Remember, taking time away from your office is key to a great work-life-balance – there may not be a better place to get that balance than in St. John.
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