Planning a trip to USVI

January 29, 2025

The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) consists of three main islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—each with its own unique vibe and attractions.

St. Thomas - cruise ship port, hillside communities, history, beautiful beaches, shopping, dining
St. John - hiking, snorkeling, 60% is within the boundaries of Virgin Islands National Park (ferry from St. Thomas, no airport)
St. Croix - largest of the three islands, many resort areas, history, hiking, beaches

Timing

The best time to go to USVI is between December and April. I would avoid the hurricane season from June to November. Most of the time, I don't let the weather dictate too much when I travel. However, bad weather could make things very uncomfortable on St. Johns since the roads are steep and winding. It was difficult enough to navigate during the daylight on sunny days.

Flights

Many airlines fly direct to St. Thomas and St. Croix, including discount airlines like Jet Blue, Spirit, Sun Country, and Frontier. Great deals can be found! We found a $110 roundtrip flight from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Thomas. A passport is not required! Customs will ask if you are bringing any produce back into the US (don't!) and the value of items purchased. $1,600 worth of purchases are duty-free.

Lodging

Like most destinations, there are various lodging options, including all-inclusive resorts, amenity-rich resorts, budget hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and campgrounds.

Rental Car

Major rental car companies (Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, etc.) operate at the St. Thomas Airport (STT). Some agencies are on-site; some require a short shuttle ride. We rented from Alamo and had no issues picking up our car. However, people report major chains overbooking and long wait times. If we were to visit the USVI again, we would rent from a local agency, such as Amalie Car Rental and Paradise Rental Car as they have great customer service reviews. Most rental car agencies allow you to take the vehicle to St. John, but verify if you plan to do so. Be prepared to decide if you will purchase additional insurance through the rental car agency. We declined because we have an annual travel insurance policy with Allianz Travel Insurance and a Capital One Venture X card that provides primary rental car insurance. We rented a Toyota Rav-4, however the most common rentals are Jeeps - they are EVERYWHERE! 4 wheel drive doesn't seem necessary, but a higher clearance above the road is preferable. No low riders.

USVI is one of the few places in the world that you drive on the left and the steering wheel is on the left! It feels strange, but it isn't too difficult - just stay to the left!

Packing List

Rule of thumb, pack light!

Packing guidelines for 3 day trip to USVI (plus 2 travel days)

Itineraries

3 day St. John/St. Thomas

9 day St. John by Enrichingpursuits.com