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St. Thomas and St. John are neighboring islands, and two of the most popular to visit in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their beauty attracts visitors from all over the world; especially Americans since they are a U.S. territory. However, it can be difficult to choose between St. Thomas vs. St. John for the ideal place to stay.
These two islands are just twenty minutes apart, and you would think they’d be interchangeable. However, being part of the same island chain does not mean they are similar at all. In fact, they are actually quite different!
Yes, both St. Thomas and St. John are gorgeous, and there is plenty to love about each of them. However, these islands truly complement each other, in that neither has everything for everyone. Therefore, you are going to have to choose the one that works best for you, and this post is here to help you do just that.
St Thomas vs St John: Which Should You Visit?
I’ve been traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands for years and could tell you which one is my favorite, but that wouldn’t be fair to you. Okay fine – I’ll spill, but I’m not telling you until the end. First, let’s dive into how these two islands stack up against each other so you can make the best choice for your own needs.
Similarities Between St Thomas and St John
Let’s discuss the similarities between St. Thomas and St. John before we go into their many differences:
- Both are part of the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Both are English speaking
- Neither island requires a passport for entry from U.S. Citizens
- Both have gorgeous Caribbean beaches
- Both have ideal weather year-round, except for hurricane season
That’s about where the similarities end. Now let’s get into the real differences between St. Thomas vs St. John.
Nightlife
Though many people come to the U.S. Virgin Islands to slow down and relax, there may be a few nights where you want to get out on the town. Both St. Thomas and St. John offer the opportunity for nighttime fun, but at varying degrees.
St Thomas:
St Thomas is more populated, has more hotels, and is way more developed than St John. It’s also the busiest cruise port in the Caribbean. This lends itself to having the superior nighttime scene, with more bar and club options, and a bit more energy.
Notable Nightlife Spots:
- Duffy’s Love Shack
- Starz Nightclub
- Dog House Pub
St John:
St. John’s Cruz Bay provides the vast majority of the island’s nightlife. While there are some cool spots on the Coral Bay (or eastern) side, many of them close around eight or nine o’clock. Therefore, your best bet is to stay on the Cruz Bay side, which conveniently faces west for enjoying cocktails while watching the sunset.
Notable Nightlife Spots:
- Beach Bar
- Drink
- Skinny Leg’s
Winner: St. Thomas
Attractions
There is a lot to see and do during a vacation in either St. Thomas or St. John. Both places offer awesome experiences that will make your trip unforgettable; albeit in different ways.
St Thomas:
St. Thomas is the more developed of the two islands. It retains its beauty, while offering the convenience of modern commercialism, like strip malls and shopping centers.
Here are some of St. Thomas’s most popular attractions:
- Magens Bay Beach
- Sweeping views from Drake’s Seat
- Shopping in Charlotte Amalie
- Tour companies for island hopping and other day trips
- Snorkeling at Sapphire Beach
St John:
Things are simultaneously simple and spectacular on St. John, with the island being two-thirds national park. Rather than shopping or hanging at a resort, in St. John most of your time will be spent among beautiful natural surroundings.
Here are some of St. John’s biggest draws:
- North Shore beaches and scenic overlooks
- Abundant hiking trails, many of which feature Danish plantation ruins
- Shopping in Cruz Bay
- Friendly donkeys and goats that wander the island
- Numerous boat charter options, including the beautiful Kekoa Catamaran
Winner: St. John
ALSO READ: THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN ST. JOHN, USVI
Beaches
You can’t discuss St. Thomas vs St. John without, of course, mentioning the beach. The beaches on both of these islands are gorgeous, but as you’ll see, not necessarily apples to apples.
St Thomas:
St. Thomas is much more developed than St. John, which is helped by its airport and cruise ship traffic. As St. Thomas receives many more visitors, it also has many more accommodation options than St. John. Therefore, many of St. Thomas’s nicest beaches are lined with resorts.
That said, there is plenty of gorgeousness to be found on St. Thomas, and great beaches are scattered all over the island. A few of its most popular beaches include the following:
- Magens Bay Beach
- Coki Point Beach
- Sapphire Bay
- Lindquist Beach
Do note that the heavy cruise traffic St. Thomas receives can bring huge crowds to popular beaches – especially Magens Bay.
St John:
St. John is a smaller island than St. Thomas, and does not have nearly the amount of resorts. In fact, most of St. John’s beaches are protected within the national park, which keeps them in a pristine, undeveloped state.
St. John’s best beaches stretch along North Shore Road, although you can find a few other hidden gems around the island. Many of the North Shore beaches are famous, and often get featured in huge travel publications – for good reason! Below are some of the most popular:
- Trunk Bay
- Maho Bay
- Cinnamon Bay
- Hawksnest Bay
- Honeymoon Bay
Winner: St. John
ALSO READ: 8 BEST ST. JOHN USVI BEACHES
Food
For being small islands in the Caribbean, both St. Thomas and St. John have great dining options. However, the breadth and availability of options varies greatly.
St Thomas:
When comparing St. Thomas vs St. John for food, St. Thomas does have a bit of an advantage from being bigger with more resources. With large hotels and the frequent arrival of hungry cruise ship passengers, more restaurants are needed to accommodate bigger crowds.
Although you’ll find more food and drink options, more does not always mean better. There are plenty of hits, but just as many misses and tourist traps.
Notable Restaurants:
St John:
St. John has far fewer restaurants than St. Thomas. That said, you do not sacrifice in quality what you sacrifice in quantity. They make their small number of restaurants count, as many of them have super delicious menu items.
One downside to mention is that St. John restaurants often close earlier than those of St. Thomas. Much of this is due to not having enough employees to stay open long hours. This has largely been the case since Hurricane Irma. Therefore, you will see some of their restaurants close as early at 8 or 9 pm, especially in Coral Bay.
Notable Restaurants:
- Skinny Legs
- The Longboard
- Lime Out
Winner: It’s a tie!
ALSO READ: GUIDE TO THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN ST. JOHN USVI
Convenience
Sometimes it’s easiest to pick a destination based on which one requires the least hassle for you. This is, in fact, a very relevant factor when comparing St. Thomas vs St. John, as one of these has many more conveniences:
St Thomas:
As you can fly right into St. Thomas, this alone makes it the easier island to get to. A few more conveniences you’ll find in St. Thomas include:
- Resorts: Many more resort and hotel options compared to St. John. Some are right on the beach.
- Taxis: Taxis can connect you to major towns and tourist spots. It may still be easiest to rent a car, but you likely don’t need four wheel drive. Car rentals are available right at the airport.
- Groceries: Bigger and more plentiful grocery stores and pharmacies than St. John.
- Shopping: Shopping centers, including malls, a cinema, and even Home Depot
- Ferries: More direct ferry routes, including to St. John and the British Virgin Islands
- Cruise Ships: If traveling by cruise ship, you will dock right in Charlotte Amalie. From there, it is very easy to taxi all over the island.
St John:
Things on St. John tend to be a bit less convenient than on St. Thomas. Here are some examples:
- Getting There: There is no airport on St. John. Therefore, you must fly into St. Thomas, cross St. Thomas via rental car or taxi, then ferry over to St. John. This can add an extra hour or two of travel.
- Resorts: As mentioned above, there are far less resorts on St. John vs St. Thomas. Although less convenient, this is actually a benefit in my opinion, as it means less overdevelopment.
- Taxis: Taxis can connect you primarily to Cruz Bay, popular beaches, and other major tourist spots. If staying outside of Cruz Bay, most people rent cars, and four wheel drive may be necessary.
- Groceries: While St. John has what you need for groceries and such, options are limited. Supermarkets don’t really exist, and you won’t see typical chain stores or restaurants.
- Cruise Ships: Cruise ships cannot dock on St. John. Usually passengers ferry over from St. Thomas as a day trip, and grab a taxi from Cruz Bay.
Travel Savvy Tip
For ultimate convenience on St. John, I highly recommend staying in Cruz Bay. There are
The Westin and Gallows Point resorts, where it will be super easy to taxi over to the beaches and restaurants. You’ll also be located near the ferry dock, gas stations, and car rental agencies.
Winner: St. Thomas
Infrastructure
Being in the islands, neither the infrastructure on St. Thomas nor St. John will be as great as you’re used to in, say, the mainland United States. Factors that may weigh into your choice include logistical items like internet access and health care availability.
St Thomas:
- Public Transportation: If not renting a car, the most common way to get to major tourist spots is via taxi. There is a public bus route available as well, though it’s not known to be very reliable. Ferries are available to St. John and the British Virgin Islands.
- High Speed Internet: Internet connectivity is generally good (not great), and most resorts and vacation rentals have WiFi. For cell service, if you have either Sprint PCS or AT&T Wireless from the U.S. mainland, your phone should work just fine. I personally have Verizon, so I try to stay on airplane mode and utilize WiFi. I do have an international plan as well, which charges me $10/day if I use data.
- Health Care: One of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ main hospitals, Schneider Regional Medical Center, is located on St. Thomas. Some smaller clinics can also be found throughout the island.
- Running Water: There is a desalination plant on St. Thomas, and availability of water is not a concern at most resorts. However, some vacation rentals may rely on cisterns for their water source, so it’s important to be mindful of water usage.
- Waste Disposal: As there are many more resorts on St. Thomas, chances are you won’t need to worry about waste disposal if that is your lodging choice. However, vacation rentals may require you to take out your own trash. There could be a dumpster onsite, or you may need to drive to one nearby.
St John:
- Public Transportation: If not renting a car, the most common way to get to major tourist spots is via taxi (primarily from Cruz Bay). There is a public bus route available as well, though it’s not known to be very reliable. Ferries are available to St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands.
- High Speed Internet: Internet connectivity is best in Cruz Bay, but goes downhill quickly the further east you go. Your best bet is WiFi at your resort or vacation rental. Cell service can be weak, and again, you’ll do best under Sprint PCS or AT&T Wireless plans from the U.S. mainland. If you have Verizon or are not from the U.S., I recommend joining an international plan or staying on airplane mode throughout your trip.
- Health Care: The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, part of Schneider, is located on St. John. It offers outpatient and emergency services, though more serious conditions are transferred to St. Thomas. A few smaller clinics can be found as well.
- Running Water: Water conservation is even more important on St. John, as most vacation rentals rely on cisterns or purchase water, which does not come cheap. You’ll see many places with signage discouraging flushing for “number one” and keeping shower times minimal.
- Waste Disposal: Like St. Thomas, resorts on St. John likely won’t make you take your own trash out. However, vacation rentals will likely require you to take your trash to a smelly dumpster site. It’s not fun to carry trash bags in the trunk of your vehicle, but such is island life.
Winner: St. Thomas
St Thomas vs St John: Who’s the Overall Winner?
After tallying up the categories, St. Thomas has a slight edge over St. John. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s the best choice for you! You cannot lose by staying on either of these islands, and the beauty is you can still visit the other. It’s just a short twenty minute ferry ride away!
Honoring my promise from earlier, I’ll admit that St. John is my favorite of the two. I like the simplicity of the island, and the opportunity to disconnect that it offers. That said, I have nothing against St. Thomas, so don’t let me bias your decision if you are leaning in the other direction.
Suggested Stays
Now that you’ve chosen your island, here are some awesome stays I’ve personally enjoyed:
- St. Thomas: This condo is steps away from Sapphire Beach and only five minutes away from great restaurants and the ferry in Red Hook. My husband and I also recently enjoyed this vibrant cottage, which had an unreal view over Magens Bay.
- St. John: Get ready for stunning scenery! This adorable cottage offers 180 degree views over Coral Bay and gorgeous sunrises. You could also climb higher in the mountains to this villa, and see beyond Coral Bay to the British Virgin Islands. We also loved this affordable private room that offers sunrise and sunset views, as well as close proximately to nightlife in Cruz Bay.
• • •
Comparing St. Thomas vs St. John is no easy task, but I hope this article helped you make your choice. No matter which island you choose, you are bound to end up somewhere dreamy.
Now tell me – are you leaning towards St. Thomas or St. John for your next vacation? Let me know below!
Hi, Would you recommend places to stay in St.Thomas? Thanks
Absolutely! We recently stayed at the Sapphire Beach Resort, which is right on the water with gorgeous views of St. John in the distance. There are also some great Airbnb’s near Magens Bay. I’ll share some links below (note, these are affiliate links, so I’ll get a small commission if you book through them, but you pay nothing additional 🙂 )
– Sapphire Bay
– Magen’s Bay
Hi, The Sapphire Bay Airbnb link doesn’t take me to the property just to the home page of Airbnb. Can you provide the link? Thanks.
I’m so sorry about that! Click here for updated link.
Great help, we’re thinking of st.John. We’re looking for home on beach with 3bedrooms each with own bathroom. Any suggestions on location ?
Thanks John! I recommend checking out The Westin on St. John, which is on the beach, has three bedroom villas (with three bathrooms), and is in close proximity to dining in Cruz Bay. Otherwise, it is very difficult to find a place to stay right on the beach in St. John.
I’d love any comments on experience choosing Marriott Vacation Club vs Westin Vacation Club on the 2 islands?
While I’ve never stayed at either of those, I am a bit familiar with them. The Westin on St. John, is in a beautiful secluded location, but still convenient to Cruz Bay. It even has it’s own ferry that leaves from Red Hook. Rooms at the Westin seem to mainly consist of villas of various sizes.
The Marriott is not in as secluded of a location, and it’s near the Charlotte Amalie cruise port, but it’s still quite gorgeous over there. It’s a ten minute drive to the Charlotte Amalie shops and about twenty minutes to the restaurants and ferry in Red Hook. The rooms types seem very similar to The Westin, being villas with multiple rooms.
Each hotel has its own small private beach (The Westin’s looks a bit nicer), but both will require a taxi to reach other beaches on the islands.
Hope that helps!
Hi, Would you recommend places to stay in St.John? Thanks
Absolutely! I clearly need to add a section for this 🙂
Here are some places we’ve loved (please note these are affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you book through them, but you pay nothing additional):
– This cottage has incredible views over Coral Bay
– This is a private room, but has a great price, location, and views as well
– Here’s another one in Coral Bay with sweeping views
Hello, first of all- thank you for the great overview! I was leaning toward St. John. But, wasn’t 100% sure. We are planning a trip soon. Do you feel safe walking around each island & exploring? We are a family of 5. 😊 Oh, we are also planing to stay in a VRBO (vacation rental).
Thanks!
Thanks so much! 🙂 On both islands you likely won’t do much walking to get places from your VRBO rental as they are very hilly and are more conducive for driving. That said, when walking at the beach, hiking, or shopping/dining in towns such as Cruz Bay and Red Hook, I have never felt unsafe. Just keep your normal wits about you as you would traveling anywhere – especially if this is a new destination for you.
Three years ago we stayed at the Mafolia Hotel on St. Thomas, actually we had never heard about it. It is a small boutique hotel. There was a problem with the hotel that we had originally planned to stay. Man! were we surprised! Everything about the hotel was gorgeous and the view of the harbor was spectacular. The staff was excellent and the adjoining restaurant was great.
Thanks so much for this suggestion! Glad you had a wonderful experience 🙂
Hi! Are there public places to 4wd on st Thomas? Trying to justify a jeep rental. Would love to explore hard to reach beaches with one if it is allowed.
Yes, there are some harder to reach beaches, where the roads get a bit rougher. Also, since the island is rather hilly, it can be overall easier to maneuver in a Jeep, especially if it rains.
This was a great article to read. We actually just returned from a 2 week sailing trip around both St Thomas and St John. Fantastic! I love your hoody with the map on the back!! I’d love to get one like that. Do you have a link? Thanks!
Thanks so much, and that sounds like the best trip ever! The sweatshirt was purchased from Atlas Drifts. Their shop is sadly closed as of January 2021, but the website does mention the possibility of opening back up in the future. Hopefully it does!
Loved the article. Very helpful. We visited St. Thomas years ago with a day trip to St, John, We decided then to go back and stay on St. John. Finally making our wish come true! We plan to rent a jeep but remind me about how the driving is different than in mainland USA. Any tips for driving in St. John and suggestions for rental cars? We are staying in Cruz Bay area. And thanks for making that a good decision for us with your article!
You will love it! Driving is similar to St. Thomas, where you must drive on the left side of the winding, hilly roads. The roads are actually a bit easier to navigate on St. John since the island is smaller. Also, since St. John is a bit less developed, some vacation rentals require a 4×4 to make it up the driveway. We have used St. John Car Rental many times, and have always had good experiences with them.
Your article gave me more ideas for each island. We visited last year but had to leave early as I got hurt just 5 days in to our vacation. We plan on coming back in October 2022 and are going to spend some time on each island. We are definitely going to rent a jeep this time around to make travel easier. Both islands are beautiful in their own way. Hopefully we’ll get through the vacation without any emergencies next year. We’re starting to look at places to stay now. Can you tell me how busy it is that time of year?
Sorry to hear about your injury, but glad you are going to make a return trip! I definitely agree with your choice to rent a Jeep – it makes it so much easier to explore, and there is certainly a lot to see on each island. October is the end of hurricane season, so has the potential to be rainier than other times of the year. That said, October is one of the least busy months to visit St. John. Happy trip planning!
We are hoping to travel to the US Virgin Islands in 2022 with a family including a 3 and 7 year old. Which Island has the calmest beaches for children?
Thank you
Great article. I appreciate.
We are arriving this September although we have to pray for good weather.
We will stay at St John after arriving STT airport at St Thomas.
Do you recommend to rent a car from STT or better to cross to St John and rent at there?
Thanks a lot!
Thanks David! I recommend renting on St John if possible, as I find it to be a bit easier and more efficient than having to take the car barge between the islands. With your trip being next month, you’ll want to look for rental cars ASAP, especially if you need a Jeep. Those are often booked months in advance, and the Virgin Islands have also been affected by the current rental car shortage. Have a great trip!
Can you please tell me which of the US Virgin Islands has the best /calmest water for children?
You can find calm water on both islands, and I have traveled with extended family who have small children in the past. We always stayed on St. John, and tended to go to Maho Bay over and over again, as that beach reliably always has really gentle water. The other beaches are typically calm too, however there are some days where the swells might pick up or the water could be a bit choppier.
On the other hand, St. Thomas also has a lot of very calm beaches. Magens Bay is the best beach on St. Thomas in my opinion, and it has incredibly calm water due to being super protected. During our latest visit in January of 2021, we visited Magens, Secret Harbor, Coki Beach, and Smith Bay, and all had gentle water that would be great for children.
Hi Theresa, thanks for this!! Very helpful. We have a week available for traveling at the end of july.. I read its not the best period to go there due to the rains an hurricanes season. Do you think we can “risk” and enjoy anyway the island? Many thanks!
July is towards the beginning of hurricane season, so you may still be able to get away with a trip. My husband and I traveled to St. John and St. Thomas during the last week of July in 2020, and it was dry the entire time. There is still a little risk; literally the day after we left there was a tropical storm, and no ferries were running. However, I’d say August and September are the main hurricane season months that are best to avoid, as many businesses close during that time anyhow.
Can you give any comparisons on snorkeling between the two islands (and any locations you recommend)? Thank you for the great article!
Thanks Sean, you are quite welcome! Both islands are known to have good snorkeling; however, St. John in particular is surrounded by Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. You can find good snorkeling at virtually every beach on St. John, but here are some stand-outs: Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail, Waterlemon Cay at Leinster Bay, and Haulover Bay. Also, taking a boat charter from either island around the US Virgin Islands can take you to some awesome hard to reach snorkel spots. I recently did a tour with Bad Kitty and saw great snorkeling at Little Saint James and Lovango Cay.
Thank you so much for the feedback (and quick response)!
Thanks for sharing such an informative article. We live in Boston and this is mine and my husband’s first trip to USVI. We were confused between St Thomas and St John (leaning towards St John due to it being less commercial and we love hikes), but after reading your article we definitely want to go to St John. The dates we are thinking are Oct 4-18, 2021. Do you think it is a good time? I am worried whether rain is all we will encounter and wont have good sunny days.
Also, my husband will be taking one week off and one week remote work. Wondering with this set up, should we still spend the entire time at St John or split it with another island. This is our first trip after over 2 years and I really want to plan it well. Thank you so much in advance 🙂
Hi Anshita! October generally tends to be a bit better than September as far as hurricane season goes, but it’s always possible there could be some rain or even a storm. That said, I think you should be okay to visit during this time. Just stay flexible with your plans, and monitor the weather forecast leading up to your trip.
As far as your remote week, you definitely can’t go wrong staying on St. John, since so many places to stay have incredible views. That said, it’s hard to find a place with good beach access. If you’d like the convenience of the beach before or after work, I recommend staying over on St. Thomas. Somewhere like Sapphire Bay would provide a lot of convenience with the beach right there, and restaurants in Red Hook just a couple minutes away.
Hi,
We are arriving to St. Thomas STT airport and heading to St. John right after to stay a week.
We have total 5. Does it make sense to rent a car from STT or at St. John?
We’d love to explore every corner of St. John during the stay.
Can you advise?
Thank you
Hi David. I replied above, but will again down here to make sure you see it. It’s a wonderful idea to rent a car, as that is the absolute best way to see St. John.
I recommend renting on St John if possible, as I find it to be a bit easier and more efficient than having to take the car barge between the islands. With your trip being next month, you’ll want to look for rental cars ASAP, especially if you need a Jeep. Those are often booked months in advance, and the Virgin Islands have also been affected by the current rental car shortage. Have a great trip!
Do you know if the ferries are currently running between islands and to the BVI? (In November)
So sorry for the delay in response! Yes, there is currently a ferry running between St. Thomas and Tortola a couple days a week. However, the rules and circumstances are constantly changing, and there could be more routes open by November.
WOW! What a wonderful read!! I choose St John!! I am an RN and have been working like crazy for the last 2 years and I think it is time to treat myself. I will be going alone (and am totally fine with that) so would you recommend staying at a hotel vs an airbnb?
Thanks!! Girl, yes. It is time. And thanks for all you do!
You are going to love St. John. I actually did a solo trip there in July, and you will definitely enjoy yourself. On St. John, the best stays tend to be found on Airbnb or VRBO, as they often have incredible views. All the ones I have listed at the bottom of this post I’ve personally stayed at and loved.
There is also one main hotel (The Westin), which is a great choice too, and conveniently located to Cruz Bay. Happy trip planning!
Hi! Do you have any recommendations for an all inclusive resort on St Thomas island? Looking for a great place to do a low key wedding.
Hi there! I would check out Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, which is the only true all-inclusive resort on St. Thomas.
What about St. John?
I’m with you-St John sounds more our speed. As I look at VRBOs, several recommend renting a jeep and it sounds like it could be challenging to get to their homes. Is it difficult traveling around St John?
Thanks!
St. John is generally not difficult to drive around. There are many tight turns and roads can be narrow, but the speed limit is only 25 mph. Therefore, if you just take your time, let the fast driving locals pass you, and take caution around curves, you should be fine.
Something to note – in the Virgin Islands you must drive on the left side of the road. It might sound intimidating at first, but trust me, you’ll get used to it. When in doubt, keep left.
The VRBO’s are likely recommending a Jeep because many rentals do tend to be located up or down hilly driveways, which might be unpaved. Jeeps make accessing these types of properties much easier and very doable.
Hi Thank you so much for the article. Have you hiked in the national parks in St. John? Will it be too hard for kids (10 & 12)? And normally how to get to those national parks? If we stay on STT and make a day trip to STJ will the ferry be able to ship our rental car along? Thanks!
Hi Claire! Yes, I’ve done lots of hiking on St. John. The national park you are thinking of is Virgin Islands National Park, which covers about 60% of the island. Some hikes are harder than others, but there are plenty that aren’t too long and are fairly flat. They are definitely doable for kids of those ages!
The ferry will definitely be able to take your car over from STT, and I think you’ll find a vehicle useful for reaching the many hiking trails. Here are a couple more articles that will be useful to you:
https://www.fueledbywanderlust.com/st-john-hiking-trails/
https://www.fueledbywanderlust.com/st-thomas-to-st-john/
Thank you so much!
Hi Theresa! Thanks so much for this post – exactly what I was looking for :). We are doing a sailing trip that ends in Tortola and then staying for 2 days before flying out of STT. Do you know if there is a ferry running directly between Tortola and St. John? Also is it easy to get from St. John to the STT airport for an afternoon flight back? I think I’d rather stay at St. John but looking into if it would be too complicated with only a couple days. I’m not sure what Tortola is like either and if makes sense to hang out there after. I appreciate any opinions! Our interests seem to be inline with yours in terms of what we look for in a place. Thanks, Erin
You are most welcome! I do not believe there is a ferry between Tortola and St. John – only between St. John and Jost Van Dyke.
It is easy to ferry between STT and STJ, but keep in mind you will still need a half hour taxi drive to the airport from Red Hook once on St. Thomas. We normally try to catch a ferry that is leaving at least three hours before our flight. However, we also have Global Entry, which is a HUGE help with skipping lengthy customs lines, so you may want to consider that as well.
I need help. We are planning our first family vacation to USVI. There will be 4 of us. Our daughters are age 14 & 11.
After reading your blog I’m torn but for the sake of our teens thinking going to St Thomas.
What side of the island is good for sunsets?
I’m looking at Bologna Bay Beach Resort or Sapphire Beach.
Not sure why, I’m just overwhelmed with options.
We prefer a condo with two bedrooms and two baths.
We will enjoy beach time, pool days, some historic times and shopping times. Good food and a coffee shop is a must.
I’ll take any recommendations.
Plan to leave first week of august.
Is there a better day of the week to arrive and leave?
Hi Tonya! Sorry for my delay in responding. We stayed at Sapphire Bay one year, and I would definitely say it was better for sunrise views than sunsets; Bolongo Bay would be better for sunsets and is also a popular place to stay on St. Thomas.
For an amazing sunset view during dinner, I recommend reserving Sunset Grille at Secret Harbour. Magens Bay is fantastic, Coki Beach has gorgeous water for snorkeling, and Sapphire Bay is stunning as well with a cute beach bar. I also recommend taking the ferry over to St. John for a day to visit a beach and dine in Cruz Bay.
We like to arrive and depart on week days, so normally Tuesday or Wednesday, but it really depends on the pricing available at the time.
Hi. THis could be redundant to some of the questions above but here I go. Looking to take a family vacation with my wife and two teenage boys as my oldest is graduating next year so it will be the last big trip while he is still with us before college. Cant decide between St Thomas or St John’s. Would prefer something on a beach and not way up in the hills. Would like the ability to hang out in the ocean or at a pool if we arent off doing stuff. I was all set to pull the trigger and split time between the two islands with a VRBO on St Thomas and the Westin on St. Johns. However, i started reading A LOT of horror stories on how the Westin is set p as a timeshare and people not getting anything close to what they thought they reserved once they showed up.
My wife and I want to make sure the kids have plenty to do and not get bored. Looking at chartering a catamaran for one of the days (with crew) to cruise around the islands. Probably scuba one day and hike etc. Definitely dont want to feel like we have a full day of events everyday. Looking at the Ritz as an option but open to ideas. Thank you.
Hi Trent! I think you will like St. Thomas better, as St. John doesn’t have much right on the beach besides The Westin. You can always day trip to St. John on the ferry for beaches and hiking.
I definitely recommend looking at Virgin Islands Ecotours for their Cas Cay kayak, hike, and snorkel day trip from St. Thomas. For hotels, the Ritz is a good option, as is Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove and the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort. For wonderful sunset views, a great restaurant, and a lovely beach, I also recommend checking out Secret Harbour Beach Resort. Hope that helps!
Lots of great information. While I understand the roads are not ones that you would want to walk on I’m wondering about running options. My son is a distance runner in college and needs to train during any trip we take. Wondering if St. John’s has trails that he could run safely?
I’ve actually seen people running on the hilly paved roads in St. John. So that actually could work okay, as there isn’t much traffic in certain areas, like Coral Bay, especially in the morning. There isn’t really a sidewalk though, so he’d need to be careful.
I haven’t seen too many people running on the actual trails, since they can be hilly, uneven, and rocky. He could try Reef Bay, which is five miles out and back and has flatter sections. There’s also Lind Point, which is two miles out and back and fairly flat, though again, he’d need to watch his step.
St. John wins for us hands down! I can do without big fancy stores that you see everywhere and diamond stores. I like the local hand made jewelry and stores. I like that there is only one resort you will recognize on the island. The rest are local. So are the restaurants, drug stores, groceries, etc. No Costco’s, etc… Our preference is to rent a VRBO villa. Not a hotel. So much more for your money. Don’t stay anywhere without having a spectacular view. That is what it is all about. Restaurants are great – snorkeling is wonderful. Beaches unspoiled. I’m sure St. Thomas is great from what we have seen, but nothing beats St. John. Love St. John…. It’s amazing!!
Yes to all of this!
Do you have a VRBO recommendation??
Yes! Villa Dal Mare in Coral Bay is an excellent choice. I ‘ve also recommended a few other stays above 🙂
Super informative! I’ve never been to either island, but this article gave me a much better idea of what to expect when I do. I like how you presented your perspective in an unbiased way. FWIW, St. John sounds more appealing based in your description.
Thank you!
Hello, I love your article and your unbiased way at presenting us information. My husband and I are looking at taking our honeymoon in last December/early January to one or both of these islands. Not 100% sure yet. Do you have one you recommend that is more honeymoon/romantic in feeling? THANK YOU!
Oooo I feel like that is subjective, but for me it’s 100% St. John!
Great posting! Being how we chase the National Parks, I think we’ll stay on St. Thomas but visit St. John for their National Park. With a ferry just 20-30 minutes away, we might as well visit both islands. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! That seems like the best of both worlds!
Hello! What a great article and so helpful! I have two adult children (22 and 19) so I’m leaning toward St. Thomas for more things for them to do. It sounds like I will be able to relax at either and that’s my goal. We were considering an All Inclusive resort and am wondering your thoughts or recommendations on those. My son and husband will definitely get our money’s worth. We typically get an airbnb to allow for more room for all of us, however, I’m not really interested in cooking. We’ll only be there for 4 – 5 days. Thank you so much in advance for your help!
Thank you! There is only one true all-inclusive resort on St. Thomas: Bolongo Bay
We actually rent Airbnb’s on St. John and St. Thomas all the time and to be honest, we don’t really “cook” either unless you count making sandwiches and cereal. We still find a lot of value in that because we end up saving money on breakfast and lunch, while still dining out for dinner in the evenings.