St. John, US Virgin Islands
You will most definitely leave a little piece of your heart on St. John. The second you leave, you'll be planning your next trip back!
- More about your Oliver Guide: Laura Page
- Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Solo, Beach
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: A week minimum for maximum relaxation!
to & from
Getting to the Caribbean from the West Coast takes a long time, so I suggest staying a night in Miami on the way down and/or back
- Fly into Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI (American and Delta have the most direct flights through Miami or Atlanta)
- Take a taxi from the STT Airport to the ferry dock in downtown Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook.
- Charlotte Amalie ferry dock is a shorter taxi ride from the airport, but is a longer ferry ride (45 minutes). Red Hook is a longer taxi ride, but a shorter ferry ride (20 minutes) to Cruz Bay, St. John. Check ferry schedules online!
- If your flight lands late at night (as most West Coast flights do) stay in a hotel for the night in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and catch the ferry in the morning to St. John
Where to Stay
The most happening part of the island is Cruz Bay with lots of darling shops and restaurants/bars, and the sleepier part of the island is Coral Bay. There are vacation rentals (big homes or smaller apartments) all over the island to suit your needs
- Caneel Bay Resort (recommended by Laura) was an iconic family resort before hurricane Irma in 2017. It lies in a 170-acre peninsula in the Virgin Islands National Park, and boasts seven picturesque white sand beaches with wild roaming donkeys! Unfortunately it remains closed at this point.
- Coco Vida is a secluded and cute 1 bedroom getaway in Fish Bay, just 10 minutes from Cruz Bay
- If you stay on St.Thomas, I recommend checking out The Ritz Carlton
St. John, US Virgin Islands
Trunk Bay, with its silky soft sand and calm, turquoise waters, is the most breathtaking beach I have ever been to.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Nichole Rowles
- Trip type: Family, Beach
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 5 days
to & from
Fly into the St. Thomas Airport. Then take a taxi to the ferry terminal in Red Hook, which is about a 30-minute ride. The ferry to St. John leaves hourly.
Where to Stay
St. John was devastated by back-to-back Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, but the island is once again ready for visitors! The two major resorts, Caneel Bay and the Westin, were still closed in summer 2018, but the Westin hopes to reopen in January 2019. We recommend renting a villa through one of the island’s vacation rental companies. You will be met at the ferry in Cruz Bay, escorted to the villa and given a tour of the property. We have had good experiences with Catered To Vacation Homes and with Destination St. John. Choose a villa with easy access to Cruz Bay where the vast majority of the island’s restaurants and shops are located. Alternatively, Gallows Point Resort in Cruz Bay is open.