The US Virgin Islands are a little slice of paradise. We had the best time and I wanted to share our experience of the best tips, things to do, places to eat and drink, and more! Come along for the ride.

Where we stayed:
Condo right on Sapphire Beach! If you did want to stay here, there is a beach resort website but most of the condos are owed independently so it is easier (and cheaper) to go through Airbnb to get one. (I will list some other places at the end that are good options as well)

Highlights:

• Right on the beach
• 2 decks for viewing
• Pool overlooking the ocean
• Coffee bar (with ice cream), bar, and restaurant on site (they do close early so if you still want to go out, you can go to Red Hook just down the road)
• 2 story condo with full kitchen
• Fantastic views of Sapphire Bay
• The kitchen is stocked with dishes, pots, pans and appliances so that you can cook in if you wish (this was helpful as we bought some groceries and ate in the condo for some of the time to save on $)
• All linens are provided, including beach towels
• Free beach chairs and snorkel gear in the condo (the attendants get them for you and place where you want)

Things to Do:

Beaches:

• Magen’s Bay – Best Beach on St. Thomas according to most travel magazines (parking and entrance fees). There is even a smaller bay called Little Magen’s that is less crowed. Restaurant/bar on site. Most of the lookout points overlook this beach because it is so beautiful to photograph.

• Sapphire Beach – Where we stayed. We watched the sunrise right from our 2 decks! Live music is played some nights for a fun beach atmosphere. Restaurant/bar with outside couch seating on site along with a coffee bar for breakfast and Sudi’s Restaurant is close by as well (we did eat here as well – More about that later). Also, this is where we saw a barracuda snorkeling and we also saw a wedding setup as well. You will need water shoes as it is rocky in some areas by the coral.

• Coki Beach – By Coral World; you can feed the fish and they will come swim around you. Float raft anchored in middle and restaurants/stores on site. Vendors may try to hustle you to buy things. You can also buy a dog biscuit and crumble a very small amount and throw it just a little away from you and the fish will swarm around you. Even without food, the water is clear enough and the fish are so used to people feeding them, they come right up to you. You can also head over to Coral World and scuba dive or do an animal experience – swim with dolphins. (parking fee)

• Honeymoon Beach (Water Island) – Right off the coast of Charlotte Amalie (capitol of St. Thomas), is Water Island. You can rent golf carts or bicycles to get around the island. There are many old ruins to visit such as an old Fort built into the side of the island during WW2 that was intended to protect but was left unfinished after the war ended. You would take a ferry there (5-10 min ride). The beach also has a fun bar/restaurant called Dingy’s (more on that later).

• Brewers Bay – By the airport. Best snorkeling on island – lots of sea turtles. Less crowed since it is on the west end. No restaurant but vendors/food trucks come there.

• Honeymoon Beach (St. John Island) – Secluded beach in the Virgin Islands National Park – beautiful white sand. You would take a ferry there (15-20 minute ride out of Red Hook). Snack stand onsite.

• Lindquist Beach – More quiet than other beaches. ($5 entrance fee and $5 a beach chair). May even see starfish (do not pick them up or they die!). The sand is super soft in places, like baby powder. You may even see a wedding in progress.

• Secret Harbor Beach – In the middle of the bay there’s a floating raft which has been anchored there. There is also a restaurant/bar on site. Can be rocky in spots so take water shoes. Great snorkeling.

• Hull Bay – This is a romantic, secluded spot. The locals use this beach because it’s less crowded so it’s a good place to chat with locals. Surfers also like this spot so you may see people surfing. It is rockier than some other beaches and you will need water shoes.

Trunk Bay – On St. John – One of the most photographed beaches with lots of white sand. This beach is great for snorkeling. You would take a ferry there. This was by far my favorite beach to visit. The water was so clear! You can see the fish swim around you. This is where we saw a shark-like creature. (Beach chairs are $10/chair but there is a restaurant, bathrooms, and showers)

Places to Visit:

Drake’s Seat – Overlooks Magen’s Bay and makes for the perfect Caribbean postcard shot. I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t get to get up here or see Magen’s Bay.

Coral World Ocean Park – Marine rescue and zoo that features encounters with dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions, and other marine life. Part of it is under water and it is right next to Coki Beach. You can scuba dive and swim with dolphins here. This was a dream to actually get to interact with a dolphin. Ours was named Noalani and she was partly blind so she can only see commands under water (her brother is the one jumping). I highly recommend doing an animal experience if you can. Only my oldest and I did the experience but everyone checked out the rest of the animals and marine life. Also, I learned you can be a dolphin trainer with a psychology degree so I may have found a new calling.

Blackbeard’s Castle & the 99 Steps – Not actually a pirate castle – in and around the grounds of Blackbeard’s Castle are pools, a bar, and a pirate museum. Blackbeard’s is also a stone’s throw away from the famous 99 Steps (which I’ve read there are actually more than 99).

Go Ziplining – You can go ziplining at the Zipline park situated in the gorgeous rainforest. The zip-line is completely safe and gives you an incredible view of the forest, the island, bays, and the ocean.

Visit Red Hook – Red Hook is a small town that is present on the east side of the Island. It features red-tiled roof houses and many fun restaurants that line up on the coastline. This is where many of the restaurants/bars are. I hear Duffy’s Bar is a must. We ate at Raw (Sushi) and wanted to eat at Pesce Italian. We also heard Island Time Pub has the best Pizza.

Snorkeling – Sea turtles and other fish can be seen while snorkeling on many of the beaches. St. John is the best place to snorkel (I recommend Trunk Bay but I know there are other beaches that may be better). On St. Thomas, Coki beach is good for snorkeling and scuba diving as well.

Boat Tours – Take a half or full day tour and snorkel or fish depending on what we would want to do. A guide takes you out on the waters and to different islands and beaches. Some have lunch at floating restaurants like Pizza Pi and Lime Out. Some are sunset tours to get picturesque photos.

• Hike to Mermaid’s Chair – At the western edge of the island. The hike may be a bit much for the average person but you can see the Atlantic meet the Caribbean and it is beautiful. It is very secluded as most people don’t go that far out to it.

Restaurants To Eat At: These are the restaurants most recommended to us on St. Thomas. We didn’t go to bars but if you do, Duffy’s is the most recommended as is Tap and Still.  

Prime at Paradise Point – Expensive but the best views of the island. This is where we ate! We took the Skyride to paradise point up and taxied down after our meal. The restaurant will call a taxi for you. Only open 5-10 pm. Make reservations first! Expect to be full after.

• Pizza Pi – Only accessible by boat. If you do a boat tour you can eat here. Serves pizza.

• Lime Out – On St. John and also only accessible by boat. Serves tacos.

• Pesce Italian – Pasta and Italian options. Red Hook area. This is right next to Raw. We did get to eat there but didn’t get a chance to try this but have heard many good things about it!

• Dinghy’s Bar and Grill – right on the beach on Water Island. We would take a ferry over. This is one I really wanted to eat at. It looked fun but we didn’t get to Water Island.

• Mafolie – Another pricey place but the view is iconic as well. The views from the restaurant are equally stunning during the day and at night. Sunday, they have a huge brunch in which prime rib and an omelet station is included.

• The Easterly – Another pricey place but, again, incredible views and fun, new, and interesting food options.

• Bikinis Dockside Grill – Nighttime water is lit up so you can watch the barracuda and tarpon. Great place to eat before or after your kayak tour.

• Island Time Pub – Bar food, pizza, wings, and vegetarian options. I’ve heard the pizza is fabulous and it has a lot of open air seating to take in the views.

• Oceana Restaurant and Bistro – Authentic Caribbean and seafood.

• Sudi’s Caribbean Bar and Grille – Located by Sapphire Beach, this is the cutest Tiki style open air restaurant with a poolside view. The art on the wall is GORGEOUS and you can buy it if you want.  It is also very close to Sapphire Beach Resort and Sapphire Village for convenience.

• Shoreline Bar and Grille – In Smith Bay by Linquist Beach. Fun Beach atmosphere with a pool on top. Part of a resort so I don’t know if outside guests can use the pool, but you are literally dining on the water. Also, the beach is less crowded so not as many people.

• Margaritaville – Iconic restaurant/bar that songs are written about. You can eat at the restaurant but cannot use the pool unless you are a guest at the hotel.

• Sunset Grille – In Secret Harbor, casual fine dining with beautiful views. This is one I really wanted to go to, and a few locals told us to go to this one as well. We opted for Prime instead but if I ever get back to St. Thomas, this restaurant is on my bucket list.

• Virgillo’s – You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the middle of Florence or Rome, with a slight Caribbean twist.

• The Smoking Rooster BBQ – BBQ, mac and cheese, and other sides. Apparently, lots of rum too.

• Havana Blue – Great beach views with Latin flavored food. 

• Iggies Beach Bar and Grill – In Bolongo Bay – good food, generous portions, and tables in the sand.

• Pi Whole Pizza –Locals say it’s the best pizza on the island. It has won awards. As far as pizza goes, this one, Island Time Pub, and Pizza Amore were the ones we were told by locals were the best.

• Mim’s Seaside Bistro – Seafood dishes but also has vegetarian and pasta options. Locals recommend it as do tourists. Part of a resort but you can still eat there. I believe this is by Emerald Beach Resort.

• Kinky Mermaid – Burgers, steak, and fish. They serve Mexican, Italian, West Indies, and Indian with a Caribbean twist. They sometimes have live music. In Redhook. This is a must to stop in just for the name alone. 🙂

• Beach Buzz – Coffee Bar and breakfast restaurant right on Sapphire Beach where we stayed. Also has a yogurt and ice cream bar. We got it to go and ate right on the beach and drank on our deck from our condo. It also has travel items in case you forgot anything.

Raw – Sushi Bar. We ate here and it was a fun atmosphere. The food was okay (Blue Sushi in Omaha is better) but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Kirsten liked it because it had a kid’s popcorn chicken and fries for her picky self. If you go, order at least one shot. They have a fun chant that they do each time someone orders a shot and they ring a gong before the shot. It is very small in here. Not much seating. Pesce Italian is right next door so if full, I would head over there as it is highly recommended.

Places to Stay:

• Sapphire Beach Resort – If you stay here, go through Vrbo or AirBnb as there are usually better deals than going through the resort. Right on the beach and it is usually just the people at the resort with a few others. It was not at all crowded any of the days and we never felt squished on the beach. You get the added convenience of having a kitchen if you want to buy groceries (grocery store is down the road) and cook or eat onsite at the coffee shop or restaurant/bar.
• Margaritaville by Windom – Onsite beach but very small. Great pool area!
• Secret Harbor Resort  – Has its own beach and Sunset Grille is on this beach.
• Marriott’s Frenchman Cove – Cute place that looks like an Italian coastline.
• Bluebeard Castle Resort – Right in the heart of the capitol so you could walk to a lot of fun places. BUT, not right by the beach. 
• Bongolo Bay Resort – Has own beach.
• Club Wyndham Elysian Beach Resort – Onsite beach as well.
• Ritz Carlton – This place is definitely more high end. Beautiful pools, restaurants, and views. I believe they have all-inclusive options. 
• Emerald Beach Resort – This is for the more economical family and also has its own beach.
• Many AirBnbs to choose from.

Things to Note:

• People drive on the left. If you rent a vehicle, get an SUV because it is hilly.
• The hills are scary! If you decide to rent a vehicle, just know that the roads are super narrow and super high with sometimes a guard rail, you are driving an American car on the wrong side, you don’t know the roads, and the locals don’t slow down and honk at you. Honestly, I trusted Sean’s driving, but I felt more comfortable in a taxi with a local who knew the roads while driving us.
• Everyone is on “island time” so everything is slow. Be prepared to wait for food a bit longer than in the states or the lines taking a while at the airport. In fact, get to the airport 3 hours before you depart from St. Thomas, as it is really time consuming to go through the lines (worse than in the states).
• You will need a rapid covid test within 5 days of leaving and then need to submit results to a portal. This has changed since we went so you may just be required to show proof of vax status or other requirements.
• You can only use certain sunscreen that is reef safe. It is super expensive to get it there but if you are not checking any luggage, I would wait to buy it there instead. If checking luggage, buy ahead of time from a reef safe vendor (Amazon has several good ones). We lucked out and our condo had a bunch leftover from other guests, so we used that.
• Speaking of sunscreen, use it often! The girls got so sunburned!

• Everything is expensive there. We ate breakfast or lunch some days in our condo to cut down on costs.
• People say, “Good morning, good afternoon, and good night” when greeting each other. I was told this by more than one blog, but when we were there, most locals actually just said “hi” or “hello”. As long as you are friendly, you can get some good insight on where the best places are to go to. I did get a lot of differing opinions so know it is subjective.
• You cannot take any seashells or sea life home. It is forbidden. In fact, it is illegal to touch the sea life such as turtles, coral, and starfish. Obviously, you can touch the fish because they will swim by you.
• On some beaches, the water is so clear you will be able to see under the water.
• There are wild animals all over the islands. By our condo is frequently seen iguanas, ducks, and chickens. On St. John, there are donkeys everywhere.
• Know what to wear – If the restaurant is by the beach or pool, a swimsuit or cover up is ok to wear. But if the restaurant is more inland, you will need to put on clothes.
• Put your phone in airplane mode on St John. The cell signal drifts over from the BVIs and your phone may pick up some international charges. 
• Bring Cash! Taxis only take cash and, though most places take credit card, we found several times the machines were down because internet/cell service is spotty.
• Everyone is so friendly. Don’t let people tell you otherwise.  If you are open to chatting, are friendly, and are respectful, everyone will treat you like long lost pals. 
• Drinking water is safe. 
• Taxis – They do have an open-air bus system that is a dollar, but it only goes 1 way around the island. Taxis are everywhere and easy to get; most times they holler at you to see if you need one. Ask about price before you get in. Average price is $6/person plus tip. It is more $ the longer the drive and if you have luggage. If you have a really good driver, ask for their business card so you can call them to take you other places as well.
• Definitely island hop! When going to different islands, only get a ticket one way so you are not pressed to come back at a certain time. Then you can get a one way back when ready to come back. There are a couple different ports, and it is about 15-20 minutes to St. John, 10 minutes to Water Island, and 45 minutes to St. Croix. I don’t know how long to go to British VI as we didn’t have passports, but I hear it is even more beautiful over there!
• Try to reduce your carbon footprint. There isn’t recycling on the island, and everything goes in the trash.  Bring a reusable cup if you can. 
• You’ll be connected. There is cell signal and almost everywhere has wifi – Most restaurants and coffee shops have wifi. Some spots are better than others and you may want to put cell phone on airplane mode at east end but we didn’t have any issues.
• You won’t want to go home. It’s easy to leave a little piece of your heart in these islands.

Well, I hope this was helpful. Let me know what sounds fun to try or if you have been, what you loved about any of the Virgin Islands!