St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Island Overview

Why is St. Thomas "The Place to Be" in the Caribbean?

Even though St. Thomas is less than half the size of its big brother St. Croix and only slightly larger than its little brother St. John, St. Thomas is a whirlpool of activity within the United States Virgin Islands (USVI); anyone who draws near enough is simply swept up in its grandeur. If your idea of a perfect vacation is one that's filled with action-packed days and a variety of ways to party the night away, a trip to St. Thomas might leave you pleasantly spent of energy but delightfully refreshed from the change of scenery.

Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the USVI and the main cruise-ship harbor in the Caribbean, is a hive of activity. Blocks of world-famous duty-free shops share space with numerous restaurants that offer a mouth-watering range of foods to feast on and to fuel your continued shopping-spree. Havensight Mall, an increasingly popular site for die-hard shoppers that prefer to avoid the city, is located closer to the harbor. Many of the lodging accommodations, famous beaches, and highly rated eateries are also far removed from the hustle and bustle of this swarming town.

Attractions

St. Thomas offers a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The often-mentioned exquisite beaches of St. Thomas that one never tires of visiting is most-notable for the North Coast's heart-shaped Magens Bay, an award-winning beach as designated by Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic. Culturally diverse historic buildings embellished with architecture influenced by the Danes, Dutch, French, and Spaniards dot the island. Breathtaking views are afforded by the mountaintop vistas, including Drake's Seat that provides a panoramic visual delight that includes Magens Bay as well as the rest of the Virgin Islands, both those belonging to the United States and the British. This island is also world-renowned for its sailing, scuba diving, and sport-fishing resources.

Nightlife

Nightlife on St. Thomas is far from limited to fine dining or downing a few daiquiris at one of the popular bars or pubs that are scattered around the island. Sure, you can hit The Green House in Charlotte Amalie on Friday night to get in on the happy hour Bingo action that features amazing prizes. Or you could go upscale and sample the international beverage selection available at Epernay, Frenchtown's famous wine and champagne bar.

If it's entertainment that you're seeking, the Reichhold Center for the Performing Arts, an outdoor amphitheater, features an eclectic mix of music, locally produced plays, and dancing exhibitions. Many of the luxury-lodging facilities provide onsite entertainment, as well as babysitting services, to allow guests to enjoy their evenings without having to travel the streets with their children in tow.

Accommodations

Curious about where you'll rest your weary feet after a busy day spent shopping? Need a good nights sleep once you're done playing a round of golf on the Mahogany Run Golf Course that's known for the natural beauty that surrounds it, as well as the celebrities that have played there, including Tiger Woods and Former President Bill Clinton? The range of accommodations available on St. Thomas is one of the best, not only within the USVI but also within the entire Caribbean area. From the high-end Ritz-Carlton situated on the South Coast to the budget-priced Galleon House Bed and Breakfast located in a peaceful downtown section of Charlotte Amalie, there's a room or entire home to suit the needs of newlyweds, traveling families, seniors enjoying their retirement years, and the budget-conscious college student on Spring Break.

With a resident population of slightly more than 50,000 and an annual influx of more than 1.5 million tourists squeezed into an area of approximately 30 square miles, St. Thomas is best suited for the traveler that would describe them self as a social butterfly that craves action instead of solitude. Sadly, St. Thomas is sometimes touted as an island that has become a victim of over-commercialism and that has experienced a resulting increase in crime and decrease in quality of customer service. With a common sense approach to ones own safety and the willingness to accept less-than-perfect service for better-than-average deals and accommodations, such deterrents are more than compensated for by the human high-energy and the surrounding exquisite natural beauty that makes St. Thomas the popular tourist destination that it is.