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What can be better than traveling to the Caribbean Paradise? Do you agree?! St.Thomas US Virgin Islands Itinerary is what you need right now.

 

The good thing is that it doesn’t have to be a long trip as Caribbean islands are pretty close to those who live in the U.S., and they are called the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Which are known for the best beaches, great snorkeling spots, honeymoon destinations, a rich marine world, and more. So, no matter what you plan to do on your vacation, the U.S. Virgin Islands is a great choice.

 

If you have never been to the Caribbean before, I suggest starting with a St. Thomas visit. You do not even have to have a U.S. Passport (if you are a U.S. citizen), just the I.D. Read further my 5 days St. Thomas US Virgin Islands full itinerary article to learn more.

 

 5 Days St. Thomas US Virgin Islands Full Itinerary

Day 1 of St.Thomas US Virgin Islands Itinerary

• Arrive at the Cyril E. King St. Thomas US Virgin Islands Airport

Once you land and be able to get out of the plane, you will need to follow the directions and stand in line for your document and Q.R. codes check. After, you can go to take your luggage.

 

You will be surprised how small is the arrival gate. There are barely any seating places.

• Check-in at Your Accommodation Place

  

I booked the Bunker hotel at first, which is located very close to Charlotte Amalie, but when I got there, I was in shock. It is not what I expected. The neighborhood was not safe, and the hotel was pretty old. So I only stayed there for a day, and after, I moved in with my new friend (whom I met on Couchsurfing) in an Airbnb.

 

I do not suggest staying at Airbnb if you want to save money, as it is expensive. There are excellent hotels out there with great views as well and a half-off price. Despite the apartment being very friendly and right by the ocean, the location is not convenient for walking (basically, there are no places for walking in St. Thomas at all).

 

|Tip 1: I highly suggest renting a car as there are no pedestrian walks anywhere, no public transport, and no Uber. Only taxis. My friend rented a car, and that is how we were able to navigate in the city. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere.

 

|Tip 2. If you are unsure if your phone will work (mine barely did), get a new local sim card, as you won’t be able to use the internet or download offline maps. That is what happened to me. I recently switched to a new mobile provider and was still testing the service. So when I came to St. Thomas, I realized that my sim was not working.

 

I was not able to send messages, call or use the internet. Yes, in some places on the island, it worked for some reason, but not on others. The majority of the time, I was without any service. Lesson to learn :).

• Get Some Rest
  

If you come late afternoon or evening, I do not suggest walking in the city alone; instead, take some personal time off and relax before the next day.

Day 2 of St.Thomas Itinerary

• Explore Around

 

Go to the nearest beaches, swim, and get some suntan. On the first day, we went to Magen’s beach. It was a lovely beach with clear water and incredible views.

 

Remember that it is boiling in St. Thomas, so do not forget the hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for your St.Thomas US Virgin Islands Itinerary to ensure it is not ruined.

• Grab a Lunch

We decided to explore Charlotte Amalie and grab some lunch near. We went to a place which is called Bumpas Sandwich shop. They have various food options. The food was decent and not too expensive. The good part is that they are located right in the middle of all actions and across the ocean. So you can make sure you will have great views. Cards are accepted there.

•  Explore Charlotte Amalie 

 

After you have had your lunch, wander around. Charlotte Amalie is the capital of St. Thomas and is considered a historic city (downtown). You will see lots of brand and no-brand stores there and restaurants.

 

Be prepared. If you walk on the shopping street, every seller will approach you and tell you they have sales or good products, so you will step into the store and buy something.

 

This isn’t very pleasant. Keep in mind that parking in that area is complicated. You might end up looking for it for too long, plus there is a long road before you can turn left if you need to return. We found a parking spot right by the old closed hotel on the hill (it is prohibited to park there, but we risked it since the hotel was not operational, and nothing happened).

• End Your Day 2  With the Sunset View of St. Thomas

  

There is a place right on the beach where you can have a drink and maybe eat something called the Sunset Grille. Parking is free if you are a hotel guest or visiting the restaurant. The place might be good for drinking, but not for food. I’ve tried tuna nachos and Cezar salad, which was not good. My friend had hummus which she liked, though. So maybe just some certain dishes to avoid. The views, though, are very nice.

Day 3 of St. Thomas US Virgin Islands Full Itinerary

• Wake Up Early and Go to St. John 

St. John is another island with beautiful world beaches and a National park. If you rent a car, take it with you. A car ferry (one-way $35 and round-trip $50) will take you to St. John, where you can drive around and not worry about how to get from one beach to another.

 

The ferry ride is about 20 minutes, and they leave every 30 minutes. Check the ferry schedule and more info here.
St. John is beautiful. We liked it more than St. Thomas. So roads are more developed, so many Bay views and great beaches.

 

Once we arrived there, we went straight to the park. The first beach we stopped at was Honeymoon beach, which was terrific. With white sand and clear turquoise water, you will fall in love at first glance.

 

You can spend some time on each beach or explore all the way and stay on the best you like. All beaches are located close to each other.

 

Tip: Have a map with you, as there might be no reception.

 

We drove along the way and explored several places at the time. We skipped Trunk Bay, as it seemed more for activities we didn’t plan to take. The entrance fee for the beach is $5, and they also accept cards (if you have an I.D. with you).

 

While driving in the park, you won’t see many stores on the way, and if you need to stop to use a restaurant to buy some small things, there is one in Coral Bay. Just be prepared. It is super expensive. For example, a pack of strawberries that you buy in any U.S. city for $3.99 sells for $9.99 there, or a plastic bag which usually sells for 0.07 cents, sells for $1.50. Very very expensive. On Coral Bay, you can rent kayaks and other equipment as well.

 

The park is extensive, and if you want to visit every beach, you might want to stay there for a day or two. We stopped at some, but not all, and we were done by 2 pm as the rain started and we were exhausted, so we decided to go back.

 

But definitely, you can’t leave St. Thomas without visiting St John.

Day 4

• Have Breakfast and See Coral World Ocean Park in St. Thomas

 

The entry ticket costs $23.50, and it is worth every penny. I liked it so much. I saw iguanas (which, by the way, walk everywhere and are significant), how they train dolphins, turtles, beautiful colorful fishes, and more. There is also the Coki beach right in the area, so you can swim or get some tan after. Or, if you want to do a scuba diving activity (they state no experience is required) or snorkeling, you can rent the equipment there.

• Go to Sapphire Beach

It is just 10 10-minute drive from Coki Beach. The taxi (private) will cost $6-7. The beach is charming, but with more waves and seaweed. If you get hungry, there is also an excellent place with drinks and food. The basic green salad can cost you about $10.

Day 5 of St.Thomas US Virgin Islands Itinerary

 

This is the last day, and if you have some time before your flight, I suggest heading to Red Hook. The Red Hook is a small town on the island’s east side. You can find little stores, banks, coffee shops, and more.

 

As I had a late evening flight and carried my stuff, I decided to spend this time at the Lattes in Paradise coffee shop and work before my flight. The coffee shop is very nice. It offers a nice harbor view, free Wi-Fi, and a great selection of food, coffee, and other drinks.

 

Note: A minimum of $10 purchase is required if you pay with a credit card. There are also ATMs if you need to get cash.

 

|Tip. Please do not book a private taxi from Red Hook to the airport (as it will be expensive). Instead, use a Safari taxi (the open minibus with people). The trip to the airport would cost me just $2 if I didn’t miss my stop. I relied on the driver, but she forgot to tell me, and we passed. So I had to pay an extra $10 to her so she could give me a ride to the airport.

 

Make sure you do not miss your stop; the button to press for a visit is on the vehicle’s top.

 

What To Know About St. Thomas?

• The roads are very steep, and they drive on the left side
• Renting the car is highly recommended as there is no way to explore the island on foot except in a few areas
• There is a $10 exit fee if you leave the airport in the rented car (if it was parked for more than 4 hours). Cash only. You will need a parking ticket from your rented company to show when you exit.
• Taxi takes cash only.
• Do not drink tap water. Buy bottled water instead. On the second day of my trip, I got a nervous stomach. I am not sure if it was because I drank a bit of served water in the restaurant or not, but better not to do it or constantly ask for the straw.
• There are not many good grocery stores nearby. Some might be very expensive. A few stores we checked were: Cost U Less (like Costco, but still sells single items) and Moe’s Fresh Market on Red Hook, which, compared to another, had a better selection.
• People in St. Thomas are slow. You will notice it basically in every place.
• Masks are required everywhere
• There is no sales tax in the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Rains are very short, and there is always a rainbow after
• You can find excellent tickets if you are flexible with your days. My tickets only cost me $76 out of pocket because I had $50 credit, and the total was $150, but still, it is very cheap for 4-5 days (Tue-Sat).

 

What to Pack for St.Thomas US Virgin Islands Itinerary

1. Flip-flops

2. Sunscreen

3. Hat

4. Beach bug

5. Sunglasses

6. Mosquito spray (if you plan to be outside a lot and close to the water in the evening time)

7. Pair or two of shorts

8. A few beach dresses

9. Several tops (ideally for every day)

10. Comfortable sandals

11. Pair of walking shoes (if you plan to go hiking)

12. Light jacket

13. Pair of light pants

14. One or two swimsuits

15. Makeup (if you wear it)

16. Your face-cleaning items

17. Reusable mug (to fill with water)

18. Cash

19. Documents

20. Snorkel equipment. All beaches are suitable for snorkeling, and people just come there with their equipment, which is fantastic as you do not have to pay for a tour.

There are so many tourist attractions in St. Thomas, but here are the 3 best St. Thomas activities.

 

Related article:

|The ultimate travel packing guide

Want to save on accommodation and stay for FREE? Try housesitting opportunities.

 

Most FAQs About St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

• Do I need an American passport to go to St.Thomas? – No, if you are a US Citizen
• What is the cheapest time to fly to St.Thomas? – September is the cheapest month to go from the USA
• Can I explore St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands by foot? –  You can definitely walk in some places in St.Thomas, but having a car is highly advisable
• Is there public transportation in St.Thomas?  – Yes. You can catch a ferry between other US Virgin Islands or a car barge (if you need to take your car to another place), or a water taxi. You can also take a $1 ride on a public bus or dollar rides (transportation/taxi mixed method).
• Can I use my cellphone in St. Thomas? – Not all cellphone plans will work normally in St.Thomas. I had Mint and it barely worked there. But if you have a bit more expensive plan/provider, you should have no problem. I suggest checking with your provider before you go there to make sure.
• Is there an Uber in St.Thomas US Virgin Islands? – No, there is currently no Uber in St.Thomas, but taxis are widely available everywhere. Just make sure you have cash with you as not all of them take credit cards.

Final Thoughts

St. Thomas is a place to go if you need a sunny getaway in the USA. Days are super hot there, and the rain doesn’t last long. So you can make sure it won’t interfere with your plans. St. Thomas is better explored with a car, so renting a car is recommended.

 

I also highly suggest traveling from St. Thomas to St. John’s as it is a lovely trip where you will see many beautiful beaches and national parks along the way.

 

I hope you found the 5 Days St. Thomas US Virgin Islands Full Itinerary useful.

 

Have you been to St. Thomas yet? If so, what were your best places to go?

 

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