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By Connie Motz, Marinefuel.com Destination Expert
August 2009
Located in the Leeward Islands, the United States territory known as the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is comprised of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas.
Fast Facts about St. Thomas
Population: 51,181
Capital City: Charlotte Amalie
Physical Size: 32 square miles
Weather: 78-88°F with tropical showers during the fall season
Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time
Currency: USD with all major credit cards accepted
Language: English
Entry Documents: Passports are not required for U.S. citizens
Quick Tips: In the Know
1) Waterfront Royal Dane Mall offers free beer samples at the V.I. Brewing Company
2) Check out out the Gallery St. Thomas on Garden Street for artwork under $20
3) Avoid shopping on cruise ship arrival days, as there can be 3-4,000 people in town!
4) Most store hours: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday; closing 1:00 pm on Sunday.
Marinas
Known for their customer service, the fully equipped Crown Bay Marina is located near the airport and can accommodate vessels up to 200’. The modern IGY American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook (on the east end) offers 128 fixed slips and eight on-site restaurants. Popular with sport fishing boats, Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina has 67 slips which come with full use of resort amenities.
Getting Around
While driving on the left side of the road can be challenging, renting a car is the most convenient way to travel around the island. However, if you’d prefer the care of a chauffer, fixed-rate taxis are abundant and readily available.
Where to Stay
St. Thomas offers a wide array of accommodation from hotels and private homes to bed & breakfasts. One of the most popular hotels on the island is Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort overlooking Charlotte Amalie. Having recently visited this facility, MarineFuel.com’s internal researchers strongly advise choosing an alternate lodging option if you wish to step outside the typical hotel setting. Secret Harbor Beach Resort and Bolongo Bay Beach Resort continue to be favorites amongst island visitors, while yet another great option is the four-room Bellavista Bed & Breakfast.
Where to Dine
For authentic flavor and delicious rum cake, visit Cuzzin’s Caribbean Restaurant & Bar on Back Street or for more gourmet desires, visit Hervé Restaurant & Wine Bar on Government Hill. Sip a Baileys Bushwacker while enjoying the food and views from high atop Paradise Point at the St. Thomas Skyride, or see the stunning Caribbean sunset while enjoying a dinner cruise onboard a sailboat or catamaran. Every Friday is Lobster Mania at The Greenhouse on Veteran’s Drive.
Must Do and See!
St. Thomas is a Mecca for duty-free shopping, and best buys include liquor, jewelry, linens, fragrances, and designer clothing. Cameras & electronics are also great buys, but only if you’ve done your mainland pricing homework and can recognize a steal when you see it . Market Square, a former slave trading site in downtown Charlotte Amalie, is the perfect place to practice your bargaining skills. From there, continue onto Main Street where the rows of shops seem endless! Havensight Mall is the debarkation point for cruise ship passengers and offers a good variety of “touristy” wares with stores like A.H. Riise, Little Switzerland, Boolchands, and Cardow Jewelers.
Where to Play in the Day
Must see attractions include Coral World Ocean Park, Magens Bay Beach, and the St. Thomas Skyride for views of the harbor and Charlotte Amalie. Historians will delight in visiting Bluebeard’s Castle, Blackbeard’s Castle, Frenchtown, Government House, 99 Steps, Seven Arches Museum, and Fort Christian, a National Historic Landmark. Water sports on St. Thomas are abundant with scuba diving and snorkeling at Coki Beach, or even a ‘snuba’ experience for the tentative first timer. Other activities include kayaking and sailing on a sailboat or catamaran, or golfing at Mahogany Run. Great beaches to visit include Lindquist Beach, Brewer’s Bay, and Hull Bay (for surfing).
Where to Play at Night
St. Thomas offers a diverse nightlife with everything from karaoke to live dinner theater at Tillet Gardens. Most resorts offer nightly entertainment and music, like Bolongo Beach or Wyndham Sugar Bay, and many waterfront bars like the Hard Rock Cafe in Charlotte Amalie rock into the wees hours of the night. Visit Martini’s Bar or Betsy’s Bar in Frenchtown or go bar hopping or wine bar tasting in Red Hook, if you’re up for some night time adventuring!
Consistently, you can find Steel Pan music at:
- Blue Moon Café at Secret Harbor, Fridays from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Agave Terrace at Colony Point Pleasant Resort, Tuesday & Thursdays 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Sources:
1. Frommer’s Virgin Islands, 2007
2. U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism
3. VInow.com
