St. Thomas? St. Johns? St. Croix????

Brittanypaige1

Wedding on June 1st, 2014 and I'm really liking the Virgin islands but which ones? I've been looking online and there are so many negative comments and it makes me nervous. So maybe someone can help me! I want to be on the beach but close enough for a short Taxi ride to sites and restaurants. My budget is cheap but Nice (I know this doesn't help much), I don't want to stay some where nasty but I don't have to stay in the nicest place in town

sofakingmad

I love Sapphire Beach Resort on St. Thomas.  I would book through VRBO.com through individual owners and not through the hotel.  

The "resort" isn't really a resort, but there is a snack bar, a place to rent snorkeling equipment and other beach necessities and you can even see sea turtles swimming right off the beach.  

There are buses that can take you into Red Hook to more shopping and restaurants.

And you can always take a day trip over to St. John or St. Croix or even book a day trip to the BVIs (but you would need a passport for that).

AprilH81

Sapphire Beach is lovely (but I haven't stayed at the resort) and has great walk in snorkeling and they have a hut where you can rent jet skis, snorkeling equipment, parasailing trips, etc.  The beach is a short distance from downtown where there is TONS of shopping and a good place to get other tours/activities.

St. Thomas is heavily visited by cruise ships (although good news-the numbers do drop in the summer, but not a ton) so if you venture into town you will want to do it at strategic times when there are few ships in port.   Even with the crowds it is a beautiful island.

I have been to St. Croix once and while it was pretty I was underwhelmed by the activities available but it was a few years ago and it may be a bit more "developed" for tourists.  If you just want to lay on the beach it would be great and far less crowded than St. Thomas.

16maybeless

First, just so there's no confusion, St. John*. St. Johns is in Canada. :P You would end up with one very cold vacation if you mix them up!

I've been to St. Thomas and St. John. St. Thomas is a bit more geared toward the cruise-ship crowd (duty-free shops, tour providers, etc). Charlotte Amalie can get crowded when the cruises are in town. There are many more accommodations options than St. John, but overall, it's a more "active" island. I'd say it's less expensive and easier to reach. It does have one of the prettiest beaches, I think, which is Magens Bay.

St. John is quieter, more relaxed, more secluded, and less touristy. There is a Westin and then luxury Caneel Bay; beyond that, you're looking at smaller hotels or renting a condo (VRBO, FlipKey, etc.) I much preferred St. John's beaches and water sports (Trunk Bay especially). Cruises can't go there, so there are fewer crowds. Definitely more of a romantic spot with more of an undiscovered feel, but if you like constant action, nightlife, etc., you may be bored. 

I have heard that St. Croix is similar to St. Thomas but I was unable to go.

lyndausvi

There is also St Johns, Antigua.