What island to stay on in Virgin Islands?

The group is made up of 50-odd islands and cays, but St Thomas — where the capital of Charlotte Amalie is located — St John and St Croix are the most popular. Our pick of the best places to stay in the US Virgin Islands features beautiful properties on all three of these larger islands.



Choosing between the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2026 depends on your vibe: St. Thomas is the hub of convenience, featuring direct flights, bustling marinas, and a massive variety of high-end dining and shopping in Charlotte Amalie; it's perfect for those who want activity and nightlife. St. John is the opposite, a tranquil paradise where two-thirds of the island is a protected National Park; it offers world-class snorkeling at Trunk Bay and is the premier choice for honeymoons or nature lovers who want to disconnect. St. Croix is the largest and most historically rich island, known for its colonial architecture and the spectacular diving at Buck Island Reef. In 2026, a popular "pro" move is to stay on St. Thomas for the luxury villas and amenities but take the 20-minute ferry to St. John for day trips. If you want the "unspoiled" Caribbean experience with a laid-back local feel, St. Croix is the hidden gem that avoids the heavy cruise ship crowds of St. Thomas.

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Thomas, the most developed, is brimming with activities and world-class shopping. St. Croix, bigger but sleepier, is the place to go for diving, snorkeling, and beach life. Both extend a warm welcome and both have interesting culture away from the beach.

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St. Thomas will be a bit more crowded and has better and more Duty Free shopping than St. Kitts but St. Kitts has been discovered in recent years so the number of tourists and cruise ships visiting the island has increased dramatically in the last few years as has the number shops and tourist oriented activities.

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Montserrat. Nicknamed “The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” both for its terrain and the heritage of its inhabitants, Montserrat is a British territory in the Leeward Islands and it is considered to be the safest island in the Caribbean, with its last recorded murder occurring in 2008.

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Thomas can be slightly less expensive overall than St. John. It's a bit easier to work within a budget on St. Thomas where you don't have to necessarily rent a car, you have different hotel tiers to choose from, and you have access to cheaper food options (in both restaurants and the larger grocery stores).

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Although it's the largest of the three islands, St. Croix sees the fewest tourists, making it a great destination if you want a less commercialized Caribbean experience.

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Top tips for finding cheap flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Book at least 1 week before departure in order to get a below-average price. High season is considered to be May, June and July. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is September.

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Virgin Islands Ferry services make it easy to island hop. There are 7 main islands in the Virgin Islands: St Thomas, St John and St Croix in the USVI and Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dyke in the BVI. All offer travelers something unique worth exploring.

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If you plan to visit St. Thomas and St. John, I recommend spending one week in the US Virgin Islands. With 7 days, you have 2 days for travel time plus 5 days on the islands, which is plenty of time to visit the beaches, go snorkeling or take a boat cruise, and do a little hiking.

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Along with the other Windward Islands, St. Lucia became a federated state associated with the United Kingdom in 1967. Although it achieved independence in 1979, St. Lucia remains a member of the British Commonwealth.

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Experts think that the Arawak people were the first to settle on the three main islands that are now known as the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI): St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.

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Food in St. Thomas is EXPENSIVE as all food is imported and very little, if anything is grown locally.

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Saint Kitts and Nevis - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions Kitts and Nevis. If you decide to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

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