St. Thomas is a small island with several town centers and its attractions spread out quite evenly. As an unincorporated part of the United States it’s no surprise that English is the dominant language and that it’s a popular destination for Americans as well as cruise ships.
There are some very nice beaches and the usual array of scuba diving, snorkeling, and other water sports, but St. Thomas seems to be known more for shopping than for anything else. Prices and selection are better here than anywhere else in the Caribbean, and there are a great number of larger shopping complexes. Those who don’t want to shop will still find plenty of things to do in St. Thomas.
Overall St. Thomas is mostly a mid-range destination for prices, still with quite a few more affordable restaurants and such so budget travelers can do well here if they get a good package deal on a hotel and flight.
Population | 52,000 |
Area | 52,000 |
Timezone | UTC-4 |
Currency | US dollar |
Airports | Cyril E. King Airport (STT) |
Local Breakfast | Coffee, mini sandwiches and breakfast treats can be found all around the island with some of the best served outside of your hotel. | $3.50 - $8.00 |
Local Lunch | Seafood is the number one food of choice but there are other options such as pizza, salads and pastas. | $6.00 - $15.00 |
Local Dinner | Restaurants that cater to tourists tend to be a bit pricey but local restaurants are a great way to try some new food and save a few dollars. | $10.00 - $22.00 |
Beer | Many of the resorts and restaurants have either a bar or nightclub, all serving beer. | $4.00 - $6.00 |
Month | High F | Low F | Precipitations(INCH) |
---|---|---|---|
January | 83 | 72 | 1.4 |
February | 83 | 72 | 1.4 |
March | 83 | 72 | 3.0 |
April | 85 | 74 | 2.1 |
May | 86 | 75 | 3.0 |
June | 88 | 77 | 2.7 |
July | 88 | 78 | 2.6 |
August | 89 | 78 | 2.2 |
September | 88 | 77 | 3.7 |
October | 87 | 75 | 3.0 |
November | 85 | 74 | 3.0 |
December | 84 | 73 | 3.4 |
Located in the middle of the Caribbean, St. Thomas is known for getting a little hot during part of the year while cooling down the other. Spring and summer are the best times to visit if you wish to dive or snorkel your way around the island while winter and fall are great for sightseeing and hiking and still yet, dipping into the ocean.
Winter brings in stronger ocean winds and thus chops up the water a bit at times. It also tends to cool down the water a lot, so it might be best to bring a rash guard or two to help keep you warm.
Summer experiences some rain and the possibility of a tropical storm, so it’s best to keep an eye on the weather just in case.
21 Mar | 6:22am | 6:29pm |
21 Jun | 5:42am | 6:57pm |
21 Sep | 6:07am | 6:15pm |
21 Dec | 6:45am | 5:47pm |
There are over 50 resorts and hotels on St. Thomas in addition to some smaller lodgings used by non-tourists. The major resorts are spread mostly in the eastern half of the island, but without an abundant concentration like you’d find on most other islands. Prices go from mid-range to very expensive, with most being toward the bottom end of that scale.
Just like the rest of the world, the Caribbean goes through price changes throughout the year. The main price changes that visitors witness are hotel rates. These vary depending on what time of the year you visit, or in other words, in what season you visit.
Peak season, when prices are at their highest, runs from mid December to about mid April. During this time, you have a pretty high chance of running into a lot of snow birds who are traveling south to escape a cold winter.
Low season, which runs through the summer and early fall months, is when you find prices at their lowest but also the chance of rainy days and a storm.
Shoulder season is an average of the other two seasons with prices leveling out. Generally you’ll find that low season falls in May and late fall. This is also a great time to visit if you’re looking for pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
Rating | Price(USD) |
---|---|
- | |
100.00 - 139.00 | |
125.00 - 294.00 | |
178.00 - 316.00 | |
459.00 - 459.00 |
Type | Price(USD) |
---|---|
Hostel Bed | - |
Anyone staying overnight will be flying into Cyril E. King Airport, which is the largest and busiest airport in the Virgin Islands. It serves as a hub for this part of the Caribbean, and it has a variety of long-haul flights connecting key North American cities.
Nonstop flights from:
San Juan, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington-Dulles, Philadelphia, New York-JFK, Newark, Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Toronto