Julie Itinerary, US Virgin Islands 5 Comments

St. Thomas and St. John are two of the three main US Virgin Islands. These two islands sit side by side and are connected by a short ferry ride, and together they make a fantastic Caribbean getaway. On this US Virgin Islands itinerary, learn how to plan the perfect one week trip to these two islands.

About This US Virgin Islands Itinerary

This Virgin Islands itinerary takes a full 7 days. This includes your travel time to and from the islands, plus several days on each island.

For this itinerary, you will need to rent a car. The best place to rent a car is from the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas. For most people, this airport will be your arrival point into the US Virgin Islands, unless you are traveling by private boat or traveling here by ferry from St. Croix.

This US Virgin Islands itinerary starts in St. Thomas and then you will spend several days in St. John. In our opinion, St. John is the more beautiful of the two islands, so I think it’s best to save this for the second half of your trip. By doing it in this order, every day just keeps getting better.

Finally, this itinerary can be done all year. Peak season is December through February, when the weather is the coolest and driest, but the islands will also be more crowded and expensive at this time. Off-season is July through October, which coincides with hotter, wetter weather and the threat of hurricanes, but this itinerary can be done at this time (just keep your fingers crossed for good weather).

How Many Days Do You Need in the US Virgin Islands?

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.

If you plan to visit St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, you will need more than 7 days. With 10 days, you can spend a week on St. John and St. Thomas, then take a ferry to St. Croix. Spend 2 to 3 days on St. Croix before flying home.

If you only plan to visit one of the islands, a weekend is just enough time (ideally arriving on Friday morning and then flying home on Sunday evening).

US Virgin Islands Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in St. Thomas

To get to the US Virgin Islands, you will fly into (and out of) Cyril E. King Airport. This airport is located on St. Thomas.

Flights arrive throughout the day, and depending on when you land, you may not have much time today to do any sightseeing.

Pick up your rental car at the airport and then check into your hotel.

If you have time in the afternoon, you can relax by the hotel pool, go out for dinner, stroll through Charlotte Amalie, or visit a beach near your hotel.

We have a long list of recommended restaurants on our Things to Do in St. Thomas post, but a few of our favorite restaurants are Greengo’s Caribbean Cantina, Pesce Italian, and Duffy’s Love Shack. Prime at Paradise Point would be a great spot for dinner tonight, with its awesome views over Charlotte Amalie.

Paradise Point St. Thomas

The view from Paradise Point.

Where to Stay in St. Thomas

LUXURY: The Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton is located on the east end of St. Thomas, near Red Hook. It gets good reviews. The downside of staying here is a longer drive to many places on St. Thomas.

UPSCALE: Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove. This is where we stayed and had an awesome experience. This property is located just outside of Charlotte Amalie, so the location is great. There is an onsite gym, restaurant, pool, and beach. Take your pick from 2 or 3-bedroom villas, making this a great option for families. The VI CAT tour to Buck Island leaves from this property. On a return visit to St. Thomas, we would stay here again.

UPSCALE: Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham. This property gets good reviews. Rooms range from a standard hotel room to two-bedroom suites that can accommodate up to eight people. There is an outdoor swimming pool, onsite restaurant and bar, and fitness center. This property is located on the east end of St. Thomas near Coki Beach.

MID-RANGE: Limetree Beach Resort by Club Wyndham. This resort is located on the beach on the south coast of St. Thomas. Take your pick from studio rooms or one-bedroom apartments.

Day 2: Highlights of St. Thomas

Today, you will see the highlights of St. Thomas. Go on a scenic drive around St. Thomas, visit a few spectacular viewpoints, and spend the afternoon on beautiful Magen’s Bay Beach.

Morning: St. Thomas Viewpoints

Paradise Point

If it is running, ride the Skyride (a cable car) to Paradise Point, one of the best overlooks in St. Thomas. During our visit, the Skyride only appeared to be running when a cruise ship was in town. If it is not running, you can drive up to the viewpoint (just be aware that it is a very narrow, windy road).

Things to Do in St Thomas

Overlooking St. Thomas from Paradise Point.

Charlotte Amalie Overlook

From Charlotte Amalie, drive up the twisting Mafolie Road to the Charlotte Amalie Overlook. From here, you have a great view over the south side of St. Thomas. You can see Charlotte Amalie, Water Island, Hassel Island, and most likely, a cruise ship or two parked in the harbor.

Charlotte Amalie Overlook

Charlotte Amalie Overlook

Drake’s Seat

Just a 2-minute drive from Charlotte Amalie Overlook is Drake’s Seat. Even though it is just a short distance away, the view is totally different, now that you are looking out over the north side of the island. From here, you have a great view of Magen’s Bay.

Drakes Seat

Drake’s Seat

Mountain Top

Continue on Hull Bay Road to Mountain Top. On the drive, you have the option to stop at the Phantasea Botanical Garden. At this small garden, you will stroll through a native forest and get to see turtles and tropical plants. It takes 30 to 60 minutes.

Mountain Top is the highest peak on St. Thomas. There is an enormous duty-free gift shop here. Walk to the far end of the gift shop to the bar that serves banana daquiri’s, which they claim are the best in the Virgin Islands. And just outside of the gift shop is a terrace with one of the best views of St. Thomas.

Tim and Tyler US Virgin Islands

St. Thomas Photo

The view from Mountain Top

Magen’s Bay

From Mountain Top, it takes 15 minutes to drive to Magen’s Bay.

Magen’s Bay Beach is our favorite spot on St. Thomas. To enter, you will pay a small entrance fee and then park your car. This is a long, wide beach with a lot to do. You can either sit at a picnic bench under a palm tree, rent kayaks or paddle boards, or spread out a towel and sit in the sand. 

Magens Bay Beach

Magens Bay Beach Bar

Right on the beach is Magen’s Bay Bar and Grill. They serve great food and the best painkillers that we had in all of the US Virgin Islands.

Magen’s Bay Beach is a great spot to go paddle boarding. We did this and saw several sea turtles.

Spend as long as you like at Magen’s Bay. When you had your fill of the views, the water, and the sun, return to your hotel to get cleaned up for dinner.

Dinner

End the day with dinner. Check out our recommendations from day 1 of this US Virgin Islands itinerary. A few more places we recommend are Virgilio’s, the Sunset Grille, and the Old Stone Farmhouse.

Day 3: Water Island, Buck Island, a Boat Cruise, Charlotte Amalie or Mermaid’s Chair

Today is your last full day on St. Thomas. There are still a lot of things to do, so you will have to take your pick from the list below.

Option #1: Visit Water Island

Water Island is a very small island that is located next to St. Thomas. The top attraction here is beautiful Honeymoon Beach, but that fact that you get to tour the island in a golf cart makes this a very fun, unique experience.

A visit to Water Island lasts half to a full day. If you only spend the morning here, you have time in the afternoon to do something else on St. Thomas.

Getting to Water Island

Take the Water Island ferry from Crown Bay Marina to Water Island. It takes 10 minutes to get to Water Island and ferries leave every hour. We paid $15 to park at Crown Bay Marina and $15 per person for a round trip ferry ticket.

The best way to get around Water Island is by renting a golf cart. We rented our golf cart from Rachel’s Rentals. At the dock, we were picked up in a golf cart and driven 2 minutes up the hill to the rental facility. We reserved ours in advance to make sure we got one, paying $55 for a full day rental. 

When you pick up your golf cart, you will be given a map of the island and suggestions on where to go. The island is small enough that it takes about an hour to visit Limestone Beach and Fort Segarra. The rest of your time can be spent on the beach.

Water Island Itinerary

Drive to Limestone Beach. This beach is located on the east side of the island. You will park your golf cart on the shoulder of the road and then it is a 5-minute hike out to a rugged, beautiful beach.

Limestone Beach Water Island

Limestone Beach

After Limestone Beach, hop back into your golf cart and drive up to Fort Segarra. To get here, the road deteriorates into a rough, bumpy dirt road, but as long as you drive slowly, the golf cart will be able to handle it. Fort Segarra is the highest point on Water Island and it has a nice view of the area.

Fort Segarra View US Virgin Islands itinerary

View from Fort Segarra

Next, drive to Honeymoon Beach, where you will spend most of your time on the island. You have the option to explore the rest of the island (it’s small so it only takes 5 minutes to drive from place to place) but Limestone Beach, Fort Segarra, and Honeymoon Beach are the top places to visit.

Honeymoon Beach St Thomas

Honeymoon Beach

At Honeymoon Beach, you can rent lounge chairs, kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkel equipment. You can also play beach volleyball. At Dinghy’s Beach Bar, we had one of our best meals in St. Thomas. I highly recommend the Ahi Tuna poke bowl.

Once you are finished at Honeymoon Beach, return your golf cart and take the ferry back to St. Thomas. If you still have a lot of time left in the day, you can go shopping at Charlotte Amalie, visit another beach, walk out to the Mermaid’s Chair, or take a cruise to Turtle Cove.

What We Did: We spent about 2 hours on Water Island. That was enough time to visit the highlights, spend a little time at Honeymoon Beach, and have an early lunch at Dinghy’s. We took a midday ferry back to St. Thomas and in the afternoon, took the VI CAT tour of Buck Island and Turtle Cove.

Option #2: Turtle Cove & Buck Island

Buck Island is a is a protected bird sanctuary and coral reefs and shipwrecks surround this island. Tours to Buck Island visit Turtle Cove, which gets its name because it is one of the best places to see sea turtles.

We used VI CAT, which departs from Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove. This 3-hour tour runs in the afternoon and includes sailing time to and from the island, an hour of snorkeling time, plus snorkel gear, food and drinks. While snorkeling, we had a guide who pointed out sea turtles, coral, and tropical fish. On the cruise back to St. Thomas, they provided snacks and drinks from the open bar.

Option #3: Boat Tour of St. Thomas

One of the most popular things to do while on St. Thomas is to take a cruise around the island. We did this on our first visit to St. Thomas many years ago and had a great experience.

If you prefer to take a private tour, you can take an 8-hour private catamaran charter trip of St. Thomas. The advantages of a private tour are that you can customize your itinerary and spend some time at St. John. 

If you are traveling as a group of up to 12 people, this full day cruise on a luxury catamaran includes both St. Thomas and St. John. 

Option #4: Visit another Beach or Explore Charlotte Amalie

If Water Island or a boat cruise does not interest you, there are several more things to do on St. Thomas.

Each of these things to do take about a half of a day.

Hike Out to the Mermaid’s Chair. The Mermaid’s Chair is a narrow strip of beach that only appears during low tide. It is located in The Preserve at Botany Bay, a private community, and the only way to get here is on foot. It is a 3-mile round trip walk and moderately strenuous, but you get to visit one of the most unique beaches on St. Thomas. We cover this walk in detail in our Guide to Saint Thomas.

Mermaids Chair St Thomas

Mermaid’s Chair

Go Shopping and Explore Charlotte Amalie. The duty-free shops in Charlotte Amalie sell jewelry, Swiss watches, perfumes, loose gemstones, and chocolate. You can also tour Fort Christian and the Pirate Treasure Museum.

Shopping in Charlotte Amalie US Virgin Islands itinerary

Main Street in Charlotte Amalie

Visit Another Beach. St. Thomas has lots of beautiful beaches to visit. Lindquist Beach is one of our favorites, but Secret Harbor Beach, Hull Bay Beach, and Sapphire Beach are also good picks. You can learn more about these beaches and see photos of them in our Guide to St. Thomas.

Day 4: Saint John & Virgin Islands National Park Beaches

Today you will say goodbye to St. Thomas, traveling to St. John by car ferry. The remainder of the day will be spent beach hopping along some of the best beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, and this just might be your favorite day of this US Virgin Islands itinerary.

How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.

Morning Ferry to Saint John

In the morning, take a car ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John.

There are several car ferries that travel between Red Hook and Cruz Bay: Love City Car Ferry, Global Marine’s Tug Life, Big Red Barge Company, and Boyson, Inc.

Love City Car Ferries makes frequent trips back and forth between the islands each day (roughly every two hours from 6:15 am to 6:15 pm for a total of seven trips). You can see the ferry schedule and get updated pricing on their website.

Making a ferry reservation is optional. We showed up for the next available ferry, and both times we did this, we did not have to wait longer than 20 minutes. However, it is possible that a ferry could get cancelled, creating long lines for the next ferry. If you have a reservation, it saves your spot and you can avoid that long line.

So, if you like to plan ahead, you can book a spot on one of the earlier car ferries. I recommend getting on a ferry no later than 9 am (although 8 am is even better) because that gives you more time on Saint John.

North Shore Road Sights & Beaches

The rest of the day will be spent exploring the beaches along the north shore of St. John. These beaches are all located inside of Virgin Islands National Park. They are some of the most beautiful beaches not only in the US Virgin Islands but in all of the Caribbean.

From Cruz Bay, it is a short drive to the Cruz Bay Visitor Center, where you can pick up a park map and get updates on park conditions.

As you head down North Shore Road, you have the option to stop at several overlooks, beaches, and short hiking trails. All are worth it. Here is the list as you head east on North Shore Road (we have lots more information and photos about each of these in our Guide to Virgin Islands National Park):

Viewpoint of Caneel Bay. This overlook on North Shore Road gives you a gorgeous view of Caneel Bay and the offshore islands.

Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay

Hawksnest Beach. One of the prettiest beaches on the North Shore. You can spend the morning here, but the beaches just keep getting better.

Hawksnest Beach

Hawksnest Beach

Peace Hill Windmill. It’s a 0.1-mile uphill hike to the remains of a historic windmill and views of Trunk Bay and Hawksnest Bay.

Denis Bay. Take the detour on the trail to the Peace Hill Windmill to hike out to this lovely, secluded beach. It’s one of our favorites.

Denis Bay

Denis Bay

Jumbie Beach. Walk the short trail to another small, beautiful north shore beach.

Trunk Bay Viewpoint. For the iconic view of Trunk Bay, stop here, enjoy the view, and take your photos.

Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay Beach. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on St. John. If you can get a parking space, you can spend the rest of the day here. But you still have two full days on St. John, which gives you time to come back later in the week. I recommend continuing to Maho Bay Beach and saving Trunk Bay for a different day.

Cinnamon Bay Beach. This beach is another beauty. It also has a larger parking lot, so there is a better chance that you can visit this beach, if the park is busy. From this parking lot, you can also hike to the America Hill Ruins and the Cinnamon Plantation Ruins (we thought these hikes were just OK…there are better hikes in Virgin Islands National Park).

Cinnamon Bay

Cinnamon Bay

Maho Bay Viewpoint. Stop at this viewpoint for a great view over Maho Bay.

Maho Bay

Maho Bay

Maho Bay Beach. This is the place I recommend that you spend an hour or two, or the rest of the day. Here you can rent paddle boards, lounge chairs and snorkel equipment. Sea turtles frequently make appearances in the water. And there are several food trucks selling food as well as a tiki bar. What more do you need?

Maho Bay Beach US Virgin Islands itinerary

Maho Bay Beach

PLANNING YOUR TIME: I just listed a bunch of great beaches and they all make wonderful spots to spend the day. Which one you choose really depends on what you are looking for. If you want a quiet, secluded beach, Denis Bay, Hawksnest Beach, and Jumbie Beach are your best bets. But if you want a beach with amenities like bathrooms and food services, Maho Bay Beach is the best option, followed by Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay Beach.

Mid-Afternoon: Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Bay

If you still have time and energy this afternoon, I have one more very cool place to recommend. This hike + snorkel experience is one of the best things to do in Virgin Islands National Park.

Park at the Annaberg Ruins. It takes about 15 minutes to visit the Annaberg Ruins, and it is worth the time, because the ruins are well preserved and you get a great view of Waterlemon Bay.

The Leinster Bay Trail is a completely flat hiking trail that starts near the Annaberg Ruins and runs to Waterlemon Bay. The views, as you look out to Leinster Bay, Waterlemon Bay, and the British Virgin Islands, are beautiful.

Leinster Bay Trail US Virgin Islands itinerary

Leinster Bay Trail

It is a 1.1-mile walk (one-way) to get to the beach. From here, you can go snorkeling, and we were told that this is one of the best snorkeling spots in Virgin Islands National Park. We saw a sea turtle, sea urchins, and lots of tropical fish.

For another spectacular view, continue on the Leinster Bay Trail to the Windy Hill Greathouse Ruins. About 0.2 miles from the beach, the Leinster Bay Trail reaches a trail junction with the Johnny Horn Trail. Take the Johnny Horn Trail for 0.3 miles until you reach the Murphy Great House. From here, you have 360° views over Waterlemon Cay, the British Virgin Islands, and Leinster Bay.

Windy Hill Greathouse US Virgin Islands itinerary

View from the Windy Hill Greathouse

If you plan to snorkel in Waterlemon Bay and hike up to the ruins, plan on spending a minimum of 2 to 3 hours here. If you don’t have time to do this today, it can be added to one of the next two days of this US Virgin Islands itinerary.

Evening: Check into Your Hotel

Check into your or campsite. Inside of Virgin Islands National Park is the Cinnamon Bay Resort & Campground. Learn more here. 

Outside of the park, the best place to stay is in Cruz Bay. This town is located on the western end of the island and there are many great hotels and restaurants to choose from.

We stayed at the The Westin St. John Resort Villas. The property is beautiful and it is also very large…so large that there are golf carts to shuttle visitors around. We enjoyed our stay here, but if you have a villa on the far end of the property (we did) it can be as much as a 10-minute walk to your car. We didn’t have much luck calling a golf cart shuttle and having it arrive within a reasonable amount of time, so we typically walked everywhere.

Also in Cruz Bay, Limetree Cottage at Chocolate Hole and Gallows Point Resort get good reviews.

As far as where to eat in Cruz Bay, we loved the food and the beach setting of the The Beach Bar. The Longboard, Sun Dog Café, La Tapa, Lime Inn, and Cruz Bay Landing all get great reviews.

Day 5: Hiking & Beach Time

Morning: Go for a Hike

There are two great hikes that we recommend in Virgin Islands National Park: the Ram Head Trail and the Reef Bay Trail.

If you like hiking, you can do each of these, hiking one of these trails today and hiking the second one tomorrow. If you aren’t a big hiker, then hike part or all of the Ram Head Trail. This interesting hike is our favorite, since the views are constantly changing and the landscapes are much different from what you see on the north shore of St. John.

Ram Head Trail

The Ram Head Trail hike is 3 miles round trip, moderately difficult, and takes 2 to 3 hours. It is located on the south side of St. John.

This is our favorite hike in Virgin Islands National Park. This trail runs past several beaches, a salt pond, and up to a fabulous viewpoint, so the views are constantly changing and there is never a boring moment on this trail.

On this hike, you get to see Salt Pond Beach, Drunk Bay, Blue Cobblestone Beach, and the view from Ram Head Point. For more information, including maps, photos, and hiking stats, read our Guide to Virgin Islands National Park.

Ram Head Trail

Ram Head Trail

Reef Bay Trail

The Reef Bay Trail hike is 4.4 miles out-and-back (a little longer with a few detours), strenuous, and takes 2 to 4 hours.

This is the most challenging hike on the island and one of the most popular.

Starting on Centerline Road, this trail descends as it heads to the coast. The trail ends at the Reef Bay Sugar Mill Ruins and a beach. Along the way, you can add on the Petroglyph Trail and a detour out to Genti Beach. To finish the hike, it’s a long, hard uphill walk to Centerline Road.

For more information, including maps, photos, and hiking stats, read our Guide to Virgin Islands National Park.

Reef Bay Trail Beach US Virgin Islands itinerary

Reef Bay Beach

Afternoon: More Beach Time

The best way to spend the afternoon after a big hike is with some relaxation time on the beach.

If you hiked the Ram Head Trail, you will be very close to Little and Great Lameshur Bays. Little Lameshur Beach is one of our favorites on St. John. It’s tough to get to, since you have to drive down a rutted, potholed dirt road (having a 4×4 is highly recommended), but since it is so remote, it stays relatively empty. It’s also a great snorkeling spot. There is also a short hiking trail, the Yawzi Point Trail, that is worth adding on to the day.

Little Lameshur Bay

Little Lameshur Bay

You also have the option to spend the afternoon at one of the north shore beaches mentioned yesterday (Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay, or Denis Bay…just be aware that parking can be difficult midday) or you can visit Francis Bay Beach.

Evening: Dinner

Have dinner in Cruz Bay. Or, for drinks and food with a view, go to the Windmill Bar.

Located on one of the highest points of Saint John are the Susannaberg Plantation Ruins. Next to the ruins of this old windmill is The Windmill Bar, a bar/restaurant with panoramic views, making this one of the best things to do on Saint John.

Grab a seat on the terrace, order drinks from the bar, and enjoy the spectacular view. During our visit, there was also live music.

The Windmill Bar

Painkillers US Virgin Islands itinerary

Painkillers

The Windmill Bar serves lunch and dinner. Dinner is the most popular time to be here and if you want a spot right up against the railing (for the best views) try to get here by 4 pm. When we were here, the place filled up by 5 pm. You do not need a reservation.

Day 6: More Time on St. John

This is your last full day in St. John. How do you want to spend it…hiking, relaxing on the beach, or snorkeling and kayaking?

Option #1: More Beach Time

Trunk Bay or Denis Bay

If you want to get in some more beach time, I recommend getting to Trunk Bay or Denis Bay by 9 am. By getting here this early, you can get a parking space (the parking is limited for both beaches) and claim your spot on the beach.

Honeymoon Beach

Honeymoon Beach is another great spot to spend the day. It takes some time to get to, but that helps keep crowds low.

At Honeymoon Beach, you can rent a cabana for the day (prices range from $85 to $200 and higher) and rent lounge chairs, paddle boards and snorkel gear. There is a small souvenir shop, restrooms, restaurant (Bikinis on the Beach), and bar. Because of the amenities that you get here, this makes a great beach if you are looking for a spot to spend the entire day.

Honeymoon Beach Saint John US Virgin Islands itinerary

You can hike to Honeymoon Beach on the Lind Point Trail from the Cruz Bay Visitor Center (about 1 mile one-way). You can also get here on the shuttle operated by Bikinis on the Beach. From North Shore Road, look for the sign for Bikinis on the Beach, but if you are having trouble finding the turn off, here are the GPS coordinates: 18°20’30.9″N 64°46’56.9″W. The shuttle goes out and back from the parking lot to Honeymoon Beach about every 20 minutes. When we did this in 2022, it cost $10 per adult.

Option #2: Go Hiking

If you like hiking, you can hike the trail that you did not do yesterday (the Reef Bay Trail or the Ram Head Trail).

Option #3: Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Key

And if you did not hike the Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Key, you can do that in the morning or afternoon. It’s one of our favorite experiences in Virgin Islands National Park, since the views are great and you can snorkel with tropical fish and sea turtles.

Evening

Have dinner and drinks in Cruz Bay or go to the Windmill Bar, if you did not do that yet (or do it again).

Sleep in St. Thomas, unless you have an early flight tomorrow. If so, return to St. Thomas tonight and sleep near the airport.

Day 7: Fly Home

In the morning, take a car ferry to St. Thomas and then fly home. I recommend making a ferry reservation today, since you don’t want to get stuck in line, possibly missing your flight.

If you have an early flight today, return to St. Thomas in the evening of day #6.

Best Time for this US Virgin Islands Itinerary

December, January and February are peak season in the Virgin Islands. Daytime temps are their coolest (in the low 80’s) and this is the dry season, with rain being unlikely. Since this is peak season, hotel prices are their highest and beaches can be crowded.

During the spring months (March, April and May), temperatures get a little warmer, humidity increases, and rainfall chances go up. This is a very nice time to visit Saint Thomas if you want lower crowds and lower prices.

June, July and August are the hottest, most humid months to visit Saint Thomas. Temperatures peak at 90° in the summer. This time coincides with the arrival of the wet season and hurricane season. Peak hurricane season runs from July through October.

The fall months, September, October, and November, tend to be warm and wet. September and October are the wettest months of the year. But by November, hurricane season and the wet season ends, making this month a good time to visit before the arrival of peak season.

One Week in US Virgin Islands

Trunk Bay

Planning Checklist

Rental Car: You will need to rent a car for this US Virgin Islands itinerary. Pick up and drop off your rental car at the Cyril E. King Airport. If you plan to drive to Little Lameshur Bay, you will need to rent a 4×4. Otherwise, a standard vehicle is fine. Rental car costs average $100 per day, but prices can go up or down, depending on time of year, availability, and how far in advance you are making your reservation.

Hotels: You will stay in two locations on this itinerary: 3 nights on St. Thomas and 3 nights on St. John. Mid-range hotels usually range from $150 to $250, but prices can go up during peak season.

Is a Passport Necessary? If you are a US Citizen, you do not need a passport. I have read online that sometimes you need to show a birth certificate as proof of residence when departing the US Virgin Islands. When we did this in 2022, our US driver’s license was sufficient for both the arrival and departure flight from St. Thomas. As backup, we carried our passports but never had to use them.


If you have any questions about this 7-Day US Virgin Islands itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information about the US Virgin Islands & the Caribbean

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: Learn more about the US Virgin Islands in our articles on Things to Do in St. Thomas and Things to Do in St. John. On your trip, don’t miss Virgin Islands National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in the USA.

KEY WEST & THE FLORIDA KEYS: Learn how to plan the perfect trip to the Florida Keys with our Miami, Florida Keys, and Key West Itinerary. We also have detailed guides on Things to Do in Key West, the Best Restaurants in Key West, and top experiences along the Florida Keys. From Key West, learn how to plan a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.

ARUBA: Learn how to plan your visit to Aruba and get information on the best things to do in our Guide to Aruba. In our article Best Beaches in Aruba, we list 10 beautiful beaches to visit on the island. And don’t miss Arikok National Park and Natural Pool, one of the best adventures in Aruba.

 

US Virgin Islands Itinerary St John St Thomas

 

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Comments 5

  1. Avatar for Christa
    Christa

    Hi, our families travel style is similar to yours. We plan to travel to the Caribbean in the spring and are considering Puerto Rico. Any thoughts on Puerto Rico compared to the other Caribbean Islands? Thanks!

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Tim and I visited Puerto Rico on two separate occasions, many years ago. From what we saw, we enjoyed it. We took one cruise (in 2000) to Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel and they were nice too. However, there are places in the Caribbean that we liked more, such as this trip to the Virgin Islands and Aruba. I would love to visit Dominica and I have heard really good things about Anguilla. We keep saying that we need to explore the Caribbean more, as it is easy to get to from where we live…but so many places to go! I hope this helps! Cheers, Julie

  2. Avatar for Team Himalaya
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