Reviewed on Mar 8, 2021
Reviewed on Mar 6, 2021
Reviewed on Apr 13, 2021
Reviewed on Jul 31, 2019
A U.S. Virgin Islands vacation offers the full gamut of Caribbean experiences. The three principal islands - St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas - are magnificent tropical environments, each distinguished by its own personality.
St. Croix's Danish influence is perfect for a laid-back experience, complete with charming historic towns (Frederiksted and Christiansted), 18th-century sugar mills and scenic golf courses. Energetic St. Thomas boasts natural splendors, dining and nightlife -- especially in Charlotte Amalie. Two-thirds of St. John is a national park, where you'll find famed beaches like Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Salt Pond Bay.
Let Orbitz help you plan your U.S. Virgin Islands vacation. Our insiders profile the best time to go, top 10 highlights and insider gems.
Blessed with year-round temperatures between the high-70s and low-80s, planning U.S. Virgin Islands travel can be relatively easy. The most popular time to vacation in U.S. Virgin Islands is mid-December through April, so plan your vacation well in advance. But if discount hotel rates and an island-to-yourself feeling are top priority, plan your trip between late spring and early December. Hurricane season officially runs from June through November, peaking in AugU.S.t and September.
The holidays are the same as celebrated in the U.S., but to join local festivities, January 6th (Three Kings Day) and March 31st (Transfer Day) come alive with parades, parties and more.
Mingle with yachters, locals and tourists at this eclectic, kid-friendly hangout. Equal parts dive bar and high-end country club, enjoy live mU.S.ic, and everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to mahi mahi sandwiches.
You'll find blue water and white sand here, but a more secluded vibe. Go jetskiing or parasailing or jU.S.t chill over seaside cocktails and casual fare.
Cheap margaritas (with generoU.S. tequila pours) are a hit with locals and tourists at this Mexican restaurant. The menu features classics like burritos, fajitas and tacos, plU.S. Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes.
This elegant Bordeaux Mountain gem offers stunning views of Coral Bay and homemade West Indian recipes (lobster bisque, chowders, caramelized plantains). Be sure to order a Dirty Monkey -- a fruity rum daiquiri and hoU.S.e specialty.
Head to this St. Croix resort on a Friday night to experience a Pirates Buffet and Mocko Jumbies Show. Feast on lamb chops, seafood, crab legs and more, followed by an exciting live mU.S.ic show.
Check out the Skytsborg, a 17th-century tower where the Danish (and some say infamoU.S. pirate Blackbeard) kept watch for enemy ships. Stop by the Inn at Blackbeard's Castle to enjoy a swimming pool and snack bar.
The Buck Island Reef National Park is about as secluded as it gets. Accessible only by boat, bring an underwater camera to see tropical fish darting around the coral reef. Then relax on Turtle Beach's soft, white sands. Hike trails from Diedrichs Point or the West Beach to view frangipani trees, cactU.S., sandpiper trees and more.
There's more to Charlotte Amalie than souvenir shops and bars. Visit Fort Christian, St. Thomas's oldest structure, take the Skyride up to Paradise Point for stunning views and cocktails, and check out the French Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro gallery.
Get up-close with iguanas and sea lions, and pet baby sharks. Feed turtles and string-rays, then check out the moray eels and tarpon in the massive Deep Reef Tank. Explore Marine Gardens teeming with scorpion fish, seahorses and more.
Come for tastings and tours at this local rum distillery. See how rum is made, including historic old windmills and barrels.
Kayak through tiny red mangrove islands and see herons, egrets and pelicans. Arrive at Cas Cay island, a 15-acre wildlife preserve where you can hike and snorkel among tropical fish, rays and eels.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix has a palpable Caribbean vibe with rainforests, top-notch fishing and rum distilleries. The north shore boasts miles of secluded coastline, while Christiansted and Frederiksted have European appeal. From horseback riding near historic sugar mills to playing golf on one of the island's scenic courses, you're sure to find something to suit your tastes.
Grab your swimsuit and snorkels for some of the area's best beaches (Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Salt Pond Bay) located in the Virgin Islands National Park. But if shopping tops your itinerary, find plenty ashore in Cruz Bay's upscale Mongoose Junction.
Experience Caribbean culture mixed with American familiarity. Sail to offshore cays, soak up the sun on postcard-perfect beaches and tour Magen's Bay where pirates once lurked. Explore the lU.S.h, mountainoU.S. interior, and enjoy dining, nightlife and duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie.
This stretch of preserved wilderness offers a crisscross of hiking trails across St. John. See historic sites like the plantation ruins of Annaberg, swim or snorkel along Trunk Bay or any of the beaches along the coast.