St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
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There are some places you visit and immediately understand why people keep coming back. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of those places. 🌊💙
With breathtaking turquoise water, lush green hills, incredible views, beautiful beaches, and sunsets that seem almost too perfect to be real, St. Thomas is the kind of destination where it’s easy to slow down, breathe, and simply enjoy being there.
And there’s an added bonus for U.S. travelers: no passport is required for U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the mainland or Puerto Rico. You will, however, need acceptable identification for air travel, including a REAL ID-compliant ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.
For someone looking for a Caribbean getaway without leaving the United States, that’s a pretty appealing combination. 🌴
A Beautiful Island With an Incredible Story of Resilience
One of the things that stood out to me during this trip wasn’t just how beautiful St. Thomas is, it was seeing how much the island has rebuilt. In September 2017, St. Thomas was devastated by Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm. Just two weeks later, the U.S. Virgin Islands were hit again by Hurricane Maria, another Category 5 hurricane. FEMA describes the storms as back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes that significantly impacted the territory, with Irma devastating much of St. Thomas and St. John.
The damage was enormous. Homes, businesses, infrastructure and the tourism industry were all heavily affected. FEMA reported that recovery operations began quickly and that more than $1.7 billion in federal assistance had been provided to survivors, businesses and the territory by July 2018.
Today, visiting St. Thomas and seeing the island alive, vibrant and welcoming is a reminder of the incredible resilience of the people who call it home. There is still a story behind the paradise, one of recovery, rebuilding and determination. ❤️
The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort & Spa 🌊🏨
For this trip, we made The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort & Spa our home base, and it was an excellent place to come back to after exploring the island. The view was amazing. 🌅🌴 From the resort, you get those gorgeous Caribbean views that make you want to grab a drink, find a comfortable chair and just stare at the water for a while. The resort itself has multiple pools, beach access, cabanas and plenty of places to simply relax. The property also offers ocean-view accommodations and views of the Caribbean Sea and surrounding islands.
But what really stood out to me was the staff. Everyone was friendly, welcoming and helpful, which makes such a difference when you’re on vacation. Sometimes it’s the little interactions with the people working at a resort that stay with you just as much as the views. And then there’s the Heavenly Spa. 💆♀️✨The spa was fabulous. It was exactly what I wanted on this trip with a place to slow down, unwind and completely relax. The resort describes it as a seaside wellness retreat offering massages, body treatments, facials and other restorative services.
The Best Part? Relaxing Without the Crowds
One thing that made our stay especially relaxing was that there were no cruise ships in port while we were there. 🚢❌
That made a noticeable difference. St. Thomas is a popular cruise destination, and when cruise ships are in port, Charlotte Amalie and other popular areas can become much busier. On our visit, without the cruise crowds, everything felt a little more laid-back. It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy the island at a slower pace, take in the scenery, have a leisurely meal, relax by the water and not feel like we needed to rush anywhere. Sometimes a vacation isn’t about seeing absolutely everything. Sometimes it’s about doing less. 🌴😎And St. Thomas is a pretty fantastic place to do that.
🌴 Where We Ate
Of course, no trip of ours would be complete without exploring the local food scene! 🍽️😋
Here are some of the places we visited and a very quick taste of what we enjoyed:
Shorebird Restaurant – St. Thomas, VI 🦀🥩
We had the Surf & Turf Buffet, and my goodness what a spread! Prime rib, lobster and plenty of other options made this one seriously satisfying meal.
Tuck Shop – St. Thomas, VI 🍛🍗
The curry chicken with rice and plantain was flavorful, comforting and exactly the kind of island meal I was hoping to find.
Sugarcane Grille – St. Thomas, VI 🌊🍹
The view is amazing, and the conch fritters were delicious. And the Bushwhacker? Flat-out one of the best on the island! 🍹🔥
E’s Garden Teahouse and Things – St. Thomas, VI 🫖🌸
Such a relaxing atmosphere! The cod quiche was delicious, and there were so many great teas to choose from. A wonderful place to slow down and enjoy the ambiance.
The Lost Turtle – St. Thomas, VI 🐢🍹
A great hangout spot with a fun vibe. And their Painkiller was easily one of my favorites on the island! 🍹
Sugarfin – St. Thomas, VI 🌴🍽️
Beachfront dining with a beautiful setting and a tasty Chicken Pelau.
Luna Mar – St. Thomas, VI 🌅🍗
The view is amazing, especially when you’re looking out over the water. We enjoyed the jerk wings, conch fritters and fried chicken sandwich.
The VI Cat with Pit & Pickle Provisions – St. Thomas, VI ⛵🌅
This was a great way to experience the island from the water. We enjoyed a sunset cruise complete with a delicious BBQ feast. Nothing beats good food with a Caribbean sunset!
Sunset Cove Poolside Bar & Grill – St. Thomas, VI 🍹🍗
This place has a party vibe and was a fun stop. We had the jerk chicken wrap with chips, which hit the spot.
Mountain Top – St. Thomas, VI 🌴🥤
If you’re looking for an incredible view, this is the place. You can take in a sweeping view of the island while enjoying a banana daiquiri. 🍌🍹
Virgilio’s Cuisine – St. Thomas, VI
Great way to finish any day with an amazing bananas foster.
Why St. Thomas?
After spending time here, it’s easy to understand the appeal. It’s the combination of everything.
The beauty. 🌊
The food. 🍗🦀
The views. 🌅
The hospitality. ❤️
The history and resilience. 🇻🇮
And the ability to simply relax. 😎
For U.S. travelers, the fact that you can visit without a passport adds another layer of convenience. And with direct flights available from several U.S. cities, getting there can be surprisingly easy. But what I’ll remember most is the feeling of being there. Sitting by the water. Looking out over the Caribbean. Enjoying a great meal. Having a drink while watching the sunset. Getting a spa treatment. Talking with friendly people. And knowing that this beautiful island has been through so much and has continued to rebuild, welcome visitors and move forward.
St. Thomas isn’t just beautiful. It’s resilient. And that’s part of what makes it so special. 🌴❤️
If you’re looking for a Caribbean escape where you can explore, eat well and truly relax, St. Thomas deserves a spot on your travel list.
🌴☀️🌊 St. Thomas, we’ll definitely be back. ❤️
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