St. Thomas, a popular tourist destination in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is known for its high crime rate and beautiful beaches. However, visitors should be aware of the potential dangers of petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, which can occur in tourist areas. The best time to visit St. Thomas is between January and April, as it offers the best weather, big festivals, and idyllic days.
To stay safe during outdoor activities, travelers should stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust their plans accordingly. Effective May 31, Governor Albert Bryan ordered all domestic travelers to complete the Virgin Islands Travel Screening Portal or face COVID-19 travel advisories.
The incidence of crimes against visitors is close to zero, but there are some precautions to take for a worry-free vacation. Exercise normal precautions in the British Virgin Islands and read the country information page for additional information on travel to the British Virgin Islands.
St. John and St. Thomas are generally safe destinations for tourists, with occasional theft and pickpocketing being the only concerns. Hurricanes are the only real concern, but they are rare. While St. Thomas has a fair amount of crime, it is not more than the average US city and rarely against tourists or the average person.
Safety concerns include crime mostly against locals, and it is important to be aware of these risks before visiting the islands.
📹 5 things to know before going to the VIRGIN ISLANDS (St Thomas & St John)
St Thomas or St John, which is the better island in the USVI? In this U.S. Virgin Islands tour, we’re comparing 5 things we loved …
Which virgin island is the safest?
St. John is considered the safest U. S. Virgin Island based on crime statistics, but other islands like Red Hook, Lindqvist Beach, Hull Bay, and Magen’s Bay are also considered safe. However, it’s recommended to stick to the main tourist areas in Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted while on St. Thomas. Go Sail Virgin Island has a strong safety record, having never had any injuries during their ASA courses and no thefts or stolen property reported by students in the last decade. For more information on safety measures and cruise destinations, contact Go Sail Virgin Island online.
Which Caribbean islands are not worth visiting?
The most dangerous Caribbean Islands include Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago due to high crime rates. Most crime in the Caribbean is internal, primarily in inner-city neighborhoods far from tourist resorts. Therefore, if planning to visit these islands, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research and avoid areas with known safety concerns.
Which Caribbean island is safest?
The U. S. Government has identified Dominica, French West Indies, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten as the most dangerous Caribbean countries. The State Department issued travel warnings for Jamaica and the Bahamas earlier this year due to rising crime levels. Jamaica was upgraded to level 3, meaning “Reconsider Travel”, due to high rates of violent crime, homicide, armed robberies, and sexual assaults.
Which U.S. Virgin island has the most crime?
St. Croix, a major island in the U. S. Virgin Islands, has the highest homicide rate globally at 92. 1 per 100, 000. The island also has a larger proportion of foreign-born residents than any U. S. state or territory, except for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This raises questions about the relationship between the homicide rate and migration data, whether it’s a cause and effect or a coincidence.
Migration policy professionals often face similar data sets, and this pair may have broader implications in the field. The data could provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to the high homicide rate in the U. S. Virgin Islands.
When not to go to St. Thomas?
The USVI experiences its heaviest rainfall in September, October, and November, with St. Croix experiencing an average of five inches per month, St. Thomas at six inches, and St. Vincent at 6. 5 inches.
Is it safe to travel to Virgin Islands right now?
Travel health notices are not currently in effect for the U. S. Virgin Islands. To stay healthy and safe during your trip, it is important to learn about behaviors that can reduce the risk of diseases spread by bugs. To prevent bug bites, cover exposed skin with long-sleeved shirts, pants, and hats, use insect repellent, use permethrin-treated clothing and gear, stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms, and use a bed net if the area is exposed to the outdoors. Vaccines cannot protect against many diseases in the U. S. Virgin Islands.
Is St. Thomas safe for tourists?
St. Thomas has a high crime rate, primarily affecting locals, but there are no extreme risks for tourists. Some areas, such as Frenchman Hills, Coki Beach, and Charlotte Amalie, are dangerous at night and should be avoided. Over a hundred police staff are well-trained to maintain law and order. It is advisable to travel with family or a spouse, as there are slight chances of safety issues. Nighttime activities are also risky due to increased activity by goons and thieves.
Public transport is available on the island, and landmarks and hotel addresses can be used for better navigation. While most people are friendly and welcoming, there is a criminal mindset in society, with occasional thefts and pickpocketing. Overall, St. Thomas offers a welcoming environment with friendly locals.
Which is safer, Puerto Rico or Virgin Islands?
Puerto Rico is a safe destination for travelers due to its low crime rate and strong police presence. With over 10, 000 officers in The PRPD, it is one of the safest Caribbean islands, even safer than The U. S. Virgin Islands. Both destinations are unincorporated United States territories, offering similar benefits like not needing a passport, US dollar, and English-speaking people. Cellular plans are compatible with Puerto Rico and most places in The U. S. Virgin Islands.
Is St. Thomas expensive?
The cost of a trip to St. Thomas, a tax-free region in the USVI, depends on the desired activities and accommodations. For instance, staying at a hostel or finding a cheap airbnb for $70 a night can be a budget-friendly option. However, in 2021, with a year of confinement, it’s essential to treat yourself.
In December, the cost of staying at Margaritaville was around $2000 for 9 days, and the same price for a villa in August. A car rental was $400 per night, and a few taxis were taken at night and to the airport. Food expenses were around $1500 for two people for 9 days, including meals at Lanai Restaurant and drinks at the beach.
Activities like renting snorkeling gear, ferry trips to St. John, and a day trip to Water Island also accounted for a significant amount of spending. All together, the cost of a comfortable trip to St. Thomas would be around $4000.
In summary, the cost of a trip to St. Thomas depends on the desired activities, accommodations, and budget.
What do I need to know before going to St. Thomas?
Before visiting St. Thomas, it’s crucial to understand Caribbean courtesies to respect local customs and enjoy the relaxed island lifestyle. Warm greetings are essential in Caribbean culture, so be sure to greet people warmly when meeting or entering new spaces.
Does St. Thomas have a lot of crime?
STT has a high murder rate per capita compared to other US locations, but most cases are not tourist-related. Some unfortunate cases occur due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, highlighting the need for better crime prevention and response strategies.
📹 ST. THOMAS BEACHES| Where to GO and one to AVOID
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The best part of your review is that it will steer the tourist away from the actual good beaches. I will say that Coki can be a bit much for cruise ship visitors as the vendors can be pushy and that Secret Harbor is badly over rated, unless you are there to watch the sun set. Most cruisers will be back on there boat long before sunset.
I agree with her ratings if you are on a cruise ship, you don’t have a lot of time. We normally stay for 8-10 days, so we know the beaches. Magens bay is amazing, but Sharon visited the far right end of the beach by the bar, we visit the left side and have more local people there than by the bar area. Water Island’s Honeymoon beach is the best for the buck…….
Have to disagree on Magen’s Bay Beach. We were there on cruise ship and non-cruise ship days (3 of our 5 days in STT). We found the water clear and calm every day, brought our own chairs, umbrella, food and drinks. We did have food/drinks on the first day, which happened to be a cruise ship day, and had no issues really. Sorry you had a bad experience. Looking forward to going back at the end of the month on our honeymoon.
Coki is the number one beach to go too are you kidding me! Lived in St. Thomas until I was 7 and I have went back a few times throughout the years. I’m a New Englander now but I can vividly remember all the exotic marine life swarming my feet as I explored the beach. You really missed the experience if you didn’t get that
Thank you so much for this info! We go to St. Thomas on a carnival cruise in June. We will have a 3, 5, and 14 yo with us. I would love to go to Trunk Bay, but is that hard to do with kiddos? We are also looking at Coral World and Coki Beach to snorkel. Thanks for any info! I’ll have to check out your other articles!
Magans Bay is the best beach. We spent a month in St Thomas and that was one of the places we liked the best. I can tell you from my experience that the end of the beach you were on is the worst part. If you go all the way to the other end it is calm with hardly any people. No bar or restaurant mind you but it is perfect down there. Bring your own cooler and sandwiches. When the cruise ship people pulled in we knew we were in the right spot.
Thank you, we visited Megan’s Bay yesterday and it ended in a disaster for my husband and I. We got to the beach early and there was not a lot of people as time progressed more people arrived. We Moved three different times farther and farther left. Our last moved was completely left and after being in that spot for a hour a family moved directly behind us no more than three feet with chairs, towels and all there belongs. Not a relaxing beach. We ended up leaving. What a wait of money.
Thanks for the article! In about a month, I’m going to be staying on Sapphire Beach for five days and wanted to get some opinions on surrounding beaches. I also try to be diligent with researching different locations before going and have never been there! This solidified our choice to ferry over to St. John.
I lived on St Thomas for more than 30 yrs. Totally agree about Megan’s Bay, never liked that beach. I remember Coki Pt when there was only one bar and a little food stand at the end of the beach. Was so beautiful and a local beach. Since they built Coral World the beach has become over run with tourists and vendors. What a shame 😢 Also agree about St John. Lived there too. Worked at Caneel Bay back in the days. Any beach on St John is awesome. But Trunk was always a favorite. Thanks for the article 🤗🌴
I love Magen’s Bay beach! I have been there many times and it’s so gorgeous and I love all the wildlife I have seen there each time. Further down the beach from the entrance where there are less crowds is amazing. I never buy drinks or food there and just bring my own bottled water or soda and enjoy nature.
Hi Sharon, My daughter and I went to Megan’s Bay last Christmas on the Encore. Very over crowded!! Normally I do not go to beaches when I go on a cruise I like to take a sightseeing tour thru the city but because my daughter loves the beach we decided to go there. And it is over rated, not what I expected
What a great and informative article! We recently went to St. Thomas twice, and you know we love to experience a fun day at the beach! We tried Saffire beach, hoping to have some great snorkeling, however there had just been a storm so the waves were way too rocky for us to snorkel in those waters. Our second time back there we did venture over to Trunk Bay beach in St. John’s and had a WONDERFUL experience!! I would totally go back there in a heart-beat although it definitely was a commitment of time, money and energy to get there and back!
As someone who grew up in St. Thomas I would agree as beautiful as Magens Bay is, its def a tourist trap. I would recommend Coki point beach for a beach with a REAL Local feel, where you can get actual cooked local food and not just burger and fries. Coki is a smaller beach so yes it can get crowded sometimes. If you’re willing to take a ferry to St. John you wont disappointed with any beach in STJ like Maho bay, Hawksnest and the holy grail TRUNK BAY. At the end of the day the people you cruise with are what makes your cruise enjoyable, if you have a fun travel crew your beach wont matter .😁😁😁
Honeymoon Beach, Water Island: it was such a low-key experience. Smaller beach, but felt like a private experience. We took a golf cart from water taxi drop off. Pay attention to schedule for taxi – it runs once an hour. Lindquist (Secret Sands for ship shore excursions is another private-feeling beach). Sapphire is beautiful water and views. But Trunk Bay is my favorite, especially as a shore excursion (did it twice last fall). Clear, warm water, clean sand. My excursion was identical for two cruise lines. So easy, with ferry next to the ship pier. Have visited all of these during island vacations (no cruise) as well. Magen’s Bay is better away from the concession area – very much not crowded and bath house was like a typical state park facility (not pretty, but beach clean and functional). It’s great for walking in the water.
You are spot on for Magen’s Bay. While we wanted to go there, it is definitely a one and done for us. Water was great, but the amenities were “slummy”. We loved the drive there though. The “Taxis” can be quite spirited and the views are top notch! Also the Gondola to the top of the mountain was great, but getting down exercised of our patience. We learned to do that first and then get down early to avoid the rush of people leaving.
I like to swim in the ocean but have little use for heat, sand, or strong sunshine. The best beaches we have found so far are Great Stirrup Cay and the beach on the south side of Philipsburg Sint Maarten. The former because beach umbrellas are free and there are no venders on the beach and the second because we can get to the beach via a short inexpensive water taxi, and it’s quick and easy go from a barstool in the shade to the water and back. Water shoes recommended. I confess though that we have never tried any other beaches.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Sapphire Beach…. I would highly recommend it. HOWEVER, the prices on the island for just about anything are terribly high and cost prohibitive. $15 PER person for a taxi ride to the beach EACH direction! Family of 8 was $240…..you can be assured there was no tip when finished.