Believe it not, we went to The United States Virgin Islands on business this past week. I know, I know! It was great to get away from the cold and rain and rejoin the world. I’m not going to say “the world as it once was” but the short trip reminded me of “normal” times and gave us great anticipation of what is to come.
At the time of this writing, The USVI requires all incoming passengers have a negative Covid test conducted within the past 5 days in order to enter. You’re required to submit those results on a website hosted by the Virgin Islands. In turn, you’ll receive your authorization to enter. Very easy. You’ll show your green “QR” code upon arrival.
As soon as the door of the aircraft opened, we knew we “weren’t in Kansas anymore!” The rush of salty, tropical air enveloped all and the sun gave us a warm, welcoming embrace. We had arrived in paradise.
We made our way to The Margaritaville Hotel on the north side of the island. The hotel is inspired by Jimmy Buffet’s infamous song, and is decorated with a beachy, tropical, Key West feel. The room was comfortable and featured a small kitchenette which went unused by us on this short visit. The hotel is built on the side of a hill requiring 73 steps to get to our room. Golf cart rides by the bell staff are widely available.
TripMonkee Tip - If stairs are an issue for you, request a room on the beach level.
After business was done, it was off to enjoy a day of fun. We chose to go to St. John which is another island in the USVI. Although it looks as if you could reach out and touch it from St. Thomas, it’s about a 30 minute sail away.
We charted a boat from "Seas The Day Charters". www.seasthedayusvi.com We had very specific things we wanted to see and do so we felt this was our best option. The folks at Seas the Day were wonderful to work with and very accommodating. Our day started at about 10am when we boarded and met our crew - Captain Brian and Mate Hope. Soon after, we were off on our adventure! The water was a bit rough by my standards with 4-5’ seas. It made for an exciting ride, I must say.
As we approached St. John, Hope gave us a bit of a history lesson and pointed out some of the interesting and notable sites. The Island of St. John was gifted to the United States by the Rockefellers with the understanding that a large portion of the island would become a national park - which it is to this day. This is why there is so much lush greenery covering the land.
With Kenny Chesney playing loudly we sang along while viewing some of the most beautiful beaches you can imagine. That included Trunk Bay, notably one of the most famous in the world.
In addition, Captain Brian pointed out the "smallest" beach in the world was also spotted.
By now it was time for lunch. On the east side of the island is Coral Harbor where a floating Taco Bar called "Lime Out" is located. You just pull you boat up and swim over to a “pad” where you can order from a selection of tacos and drinks. The food was only outdone by the ambiance and uniqueness of this must see and do.
After lunch, it was back on the boat to finish our circumnavigation of the St. John. I am happy to report that on the north side of the island the water was smooth as glass. Captain Brian suggested that we go to an area where sea turtles can be seen while snorkeling. Of course we couldn't miss that. We stopped, geared up and hopped in the water but unfortunately, there were none to be seen on this visit. But that’s OK - we enjoyed the refreshing dip in the Caribbean Sea.
Like all good things, our sail came to an end as we headed back to St. Thomas. Our day at sea with Seas the Day Charters was fantastic! These Tripmonkees recommend it.
Once back on St. Thomas, we stopped for a post sail refreshment. We found ourselves at Duffy’s Love Shack in Red Hook. Another unique dining spot where we had a late afternoon snack and of course, a Margarita.
St. Thomas has certainly felt the relentless grip of the Covid pandemic with no cruise ships visiting. This made for less people on the main shopping street. We also noticed that several of the shops were closed. We certainly hope that they are able to come back and thrive in the months to come. There are great deals to be had, so don't miss out.
Tripmonkee tip - Remember there is no sales tax in The USVI.
We found dining selection to be slim on the side of the island on which we were staying. And the hotel only offered one option - Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. We dined outside overlooking the bay with its many sail boats and catamarans. A very nice setting but the food did not match the same level as the beautiful view. The staff was attentive and I know they were trying to make the best of it during these challenging times for restaurants. I’m sure on our next visit we’ll be able to sample a couple of the many great dining options the island has to offer.
We had a bit of time before our departure so we headed out for some last minute sunshine. The pool was large with ample space for deck chairs and umbrellas. It’s located adjacent to the beach so sunbathers have a choice within a few feet of each other. A nearby bar offers plenty of food options and tropical drinks.
Our short trip to paradise was soon over and it was time to head home. It seemed like we had just arrived! We feel very fortunate that we were able to make this short trip.
Keep in mind that US Citizens don't need a passport to travel to the Virgin Islands but your experience in US Border Patrol before boarding will go much faster if you have it.
Don’t forget - they are your US Virgin Islands!
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