US Virgin Islands Travel Guides

The United States purchased the US Virgin Islands in 1917, and the territory is made up of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix. They are beautiful islands well-known for their white sand beaches. This is a very popular vacation destination, and a popular place for cruise ships.

Along with the beaches, the islands are characterized by their hilly terrain. The roads are steep and windy, and there are tons of epic views from the higher parts of the islands.

Over 50% of the island of Saint John is part of US Virgin Islands National Park. The park is home to gorgeous beaches, amazing snorkeling spots, epic hiking trails, and lots of historic plantation ruins.

Check out my guides to the US Virgin Islands, and learn about how to visit one of the most unique US national parks. This is based on my experience visiting St. Thomas and St. John in 2026.

Things To Know About Visiting the US Virgin Islands

  • Please wear reef-safe sunscreen. Regular sunscreen damages the coral, and is banned on the islands.

  • Please do not feed wildilfe. There is a problem with people feeding the feral donkeys on the island of St. John.

  • They drive on the left side of the road in the US Virgin Islands, but the cars are set up for drivers on the right side of the road (the drive is on the left side of the vehicle). This means you'll want to take some extra caution while driving.

  • Many of the roads are very steep, narrow and windy. Despite this, I still recommend renting a car to get around. Taxis are expensive and aren't reliable everywhere. If you're nervous, take it slow and do not have any alcohol before driving.

  • This is a popular cruise ship destination, with St. Thomas especially receiving a lot of cruise ships. I'll be sharing how to visit without taking a cruise.

  • This is a US terrority, so they take the US dollar, and tipping of 15%-20% at restaurants and bars is expected.

  • Credit cards are widely accepted in the US Virgin Islands, but you'll probably want some cash for ferries, taxis, tipping, parking, or small vendors.

  • The Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas can have really long lines. I recommend arriving at least 3 hours before your flight.

US Virgin Islands National Park

Read my guide to visiting US Virgin Islands National Park!

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting US Virgin Islands National Park

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