The United States Virgin Islands consist of three beautiful Caribbean islands, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
These islands are popular with US couples, as they are a short flight away from the East Coast and no passport is required. But how do you choose which island to visit? When planning a couple's trip or honeymoon to the US Virgin Islands, many people are wondering which one is better. St. Thomas is the busiest and most commercialized of the three islands.
It has a reputation for being more exclusive, with lots of tax-free stores, high-end restaurants and golf courses. And, unlike the other islands, St. Thomas has a lively nightlife at dusk. It's fairly easy to get to both cities of St.
Thomas and St. Croix; there are airports on both islands and you can find direct flights to both from the US. It usually takes about 3 hours from the East Coast. It's easy to rent a car in both cities of St.
Croix and St Thomas (remember that here you drive on the left side of the road). Thomas tends to have steeper and more winding roads since it's a more crowded island, so driving around St. Thomas is more difficult and less pleasant than driving in St. Thomas is busier, since it's a more crowded island, so driving around St.
Thomas gets more visitors overall, so you could say it's the most popular island, but St. Thomas is more popular with travelers who like history, who want nightlife, or who want lots of options for dining and activities. Croix is a less touristy island with a quiet and more isolated environment. Its capital, Christiansted and Frederiksted have picturesque streets to explore, as well as historic buildings such as Fort Christiansvaern and the Apothecary Hall Museum, as well as charming shops and restaurants.
You can also visit an 18th century sugar plantation and sugar mill that houses the Estate Whim Museum in St. Croix is more popular with those interested in tranquility, relaxing on secluded beaches and doing natural activities such as hiking. Both are popular with couples who like scuba diving and snorkeling, although St. Croix has more of the best sites for this.
Couples who love to go shopping will prefer St. Thomas, as there are a lot of boutiques and exclusive stores that offer tax-free shopping while St. Croix offers many small local stores that sell unique handmade items. If you're interested in day trips, you'll have more opportunities in St. Thomas; you can take the ferry to the third station in the US Virgin Islands - St John - or visit one of the British Virgin Islands.
You can also go kayaking with dolphins at Coral World Ocean Park. In reality, there isn't much difference in cost between the two islands, so neither is really more expensive than the other; it depends on what you're looking for on your Caribbean honeymoon or romantic retreat.
