St. Thomas
Life on St. Thomas means gorgeous, sunny weather, fantastic beaches, and a fantastic chance to experience the Caribbean lifestyle, whether you're there as a permanent resident or making it your vacation home.
Life on St. Thomas means gorgeous, sunny weather, fantastic beaches, and a fantastic chance to experience the Caribbean lifestyle, whether you're there as a permanent resident or making it your vacation home.
St. Thomas is located several hours off the US coast by plane, making it a true getaway that will allow you to shake off the cares of everyday life and enjoy the best of everything life on the beach has to offer.
St. Thomas is a top-rated tourist destination. Many people arrive in the area via cruise ship. It has convenient shopping for everything travelers might forget as they head into this fantastic area, making it easy for visitors to see St. Thomas as a potential new home.
St. Thomas has one of the warmest climates you could ask for in the Caribbean Islands. It stays warm throughout the year, including a low temperature of around 75 degrees. During the summer, highs can get to the 90s and above.
St. Thomas has a number of pristine beaches perfect for stretching out in the sand and enjoying the sun. You can fall in love with the gorgeous white sand with its light pink tint. Some of the most popular beaches include Lindquist Beach, Vessup Beach, and Sapphire Beach, with its gorgeous, sparkling blue water.
St. Croix is a stunningly beautiful place to call home. It is an incredibly popular place to retire, with many people choosing to call it either a vacation getaway or the ideal place to live all year long. Its gorgeous beaches, shimmering waters, and fantastic community vibe all make it an enticing place for many people interested in making their home in the US Virgin Islands.
There are no direct international flights to and from St. Croix. You can, however, catch a flight from the US Coast to your new home or vacation home in St. Croix, giving you the perfect opportunity to check out the coastal United States or visit some of your favorite shops. You may also find it easier to get to St. Croix by going via Puerto Rico.
St. Croix offers a laid-back, comfortable experience. It does not require a passport to travel to and from St. Croix to the coastal United States or Puerto Rico. However, if you plan to do any international travel in the area, you may need to invest in a passport for ease of access.
St. Croix has a warm, comfortable climate throughout much of the year. Its temperature range generally runs between 73 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity in the area can run high, which may make it uncomfortable for some visitors. Residents of St. Croix may notice the heavy rainfall that occurs in the area during the rainy season, between November and April each year. Even during the summer months, the area may see considerable rainfall.
St. Croix has gorgeous white sand beaches, where many residents love laying out in the sun or playing. Cane Bay Beach is perfect for tanning or scuba diving, while Shoys Beach offers plentiful snorkeling opportunities. You can also enjoy taking in the gorgeous views of Rainbow Beach, which is highly popular due to its clear, calm water.
St. John is one of four islands that make up the US Virgin Islands. The other three islands are St Thomas, St Croix and just off the southern shores of St Thomas lies Water Island. St. John has the reputation of being the most beautiful, friendly and tranquil island in all of the Caribbean. St. John is less than 20 square miles in area, approximately 8 miles by 3 miles and it has 32 sandy beaches and 22 preserved National Park Hiking Trails. Approximately 2/3 of the island is part of the St. John Virgin Islands National Park.
St. John’s coordinates are 18.2N 64.5 W. The island is 1075 miles east southeast of Miami, 50 miles east of Puerto Rico, and 3 miles east of St. Thomas. To the north is the Atlantic Ocean and to the south is Caribbean Sea. The highest elevation is 1,277 feet at Bordeaux Mountain. St. John’s population hovers around 5,000 residents
One thing that surprises many visitors to St. John is that you can see the other Virgin Islands from your villa. St. Croix and St. Thomas are easy to spot, and St. John is surrounded by many smaller islands and cays, some of which you’ll want to visit. Make sure to bring your passport in the event you decide to visit the British Virgin Islands which lie only 3 miles to the north. St. Thomas is our largest urban neighbor and you won’t need a passport for a visit. In St. Thomas, there is an abundance of shopping for everyone – tourists and locals alike. This is also home to the large-screen cinemas, a bowling alley and many larger tourist attractions including Coral World. Ferries can take you to Red Hook on the east end of the island, or to Charlotte Amalie which is also known as ‘downtown’.
The official language is English, although in addition to Standard English you will encounter various West Indian Dialects spoken by Virgin Island natives and residents from other English-speaking Caribbean countries. Other languages spoken on the island are Spanish, spoken by natives of Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo, Patois, spoken as a second language by residents of St. Lucia and Dominica, and Creole, spoken by residents of Haiti.
In 1950, Mr. Laurence Rockefeller purchased extensive holdings on St. John including holdings of the Danish West Indies Company, developed Caneel Bay Resort and donated much of the remaining acreage to the U.S. Government as public parkland and Congress formed the VI National Park.
The VINP holdings include 7890 acres of land, 5650 submerged acres off shore, plus approximately 13,000 acres submerged off shore as “Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument.”
In addition to beaches regularly declared to be among the best in the world, the Park offers hiking trails, archaeological sites, educational talks and tours, a Visitors’ Center, and a campground.
Weather on St. John ranges from perfect to excellent, with near-ideal temperatures and gentle trade wind breezes. Rainfall averages around 43 inches per year. Winter temperatures range from about 77 to 84 degrees and summer temperatures range from about 82 to 90 degrees. Cooling trade winds blow east to northeast in the winter switching south to southeasterly in the summer.
The local currency is the US Dollar. Most places accept major credit cards. You may want to bring travelers’ checks in small denominations. Express Mail via the US Postal Service is the quickest way to receive/send important packages. To mail a package to St. John in advance of your arrival, call us directly and we will be more than happy to give you instructions on mailing to the Virgin Islands. Unlike other management companies we will not charge for this service and are more than happy to accommodate our customers.
Informal: islanders wear cotton or lightweight clothing with sandals or sneakers. Away from the beach, swimsuits must be covered up and men must wear shirts. Bring hats and plenty of sunscreen to protect you from the Caribbean sun! Most restaurants are casual. For upscale restaurants, lightweight shirts and slacks are recommended for the gentlemen and sundresses or shorts outfits for the ladies. Whatever you pack will likely be too much – pack lightly!
A wonderful custom here in the islands is greeting everyone with a “good morning” or “good evening.” Caribbean manners are important! In our West Indian culture, we show respect for others by saying, “Good Morning,” “Good Afternoon,” and “Good Evening” before anything else! West Indians take pride in this tradition and are appreciative when visitors make the effort to understand the ways of the islands. This simple courtesy can be your ticket to learning and navigating St. John with ease and enjoyment.
There are four plus “grocery stores” in or near Cruz Bay and one small store in Coral Bay. Grocery prices are approximately 25% higher than in the states. Some locals make the trek to St. Thomas to do large grocery orders and other shopping, as prices on St. Thomas are closer to the mainland.
We have constant trade winds that normally keep the mosquitoes away, but if they come around, use your favorite insect repellent and keep the screens closed. Be nice to the little island lizards…they eat the mosquitoes! At night you will hear the tree frogs and crickets. Especially after an evening rain shower– relax and enjoy the chorus!
St John is the same time as the East Coast of the United States during the summer months (April – October). When Daylight Savings Time goes into effect in the States (October – April ), we do not change our clocks. Therefore we are an hour ahead of the East Coast and 2 hours ahead of Central Time etc.
You can find news daily on St. John and the surrounding area. The St. John Trade winds, St. John Sun Times, The Virgin Islands Daily News (on St. Thomas), and the St. Croix Avis are the local papers.USA Today, The Wall Street Journal & several U.S. metropolitan and Puerto Rico newspapers are flown in daily.
There are no sales taxes in the US Virgin islands. Each Visitor to the Virgin Islands enjoys a $1600 Duty Free Allowance upon returning to the United States. In addition you may bring back five bottles of liquor duty free or six if one is locally produced like Cruzan Rum. The Duty Free cigarette allowance is 10 cartons of cigarettes or 100 cigars. For more information contact the Bureau of Customs: (340) 774-2540
For US Citizens – Government- issued picture identification with a birth certificate with a raised seal. (photo copies are not allowed). Passport is desirable, but not necessary. If you are a U.S. Citizen and are traveling to Tortola or any other British Virgin Island (BVI) you will need a valid U.S. Passport. This requirement went into effect December 31, 2005 (U.S. Citizens re-entering the United States 2005 need a valid passport if traveling from the BVI’s or any other Caribbean country).
Non US Citizens – Passports required
Be confident that you have made the right choice in considering Tropical Properties, and we sincerely hope to help you find your piece of paradise on St. John Island. Contact Us today!