Virgin Islands Travel FAQ

The main airport is Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas, served by American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Frontier, and others. St. Croix has its own airport (STX). There is no commercial airport on St. John — all visitors arrive by ferry from St. Thomas. Check the live STT crowd forecast to plan your arrival.

No. A government-issued photo ID (driver's license) is sufficient for US citizens visiting the USVI. However, a valid passport is required if you plan to cross into the British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada).

December through April is peak season with the most nonstop flights and the best weather. Midweek departures (Tue–Thu) tend to have shorter TSA lines at STT. Saturdays and Sundays are busiest, especially when cruise ships are also in port.

Take a taxi to a ferry terminal, then catch the ferry to Cruz Bay. Three routes:

Red Hook (most popular): Taxi $17/person (2+) → 20-min ferry $8.15. Runs every hour 6:30am–midnight.
Crown Bay (closest to airport): Taxi $8 flat → 35-min ferry $20. Less frequent departures.
Charlotte Amalie (seasonal): Taxi $9/person → 45-min ferry $13. November–May only.

See the full step-by-step STT to St. John guide.

$8.15 per adult one-way. Children 2–11 pay $1. The crossing takes 20 minutes and runs roughly every hour from 6:30am to midnight. No reservation needed.

The last ferry from Red Hook (St. Thomas) to Cruz Bay (St. John) departs at midnight. The last return ferry from Cruz Bay to Red Hook is at 11:00pm. Plan day trips accordingly.

Passenger ferries connect Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook (St. Thomas) to Road Town and West End (Tortola, BVI). The Charlotte Amalie–Road Town route costs $60 and takes 45 minutes; Red Hook–West End costs $65 and takes 30 minutes. A passport is required. Arrive 60–90 minutes early for customs. See all routes on the ferry schedule page.

Yes. Multiple operators run daily service from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town and from Red Hook to West End. Fares are $60–$65 one-way. BVI entry fees (~$30–40/person) are in addition to the ferry fare.

From Tortola: New Horizon Ferry, West End → Great Harbour, $30 one-way, 10–15 min, several daily departures. From St. Thomas: Inter Island Boat Services, Sunday/Tuesday/Friday only, $100 one-way, 35 min.

From Tortola: Speedy's Ferry, Road Town → Spanish Town, $25 one-way, 30 min. Also Trellis Bay (near EIS airport) → Spanish Town, $25, 20 min. From St. Thomas: Inter Island Boat Services Thursday-only day trip, $130 one-way, 90 min.

Two car barge operators serve Red Hook (Vessup Bay) → Cruz Bay (Enighed Pond): Love City Car Ferries (340-779-4000) and Big Red Barge Co. (340-227-0918). The 30-minute crossing costs ~$65 one-way for non-residents. No reservation — arrive and board when the barge loads. Tickets purchased onboard.

USVI taxis use government-set fixed rates, not meters. Fares are per person and shared rides are common. Always confirm the fare before departing. Rates were last updated by the VI Taxicab Commission on October 24, 2022. The VI Hail app also operates on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

$23 per person for a single rider, $17 per person for 2 or more. Red Hook is the main ferry terminal for St. John. The drive takes 30–40 minutes.

$18 per person for 1 passenger, $15 per person for 2 or more. The drive takes about 20–25 minutes.

$11 per person for 1 passenger, $9 per person for 2 or more. About 10–15 minutes.

$12 per person for 1 passenger, $9 per person for 2 or more.

Magens Bay is the most famous — a calm, mile-long bay on the north shore ($5 entry fee). Coki Beach (Coki Point) is the top snorkeling spot. Hull Bay and Sapphire Beach are popular with fewer crowds than Magens. Lindqvist Beach is a quieter east-end option.

Trunk Bay has an underwater snorkel trail and is consistently ranked among the best in the Caribbean (~$5 entry). Cinnamon Bay is long and well-suited for swimming. Maho Bay attracts sea turtles and stingrays in shallow water — excellent for families. Salt Pond Bay and Lameshur Bay are more remote south-shore options.

Check the daily cruise ship schedule before heading to popular beaches. Arriving before 9am or after 4pm avoids peak cruise crowds. Days with no ships in port are noticeably quieter at Magens Bay and Trunk Bay.

December through April is the dry season — the ideal window with low humidity, warm temperatures (78–84°F), and calm seas. February and March have the most consistently perfect weather. This is also the most expensive time to visit. May–August is shoulder season: good weather, more affordable, slightly wetter afternoons.

June 1 through November 30, with peak risk in August and September. Most years pass without a direct hit, but travel insurance is strongly recommended for trips during this period.

Warm and tropical year-round. Daytime highs of 82–84°F in winter, 88–92°F in summer. Steady northeast trade winds keep it comfortable. Rain showers are usually brief and pass quickly. Water temperature ranges from 78°F (winter) to 84°F (summer).

Full-day charters (8 hours) typically run $1,200–$2,500 for the whole boat. Half-day charters (4 hours) run $800–$1,500. Crewed catamarans and BVI trips cost more. Prices are per boat, not per person. See the full 2026 pricing guide or get competing bids on CharterBid.

Yes. All passengers on a charter crossing into BVI waters need a valid passport. Charters that stay entirely in US waters (St. John, Buck Island, Christmas Cove) do not require a passport.

Hiking in Virgin Islands National Park (St. John), snorkeling Buck Island National Monument (St. Croix), historic Charlotte Amalie Danish colonial district, duty-free shopping, world-class diving at Cane Bay Wall (St. Croix), kayaking and paddleboarding, sailing and yacht charters, and exploring sugar plantation ruins.

US Dollars (USD) throughout both the USVI and BVI. Credit cards are widely accepted. Carry some cash for taxis, ferries, and small vendors.

Tourist areas are generally safe. St. John (largely US National Park) is very safe. On St. Thomas and St. Croix, stay in well-trafficked areas at night and secure valuables. No State Department travel warning applies to the USVI.

Traffic drives on the left. No Uber or Lyft — use licensed taxis. US citizens need no passport for USVI but do for BVI. The dollar is used everywhere. Tipping 15–20% is customary. Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Hurricane season is June–November. Book rental cars and popular vacation rentals on St. John well in advance.