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Toll Free: 877-624-6889
Intl: (407) 917-8432
Posted on June 14, 2022
Traveling to the Virgin Islands continues to be a highlight for Americans looking for a wonderful Caribbean vacation experience. As the world moves on from COVID, travel continues to open up and these magical islands offer terrific relaxation and fun. Just in time to discover where the top Virgin Island timeshare resorts are located.
Now that the country appears to have moved beyond the pandemic, most recently seen in the CDC’s decision to lift COVID testing requirements to fly into the U.S., flying to the Caribbean is the best it has been since 2019.
Travelers are no longer required to complete the USVI Travel Screening Portal or show a green QR code to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, keep in mind officials say travelers may be subject to COVID-19 health screening protocols, enhanced screening, including temperature and thermal scans, upon arrival, per the Department of Health.
These updates apply to travelers heading to the U.S. Virgin Islands, which is different from the British Virgin Islands. The differences are:
The primary entry point for flying to the U.S. Virgin Islands is on the island of St. Thomas, which also happens to host most of the timeshare resorts in the territory.
Because they are U.S. territories, American citizens and permanent residents do not need to provide a passport to enter the islands. Flights from the U.S. mainland are treated as domestic flights, so a photo I.D. will work to board a flight.
An advantage of vacationing on these islands is the duty-free status of shopping outlets. As any fan of cruising knows who has visited St. Thomas, the shops offer duty-free discounts so check on the latest allowances to know what you can bring back duty-free into the U.S.
Each of the three U.S. Virgin Islands have their own unique characteristics:
St Thomas – known as the gateway to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the island is known for its magnificent beaches, watersports and duty-free shopping. Impressive history dates back to its discovery by Danish explorers in the 1600’s, with pirate history and buildings such as Fort Christian and Blackbeard's Castle dating back to 1679. Take a dip in Magens Bay and be sure to ride the scenic Skyride gondola to Paradise Point.
St John – this picturesque island is a national treasure, with two-thirds of the island designated as a national park. Highlighted by the spectacular Trunk Bay with its beach and snorkel trail, numerous bays and coves such as Caneel Bay, and Cinnamon Bay will keep you as active or relaxed as you like.
St Croix – the most underrated of the three islands, this is the largest island of the three and was actually visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. You can visit the capital Christiansted, traverse the St. Croix Heritage Trail, take in the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge or enjoy the underwater wonderland of Buck Island Reef.
Traveling between the islands is easy, either by ferry or by small aircraft. Ferries from St. Thomas to St. Croix primarily operate between Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) and Gallows Bay (St. Croix) and can take from 90 minutes to just over two hours, depending on the ferry.
Ferries between St. Thomas and St. John mainly operate from Red Hook on the eastern end of St. Thomas and Cruz Bay on the western end of St. John. Running time averages about 15 minutes, depending on the conditions, and other ferry services operate from Charlotte Amalie but take about 45 minutes to St. John.
Each island offers great day-trip options, so depending on which island you are calling your home base you can check out the others during your stay.
Our list of the top Virgin Island timeshare resorts features resorts in the USVI and is based on the inquiries and offers placed on these timeshares through our online platform. Each of the three islands are represented, but St. Thomas features most often due to its status as the capital of the territory and ensuing investment and infrastructure development.