Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
The island's first hotels were all based in Charlotte Amalie, the hub of action at the time. Most people choose lodgings here to be close to the airport, to experience the charm of the historic district, or for convenience when on business. Over the years, tourism has trickled eastward, and today the major hotel chains have perched their properties on the beach. Those who want a self-contained resort that feels like an island unto itself head here. The location of these resorts makes island-hopping to St. John or the British Virgin Islands a breeze. Private villas dot the island, especially in the less populated north.
The view and the value are the selling points of this simply furnished family-run hotel perched 800 feet above Charlotte Amalie's harbor. A few rooms at pool level don't have much of a breeze, making air-conditioning a must. Rooms above the restaurant are tiny and lack privacy in the evening, because of the steady stream of diners. Rooms 101 and 102 have the best views. The restaurant is known for its well-prepared Continental and Caribbean cuisine.
All the rooms at this all-inclusive, family-run resort tucked along a palm-lined beach have balconies with ocean views, and down the beach are nine condos with full kitchens. This place is more flip-flop casual than fancy, and the friendliness of the longtime staff keeps visitors coming back. The beach is a bit rocky for swimming, but sails aboard the resort's 53-foot catamaran, Heavenly Days, and excursions arranged by the on-site PADI Five Star dive shop are popular, as are a number of complimentary water sports, including an introductory scuba lesson and aqua-tricycles. You can opt out of the all-inclusive plan and pay less, but then you'd want to rent a car, because the resort is a bit isolated. The fresh Caribbean spiny lobster tail at Iggies Oasis shouldn't be missed.
There's not a bad view from these low-rise studio, one-, and two-bedroom condos, which are either beachfront or perched on a hill overlooking an inviting cove. All units, which have white-tile floors and tropical-print wood and wicker furnishings, are spacious; even the studios are more than 600 square feet and certainly big enough for a family with two children. The pool is small, but the beach is the real focal point here. Calm seas make for excellent swimming, and snorkeling is especially good near the small dock to the east of the cove, where coral outcroppings attract a bevy of marine life. Watch spectacular sunsets from your balcony or the Sunset Grille restaurant on the beach. Kids under 13 stay free, making this a good value for families.
All the rooms at this family-run resort tucked along a 1,000-foot-long palm-lined beach have balconies with ocean views; down the beach are 12 studio and two-bedroom condos with full kitchens. This place is more homey than fancy, but the friendliness of the longtime staff keeps visitors coming back. The beach is a bit rocky for swimming, but sails aboard the resort's 53-foot catamaran and excursions arranged by the on-site dive shop are popular. You can opt out of the all-inclusive plan and pay less, but then you'd want to rent a car, because the resort is a bit isolated. The fresh seafood-stuffed 1-pound spiny lobster at the Lobster Grille Restaurant, and Wednesday's Carnival Night with calypso music, a limbo show, and West Indian buffet at Iggies Beach Bar and Grill, shouldn't be missed.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
