Where to Stay in St. Thomas, USVI (Best Places & Areas)

5 Best Areas to Stay on St. Thomas

St. Thomas is divided into seven distinct subdistricts – of these, five are conducive for hosting travelers: East End, Southside, Charlotte Amalie, Northside, and Water Island.

Surprisingly, for such a small island, each district varies significantly in the types of accommodations and attractions within its boundaries.

East End & Red Hook

👉 Best Area for Beachgoers & Activity | ✨ Best East End & Red Hook Hotels: Ritz-Carlton – St. Thomas • Secret Harbour Beach Resort • Point Pleasant Resort

Serious beachgoers looking for a little rest & relaxation while having the option for other activities will want to book a place to stay on the East End of St. Thomas.

Compared to other districts on the island, the East End heavily caters to tourists with the majority of the resorts, beaches, and things to do on the island sprinkled along its shores.

The East End district’s epicenter is the village of Red Hook – a unique community where salty sailors, island locals, and mainlanders intermingle at the bars and restaurants overlooking the waters.

Most boat charters offering excursions like scuba diving, snorkeling, and booze cruises depart from the associated marina. Additionally, the ferry service to St. John departs every hour bringing eager explorers to the pristine island.

Within a few miles of Red Hook are some of the most beautiful beaches in the USVI.Coki Beach, in particular, is a favorite St. Thomas beach amongst visitors with its epic snorkeling opportunities, local beachside vendors, and lively rum bars.

Overlooking Coki Beach is Coral World Ocean Park, a family-friendly institution harboring dolphins, sea lions, and unique views into the underwater world.

As for places to stay, you have your usual suspects: Margaritaville and the Ritz-Carlton. But other options like Crystal Cove Beach Resort,Point Pleasant Resort,Secret Harbor, and private condos within Sapphire Bay Resort offer a wide array of accommodation.

The best part? No matter which you choose, you’re guaranteed to have incredible views while sinking your toes into the soft, white sand.

Pros of Staying on the East End of St. Thomas:

• Wide selection of the best resorts in the Virgin Islands including all-inclusive resorts with all the amenities including beach access, swimming pools, hot tub, and tennis courts.
• Easy access to marinas with popular boat charters, ferry service to Cruz Bay on St. John, and bars & restaurants in Red Hook
• Some of the best beaches in the Caribbean are steps outside your door

Cons of Staying on the East End of St. Thomas:

• Home to the most popular beaches in St. Thomas (& thus the busiest)
• Rental cars or taxis are a necessity to get anywhere outside of your resort

Southside

👉 Best Area for Relaxation | ✨ Best Southside Hotels: Bolongo Bay Beach Resort • Limetree Beach Resort • Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove

While many of the beaches on the East End of St. Thomas see most of the traffic, the beaches on the Southside are almost exclusively used by hotel guests – making the Southside of St. Thomas the best spot for a little rest and relaxation away from the crowds.

The three most popular resorts – Limetree Beach Resort,Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, and the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove – are all situated along separate stretches of sand. Each one has its own tiki bar, fine-dining restaurant, and outdoor pool. Essentially, you could spend your entire vacation within the resort if you wanted.

But why would you? Compass Point Marina is nearby, offering daily boat charters to popular snorkel spots like Buck Island, Christmas Cove, and the north shore of St. John.

Charlotte Amalie and all of its history is a short car ride away. And Red Hook with all of its souvenir shops, marine outfitters, dive bars, and dining options is within reach for an evening out.

But let’s be honest. Nothing beats the serenity that comes with a rum drink in hand, the sound of waves crashing ashore, and you, toes in the sand, soaking up the Caribbean sun on what is (seemingly) your own private beach. 

Pros of Staying on the Southside of St. Thomas:

• Every hotel has an on-site restaurant and other resort amenities including private beach access, swimming pool, a fitness center, and tennis courts
• Best resorts for business travelers
• Quiet beaches with minimal foot traffic

Con of Staying on the Southside of St. Thomas:

• Everything worthy of visiting outside of your resort is a car ride away
• Hotels are some of the priciest on St. Thomas

Charlotte Amalie

👉 Best Area for Culture & Convenience | ✨ Best Downtown Charlotte Amalie Hotels: Emerald Beach Resort • Windward Passage Hotel • Olga’s Fancy Hotel

Culture, convenience, things to do, places to see, and plenty of Caribbean-style cuisines to eat. Although lacking the serenity some of the beach resorts out east may boast, staying in Charlotte Amalie has its benefits. 

First and foremost, Charlotte Amalie is a cheaper area to stay in St. Thomas. Plain and simple. You’re not paying for resort-style conveniences. Rather, you’ll be treated to intimate experiences in local guesthouses tucked away in private corners of the town. And within these corners is where the true beauty of the Caribbean lies.

Centuries-old buildings, like Blackbeard’s Castle and Fort Christian, stand tall despite countless hurricanes battering their walls. Local cafes serve authentic Caribbean cuisine for a fair price. And every Saturday, local farmers and fishermen gather at the Market Square to sell their week’s crop and catch. It’s a beautiful, vibrant, and interesting place to be.

And once you’re done exploring the city, it’s incredibly easy to hop on a Safari (open-air public transit) to move around the island. Each ride is no more than $3 and will bring you all over St. Thomas to hotspots like Red Hook, Magens Bay, Sapphire Bay, and Coki Point Beach.

Nearby beaches include Lindbergh Bay at Emerald Beach Resort and Brewers Bay – the best place to snorkel with sea turtles on St. Thomas.

Pros of Staying in Downtown Charlotte Amalie:

• Walking distance to historic sites, gourmet restaurants in Frenchtown, cultural institutions, museums, and duty-free shopping
• Access to public transit around St. Thomas (Safari Taxis) and ferry service to other Virgin Islands – St. Croix, St. John, and Water Island
• Most affordable hotels on the island
• Conveniently located near St. Thomas Airport and the Cruise Port in Havensight

Con of Staying in Downtown Charlotte Amalie:

• Unless you’re staying at Emerald Beach Resort, you won’t have immediate access to a beach

Northside

👉 Best Area for Private Accommodation | ✨ Search for Northside Villas & Apartments

Unlike other sections of St. Thomas, the Northside is entirely private residences and villa rentals. This is where a large chunk of the island’s permanent residents live. There are no major resorts or hotels to choose from. And honestly, that’s what makes the Northside such a nice place to stay. No crowds. No traffic. Just scenic views.

Beaches include the world-famous Magens Bay (a tourist and cruise passenger hotspot) and Hull Bay Beach (a local and surfer’s favorite).

Aside from a few nature trails at Magens Bay and Santa Maria Bay, a handful of gourmet restaurants, and two tropical botanical gardens, there are a few other things to do on the Northside. But that’s not a reason to not stay there. 

Most villas for rent feature an outdoor pool and private patio, and overlook incredible scenes of the Atlantic Ocean, lush green hills, and glittering turquoise waters of the bays down below.

You’ll need a rental car to explore other parts of the island. But let’s be honest, for some, that’s a small trade-off for the quietness you’ll enjoy while gazing at stunning ocean views from your own private balcony.

Pros of Staying on the Northside of St. Thomas:

• Quiet with scenic views of Magens Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
• Private apartments, villas, and homes available for weekends, full weeks, or extended stays

Cons of Staying on the Northside of St. Thomas:

• No public transit is available. You’ll need to rent a car.
• Marinas, shopping, and other things to do are all in other regions of the island

Water Island

👉 Best Area to Stay to Get Away | ✨ Search for Water Island Villas & Apartments

Ever wonder what it’d be like to stay on your own private island? Don’t have the budget to rent your own private island? Well, you’re in luck! Booking a stay on Water Island is about as close as you may ever get without spending your child’s education fund!

Technically the 4th US Virgin Island, Water Island is a short ferry ride from Charlotte Amalie and one of the top places to visit in the Virgin Islands.

With just a few hundred residents, Water Island remains relatively quiet with golf carts serving as the main mode of transportation.Most villa rentals include one so you can wind your way around the island’s narrow roads to visit the WW2-era fort and Honeymoon Beach.

Honeymoon Beach is amongst the best in the Caribbean with water sports rentals, a beach bar, and volleyball courts. Many boat charters drop off day trippers for some fun in the sun so the beach tends to get lively during the day.

Regardless, Water Island is still the best place to truly get away from it all. Ferry service ends at 6:15 PM, cutting off the rest of St. Thomas and leaving you to recharge as you watch the sunset over nearby Puerto Rico.

Pros of Staying on Water Island:

• Secluded and quiet with beautiful views of the Caribbean and Charlotte Amalie
• Private villas, minimal people, and golf cart-only transit make for a unique Caribbean-style vacation
• Daily access to Honeymoon Beach, one of the top beaches in the USVI’s

Con of Staying on Water Island:

• No stores or amenities on the island so you’ll need to ferry into town for groceries, drinks, and restaurants

Tips for Staying in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

All St. Thomas Beaches are Accessible to the Public

The public cannot be denied access to any beach on St. Thomas even if it seems to be a ‘private beach’. Simply, there are no private beaches in the Virgin Islands. Period. That’s good news as you’ll have your fair share of beautiful beaches to choose from on St. Thomas!

St. Thomas Offers Epic Secluded Beaches

Resort-style beaches are convenient with associated beach bars, bathroom facilities, and chair rentals. But what about something quieter and off the beaten path? We have those too! In fact, St. Thomas has some of the most secluded beaches in the Virgin Islands. Consider hiking to Santa Maria Bay or Mermaid’s Chair on the West End. Other options include Stumpy Bay Beach, Neltjeberg Bay, and Dorothea Bay on the Northside (4-wheel drive required).

Save Money While Staying in St. Thomas by Cooking

By no means is St. Thomas considered cheap. In all likelihood, food costs will be one of your greatest expenses. So consider booking a place to stay with an attached kitchen and dining area. Purchasing your own groceries at Cost-U-Less (our version of Costco) and cooking throughout your stay can save you hundreds.

👉 Visiting St. John too? Check out my guide to where to stay in St. John.

FAQs About Where to Stay on St. Thomas

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👉 Get your free printable US Virgin Islands Itinerary here!

Have you decided where you want to stay while visiting St. Thomas yet? 

If you have, let us know in a comment below which area sounds best! Or if you’ve stayed before, let us know where and how it was!