I recently returned home from a week long trip on beautiful St. Croix. It was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a tropical getaway. We met some amazing people and experienced such raw beauty all over the island. If you’ve never been or are a repeat visitor, continue reading for a few short reasons on why you should book flights today….
Beautiful Beaches
St. Croix has no shortage of beaches around the island so whether you decide to relax at Cane Bay on the north shore or hike out to Jack and Isaac Bays on the eastern tip, you’ll find plenty of sand and blue water to enjoy.
With plenty of beaches and low tourism numbers, many beaches are sparsely populated or downright empty giving you the feeling of relaxing on your very own private beach. I spent many hours strolling along empty beaches just feeling the sand between my toes and listening to the gentle lapping of the waves on the quiet shores. Just off shore, most beaches have great snorkel spots with a variety of fish and sealife to encounter, including sea turtles and stingrays. So kick back and relax on one of the many beaches and enjoy the tropical paradise.
US Territory
St. Croix and the other US Virgin Islands just celebrated the centennial anniversary of becoming US territories in 2017. Being US territories provides many benefits to the islanders and the travelers alike. If you’re in the USA already, there’s no need for a passport to fly down. It’s as easy as taking any other domestic flight, which works out well if you’re one of the 50% of Americans that doesn’t have a passport.
In addition, most major US phone carriers cover the island without any roaming charges. When traveling abroad, it can sometimes be frustrating trying to find your way without working signal or racking up a mountain of roaming charges. In St. Croix, that’s not a worry and you’ll be able to relax easier knowing that’s one less expense you’ll incur.
Less Tourists
Despite being the largest of the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix only gets a fraction of the tourists that St. Thomas and St. John recieve. While St. Thomas can sometimes have several cruise ships each day, St. Croix only averages a couple a week which translates into less crowding of the major destinations on the island.
If you’ve ever been on vacation to a major tourist destination and you’ve felt like you’re being crowded out by the flocks of fellow tourists, St. Croix is definitively a good destination for you. You’ll be able to experience the island in it’s serene beauty and laid back way of life.
Plenty to Do
St. Croix has no shortage of activities for visitors, from sandy beaches to botanical gardens to rum factories, you’ll find plenty to keep busy no matter how long your stay is. Every day on the island, I woke up early in the morning and left the house only to return once the sun had retreated over the horizon for the night.
There are dozens of guided tours across the island for snorkeling/diving, riding ATV’s and visiting the local distilleries. For the more budget minded traveler, the island offers a long list of free activities for you to participate in.
For a complete list of things to do, check out my St. Croix Bucket List
Hurricane Recovery
While the island was ravaged by hurricanes in 2017, the inhabitants are resilient and have bounced back quite quickly. Compared to the other USVI and Puerto Rico, St. Croix has been repaired much quicker. Nearly the entire island has power and cell service; however some businesses are still waiting to for phone lines to accept credit cards again so be prepared with a little extra cash in some places.
Before I left on my trip, many friends and family were concerned about the island recovering from the hurricane and its ability to offer a fun and safe trip to tourists, but I believe the best way to help with recovery efforts is to visit the island and spend money in the local economy. Many businesses rely on visitors and tourism to keep afloat and they’ve taken a significant hit lately as a result of the hurricane. My Airbnb host mentioned that he was booked solid before the hurricane but has since been struggling to fill his place.
It may take several months or years for the island to fully recover but all the main areas of the island are open for business and eagerly waiting on your visit. So, what are you waiting for?
