New York City 4.5 hrs

Miami 2.75 hrs

Philadelphia 4 hrs

Boston 4.75 hrs

Los Angeles 7 hrs

Chicago 4.75 hrs

Dallas-Fort Worth 5 hrs

San Francisco 8.75 hrs

Charlotte Amalie: The capital is the cruise-ship haven of the Caribbean. This sophisticated harbor town offers the widest selection of duty-free shopping in the Caribbean. The best bargain-finders are intrepid browsers who navigate carefully through the labyrinth of bazaars.

Frenchtown: This is home to the descendants of immigrants from St Barthélemy, who paint a pretty picture of their island lives each day as they pull up their brightly painted fishing boats along the waterfront and display their catch of the day. Come sunset, the restaurants and bars fill up with visitors and locals alike.

East End: This is the nautical center of St Thomas, where every aspect of life is anchored in the sea. Marinas teem with international boaters exchanging tales of their voyages, dockside bars, fish markets, and more in a waterfront bustle that's jolly-ho to discover!

North End: Here you'll find some of the island's most splendid views, like the popular observation deck at Mountain Top, Drake's Seat where Sir Francis Drake is said to have kept watch over his fleet, and the St Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens perched 1,000 feet above sea level with views of 20 island and islets. This is also the location of Magen's Bay, often listed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches!

St Thomas is a long, thin, mountainous island that rises abruptly to a ridge with an excellent deep-water harbor. Through the middle of the island run hills that are covered with hotels, villas, and various other structures.

As good as it gets, temperatures average about 77° from November to February, with a variation of only 5°-7° during the year. In summer, when the mercury tops the 80°s, never-ending trade winds sweep in to soften the climate. Winter is the Dry Season and summer is the Wet Season, but even when it rains, the showers are so brief you barely have time to pack up your beach bag before the sun returns. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.

Like all Caribbean islands, this is a year-round destination, with some seasons that are busier than others. The most popular time to visit is December through May, when the weather is at its best and the majority of activities are scheduled. The most relaxing time, however, is really from April-November, when the crowds are smallest.

No quiet retreat, St Thomas is a destination for visitors who enjoy the bustle of fantastic duty-free shopping, stunning diving and snorkeling sites, fine dining, and a boisterous nightlife. The island accommodates budget or luxury spending and is a favorite cruise port. There is only one golf course but it is excellent. Kayaking through a pristine ecosystem is a peak experience and, of course, the 44 beaches are major attractions.

St. Thomas:

Mountain Top: This is the highest peak on the island, where the view from 1,500 feet above sea level frames the land and sea below you like a mariner's dreamscape. Sip a banana daiquiri and then hop to another lofty peak, Drake's Seat, where tales tell that Sir Francis Drake kept watch over his fleet and sought his enemy, the Spanish Armada. With vistas of more than 100 Virgin Islands, the panoramic view is especially striking and romantic at dusk.

Atlantis Submarine: Get set for the experience of a lifetime! On this journey through the natural undersea world of St Thomas, you'll explore the reefs and exotic marine life of Buck Island Wilderness Preserves at depths of up to 90 feet.

Coral World: This educational center is terrific fun for kids, allowing them to explore the wonders of coral reefs. Highlights include the 80,000 gallon reef tank, the predator tank, the touch tank, and the walk-through observatory.

Scuba Dive and Snorkel: St Thomas won the nod for Best Beginner Diving, and Best Snorkeling in Scuba Diving magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. With over 40 dive sites (and another 50 on the way), your underwater options range from shallow patch reefs to deep walls. The island sits on the shallow Virgin Bank and some of the prettiest reefs are above 60 feet, riddled with tunnels and swim-throughs. Wreck and shore diving are popular here, and there are certification classes on the island, as well as a recompression chamber. Night dives are available on request.

Duty-Free Shopping: St Thomas isn't the biggest of the US Virgin Islands, but it has the biggest reputation as the shopping paradise of the Caribbean. Cruisers who spend lazy happy days browning in the sun suddenly go into something of a feeding frenzy in the St Thomas shops. US Customs encourage this excitement with the significantlyhigher allowance of re-entry duty-free goods bought in the USVI protectorate. With uniform prices throughout the island, you can just go to one store if you and be sure you're getting the best deal in town.

Paradise Point: This site on Flag Hill just outside the capital treats visitors to a stupendous view of Charlotte Amalie and the sea. A bar, restaurant, and gift shops give you reason to extend your stay beyond the time to take in the view. Take a tram to the peak, one of the best St Thomas spots for sunsets.

Bluebeard's Castle: On a hilltop east of downtown, this mighty stone tower has braved battles, hurricanes, and time, yet forges on undaunted. Legend tells that Bluebeard built it for his one and only true love, Mercedita, but in fact the fortress was built as a watchtower to supplement the defenses of Fort Christian.

Fort Christian: St Thomas' oldest standing structure was built in 1672 (though the clock tower was added in the 1800s), and is a US National Landmark. Over the centuries, it has been used as a jail, governor's residence, town hall, courthouse, and even served as a church.

Magen's Bay: It has been named one of the World's 10 Most Beautiful Beaches by many travel experts. Deeded to the island as a public park, this north shore, white-sand crescent is a great place for a day of unspoiled, sun-splashed fun, with covered picnic tables, showers, dressing rooms, a boutique, snack bar, snorkeling, and sailboat rentals.

Frenchtown: This very popular neighborhood is cherished for its easy-going harbor town ambience. Engage the local fishermen - who are mostly generational fisherman immigrated from St Barthélemy - in conversation and learn about their peaceful lives in an accent unique to their people. You can get a further feel for resident life by walking through the town's winding streets, dotted with tiny wooden houses that have been passed down over the generations. Wind up the day with a pint at the local bar by the sea.

Vessup Bay: Trailing along the end of Bluebeard's Road, near Red Hook, there is a gorgeous white-sand beach interspersed with pretty clusters of rocks, seagrape trees, cacti, and century plants. If you want to play on the waves, rent water-sports equipment at the end of the beach.

St. John:

Virgin Islands National Park: This US National Park, donated by Laurence Rockefeller to the National Park Service 50 years ago, covers about two-thirds of the entire island. There is a plethora of wildlife and plants, terrain from arid to semitropical, and a network of more than 20 well-maintained hiking trails. Visitors learn about the island's natural and cultural history on any of several Park Ranger-led hikes that are offered.

Trunk Bay: Acclaimed by the Travel Channel as "Best Postcard Perfect Beach," this area is breathtaking, the quintessence of all that one can imagine a Caribbean beach to possibly be. It is well-preserved as part of the Virgin Islands National Park. Soft, white powdery sand extends into the sea, coconut palms border the area, and lush tropical vegeatation rolls into the flat valley floor where the park's modern and convenient beach facilities are located.

Other Beaches: Caneel Bay Beach is very popular, as it is situated on the grounds of the Caneel Bay Resort near the St. John ferry terminal. Cinnamon Bay, inside the National Park, allows camping at the campground only (no beach or backcountry camping permitted). There are tent sites, covered platforms, and cottages available, and there is a camp store as well. Lameshure Bay Beach invites sun-worshipping and snorkeling on a beautiful strand of sand that's reached via a bumpy dirt road; there are picnic tables and rest rooms on site.

Water Sports: Surrounded by turquoise waters, coral reefs, and colorful fish, St. John is a natural for snorkeling and scuba diving. Cruz Bay is popular, and there are several dive shops and boat operators nearby; dive stores on the west coast have access to the majority of St. Thomas dive sites. The south coast has fringing reefs that make attractive dive sites. Pillsbury Sound is generally protected from the weather and has a range of mainly shallow sites with healthy coral and some interesting terrain. On the north shore, Maho Bay, Francis Bay, and Leinster Bay are noted for their crystalline waters.

Hiking: There are more than 20 popular, well-marked hiking trails all over the island that connect visitors with beautiful beaches and bays, rugged mountains, tropical forests, dry cactus woodlands, and historic ruins. The trails are of varied length and difficulty to accommodate both the serious hiker and casual stroller.

A cadre of professional chefs, especially those with a flair for fresh fish and local fruit dishes, have been attracted to St. Thomas and its sister islands for the bounty that nature provides to their kitchens. Driving around the island, you'll see brightly colored fruit, strange-looking root vegetables, flourishing herbs, and foot-long spiny lobsters, all for sale at roadside markets. These are just a few of the local ingredients which make up the heart-and-soul of Caribbean cuisine - a melting pot stirred and flavored by many cultures throughout the ages. Count on terrific food on any budget, from cheap local dishes like a spicy stew called "goat water" to refreshing imported delights like raspberries in creme fraiche!

St. Thomas:

Gourmet

Herve: Chef Herve Chassin's long experience in St. Thomas has earned him a reputation as master of local delicacies, as well as a self-named restaurant. Amid the warm glow of candlelight and tables scrupulously set with linen, silver, and crystal, he treats you to such gourmet creations as crispy conch fritters in a spicy-sweet mango chutney, or sesame-encrusted tuna, with an indescribably delicious raspberry cheesecake finale. Government Hill

Highly Recommended

Alexander's Cafe: Overlooking Frenchtown harbor, this is a favorite with island restauranteurs -- a pretty darn good recommendation! Alexander is Austrian, and his schnitzels are a house specialty that make a nice change from the usual fare. A cozy sports bar has 3 satellite TVs. Save room for the strudel! Frenchtown

Local Flair

Gladys' Cafe: This is a great place to go for "home-cooked" local specialties like conch in butter sauce, salt fish, and dumplings, all sprinkled with Gladys' welcoming smile. Keen diners will buy a bottle of her hot sauce to take a bit of the flavor back home! Royal Dane Mall

Romantic

Cafe Lulu: This eatery overlooks the island from Blackbeard's Castle, where the sweeping panoramic view of the harbor and the romantic ambience of its historic stone-walls transport you to another era. The cuisine is as sweeping as the view, taking its influence from Caribbean, Asian, and Mediterranean recipes. Blackbeard's Hill

St. John:

Gourmet

Chloe & Bernard's: Located on the upper lobby level at the Westin Resort St. John, this elegant open-air eatery is perfect for gazing at sunset vistas and inhaling Caribbean breezes. The resident chefs create international fare with Caribbean flair while using the freshest local ingredients in signature dishes like cornmeal crusted red snapper, lobster tail poached in butter and cognac, and grilled yellowfin tuna. Westin Resort St. John, Great Cruz Bay

Highly Recommended

Paradiso: This restaurant sits on the second floor above the stonework shops of the Mongoose Junction Shopping Center, but the ambience is a pleasant surprise. The indoor seating, among the mahagony bar and velvet drapes, is stylish without undue formality, while the open-air terrace is great for watching the world pass by. The innovative American fare is typified by sauteed chicken breast rubbed with tandoori spice, grilled lamb chops rubbed with herbs de province, and roasted pork tender loin wrapped with bacon. There's a good wine list, and desserts are wonderfully decadent. Route 20 (North Shore Road), Mongoose Junction Shopping Center, Cruz Bay

Local Flair

Sogo's Restaurant: The overall scene here is somewhat downmarket -- small room, plastic chairs, and your basic street view -- but the owner-chef is well-traveled and brings his expertise to bear on such West Indian cuisine as curry goat stew, mahi mahi, and grilled fish in Creole sauce. Route 105 (King Street), Cruz Bay

Romantic

Asolare: Located on Caneel Hill inside a cozy one-time private home with striking sunset views overlooking Cruz Bay and St. Thomas, this restaurant's menu fuses Asian and Pacific Rim cuisine to produce keepers like cinnamon basil rubbed rack of lamb, pan-roasted peanut chicken, and grilled Caribbean lobster tail. Reservations recommended. Cruz Bay

St. Thomas:

Every night, St Thomas rings with the irresistible lilt of steel-pan bands, but there is lots more entertainment to be had. Rock bands, quiet cocktail lounges, piano bars, jazz players, disco, karaoke, and the unusual "broken-bottle" dancing. In addition to the clubs and bars, the island has some of the most impressive and thriving cultural entertainment venues in the Caribbean!

Turtle Rock Bar: It's known for its party scene, and the burgers have a fame of their own. Something is always going on, like steel-pan bands and karaoke. Red Hook

JoJo's: Dance to Top 40, salsa, and calypso. Oil candles illuminate the dark wood paneling and long oak bar at this upscale meet-and-mingle hangout. Frenchtown

Reichhold Center for the Arts: This state-of-the-art, open-air amphitheater hosts some of the best performing arts in the world, including ballet, song, and repertory theatre. Brewer's Bay

Pistarckle Theatre: Showcases an enchanting repertoire of works by such literary giants as Neil Simon and Oscar Wilde. Fanciful musicals and uproarious comedies are the preferred roster at this dinner (optional) theater. Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort

Agave Terrace and Eunice's Terrace: Two places for great steel-pan bands. Smith Bay

Piano Bars: Andiamo at the Martini Café in Frenchtown is the place to go for a fun piano bar, and on weekends you can also enjoy the tinkle of the "ivories" at L'Hotel Boynes on Blackbeard's Hill.

St. John:

The scene on St. John is opposite that of St. Thomas; it's quieter on the smaller island, and the nightlife is subdued as well, although there are saloons, dancing, sports bars, and more. Some very colorful bars can be found in Coral Bay, and Cruz Bay is also home to several entertaining spots. Live music, including reggae bands, is a popular draw. There are bars, lounges, and restaurants at many of the island's resorts, and these places generally offer evening entertainment and an opportunity to mingle with locals and other visitors.

Fred's: This hip-hopping joint in Cruz Bay, a local institution, is a favorite with islanders and tourists alike. On Wednesday and Friday nights, there is ear-splitting reggae blasting from the loudspeakers.

The Beach Bar: This Cruz Bay night spot features live jazz every Sunday.

Duffy's Love Shack: Decorated in island-whimsical style -- a tree grows through the thatch-roof bar, rope bridges hang between indoor and outdoor decks -- this lively bar provides hip-hop vibes as well as local music such as Calypso.

Rumbalaya: Grab a tropical beverage and and a seat for live reggae, Calypso, and rockin' soul music 4 nights a week.

St. Thomas:

St Thomas Carnival: This celebration has its roots in African culture and is the most sensational of all Caribbean carnivals. Christianity has greatly altered the festivities over the years, but the fun has remained undiminished. Mocko Jumbies - people dressed up as spirits - parade through the streets on 20-foot stilts while steel-pan bands get people dancing in the streets. Celebrations are island-wide, but the hub of the party is in Charlotte Amalie. April

International Rolex Cup Regatta: This is one of the 3 regattas in the "Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle" series that pits international racers against each. April

USVI Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament: This is a high-profile charity event for the benefit of the Boy Scouts of America. This eco-friendly tournament awards its trophies based on the number of blue marlin that are caught and released. August

St. John:

8 Tuff Miles Road Race: This annual competition sends upwards of 600 runners along the "spine" of St. John in a bid to qualify for the Boston Marathon. March

St. John Blues Festival: This annual 5-day, open-air music festival showcases some of the world's top blues artists. March

St. John Carnival: Each year during the month of June and culminating the first week of July, the island celebrates Carnival with live music, bike races, swimming and road races, beauty and talent pageants, food fairs, fireworks, and a parade. Almost all of the events are held in Cruz Bay. This fun tradition is now more than 50 years old.

Dress is beachy and casual during the day, though bathing suits, shorts and bare feet are inappropriate in many establishments. Many people dress up a bit for evening activities. Few places require jacket, ties, or skirts. Pack a light sweater for cool winter nights.

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Drinking: You must be 25 years old.

Gambling: There are no casinos and gambling is illegal.

English is the official language, though island residents often speak it with a lilting Creole accent, so you might not recognize certain words at first.

110 volts, 60 cycles, same as in the US mainland, so you will not need an adapter.

We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.

Entry: US Citizens do not need a passport or visa to enter but do require proof of citizenship to return to the US. A passport or birth certificate with a raised seal and a photo ID are best.

US Virgin Island Customs: These are duty-free ports!

US Mainland Customs: When returning directly or indirectly from a US insular possession, which includes the US Virgin Islands, you are allowed a $1,600 duty-free exemption. Above that amount, a 6% duty is charged. If you are traveling together with your family, you can make a joint declaration, which increases the amount of the allowance. You may include 1,000 cigarettes as part of the exemption, but at least 800 of them must have been acquired in an insular possession. For example, if you visit the island of St Martin as well as the US Virgin Islands and came back with 5 cartons of cigarettes, at least 4 of them would have to have been bought in the USVI. Similarly, you may have 5 liters of duty-free alcoholic beverages, but 1 of them must be a product of an insular possession. Gifts mailed from the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot exceed $100 per day and do not need to be declared in the exemption.

US Virgin Island Division of Tourism: Emancipation Square, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, phone 340-774-8784

Atlanta: 225 Peachtree Center Ave, Marquis One Tower, Suite MB-05, Atlanta, GA 30303, phone 404-688-0906, fax (404) 525-1102

Chicago: 500 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 2030, Chicago, IL 60611, phone (312) 670-8784, fax (312) 670-8788

Los Angeles: 3460 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 412, Los Angeles, CA 90010, phone (213) 739-0138, fax (213) 739-2005

Miami: 2655 Le Jeune Road, Suite 907, Coral Gables, FL 33134, phone (305) 442-7200, fax (305) 445-9044

New York City: 1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2108, New York, NY 10020, phone (212) 332-2222, fax (212) 332-2223

Washington DC: 444 North Capital Street, NW, Suite 298, Washington, DC 20001, phone (202) 624-3590, fax (202) 624-3594