St Thomas Vacation Preparations

Author: Scott White

So you have finally made the decision to take a trip to the Caribbean. But what part of the Caribbean do you want to vacation in? There are so many islands to choose from and so little time. Well if you are nervous about traveling to the Caribbean then why not start with a trip to the US Virgin Islands.

The US Virgin Islands gives you the security of being part of the US but is located south in the Caribbean. There are three islands to choose from. The first island is St Thomas. St Thomas is a bustling island with business, restaurants, attractions, hotels, St Thomas Condos, and more. It is a vacation for those that like a little fun and excitement at night with top quality dining.

St Thomas receives a lot of tourism especially from cruise ships. Cruise ships bring in a lot of traffic. They average between two and seven cruise ships per day. Think of the traffic that seven cruise ships would bring in. If every cruise ship averages three thousand people you could potentially have twenty one thousand people being dumped off into downtown per day. That is half of the islands population.

Accommodations in St Thomas are grand. You can choose from renting St Thomas Villas, Hotels, Timeshares, and more. You have to make the decision what works for you. Personally renting your own St Thomas luxury villa seems like a great way to go if you can afford the extra cost. You would get your own private pool, hot tub and many other great amenities.

Another great island to potentially go to is St John. St John is a beautiful island and a totally different vacation from St Thomas. On St John life is slow, very slow. The only worries of the day are which breathtaking beach to go to in their preserved park. There is really no comparison between St John and St Thomas. St John is really a relaxing, grab a book and go and relax vacation. St Thomas can be like that but offers much more in terms of nightlife and excitement.

St John is very cultural and actually larger than St Thomas. There are a few good restaurants on the island but nothing like St Thomas. The beaches are far superior though, offering some of the most picturesque settings you will ever gaze upon. Some of the favorite beaches are Hawks Nest, Trunk and Cinnamon Bays.

Accommodations in St John are similar to St Thomas but are definitely more costly. You could expect to spend fifteen to twenty percent more to stay on St John. But you could also have the chance to see some big time celebrities because they love St John.

Once you have made your selection now you have to get to the island of your choice. Many flights go to the Virgin Islands but none go direct to St John. You will have to fly to St Thomas first and then take a ferry over to St John. That can be a big hassle as you have to lug your luggage off the airline and then schlep everything to a taxi and then off to the ferry. It is a long day for sure but well worth the trip to see beautiful St John.

Now get ready to pack. You will need a lot of sun tan lotion and sunscreen. Make sure to bring a lot of casual clothes. The locals do not dress up so dressing casually is the way to go. Men can wear shorts and Hawaiian type shirts and women can wear sun dresses. Even the most elegant restaurants only require that type of attire. So relax you are in the Caribbean mon!

You’ll want to bring medicines, especially allergy medicines just on case. Make sure to pack a lot of swim suits and tee shirts. Do not forget sunglasses as you will most definitely need them. You may want to bring an underwater camera just in case you do some snorkeling or diving. For sure you will want to bring your digital camera.

Which ever island you decide on you will have a great time. They both offer diverse activities and many options.

Remember to bring your passport. The laws are changing and soon you will be required to travel with your passport to the US Virgin Islands. So make sure to get your passport done as quickly as possible. Furthermore while you are in the Virgin Islands you may want to travel to the British Virgin Islands which are just a stones throw away.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/st-thomas-vacation-preparations-166718.html

About the Author

Scott White owns Villa Nicoletta and is luxury St Thomas Villas. If you’re looking for St Thomas Condos for rent then this is the luxury villa for you.

Traveling To St Thomas US Virgin Islands

Author: Scott White There are many ways to travel to St Thomas. A great way to really see the island is to fly there and rent one of the St Thomas Villas. Vacationing in a villa can be a really great experience. Vacation villas can really be inexpensive for a group of couples. Villas range from $3000-$10000 per week but if you have a group of 8-10 it can be a very reasonable price for a top shelf luxury vacation. Most St Thomas condos have private pools, hot tubs and beautiful furnishings. They also have big gourmet kitchens, computers, wifi, beaches and more. Villa rental can also be fantastic for families. They give you the room you need as well as the privacy. That’s really the big advantage to consider, the privacy. You have your own home for 7 nights. No sharing anything with anyone. That’s a great added bonus while on vacation. You can also go food shopping and cook your own meals. This is a great way to save some money while on vacation. Going to dinner 6 nights in a week can be very expensive. So villa rental gives you the best of both worlds. Cook in when you want and go out to dinner a few nights. This works especially well for breakfast and lunch. Nothing beats a cheeseburger by your own private pool. A second way to travel to the US Virgin Islands is to fly and stay at a hotel. This is a great option for a couple as the room rates are reasonable and villa rental can be expensive for only a couple. There is a wide variety of hotels in St Thomas, ranging from the very expensive to the very inexpensive. You may want to consider a property on a beach or on a hilltop depending on the style of vacation you’d like to take. Hotels are nice if you like to meet and be surrounded by other people. It’s very nice to make new friends while on vacation. Sometimes those new friendships can last a lifetime. The flip side to that is you may have to put up with a lot of screaming kids while on your relaxing vacation. Are you okay with little Johnny from Minnesota yelling that his sister took is toy? Most vacation on cruise ships and stop in downtown. It’s interesting to see the tourists pour off the cruise ships and rush to the t-shirt stands. They seem to love to buy a lot of “stuff”. St Thomas receives 2-7 cruise ships per day. So at any time there could be 7000-30000 people being offloaded into the total population of 50000. That’s a lot to consider when traveling to St Thomas. There is a lot of traffic in St Thomas. Locals have a hard time driving through downtown because of all the cruise ship passengers. Believe it or not it could potentially take you an hour from going back and forth across the island. That’s a long drive for an island 4 miles wide by 10 miles long. A cruise vacation to St Thomas is a great way to go if you only want to see a few things in St Thomas but you’ll certainly miss a lot of other great activities and culture. Some of the sights to see in St Thomas is Magens Bay. This beach is consistently listed as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. It’s a mile long white sandy beach with lots of great trees for shade. It has one restaurant and bar and a lot of lifeguards. The water is always calm and flat which make it great for swimming. Locals go there every Sunday to celebrate with their friends and family. It is a great beach to visit. Shopping is terrific on the island. You can get great deals on jewelry and clothing. Plus you won’t have to pay any tax. That’s great if you’re buying an expensive piece of jewelry for sure. The booze on the island is very inexpensive as well. So stock up on your rum. My favorite way to travel is to research St Thomas Villas and book one that meets my needs. Personally I think that having your own private place is the way to go. You get all the benefits of luxury without having to share it with hundreds of strangers. It’s always a relaxing, quiet vacation that you control. Look around for the right house for your needs via the internet. There you can find all the options you want and budgets that you can afford. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/traveling-to-st-thomas-us-virgin-islands-156297.html About the Author Villa Nicoletta is luxury St Thomas Villas. If you’re looking for St Thomas Condos for rent then this is the luxury villa for you.

A Great Escape Vacation – St. John U.S. Virgin Islands

Author: Rodolfo V. Gil

The U.S. Virgin Islands of St. John is still relatively an unknown paradise in the Caribbean. Its lack of a large airport makes it a hidden paradise in the area. Most visitors to St. John reach the island by either small plane from St. Thomas or ferry.

I prefer the 45 minute ferry ride from St. Thomas it is inexpensive and enjoyable to take the ride across the calm waters of the Caribbean. Passenger ferries operate between St. Thomas (Red Hook & Charlotte Amalie) and St. John (Cruz Bay) hourly.

You must remember this is not the same as being on the open ocean, so the ride smooth. I suggest renting an open air Jeep when you arrive on St. John and driving the day around the island stopping along the way to explore the beaches.

St. John has changed over the years by having more people, hotels and resorts on the island now than years ago

However, it’s still a very secluded and calm destination where you can travel for miles without coming across anyone.

The first time I visited the island there were very few people and endless miles of beaches to enjoy. All beaches on St. John are open to the public. Some of its beaches are the best in the Caribbean such as Trunk Bay, Hawknest Bay, Solomon’s Beach. The water temperature averages 80 degrees year round, so enjoy the water. I was fortunate to spend hours at these beaches; they are clean, with warm water and gorgeous. The fish in these waters are plentiful, just walk into the water and be surrounded by them. Snorkeling is popular so bring your mask, fins and snorkel to experience the wonderful and colorful world of the coral reefs, sea grass beds that await you in St. John. Some of the favorites snorkeling area are Water Lemon Cay, Cinnamon Bay and Salt Pond Bay. For more ideas on places to stay visit http://www.greatvacationspots.net/

Since so many cruise ships now visit St. Thomas try to visit the beaches on St. John on the days that the cruises are not docked to avoid the additional people from the cruise lines and bring your camera.

It is illegal to collect shells from beaches in the Virgin Islands; so shells are confiscated at airport customs if found.

Some of the other activities for you to enjoy are hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and diving.

The National Park Service located on St. John offers over 20 hiking trails.

Horseback trail rides are on the east end of the island through forest trails and last 2 to 3 hours.

I am overwhelmed by the ambiance, relaxing, and beautiful scenery of this island. You truly understand why people call places like St. John island paradise after spending a day here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/a-great-escape-vacation-st-john-us-virgin-islands-3624916.html

About the Author

Rodolfo V. Gil enjoys traveling the world and writing about his adventures. For vacation and travel ideas please visit my website at http://www.greatvacationspots.net/

Traveling To St John? Read This First

Author: Alfonso Koch

St John is part of the Virgin Islands, it is 4 miles from St Thomas and from there, visitors can access the island by boat. It is renowned for its awesome beaches, its well conserved nature and typical luxurious apartments.

St John will provide you with every kind of accommodation you are looking for. From a private, home-like St John vacation home rental to a cozy St John hotel – this Virgin Islands destination offers limitless lodging possibilities.

Below you will find a list of things you can do and attractions, as well as travel statistics on comparison shopping, vacation planning and themes, and some lodging options.

An exotic island of St John is a honeymooner’s paradise luring travelers with sugary beaches, countless leisure options and fine St John accommodations . Active travelers visit St John to enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving. The island of St John is also home to numerous quaint restaurants, lush National Park and quiet, crowd less beaches.

Beach is for sure one of the island’s most desired attractions. Beaches of St John not only offer sugary white sands and turquoise waters but also privacy and seclusion. All of them are part of the Virgin Islands National Park offering tourists numerous camping options, great snorkeling and beachside St John rentals.

Cruz Bay is the principal city, and its placed in the west part of St John. Malls, seaside restaurants and comfortable St John apartments are waiting for visitors and they can also visit the VI National Park Visitor Center and Cruz Bay’s great shops.

St John has a lot of plantations that show its history, so visiting them it is a must. Annaberg Sugar Plantation is the first stop among 25 sugar factories from the 18th century. Tourists will see factory ruins, slave quarters, a windmill and other interesting and historic places.

Two-thirds of St John is covered with the abundant Virgin Islands National Park which offers amazing trails, white beaches and secluded coves. The Reef Bay Trail is an excellent hiking destination that takes tourists through dense forests, plantation ruins and scenic bays such as Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay.

St John’s Comparison Shopping Trends: According to the study, 84 percent of the trip planners showed interest in comparison shopping among St John vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and resorts.

St John’s Vacation Planning Trends: A survey reveals that careful travelers who began their trio planning two or more months before their arrival represented the 58 percent. Traditional vacationers inquired for lodging one to two months prior to the arriving to their St John place to stay represented the 19 percent. Typical last minute vacationers represented the 17 percent and their inquiries were sent within the last month before their arrival.

St John’s Vacation Themes: The most popular vacation theme for St John is romance with 45percent of the traveler’s inquiries requesting accommodations for 2, 29 percent for groups of more than 4 adults, 22 percent from families with children, and 6 percent for people traveling alone.

In our troubled economic times, travelers required comparison shopping before decide a place to stay for them. Rentalo.com is designed with this concept in mind, and vacationers can evaluate and compare different lodging alternatives.

As an example, beneath there are two great deals to compare:

St John VI Vacation Rental: The Retreat Guest House on St John Island, the smallest and most beautiful of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a uniquely elegant and spectacular vacation rental. Built with an eye for harmonious simplicity, the house perfectly complements the natural beauty of its setting, one of the most pristine beaches in the world. Every room in the The Retreat St Johns rental features breathtaking views. For details, photos and a useful form to contact the owner directly, please log into property ID#73016 at rentalo.com.

St John VI Villa Rental: As you open the door and enter the courtyard of Cloud Nine, a sweeping panorama of green islands and azure waters greets you. The pool invites a refreshing plunge. Cloud Nine, one of the most popular St John Vacation Homes, is built atop a very private and quiet hillside 800 feet above the Caribbean Sea where you can see mountain peaks 80 miles away. At night after a beautiful sunset, the soft lighting, gentle trade winds and twinkling lights of distant islands create a seductive and tranquil ambiance. For more info, pictures and a practical inquiry form to contac the owner directly, please visit rentalo.com, property ID#1732.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/traveling-to-st-john-read-this-first-2748303.html

About the Author

Disneyland Hotels Map

Author: Elijah James

Whether you are in the middle of planning a Disneyland trip or you are just trying to get some ideas for the future, it is a good idea to get a hold of a Disneyland Hotels Map. When looking at taking a vacation to Disneyland, you want to make sure that you are as prepared as humanly possible. With so much to do and so much to get ready for you need to make sure that you have a good idea of what your options are when it comes to hotels that are right around Disneyland.

Since this is a popular vacation destination there are going to be a lot of choices for you when it comes to picking just the right hotel. This is a great thing as it means that you should have no problem finding the hotel you want and need and for a price that you can easily afford. Most people tend to think that staying as close to the theme park as possible is always the best way to go. Something that you want to keep in mind though is that the closer you are to the park the more expensive the rooms are. Upon looking at a Disneyland Hotels Map you may find that a nice room can be found a lot cheaper just a block or two further away. Even if you have to walk a little bit further you will find yourself with better room rates.

Every step you take away from Disneyland, the cheaper the rooms are going to be. And this does not mean that they will be low quality rooms either. Of course you will have to watch for some of those lower class rooms but that are just about anywhere you travel to. Also, when thinking about which hotel you should go for you will want to consider just exactly how much time you think you will be spending in the room. Since you will probably be in the park all day and eating out, you will basically just need the hotel room for showers and to get some much needed sleep.

All of this is what you are going to want and going to need to take into consideration when you are looking over the Disneyland Hotels Map. You would be surprised at all of the money that can be saved just by staying at a hotel that is not right at Disneyland. The money that you save can help pay for the trip or allow your kids to grab some extra souvenirs. No matter what you end up doing with the money that you save it is much better then having to spend it on a room. Also make sure that you are contacting the various hotels around the area to see which ones offer discounts. If you are in the military or if you are a member of a roadside assistance club, you may be eligible for discounts which will make your room rates that much cheaper.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/disneyland-hotels-map-958556.html

About the Author

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