VIRGIN ISLANDS HOLIDAYS [ US ] / USVI   >   CARIBBEAN 

The United States Virgin Islands offers something for everyone. Breathtaking beaches with emerald water. Secluded coves, pristine coral reefs, and untouched rainforests. Friendly people with a unique music, cuisine, and culture. Posh hotels, cozy inns, and unspoiled campgrounds. Wonderful restaurants, world-class shopping, and exciting festivals. Our islands offer the most romantic setting for your special wedding or honeymoon. Come visit America's Caribbean and see what we have to offer you

U.S. Virgin Islands  -  former Danish West Indies (DWI), colony of Denmark in the Caribbean

Part of the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas are located in the Atlantic time zone, one hour ahead of Eastern standard time.

Capital City of the US Virgin Islands:  Charlotte Amalie


holiday rentals, hotels, tour operators, travel guides, travel to the virgin islands [ usvi ]

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Camping St. John

Camping is permitted only at Cinnamon Bay campground. No backcountry or beach camping is permitted within Virgin Islands National Park.
Accommodations at Cinnamon Bay campground include bare sites, sites prepared with tent-covered platforms, and cottages. Cottages and prepared sites are equipped with cooking supplies and linens. A camp store sells food, beverages and other supplies. A campground restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations for special tours for schools and other groups are necessary. At least two weeks notice is required.

Cruises

A number of major cruise lines run regularly from Miami and San Juan to St. Thomas and St. Croix throughout the year, while many smaller ships make stops at St. John as well.

  P&O Cruises
Caribbean cruises.

Holiday Homes

  Catered To
Catered To has over two dozen beautiful homes and villas to choose from. The following information is designed to help you select the vacation home that will be just right for you and your group

Hotels Virgin Islands

  Chenay Bay Beach Resort ***, Route 82 East End Road, Christiansted (St. Croix)
Located on the best sand beach on the North Shore of St. Croix, the resort is nestled on a green hillside overlooking the blue Caribbean Sea. Chenay Bay, is protected by Green Cay National Wildlife Preserve, a small island a mile off our shore. The quiet natural environment is further enhanced by the lush tropical landscape. Bougainvillea and hibiscus are in continuous bloom and while the coconut palms and sea-grapes offer shade, the genips are ripe for picking and eating.

 

 
Centrally located hotels ranging from small family run budget accommodation to world-class five star hotels.

  Bluebeard's Castle

National Parks

  Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park, renowned throughout the world for its breathtaking beauty, covers approximately 3/5 of St. John, and nearly all of Hassel Island in the Charlotte Amalie harbor on St. Thomas. Within its borders lie protected bays of crystal blue-green waters teeming with coral reef life, white sandy beaches shaded by seagrape trees, coconut palms, and tropical forests providing habitat for over 800 species of plants. To these amazing natural resources, add relics from the Pre-Colombian Amerindian Civilization, remains of the Danish Colonial Sugar Plantations, and reminders of African Slavery and the Subsistence Culture that followed during the 100 years after Emancipation - all part of the rich cultural history of the Park and its island home.

Travel Agents / Tour Operators

  Thomas Cook

  P&O Cruises
Caribbean cruises.

 Responsibletravel.com

   -   Create your perfect trip to the Virgin Islands
Flight, Hotel and Car.



  Treasure Isle Cruises, located in St. Thomas
Daytours [ St. John, St. Thomas, Snorkel, Golf, Sailing and Shopping ], Cruise Bargains, Group Tours,  Fishing, Adventure Cruise, and More
  Caribbean Tour Services 
U.S. Virgin Islands full-service destination management company that provides groups visiting the islands with creative itineraries and comprehensive management of logistics based on an in-depth understanding of the industry and the islands.
  New Horizons Charters  -  Snorkel Adventures
Snorkel at 2 different tropical islands aboard New Horizons. Enjoy a continental breakfast of a variety of fresh muffins as you sail over to the National Park in St. John. Spend several hours snorkeling and exploring these infamous pristine coral reefs in the National Park. New Horizons will provide you with top of the line snorkeling equipent and instruction. After snorkeling, the chef will present you with a hot Italian Gourmet lunch accompanied by tropical blended drinks. For the non-meat lovers, a Vegetarain menu is available .

  Tropical Locations   -   specialist travel organizer

Travel Guides US Virgin Islands / Related books

Moon Virgin Islands (Moon Handbooks)
Susanna Henighan Potter (Author)
As a resident and employee of the Virgin Islands, Susanna Henighan covers the best this paradise has to offerfrom St. Thomas to St. Croix to Tortola. Henighan guides readers to the best hikes in St. John's Virgin Islands National Park, the best snorkeling spots in Cruz Bay, and the best carnivals and festivals on Virgin Gorda. Henighan provides unique travel ideas for a variety of travelers, including Beach Lovers Tour and Wildlife and Wilderness. Moon Virgin Islands gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
Paperback: 340 pages; Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 4 edition (12 Nov 2009); ISBN-10: 159880183X; ISBN-13: 978-1598801835.

Fodor's US and British Virgin Islands
Paperback: 304 pages; Publisher: Fodor; 22 edition (15 Oct 2009); ISBN-10: 1400008654; ISBN-13: 978-1400008650.

Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands
Nancy Scott (Author)
Spiral-bound: 350 pages; Publisher: Cruising Guide Publications; 14th edition (1 Nov 2008); ISBN-10: 094442886X; ISBN-13: 978-0944428863.

Transport / How do I travel to the Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands have daily, non-stop flights from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Miami.

  -   flights to US Virgin Islands
Book cheap flights to Virgin Islands at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

  Airline Tickets /  Bargain Flights  
Price comparison possible

  Republic Barge Service   -   motor vehicle ferry company
RBS's vehicle ferry that provides marine transportation between Red Hook, St. Thomas, VI and Cruz Bay, St. John, VI.
  Virgin Island Fast Ferry
High speed catamaran -- service between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Christianstead, St. Croix will take just 75 minutes.

  Maps International   -   Maps of the Virgin Islands   
Mapsinternational.co.uk is one of the largest map shops online.
  Maps Virgin Islands [ Uni Texas   -   Perry-Castañeda Library   -   Map Collection ]


Links 

  Virgin Islands Department of Tourism 
Official travel guide for St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas

  Government Virgin Islands
History,  Departments,  Fast facts about the USVI,  USVI Legislature,  District Court,  Government House and Tourist Information.

  Charlotte Amalie   -   Capital City of the US Virgin Islands
Named after Queen Charlotte Amalie (1650-1714), consort of King Christian V of Denmark.

  Saint Croix  -
It is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands at 28 miles long and 7 miles wide.
  St. John Island
About nine miles long (east to west) by three miles wide; two thirds of the area is the Virgin Islands National Park. St. John's most famous beaches are located on its North Shore and include Caneel Bay, Hawks Nest Bay, Trunk bay, and Cinnamon Bay - all of which are partially or completely within the Virgin Islands National Park.
  Saint Thomas Island
It is believed the island was originally settled around 1500 BC by Ciboney tribes. They gave way to the next settlers of the island the Arawak and Caribs. Only to be wiped out by the Europeans after Christopher Columbus' discovery of the island in 1493, this was his second voyage to the New World. Prior to Columbus' discovery the island was inhabited by pirates. The pirates found the deep natural harbor, now known as Charlotte Amalie, superb for their ships. Some of the most famous pirates to visit St. Thomas are Blackbeard and Bluebeard.

  Christiansted [ St. Croix ]
  Frederiksted [ St. Croix ]

  Cruz Bay [ St. John ]

  Bank   -   Virgin Islands Bankers Association
This site contains a wealth of information about the banks in the Virgin Islands as well as information to assist you with your personal finances.
  Chamber of Commerce
A combination of U.S. law, natural beauty, comfortable climate, industrious people, and generous tax and trade incentives have made St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix a preferred tourism destination and business investment location under the U.S. flag in the Caribbean basin.
  News   -   Virgin Island Daily News
  News   -   Virgin Voices
  University   -   University of the Virgin Islands Home Page

Cuisine  -  Virgin Island Cooking Recipes

  Caribbean Recipes

History of the US Virgin islands

During the 18th century, Europeans divided the archipelago into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

In 1917 the Virgin Islands were sold by Denmark to the United States of America for $25 million in gold.

  History of the United States Virgin Islands
  US Virgin Islands Info
St. John History, St. Croix History, St. Thomas History and Virgin Island Tales and Legends
  History of St. Croix

Conquest of Eden, 1493-1515: Other Voyages of Columbus - Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Virgin Islands 
Michael Paiewonsky
A collection of letters and journal entries from Columbus and members of his exploration parties describe the new land, encounters with Indians and cannibals, and more.
Hardcover 176 pages (July 1991);  Publisher: Academy Chicago Publications;  Language: English;  ISBN: 0926330039

Music, Arts & Culture, Events US Virgin Islands

Culture reflects the West African, Danish, Spanish, Irish, Polish, and German heritage of those who have made the U.S. Virgin Islands their home since the late 1400s. The rhythms and lyrics of Virgin Island music- -including calypso, cariso, soca, reggae, and steel pan melodies--are colorful reminders of our past. Virgin Islanders also express themselves in painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography. The great Impressionist Camille Pissarro is just one of the Virgin Islands' distinguished artists.

  Music of the US Virgin Islands 
From its neighbors, the Virgin Islands has imported various pan-Caribbean genres of music. [ especially reggae, soca, merengue ].

  Culture of the US Virgin Islands

  Reichhold Center for the Arts
The Reichhold Center for the Arts is nestled within the lap of a natural valley whose mouth opens to the crystal blue waters of John Brewer's bay on the island of St. Thomas and 'support programs that preserve and enhance the artistic heritage and cultural foundations of the Virgin Islands....'
This unique amphitheater of wood, limestone, copper, steel and concrete plays host to a wide range of concerts and performances.
  Pistarckle Theatre
Pistarckle Theater (name derived from the Dutch Creole: spektakel = noise confusion) is the only professional theater on St. Thomas.
Pistarckle Theater's mission is to educate and to entertain our culturally diverse community through the production of quality theater.
  Tillett Gardens [ St. Thomas ]
A peaceful oasis which has become a marketplace for local art and crafts

  Arts Alive   -   a unique, intimate fusion of music and visual arts
  Carnival   -   St Thomas Carnival
  French Heritage week - bastille Day
French Heritage Week in the Virgin Islands usually begins the week of July 14th, during which hundreds of St. Thomas residents join together to celebrate French Heritage and Bastille Day. See Vinow.com.

  Events Calendar US Virgin Island


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