On Island Guest Guide

On Island Guest Stay Information

CHECK-IN TIME: 4 pm | Upon arriving at your unit, you will find a coded lockbox. An email with the code will be sent 2-3 days prior to your arrival.

CHECK-OUT TIME: 10 am | Housekeeping will arrive promptly at 10am. Please take trash with you upon departure, turn off all lights, AC, electronics, lock the front door and put keys back into the lockbox where initially found.

DRINKING WATER: The water from the condo tap is filtered (cistern water), and we keep a Brita pitcher in the fridge for extra filtration. You can also purchase bottled water at Starfish Market.

ELECTRICITY: Electricity is very expensive on the island (about 4x higher than the states!) please help us conserve by turning off a/c and lights when not home. Outages are rare but do happen. An outage map can be found at viwapa.vi

HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE AND CLEANING: Our condo is cleaned before your arrival and upon your departure. The cleaning fee is $280.

NOISE AND PARTYING: We wish to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere for the quiet enjoyment of all guests. We rent to family groups & responsible adults only. Please be considerate of your neighbors.

PESTS: While On Island is treated for a variety of pests its good to know that mosquitos and No-see-ums are the most common bugs. Mosquitos are worst after a strong rain. Wear long loose - fitting clothing - especially if you're out in the evening and apply insect repellant.

Planning Ahead

Private Taxi Transfers St. Thomas Airport to Red Hook:

WARREN GORDON | 340.998.1077 Visit Website

Private Water Taxi:

SEAHORSE LAND & WATER TAXI | 340.474.4905 Visit Website

DOLPHIN WATER TAXI | 340.774.2628 Visit Website

Baby Equipment Rentals & Babysitting:

ISLAND BABY VI EQUIPMENT RENTALS | 340.998.8327 Visit Website

KIDS NIGHT IN – BABYSITTING SERVICE | 321.431.9113 Visit Website

Provisioning Services:

LANDLUBBER LOGISTICS | 340.514.9343 (Billy) & 340.227.1690 (Cory) Visit Website

Catering Services:

ST JOHN CATERING | 877.690.9393 & 340.777.5464 Visit Website

Chef Mathayom has been working professionally in the food service industry since 1993 and has been the chef at many of St. John’s premier restaurants including Isolate, Paradiso, Chateau Bordeaux and Chloe and Bernard’s. Hire them to create a formal dinner for you and your guest or prepare a gourmet meal.

TED’S SUPPER CLUB | 340.514.2855 & 340.693.7793 Visit Website

Ted Robinson is one of St. John’s favorite gourmet chefs. His commitment to simple, fresh ingredients matched to enhanced the dish rather than overwhelm it make his preparations perfect for dinner catering or even breakfast or lunch at the villa. You tell him what you like, and he will take it from there. There's no set menu to choose from – he works around you!

Will my cell phone work on St. John?

Depends on the service provider; but most carriers provide good signal in and around Cruz Bay. Signal on the Coral Bay side and south to Salt Pond and Lameshur is weak to non-existent. Check with your service provider to confirm that they service the Virgin Islands and that you won’t incur any roaming charges!

Do I need a passport?

If traveling from the U.S. mainland you do not need a passport to travel to any of the US Virgin Islands, however you do need a passport if you would like to travel to any of the nearby British Virgin Islands.

Recommended Activities & Restaurants

Dining Recommendations:

High Tide

Located steps from the ferry, this is our go-to first stop when arriving on island. With space to stash your luggage and a menu full of fresh, satisfying options, it’s the perfect place to start your stay.

The Landing

Our favorite spot for morning coffee, breakfast or mimosas to kick off your day. Conveniently located near the ferry dock in Cruz Bay.

Surf Side Cantina

Tucked away in Coral Bay, this waterfront gem offers delicious food and ice-cold drinks in a relaxed setting.

Skinny Legs

Famous for its burgers, laid-back vibe, and the best souvenir and t-shirt selection on the island. A must-visit for a true taste of St. John culture.

Upstairs Sports Bar and Grill

Cruz Bay’s go-to sports bar. With great food and 10 TVs, it’s the perfect spot to catch the game and unwind after a day of adventure.

Windmill Bar

Our top pick for sunset views! Pair the island’s best vistas with a cold drink for an unforgettable evening.

Gringos Caribbean Cantina
If you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine, don’t miss this lively spot in Mongoose Junction. Great flavors, fun atmosphere.

Morgan’s Mango
Upscale island classy great for an adult night out. Reservations are highly recommended but can get bar seating if you're lucky. Our favorite key lime pie on the island. Super fun and friendly staff are worth noting.

Whether you’re craving a quick bite or a memorable meal with a view, St. John offers an incredible variety of dining options to suit every mood and moment. Here are a few of our favorites.

Recommended Beaches and Snorkeling

North Shore Beaches

Trunk Bay - St. John's most famous beach. Underwater snorkel trail with snack shack and showers.
Cinnamon Bay Beach - the longest beach on St. John. Raintree cafe breakfast and dinner. Showers/restrooms. Close parking.
Caneel Bay Beach - Part of the Caneel Bay Resort located within the Virgin Islands National Park. Hike or shuttle only.
Maho Bay Beach - The best bay to spot sea turtles. Great spot to eat, shop, and rent gear just across the road.
Hawksnest Beach - one of the more popular beaches. Calm water and white sand.
Jumbie Beach - A best-kept-secret of island locals. Smaller but excellent views and snorkel.
Salomon Bay Beach - Soft white sand and majestic coconut palms deliver a true Caribbean feel. Hike or by boat entrance.
Honeymoon Beach - once the "private" beach of St John residents. Great hike from Cruz Bay.
Denis Bay Beach - perhaps the most beautiful off-the-beaten-path St John beach.

East End Beaches

Vie's Beach / Hansen Bay Beach - soft white sand with a couple of places to find some shade. The beach isn't very big - but rarely crowded.
Haulover North Beach - once rarely visited, this beach is now quite popular with snorkelers.
Haulover South Beach - mostly cobblestone and coral pebbles, but there are some areas of white sand with more great snorkeling.
Brown Bay Beach - Getting there requires a short (approx. 30 min each way) hike to a sandy, wind-swept beach with plenty of shade along the narrow sand and pebble shoreline.

South Shore Beaches

Salt Pond Bay Beach - Another one of the most popular St John beaches accessible by hike.
Drunk Bay Beach / Ram's Head Beach - Rugged beauty accessible by hike. Go left to Drunk Bay with its rugged coral and stone shoreline, or right along the trail that leads to the crest of Ram's Head.
Little Lameshur Beach - Just over 1.5mi from the entrance, past Great Lameshur Bay, you'll come to Lameshur Beach. Soft white sand with several places to grab some shade make this a crowd pleaser. You will also find several picnic tables and BBQ grills.
Great Lameshur Bay Beach - A long crescent beach of mostly stone and pebbles. This beach is usually less populated because most continue onto Little Lameshur Beach.

Top Snorkeling Spots

Waterlemon Cay: the most popular snorkeling destination on St. John. Enjoy a 1mi flat hike along Leinster Bay to reach Waterlemon Cay. Follow the Leinster Bay Trail until it splits. Bear left and follow the trail along the shoreline until you're at a point closest to the cay. Entry is rocky and snorkelers should be aware of urchins. Once in the water head straight across the narrow channel. This is where you will see larger orange and yellow cushion starfish. Head counterclockwise to use the current to round the cay. Along the way you will see beautiful hard and soft corals and a large variety of Caribbean tropical fish. There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the cay.
Maho Bay: Water entry is shallow sandy bottom - ideal for younger kids. Feeding on the grasses you will find sea turtles, conchs, and rays. In fact, Maho Bay is one of our top picks for seeing sea turtles on St. John.
Haulover North: Snorkeling in 5' to 15' of water you will discover rocky patch reefs covered in corals. Large sea fans and gorgonians waving in the current surrounded by mustard corals and brain coral and fire coral. Conditions depend on wind and waves as its northeast facing location can make conditions challenging.
Henley Cay: Charter or Kayak tour needed. You will see gorgonians and sea fans, brain corals, fire coral and healthy populations of reef fish. There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the cay.
Salt Pond: Can get a bit crowded but offers some nice snorkeling, especially in the center of the bay.
Yawzi Point: Short hike down the path that runs along the eastern side of Little Lamshur Bay. DO NOT mistake the path for the narrow road that leads to the VIERS research building. About halfway out you will see a narrow path that leads down to the water to your left. When you reach the bottom there is a convenient mini cobble "beach".
Tunk Bay: The most family-friendly beach on St. John and the only beach that charges an admission fee. Only a few yards off the beach is Trunk Cay and the Virgin Islands National Park Underwater Snorkeling Trail. Follow the underwater markers which identify fish, corals, and marine life that are common in these waters.

There are a number of beaches on St. John, from the long sandy stretch of Cinnamon Bay, to the most secluded Hawksnest Beach, Lameshur Bay and Salt Pond Bay. Explore them all or return to "your spot" every day.

St. John is much more than Trunk Bay, but it is not to be missed! Trunk Bay is often considered the most beautiful beach on St. John, and the most pristine beach in all of the Caribbean. It consistently ranks in the top 10 beaches in the world by many publications.

Pair a hike or Swim with your beach visit. Some beaches are so remote that you need to swim, snorkel, or kayak to them. If that sounds intimidating, you can always charter a boat or snorkeling excursion.

St. John Etiquette

CARIBBEAN MANNERS: You will be rubbing shoulders with another culture so please remember to start all conversations with a cheery “Good Morning”, “Good Day”, “Good Afternoon”, or “Good Evening”. West Indian culture considers it bad manners to jump into a conversation without first exchanging a greeting.

DRESS CODE: Very Casual, including evening dining. Never go barefoot or shirtless. Never wear your bathing suit without a cover-up in town or in any public place, especially in restaurants.

TIPPING: Tipping for great service is the same as on the U.S. mainland: 18% - 20% or so for restaurant service.