Summer Travel Tips to St. John, USVI

Enlarge Photo

Russ: The Caribbean is naturally thought of as a place to escape northern winters, but it really shines in the summer.  The water is calmer and warmer, the beaches are uncrowded, and it's when you can grab all of those off-season deals.

Jeff: The feedback we routinely get from villa management companies and business operators – the retailers, the restaurant folks and charter boat guys - is that they look forward to the summer visitors, because they tend to be more laid back travelers than those who pay top dollar in high season, and who can be more unrealistically demanding because of it.

Russ: Summer is a great time to rent an island villa.  Whether for a couple or a group, the off-season rates for homes with great amenities and fabulous ocean views can be a bargain.  Renting a villa might seem extravagant in high season but it can be downright affordable in the summer with rates for a week as much as 25 to 30 percent lower.  And a lot of villa owners, ourselves included, now use direct booking sites like www.vrbo.com and www.homeaway.com where you can land last-minute deals on fantastic homes.

Jeff: June and July throughout the islands are hugely focused on various carnivals and festivals that happen in the middle of summer. The weeks leading up to them are busy with all the planning and preparation, the events themselves can stretch out over a week, and the days after these events tend to be very laid back. St. John’s Festival, which runs for several days over the July 4th holiday and is a real community event, is exhausting!  But it’s a great way to sample Caribbean music, crafts, and cooking.  Then, everybody gets to chill.   These events let visitors participate in some genuine island culture and vibe.

Russ: Travelers to the USVI are planners and book winter trips well in advance, but with the crowds gone in the summer, last minute doesn't mean out-of-luck. The resorts and villa companies will have off-season deals on last-minute accommodations. The Westin St. John, for example, has an off-season “Unwind on Island Time” package that includes round-trip ferry transportation from the St. Thomas airport, a dining voucher, island tour, and added specials for the kids.

More on St. John and the USVI