Saint Thomas Guide

Welcome to St. Thomas

Here is a St. Thomas guide to help you get started on researching the perfect Caribbean Vacation!!! I know you’re busy with life and have been daydreaming about sitting on the beach with nothing to do for the last week. Really, we have so many beaches to choose from you could literally do a different beach every day the entire time you are on vacation. I hope you fall in love with this crazy little island and keep coming back each year for more.

A few quick facts about Saint Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands:

• 40 miles east of Puerto Rico

• 32 square miles

• 1,550 feet high

• 85 degrees all year round

• 50,000 plus people call it home

• 18 degrees from the equator

• we drive on the left

The Perfect Island Day!

If I was going to plan your perfect St. Thomas vacation day it would look something like--grab a coffee and breakfast from the Northside Grind (they also serve lunch and have amazing fresh fruit popsicles. The photo above is of their mango, kiwi, and dragon-fruit!!!) Go to Magens Bay Beach to enjoy breakfast. I would then either do the hike (trail starts in the woods close to shed #3) or rent a stand-up paddle-board from Yaks Shak (located on the right side of the beach). After the beach, I would go on a little adventure and enjoy some air-conditioning as you drive. Swing by Drake's Seat, a gorgeous scenic overlook, to get a beautiful overview photo of the beach on your way to Botanical Garden on Crown Mountain. When you finish up in the garden you have totally earned a nap before dinner!!!!

What to do in St. Thomas

Beach Hop

Yaks Shak Watersports

Kayak Eco Tours

Drake's Seat

Botanical Garden

99 Steps

Synagogue

Fort Christian

Water Island

St. John

Spa to Go!

Boating

Where to eat on St. Thomas:

Restaurants

Northside Grind

Brook’s Bar

Sunset Grille

Oceana

Benitos Burritos

Salt & Vinegar

Virgilio’s Italian Cusine

Brix Wine Bar & Bistro

There is so much that isn’t on this list. Please leave a comment in the comment section, if there is something you have experienced that you think is a “must-do while on Saint Thomas!”

Now all you have to do is pack. I would pack light, you will spend a lot of time in a swimsuit. Don’t forget the reef-friendly sunscreen, your favorite floppy hat, and your sunglasses. If you find a really cute sundress you should call me and set up a beach photo session.

Get ready for relaxation and an amazing adventure!!!!!

All photographs by Crown Images. Pouchette by Isola Bella.

The Best Beach for Photos on St. Thomas

Now that you have decided to do a photo session with Crown Images, your first question will be: “Where is the best beach for photos on St. Thomas?” If you are anything like me, you will want to know all your options to help you find the perfect fit.

Here are my 4 favorite beaches for photos on St. Thomas:

Magens Bay Beach

Magens Bay Beach is located on the north side of the island and is the largest beach on the island. This is my favorite beach on St. Thomas. I normally go to the left side of the beach for privacy in the evenings and more central in the morning. Magens is stunning in the morning and rarely has any seaweed. This location is awesome if you are going to spend the day at the beach after photos, they rent chairs and have a beach bar. Magens does charge a small entrance fee. The next two slideshows are of Magens, the first one was taken in the morning and the second slideshow is in the evening.

Sapphire Beach

I always recommend Sapphire Beach if you would like something more than just the beach for photos. This area has a palm tree area, that offers the perfect amount of shade for sensitive eyes and Pretty Klip Point with an epic view of the other islands, the point can be really windy. Sapphire Beach does get seaweed during the summer months and can have a lot of wind during the winter months.

Lindquist Beach

I think Lindquist Beach is the prettiest beach on St. Thomas. It has the clearest water and the whitest sand. This small beach is located on the east side of the island and photographs well any time of day. However, it is normally windy (something to consider for your hair in photos) and does get seaweed during the summer months. This beach has a small entrance fee.

Secret Harbour Beach

This sweet little beach is located on the east side of the island. It has a small resort on it and a restaurant called Sunset Grill. This beach is ideal if you are looking for a beach without wind, which is nice for your hair to stay in place but can also feel much warmer. Secret Harbour Beach is also wonderful for a surprise proposal since it has a restaurant on the beach. This beach has very limited parking and is best if you stay here or take a taxi. The next two slide shows show the lighting in the morning and evening.

Limetree Beach

Limetree Beach is located on the south side of the island and is beautiful in the morning as well as to watch the sun setting. It has an open view of the ocean and a beautiful rock formation to the right side of the beach. There is a small timeshare located on this property, as well as a restaurant. The first slideshow is during the morning hours and the second slideshow is in the afternoon prior to sunset.

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Charlotte Amalie

One last idea is to do photos in downtown area called Charlotte Amalie.

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You are always welcome to do photos at your resort or villa for the convenience.

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Saint Thomas Beaches Post Hurricane Irma

It has been about 7 weeks since Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Islands. I just had to find out what the beaches looked like after the storm on Saint Thomas. My friend Mike and I spent the morning driving around the island beach hopping.  This is what we found….

Our first stop was Limetree Beach. Prior to the storm this was one of my favorite beaches to photograph at. Unfortunately, Limetree Beach is a bit washed-out and lost a lot of sand. I’m sure it’s a matter of time before the sand will shift and make it beautiful again. Bluebeard’s Beach Club doesn’t plans to reopen for some time while they rebuild some of the supporting buildings around the property.

Bolongo Bay Beach also lost a lot of sand from flooding.  One of the owners, Richard Doumeng, was kind enough to give us an update. They are already housing a bunch of workers and islanders that have been displaced from the hurricane. Iggie’s Beach Bar has moved over to the pool area, they’re now calling it Iggie’s Oasis, and is serving drinks and food. The pool looked amazing and I have plans to go back and hang out. The Bolongo sailboat wasn’t harmed and is back at the dock and ready to go sailing. They don’t have an exact date that they will reopen fully but it sounded like it could be as soon as the beginning of 2018.  Everyone at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort seemed very positive and welcoming as always.

The next stop was Secret Harbour Beach Resort. This resort looked great overall. The sand on the beach is in the process of being groomed.  The Cruzan Beach Club at Sunset Grill is open for lunch and dinner. They didn’t say an exact date they will be reopening but I do know for sure I have a bride and groom staying here the week of Thanksgiving. 

Sapphire Beach looked more amazing after the storm. Really, it does, there wasn’t any seaweed on the beach. The palm trees need to regrow out on the point but the view of St. John is still stunning. It looked like the beach bar is open and I would imagine you could still stay here since a lot of the rooms are listed privately.

Lindquist Beach looks amazing as always. The sand has changed a little bit, there is less of a slope and the point on the left looks smaller. The water looks amazing and was so inviting.  This has to be my favorite beach on Saint Thomas right now!

Magens Bay Beach was our last stop. They are working hard on getting this beach cleaned up and ready to open the first week of November (next week.) I wasn’t able to see most of the beach, so I don’t have a ton to report on it. I know there was a lot of damage but from what I could see it still looked stunning. As soon as they open I will have more photos.

There are a few more St. Thomas Beaches on my list that I didn’t get to, like Emerald Beach and Brewers Beach. I have heard that Hull Bay Beach is looking better then ever with a bunch of new sand that has washed up.  Please let me know if there is a beach you would like an update on that I’ve left out. I’m ready to go swimming!!!!!