A Perfect 24 Hours in St Thomas Things to Do

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Greetings Internet Stranger and welcome to 24 hours in St Thomas! This itinerary for 24 hours in St Thomas is a little different from some of my previous 24 hour itineraries.

Usually I follow the method traditionally followed by travelers. I book a hotel, I choose my own restaurants, and I select what activities I want to do on a particular day. Also I typically actually spend the night in the places I am visiting.

But this trip was a bit different. On this trip, I was finding the best things to do in St Thomas on a Royal Caribbean cruise. For a week, my home away from home was the Jewel of the Seas. The best way to see St Thomas in a short amount of time is to book a guided tour or a shore excursion.

You can book an excellent tour like the one that I took by going right here.

So for the morning and afternoon portions of the itinerary, we will, of course, be exploring the islands. For the evening, we will be left to our own devices on the cruise ship. But don’t worry! We’ll still have an amazing 24 hours in St Thomas.

There will be beaches, shopping, and rum, which I assume is everything you want in a Caribbean vacation! If you want skiing, hot chocolate, and misery, you’ll have to find some other blog post.

24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

Where to Stay?

It would be ideal to spend a few days in St Thomas, and not just 24 hours in St Thomas, but sadly we don’t have enough time. If you want to check out the best deals on cruises that sail to St Thomas like Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, click here.

Obviously there are quite a few cities or towns in St Thomas, but we’re focusing on Charlotte Amalie for this itinerary, so that’s where I am looking for hotels. You want a convenient location where you can meet your tour of the island, and where it will be easy to get to the main attractions of your 24 hours in St Thomas. Charlotte Amalie is the capital city of St Thomas, and it’s certainly the largest city in St Thomas, so that’s where we’ll go

That’s why I recommend staying at the Hilltop Villas at Bluebeard’s Castle. The location is right by the historical buildings of Charlotte Amalie, so it’s a perfect home base for exploring. The rooms are gorgeous and have wifi and access to a hot tub, among other great amenities. (Those are just my two favorites.) It also has a great bar with strong cocktails–I know this from personal experience.

If you want a great deal on this hotel, click here.

And if you’re looking for great deals on other hotels in St Thomas, just click here. This search engine will help you find the perfect place to stay for your 24 hours in St Thomas. With plenty of options to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find something for your schedule and budget.

24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

Morning: Explore St Thomas

Every American should spend at least 24 hours in St Thomas. Of course, everybody should visit St. Thomas because it’s a beautiful island with a fascinating history. But in particular, every American should visit St. Thomas because it’s part of the United States.

Like Puerto Rico, it’s a US territory. You don’t even need a passport to spend 24 hours in St Thomas if you are American! There are actually many islands in the US Virgin Islands, but St. Thomas is the largest. It’s also home to the capital city of the US Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie. (We’ll meet Charlotte a little later.)

If you are spending 24 hours in St Thomas as part of a cruise, like I did, I recommend choosing a shore excursion that will take you around the natural wonders of St Thomas in the morning and then give you time to explore Charlotte Amalie in the afternoon.

However, if you’re spending 24 hours in St Thomas on your own, you can easily book your own tour of the island that will take you to Magen’s Bay Beach.

I recommend booking this excellent tour by going here.

I had such an amazing time that I’d definitely like to come back on a later trip and stay in the US Virgin Islands for a few days. But my shore excursion was enough to teach me more than…

Approximately top 5: st thomas edition

1) See the Hurricane Irma Recovery

This wasn’t a scripted part of the itinerary, but our driver/guide wanted to show us some places that had been damaged when St Thomas was devastated by Hurricane Irma in the autumn of 2017. As you can see from my photo, some houses on the mountainside were demolished by the storm. Our guide said some people haven’t been able to afford to rebuild, so they’ve simply relocated.

My mother’s family is from New Orleans, and I remember this process of relocation and rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. The people from the US Virgin Islands are resourceful and resilient, and I’m sure if they get the support they need, they’ll be able to make their home even better than it was before.

2) see the cyril e king airport

Our guide also pointed out to us where you can spot planes landing at the Cyril E King Airport near Charlotte Amalie. He wanted to draw our attention to the fact that St Thomas is open and ready to receive visitors of course! Tourism is the number one industry in St Thomas.

This is the case for most of the islands in the Caribbean, though there are some exceptions like Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago. On some islands, tourism makes up more than 75 percent of the economy. This is one thing I love about travel. You can have an amazing vacation or exploration and also help support the economy of a wonderful community like St Thomas.

3) Visit the world famous mountain top

The World Famous Mountain Top is a spectacular place from which to get panoramic views of the entire island of St Thomas. There’s no better place to appreciate its undulating blue waters and tree-topped mountains that curve into the ocean like a giant baby stroking its fingers through the sand.

Also, unlike most viewing points, admission is free. There’s a duty-free shop and a bar inside, so they try to lure you in with the promise of a gorgeous view! Then they hope you’ll buy some scented candles and a banana daiquiri once you’re inside!

24 hour tip

Just keep in mind that you’re high up and the weather can change every five seconds in the Caribbean. It can be quite windy, so bring a jacket and umbrella with you just in case.

Also, the World Famous Mountain Top is home to the banana daiquiri. This was apparently invented here by a British sea captain in the 1950s. I didn’t even know that British sea captains were doing things like inventing banana daiquiris in the 1950s. I watch The Crown a lot, so I just assumed they’d be going on pointless voyages with Prince Philip while he attempts to assert his masculinity.

In any case, I did not order a banana daiquiri here and I truly regret it. I told myself I “shouldn’t have a rum cocktail at 10 in the morning”, but this is the Caribbean! We can drink rum morning, noon, and night if we wish! Next time we go to St. Thomas, let’s promise to drink a banana daiquiri together, deal?

4) Magens Bay Beach

Magens Bay Beach is arguably the most popular beach in St Thomas, and it’s certainly one of the prettiest beaches you’ll see anywhere. It was named after a former governor of St Thomas, Jacob Jorgenson Magens. (Remember that St Thomas used to be a Danish colony.)

I’m sure you don’t need a long-winded explanation of why this beach is so popular, do you, Internet Stranger? Apparently Sir Francis Drake used to keep his boat docked here while he waited for ships to pillage.

I think the water here is the same color as a great jewel that Sir Francis Drake pilfered from a group of Spanish smugglers. Perhaps Drake hid the jewel underwater, expecting to come back for it, but he was murdered before he could return. Eventually the jewel turned the entire beach this perfectly, sparkling blue. Making up historical facts is fun!

Just sit back and relax for the next couple of hours as you let the jewel’s hypnotic power lure you into a peaceful slumber. Or you can just read a mystery novel. That’s what I do when I go to a beach solo.

5) Magens Bay Beach Bar, Cafe, and Boutique

If you follow the timetable of this itinerary, you’re going to get hungry while you’re on the beach. The only place to get lunch in the area is at the Magens Bay Beach Bar and Cafe. They serve any kind of fast food, but my order here is the chicken sandwich. I like the vinegary marinade they use on the chicken.

Unlike pizza or fried food, it’s a light and refreshing choice for a beach day lunch. Just keep in mind that the service can be a little slow. Go order your lunch as soon as you get to the beach so you don’t run the risk of missing your tour group, if you came with a group.

24 Hour Tip

Those are all the secrets of my 24 hours in St Thomas that I can share with you for now.

You’ll have to go ahead and book the tour by clicking here to find the rest.

24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

Afternoon: Explore Charlotte Amalie

As I mentioned earlier, Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the US Virgin Islands. Because the US Virgin Islands is a US territory, they do not have a separate President. They operate more like a state does, so they have a governor. Their recently elected governor is a native St. Thomasian named Albert Bryan.

You should definitely visit Charlotte Amalie during your 24 hours in St Thomas. Unfortunately, many of Charlotte Amalie’s historical attractions have not reopened since Hurricane Irma. When they do reopen, I’ll update this post to add them.

However, the shops and restaurants are definitely open for business and are more than happy to take your money. Every time I’d purchase something in one of Charlotte Amalie’s plethora of establishments, I’d chortle, “Supporting the local economy!”

(Many of Charlotte Amalie’s stores are chains, but the chains do employ local residents. And there are an increasing number of stores selling goods made by locals, which is always encouraging.)

Allow me to share with you…

The approximately top 5: Charlotte Amalie Edition

1) Diamonds International

So the number one thing to do during 24 hours in St. Thomas is shop until you drop…or the store cuts up your credit card in front of everyone and makes you cry. This is because shopping in St. Thomas is both duty free and tax free.

I personally hate shopping for gorgeous jewelry and beautiful clothes, but I am willing to make sacrifices just for you, Internet Stranger! And one thing I tried to do is figure out how to get the best deals jewelry shopping in St. Thomas.

I don’t know how it works on all cruise lines, but I imagine most have a similar set-up to Royal Caribbean. On the first day of the cruise, the shopping director will have a presentation explaining to you how you can get deals and discounts on jewelry and other items. He or she very likely will not direct you to off the beaten track locations to shop, but don’t worry. You have me for that!

Royal Caribbean has a relationship with certain stores, so you can get discounts (and free drinks) there if you have a card from the shopping director. I wanted to buy these Korite Ammolite earrings pictured above. They’re a gemstone made from a fossil.

What’s so spectacular about them is that each gem is multi-colored: naturally green, red, and blue. (The color came out rubbish in my photo and I can’t figure out how to fix it. Just look on the website to see what they actually look like in person.)

The clerk at Diamonds International who helped me was Josie from Dominica. We talked about how the island recovery had been going both on St. Thomas and on her home island, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria.

Like everyone else I spoke to on St. Thomas, she emphasized that tourists help the economy recover. So go visit St. Thomas and visit Josie and buy something pretty! It’s literally the easiest way possible to do some good.

2) Little Switzerland

I’ve spent 24 hours in St. Thomas more than once, and naturally I buy a different piece of jewelry each time. It’s all so I can give you proper advice! For myself I hate jewelry and would prefer to wear a simple flower behind each ear and a potato sack for clothes.

But my cruel and demanding audience forces me to adorn myself. Little Switzerland is also a reputable jewelry chain operating at St. Thomas.

On this trip to Little Switzerland, I got a pair of diamond earrings in a miracle setting. My helpful salesperson Angela told me that the crimping on the miracle setting makes the diamonds look bigger and more sparkly. She was absolutely right.

Each time I wear the earrings, I get compliments on how big and shiny they are, even though the actual diamonds are not that big. I looked the earrings up online afterwards and I paid 50 percent what I would have paid for them online, not including the money I saved by not paying sales tax.

Also, Little Switzerland was giving out free tastings of Cruzan rum, which is the local rum in the US Virgin Islands. (It’s owned by the Japanese spirit company Suntory, but it’s made on St. Croix. You can visit the distillery if you wish.

The distillery also runs an island recovery fund that has good ratings from charity watchdog groups.) I guess Little Switzerland was thinking that drunk people are more likely to buy things, and I think this is a sound business strategy.

3) Waterfront Trading Company

OK, I promised you some more off the beaten track shopping locations during our 24 hours in St Thomas, and here’s my favorite. The Waterfront Trading Company only sells art, jewelry, and crafts from local artists. I purchased an old-fashioned map that I assume Francis Drake used to stalk his victims. Now it hangs on the wall in my apartment, but sadly I am not a pirate and so it’s useless to me for practical purposes.

I also purchased a lovely sea glass necklace made by an artist from St. Thomas. The jewelry here is much more affordable than the goods at places like Little Switzerland and Diamonds International, and just as memorable.

4) Mr Tablecloth

Mr Tablecloth is also a unique store to Charlotte Amalie. It’s not a chain; it’s run by one lady name Jeannie. They’re well known for their linens, but my item of choice here is a Jeannie Jacket. The Jeannie Jackets are elaborately decorated, sometimes sheer pieces of outerwear.

They’re perfect for a cruise or resort because you can just drape one over yourself in the evening and look like you made a bit of an effort without actually doing anything. I am all about lazy glamour.

5) Bumpas

When you’ve finally had enough shopping and would prefer a little sitting, you can stop in for a snack at Bumpas. This local-run store has sandwiches and more substantial meals. But if all you want is a snack, just get some of their creamy ice cream. Rum raisin is always my flavor of choice in the Caribbean. In the USVI, they don’t skimp on the rum!

Then you can take your ice cream out to the cafe’s balcony and enjoy this view! If you’re American, remind yourself you can move to St Thomas and experience this loveliness whenever you want.

6) explore the history of st thomas

Seeing the old Danish buildings is one of my favorite things to do with 24 hours in St Thomas. Unfortunately the historic Danish part of Charlotte Amalie is the least recovered since Hurricane Irma.

Remember that St Thomas was a Danish colony until the United States purchased it. It might be quite some time before the historic tours of this section are operating again. But nothing is stopping you from learning a little of St Thomas’s history on your own!

There are statues to noted St. Thomasians all over Charlotte Amalie. One important figure in the history of the US Virgin Islands is Jose Antonio Jarvis. He was one of the first people to write a history of the US Virgin Islands. He also founded a newspaper on the island and served as the principal at one of the public schools for many years.

I think it’s important to remember figures like Jarvis who worked to educate people and not only people like Sir Francis Drake who stole jewels from Spanish ghost pirates and buried them under the beaches of St Thomas.

6) Havensight Cruise Port

We still have a few minutes left in our 24 hours in St Thomas. Before you get back on your ship, you’ll likely stop in at the Havensight Cruise Port. This is the busiest cruise port in the world. It’s full of shops, but many of them were not open yet after Hurricane Irma.

What was open was a bar serving “Hurricane Irma” cocktails. I wasn’t sure if this was in good taste or not. But I figure the people of St. Thomas are better equipped than I am to make that kind of judgment! So I decided to order one so I could review it for this blog.

It looked to me like the ingredients of a Hurricane Irma are pretty much the same as the ingredients of a Hurricane cocktail from New Orleans. The main difference is that they used Cruzan rum, since this is the Virgin Islands. But just like with a regular Hurricane, you get both light and dark rum and lots of fruit juice.

24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

Evening: Enjoy Your Ship!

After your 24 hours in St Thomas, kick back and relax on your ship! I have absolutely no idea what cruise ship you’ll be staying on, so it’s hard for me to give perfect advice. But I will absolutely try my best to give you good counsel!

On Royal Caribbean, the ships often have a special Cocktail of the Day. I definitely suggest giving the Cocktail of the Day a shot. It sort of makes every day a fun drinking adventure! 

You can get everything from Royal Caribbean’s answer to a screwdriver to something very blue with a bunch of curacao in it. None of the drinks are that strong, but I’ve found all of them to be tasty, as long as you like your drinks a little sweet.

You can also enjoy dinner at the main dining room. The food is also included with your ticket. I suggest ordering whatever the waiter or the menu recommends. It’s not like you pay more for certain dishes, so there’s no motivation to steer you wrong.

My favorite dish on the night we visited St. Thomas was the carrot cake. It was moist and not too sweet.

The best thing about sleeping on a cruise ship is the little stuffed animal your room attendant makes out of your towel. I take a picture every night so the creations will be preserved for all eternity. Now the world can know of the wonders of this towel puppy!

24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

• A cell charger so you won’t have your cell die on you just when you are taking pictures of your 24 hours in St Thomas.
• The best travel adapter just in case you are not American and need to plug in your cell phone during your 24 hours in St Thomas. (It’s the USA, remember!)
• My book Get Lost, that I wrote myself with all my best travel tips. This book will show you exactly how solo travel can take your life from BLAH to amazing!
• My favorite guidebook to the US Virgin Islands

24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

How To Get There

Now, I wish I knew where you lived, Internet Stranger, because I could send you a box of the finest rum. But sadly, I do not, and so I can’t tell you exactly how to get from your home to the Caribbean.

But I can tell you that I used a lovely airplane to get from my hometown NYC to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where my cruise was docked. I recommend Expedia for the best way to find the cheapest flight to the Caribbean at the best time of day.

You can even use Expedia to rent a car so you’ll be all set when you arrive at your destination. (I can’t drive, but if you can, this must be helpful.)

Just click here to start looking for the best possible deals on your flight, so you can head out on your 24 Hours in St Thomas ASAP.

That’s 24 Hours in St Thomas: Things to Do

What would you do with 24 hours in St Thomas? Are you ready to start booking your hotel in St Thomas? Does drinking Cruzan rum make you more inclined to buy jewelry? And what should I name my towel puppy? Email me at stellajane@aroundtheworldin24hours.com and let me know

Note: If you want to know how I put my travel itineraries together, just click here. Keep in mind that while each article is about how to spend 24 hours in a place, that doesn’t mean you should ONLY spend 24 hours in St Thomas.

There is also a Tortola shore excursion. Experience the best things to do on Punta Cana. Try this itinerary for what to do on Barbados. Check out an awesome Antigua excursion. Try a top things to do in Saint Lucia day. Don’t forget about what to do at St Kitts! You can also try what to do in St Croix.