St. Thomas - Paradise Found
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St. Thomas is one of the premier destinations for cruise ships in the Caribbean. With the island’s perpetually sunny weather, friendly people, and spectacular beaches it is pretty easy to see why.
Magens Bay was named by National Geographic as one of the top ten beaches in the world. And it is every bit deserving of the honour with its postcard-perfect scenery. The one-mile beach is the island’s most popular attraction. Arrive early and stake your claim for a good spot, as it fills up early. There is a small entry fee to the public park ($4.00ish) which subsidizes the maintenance of the beach and related facilities, and it is money well spent. The water is calm with no waves, and crystal clear, suitable for non-swimmers, and there are lifeguards on duty. However, it’s not a good spot for snorkelling as the bay deepens gradually, and you won’t see many fish. You can rent beach toys such as paddle boats, kayaks and such, along with beach chairs and floats. A note for the fair skinned - there’s also very little shade on the beach, so be sure to bring heavy-duty sunscreen. A bar and restaurant are located there as well. Restroom facilities are available and taxis are plentiful.
If hitting the beach isn’t your thing, you can always shop. St. Thomas, a U.S. territory, is a premier duty-free destination which allows (most) visitors to take home up to $1,200 in goods duty free. Take a short cab ride to downtown, Charlotte Amalie. There are over 400 shops around Main Street that sell crystal, high-end jewellery, watches, table linens, cigarettes, and perfume. Prices are competitive, but use common sense when making large purchases. Many, (but not all shops), are reputable. If you make a large diamond, or jewellery purchase, make sure you leave the store with an appraisal in-hand. When you return home, immediately have the item appraised with a local jeweller. If their appraisal doesn’t match, (or exceed), the original appraisal, you will have credibility with your credit card company when you dispute the charges.
If you are a cruise ship passenger, many of the same goods offered downtown can be found at Havensight Mall located directly in front of the cruise ship terminal. There’s no need to venture downtown if you don’t want to, as traffic on St. Thomas can be brutal when multiple ships are in port. Think long and hard if it’s worth the trip to you, as prices on most everything at the Mall are comparable to downtown.
I’ve barely scratched the surface of what you can do on St. Thomas. There are lots more than heading to the beach or shopping. The island not only offers the most breathtaking scenery, but there’s also golfing, deep-sea fishing, or you can even take a ferry to the neighbouring island of St. John to snorkel. If history is your thing, take an island tour and hear the legend of the infamous pirate, Blackbeard. It’s all up to you, but with so many choices you might have to come back to St. Thomas another time.
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