US Virgin Islands: Ranked Best Beaches in the Caribbean!

Hello everyone and happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I was lucky enough to spend time at Maho Bay on Saturday with a family from Baltimore during a News of St. John island tour, and we all commented how great the island looks, particularly the beaches and the landscape. The waters off St. John are dazzling shades of blues, the sand on many of our beaches is bright white and the hillsides are beautiful shades of green. The island simply looks great!

I often tell you all that St. John is the best island in the Caribbean. The way St. John has bounced back over the past 22 months is awe-inspiring, both in nature and its people. But despite this, I still receive emails and Facebook messages asking if St. John is ready for visitors. Well the answer is overwhelmingly yes!

Well now you don’t just have to take my word for it… US News & World Report just released its rankings of the best beaches in the Caribbean and do you know who is number one?? That’s right, the US Virgin Islands! Woo hoo! Here’s what they had to say about the rankings:

You visit Canada for undisturbed nature and friendly locals, and Europe for its history and rich cuisine. But you travel to the Caribbean for the beaches. The region is synonymous with incredible scenery, including idyllic islands, reefs and cays. But with so much variety, it can be difficult to pick which sandy strip to visit first. To help you choose, U.S. News – with the help of reader votes and expert opinions – ranked the best Caribbean beaches. These destinations feature the sugary sands and turquoise waves that have earned the region its outstanding reputation. Cast your vote below and help us rank next year’s best destinations.

And here’s what they had to say about the US Virgin Islands:

The U.S. Virgin Islands are “America’s Caribbean Paradise” — the place to see moko jumbies dance at a Carnival parade, hear the lilting patois of a Creole dialect or smell the spices in a saltfish pate (all without losing cell phone reception). You can visit either St. Thomas, St. John or St. Croix, or better yet, spend a little time on all three islands. That way you’ll get plenty of pampering, undisturbed nature and colonial history jammed into one vacation. And bonus: you can pay for everything with U.S. dollars. 

Each island offers something different. Called “Rock City” for its hilly, craggy horizon, St. Thomas is known for luxury — from the mega-yachts moored in the harbor to the high-end storefronts along Main Street. Located a short ferry-ride east, St. John appeals to honeymooners and nature lovers, with more than 7,000 acres of dedicated parkland plus surrounding pristine beaches. Way down south in the Caribbean Sea, less-visited St. Croix has sugar cane plantations and rum distilleries that offer a glimpse into both the past and the present of the Virgin Islands.

I know it’s summer, and many of you are enjoying warm temps and beautiful scenery where you live. Well, it’s never too early to look ahead to the fall and winter months and start planning that vacation! St. John looks amazing and we’re ready for ya! Now go ahead, look for airfare. Pack your beach cooler and grab your reef safe sunscreen. Check out our sponsors and perhaps book a villa, boat trip or even an island tour with me! (You can learn more at www.newsofstjohn.com/islandtour.) It’s never too soon to plan your next vacation, and I hope that vacation brings you here!

That’s all we have for you today, folks. Have a great Monday!