Charlotte Amalie, located on the island of St. Thomas, is the capital and the largest city of the United States Virgin Islands, founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer house" or "beer hall"). This covered a period of almost a year, since we often spent weeks or even months in some places, especially during hurricane season. There are a couple of reasons. Those who appreciate fine art and a good shopping experience will be happy to know that visitors can exit St. Thomas with $1,600 in duty-free goods which is double that of most destinations. In 2010 the City had a population of 18,481, which makes it the largest city in the Virgin Islands Archipelago. Virgin Islanders are generally a conservative and quiet people. St. Thomas Airport to St Croix Airport: CAPE AIR tel: (800) CAPE-AIR SEAFLIGHT tel: (340) 714-3000 NO PASSPORTS NEEDED BETWEEN ST.THOMAS - ST CROIX - ST JOHN and PUERTO RICO Ferry to WATER ISLAND. Required fields are marked *, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. The land was divided into plantations and sugarcane production became the primary economic activity. It is advisable to contact the ferry company the day before your intended . How far is Saint Thomas from Miami, FL? There are no airports on St. John so you must fly to St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport (code STT) and travel from there. Confused yet? every Hour. The Virgin Islands are divided between the United States and the United Kingdom; so you have the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). However, you can take the line 112 bus to E 25 St & 11 Av Hialeah, take the walk to Metrorail Transfer Station, take the train to Miami Airport Station, take the walk to Airport Station, take the tram to Miami Intl Airport Ground Level, take the walk to Miami airport, fly to Beef Island, take the walk to Beef Island Airport, take the ferry to Peter Island, then take the ferry to Virgin Islands. Duty-Free Shopping 3. Now that I type this out, it seems more idiotic than at first. Because there are further breakdowns and groupings you may hear which come from which European powers dominated which islands politically and culturally during the 17th through 19th centuries. Many heading down island from the BVIs leave from Virgin Gorda, as it is the furthest island to the east. St. John , Water Island is the smallest populated island of USVI group. This is a destination meant for relaxation there is no need for a tie or a fancy dress. While we can't cover every combination for you, there is more than enough information to give you a sense for how you can island hop, and how long it might take. Where the "island" column is blank on departure, it's a repeat of the row above. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thirteen of the 14-member territorial board officials met by way of a teleconference between St. Thomas and St. Croix. When travelling within the territory no passport is required but if you are going to or coming from the USVI - don't forget your passport! Currently, we are unable to provide international travel restriction information for U.S. Virgin Islands relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Expand All Collapse All. Find all the transport options for your trip from Florida to Virgin Islands right here. This is only a problem if you turn south too soon. The St Thomas time zone is Atlantic Standard Time which is 4 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The lorikeet aviary where you can feed lorikeets. The islands are the peaks of submerged mountains that rise from the ocean floor. Most island hopping is in the Eastern Caribbean, in the Windward and Leeward Islands. The island boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world as well as some of the most popular activities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Board of Elections finalized its choice for leadership in the current term. The total straight line flight distance from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is 1,256 miles. If you could sail it straight though, how long would it take? The Leeward Antilles aren't in "Island Hopping" range, since reaching them from the Windward Islands is a multi-day offshore passage. The nonstop route for optimal wind is closer to 1,500 nautical miles. The arc of Caribbean islands begins off the coast of Florida and extends all the way to South America. Great article. Distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Saint Thomas The total straight line flight distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Saint Thomas is 1,110 miles. If you insist on everything being done at a fast pace, you may want to stick with a Florida vacation instead. Skimpy dress such as super short shorts or any very revealing clothing should not be worn while shopping or dining in town; only wear bathing suits at the swimming pool or the beach. O and by the way late Aug or Sept, is NOT a Good time to be going that way it can be the worst time for BIG storms LOL just sayin Bob and Connie 15-02-2012, 16:28 [9], Denmark-Norway's first attempt to settle the island in 1665 failed. You will find a table for each major island or island group and distances to common passages from that island. Statia's open roadstead anchorage can be uncomfortable in the wrong winds, so watch the weather. More than two thirds of the island is protected by the National Park Service. American Airlines, Finnair, British Airways, and Qatar Airways operate direct flights from Saint Thomas Island to Miami. Whilst we believe the ferry times listed to be correct, Best of BVI Ltd is not responsible for changes to the schedules. Since 2012 he's been cruising the world with his wife and living aboard full time. Known as "I-65," this alternate route has you sail east/east-northeast until longitude 65W, then turn south and reach towards the Virgin Islands across the trade winds. Because you're sailing way offshore, I-65 is considerably longer than the Thorny Path on a straight line basis. But when you leave from further south, the Bahamas and other islands get between you and the Virgin Islands, which complicates the whole route and adds a lot of time and work to the trip. Travel times between the USVI and British Virgin Islands can be quite short, and you must clear in and out every time you move between the USVI and BVI. Made it difficult for hilltop residents. And, unlike Florida, temperatures here are typically in the 80s during the day and the 70s at night all year round. The island groups are named relative to the trade winds, which blow from the south and southeast. You can stay on the French side in the lagoon, but you still must transit the Dutch side to leave via the Simpson Bay bridge, so you still have to deal with the Dutch authorities to pay the fees. . That being said, it is best to avoid the hurricane season between September to November. The ocean park consists of an open-water system where water flows through each of the exhibits and back out to the ocean. The main shopping areas include downtown Charlotte Amalie and around the Havensight dock. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' Every hour, one of the ferries departs Red Hook, St. Thomas, and the other Cruz Bay, St. John, crossing each other along the way. Your flight direction from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is Southeast (120 degrees from North). When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, the area was inhabited by Caribs, Arawaks, Ciboney and Tano native peoples. FirstBank Florida is now hiring a SENIOR PERSONAL BANKER - (Mortgage Division - St. Thomas) in Virgin Islands. It's warm and sunny, but that doesn't mean you don't have adverse winds and currents. The US Virgin Islands are located just to the right of Puerto Rico. The Netherlands St. John encompasses 20 square miles of beautiful scenery. By the time you haul anchor and set the sails and drop anchor on the other end, even a three-mile trip will take you an hour. Not a sailboat but powered by two gas engines, basically Chevy 350 V8s. A natural harbor is found in Coral Bay, however Cruz Bay is the main town and harbor. Once you get outside hurricane season, the trade winds hit their peak seasonal strength. There are two main towns Frederiksted and Christiansted. Although St. John's is a major port, it's not a small boat friendly harbor. During the off season, the prices are between US$99 and US$159 per person one way, economy class, depending on the hour of departure and airline. The average price for direct flights from Jacksonville, Florida to St Thomas Island is $463. On St. Thomas, life tends to move at a slower pace than on the mainland. Since 2012 he's been cruising the world with his wife and living aboard full time. Theres this and theres that. You didnt jump on anyone along the way. This column is for archipelagos and destinations with multiple islands. Things to Do in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 1. March is the driest month, receiving 27 millimeters (1.1in) of rainfall over 8.1 precipitation days, the least of any month. The cheapest flight from Tampa to Saint Thomas Island was found 42 days before departure, on average. ? In the opposite direction, boats leave every two weeks on a Thursday at 5:00pm from St. John and 6:00pm from St. Thomas. The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. The US Virgin Islands are 40-50 miles east of Puerto Rico; and about 1106 miles southeast Miami, Florida. If you have a couple of months to explore and gunkhole in the Bahamas on the way down or you don't like long offshore trips, you may have the time to make the Thorny Path a little less prickly. Also, your insurance company may not permit travel to some of them without advanced permission. If you stay in a villa you will most likely need to rent a car or scooter to get around. It is located just half a mile from St. Thomas south side. There are a few natural harbors and protected bays. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. A lot of sailors heading to the Virgin Islands from the continental U.S. prefer to leave from further north. St. Thomas and St. John are only about 6 miles away from each other, while St. Croix is located about 40 miles south of the other two islands. In the middle of the island are miles of beautiful beaches, rolling pasture lands and beautiful land. When browsing for deals, the options you'll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops. Full home rule was achieved in 1970. Silver Airways and American Airlines offer flights from Miami Airport to Beef Island Airport. Cheap Flights from Tampa Intl. The total area of the USVI is 133 square miles. Dont rush things have patience and consider your time here as a chance to relax and enjoy a nice breather. The Friday schedule leaves St. Thomas at 8 a.m. and St. Croix at 4 p.m. It is currently 2:44 AM in Florida and 3:44 AM in Virgin Islands. Re: Florida to British Virgin Islands route on power? The total area of the USVI is 133 square miles. How long does it generally take to fly between these two places in a modern commercial jet airliner? St. Croix is 84 square miles in size, 22 miles long and the widest point is a little more than 6 miles. The Town has been inhabited for centuries. Copyright 1999 2023 VInow.com All rights reserved. Heading further south, the Windward islands start with Martinique, then St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Please try again. St. Thomas and its nearby . We're looking for writers! Hundreds of ferries and yachts pass by the Town each week. From To Measure Distance Distance between Virgin Islands and Florida is: Facebook Twitter The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance from Virgin Islands to Florida is 1989.07 km= 1235.95 miles. Barbados is one of the more off the beaten path islands. to Cyril E. King. There are thousands of islands in the Caribbean, and over forty with major populations. 9034 GD Marsum That's where you find most of the small island nations and territories you can sail between in less than a day. Virgin Gorda to St Thomas (calls at Road Town, Tortola) 6:30am 2:45pm: 6:30am . The cheapest month to fly is February. Accessible through Cyril E. King Airport (STT), the 32 square mile island is full of hills and cobblestone streets, with the most popular being the picturesque 99 Steps. For crews without blue water experience or not comfortable being a hundred miles from land, this is a big draw. Virgin Islands Leward Islands Windward Islands Mediterranean . The latter usually operate only between high-traffic points, e.g., cruise-ship terminals at Havensight and Crown Bay and downtown Charlotte Amalie. You're sailing east before you're affected by the southeasterly trades, and if you hit the trades before 65W, you've gone too far south. The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are made up of 4 larger islands; Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada, and 32 smaller islands. Windward Islands are therefore "to windward" or to the south, and the Leewards are "to leeward" and downwind in the trades. About us Please try again. Distance between Puerto Rico and St Thomas is 179.54 km. Although the island is just 31 square miles, youll find a variety of attractions and even two cities with hot spots for exciting nightlife options as well. [14] He began the first newspaper in the islands, known as The Herald. Many view the trip past Georgetown as the worst stretch. Blue Ocean Transport specializes in shipping vehicles between U.S. mainland and St. Thomas and St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Like all resort and vacation destinations, it pays to shop for the best deals. 25 min. Of those, only Martinique is a French overseas territory, the rest are all independent countries. Grenada is a popular hurricane season destination for full time cruisers, because it's far enough south to reduce (but not eliminate) storm risk, and it's close enough to Trinidad to sail there on an overnight if a storm threatens. St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been revitalized in recent years. The islands extend from west to east for about 60 miles and are located west of the Anegada Passage, a major channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. There are 9 ways to get from Florida to St. Thomas by plane, shuttle, bus, train or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. [citation needed], Given its harbors and fortifications, Saint Thomas still retained a strategic importance, and thus, in the 1860s, during the American Civil War and its aftermath, the United States government considered buying the island and its neighbors from Denmark for $7.5 million. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? What airlines fly to St Thomas to Miami? An island pulsing with energy A modern paradise filled with colonial jewels, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is both a historian's and an adventure-seeker's playground. The highest Point is 300 feet above sea level. Leaving Crown Bay, St. Thomas. The island is 7 miles long by 3 miles wide. Fort Christian is a Dano-Norwegian-built fort in Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The warm water is a brilliant turquoise hue, ideal for snorkeling and viewing an abundance of marine life. The British Virgin Islands lie to the northeast of the United States Virgin Islands. From the airport you rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Redhook (east end) St. Thomas. There is 1 way to get from Florida to Virgin Islands by plane or ferry Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. The territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie is located on the island. 9034 GD Marsum In 1917, Saint Thomas was purchased (along with Saint Croix and Saint John) by the United States for $25 million in gold ($529 million today),[18] as part of a defensive strategy to maintain control over the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during the First World War. 6080 Estate Smith Bay, 00802 Frydendal, U.S. Virgin Islands - Great location - show map. Located in the Northeastern area of the Caribbean Sea, St. Thomas is part of the Leeward Islands enjoying both a wonderful and reliable weather in the winter months. Which makes it quite convenient to get to if you live in the United States for sure with easy connections out of MIA (Miami International Airport) of FLL (Fort Lauderdale International Airport). Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com When talking about moving between islands, cruisers will often use the phrases up island and down island. There's no shelter on I-65. From there you can either take a car barge to St. John or the people ferry. It's an established part of the local economy, and they will handle much of what you need on the island like tours and supplies. FIRST AIR MAIL FLIGHT FAM 9 MIAMI FLORIDA MULTIPLE BACKSTAMPS US COVER. American forces were based on the island during the Second World War.