St. John Travel Tips - St. John Travel Guide

St. John can be expensive. If you do a little prep work you can make it as affordable as a trip to any other island destination in the caribbean.

Airfare is the first major expense. If you keep your eyes open you can find reduced fares. Spirit airlines runs specials Spirit Airline. Spirit Air is a discount air carrier. I have read some complaints and some glowing testimonials for them. My advice on any air ticket is to fly direct to STT from the US mainland instead of stopping in SJU. I like San Juan, but it adds time and expense to your trip.

Next big expense is your accomodations. I prefer villas on StJ to the couple of luxury hotels on the island. You can find "deals" there also. During off season or shoulder season you can find a house to live in for less than $100 per person per night for a couple. You have to have an idea of what you are looking for when deal shopping for a villa. I like the VRBO and HomeAway websites. Be cautious when dealing direct with an owner though. I have heard horror stories about last minute cancellations on the owners part. You can use a management company to find and book a villa but some will tack on as much as a 5% fee. Multiple camping options are available, sometimes camping costs can rival the per person cost for a villa though. With camping though, you get waterfront accomodations.

Eating on StJ can be "expensive". If you dine out, you will find your food and drink bill equal to your villa bill. We bring some essentials with us and our first stop is at the Starfish Market for groceries and drinks. Expect to pay 10% - 40% more for groceries on island. Alcohol is about the only thing you will find a bargain on StJ. Rum can actually be cheaper than water. If you are renting a jeep on STT, you could stop on STT for groceries before taking the car ferry over. I read that groceries are considerably less expensive than on StJ.

You can get by without a car rental if you planned your villa right. You will have to use public transport (ViTran) which is not altogether reliable, hitchhike (which is common) or just walk. Jeep rental is of comparable cost to the mainland ~$360 per week off season.

My last trip to StJ cost about $700 per person per week. (two couples sharing some expenses.) I have been shopping for another trip for my wife and I and it breaks down to about $1000 per person per week.
No matter what I end up paying, I have never regretted a trip to St. John.

The beaches, the snorkeling, the hiking trails, the views to the British Virgin Islands, the people.

St. John General Tips

St. John General Tips

Visiting St. John?

Visiting St. John?