Which u.s. virgin island is best for families

Pristine beaches, beautiful reefs and green hills await any family vacationing in the U.S Virgin Islands — these Caribbean islands and islets have long been a family-favorite getaway spot!

Sure, you may not find a lot of all-inclusive resorts in the USVI but there’s no dearth of resorts with fabulous kids’ programs and a vibe that screams “family friendly”!

To further sweeten the deal, take along your passports and the British Virgin Islands are just a ferry ride away!

If you’ve been planning a clan getaway to the fabulous “Twin City” and are looking for hotel recommendations, here’s my curated list of what I believe are the best family resorts US Virgin Islands have to offer.

1. Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

Ritz Carlton St. Thomas

You have to admit that there’s very little margin for error when you stay at the Ritz-Carlton anywhere in the world, and their 30-acre property on the U.S Virgin Islands is hardly an exception.

Located on St. Thomas, the main island, the Ritz-Carlton five-star resort occupies a beautiful spot amid the hills and landscape on the eastern side of the island.

It runs, for families, a Jean-Michel Costeau Ambassadors of the Environment program that is rooted in the resort’s Caribbean environment.

As a part of their spectacular kids’ program, the resort offers a range of environmental activities and eco-adventures on and off-land, such as marine-life observation through a glass-bottomed boat, hiking through a rainforest, and nocturnal wildlife observation, all the while respecting and connecting meaningfully with the local flora and fauna.

2. St. James’s Club and Villas

St. James’s Club And Villas

The St. James’s Club and Villas is a beautiful resort sprawled out over 100 acres on the equally beautiful St. James Island, a major part of which is a dedicated national park.

This makes the resort an especially great getaway for nature-loving families!

Guests can choose from about 250 spacious rooms spread out on the resort’s property.

It also has 6 pools (yep, you read that right!) and 2 gorgeous beaches, one even on a calm bay that makes it a great spot for the younger members of the family.

The resort even runs a great kids club; they don’t leave the teens out of the fun either with a dedicated beachside hangout just for them!

3. The Westin St. John Resort and Villas

The
Westin St. John Resort And Villas

Located on St. John Island, The Westin is among the most popular USVI family resorts, with a 47-acre property that’s nestled into the hills but also close to the island ferries and marina.

One of the resort’s biggest draws is its 1200-foot beach; apart from sparkling turquoise-blue waters and white sands, there’s a host of onsite watersports and a quarter-acre pool that’s an excellent site for families to gather and spend time together.

Villas with spacious rooms are available (one, two and three bedrooms), each equipped with a fully functional kitchen, washer, dryer, and CD player!

Related: U.S. Virgin Islands with Kids – Fun Things to Do

4. The Palms at Pelican Cove

The Palms At Pelican Cove

St. Croix may be one of the lesser-visited islands in the area but this can turn out to be a huge advantage if you’re looking for a private family getaway that lets you truly sink into the tradition, culture and overall atmosphere of the Caribbean Islands.

If that’s your idea of a family vacation, The Palms at Pelican Cove may just be the best place to stay on St. Croix!

The property houses only 40 rooms; families can choose between the kitchenette-and-separate-living-area-equipped suites on the top floor or regular guest rooms.

The hotel’s pool is small yet beautiful, a stone’s throw away from the tranquil, remote beach that borders the property.

Also See:
Best St. Lucia Resorts for Families
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5. The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer has been a hotspot for family vacations for over 60 years now, with tons of happy families swearing by this family-owned-and-operated resort.

Spread out over 340 acres on St. Croix, The Buccaneer may not be the place for a tranquil, private getaway, but presents a world of family-friendly fun!

The little ones can have a field day with the free kids’ camp program; there’s a whole lot of fun for the toddlers too with the resort’s Toddler Time program that’s run on the resort’s beach.

The resort offers cute cottage suites for accommodation; these come with master bedrooms and a separate bedroom with twin beds just for the kids.

Also See:
Best Montego Bay Resorts for Kids
Best Family Resorts: St. Thomas
Family Bali Resorts

6. Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove

Marriott’s Frenchman’s
Cove

Tucked away in the beautiful St. Thomas Island just adjacent to the Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef, the Frenchman’s Cove is serene, better-maintained and less crowded than the Frenchman’s Reef.

The Frenchman’s Cove has 221 rooms on its property (both two and three bedrooms), including suites that can house up to 12 guests.

Each of the suites has separate living rooms, dining areas, full kitchens, washers, dryers, DVD players, free Wi-Fi and even private balconies to unwind with a glass of wine in the moonlight once the little ones are fast asleep.

You can also opt to spend long, sunny days sunbathing on the beach while the kids’ are busy with the fun and engaging activities of the resort’s kids’ club.

7. Sugar Beach Resort

Sugar Bay Resort Spa

Small, tranquil and a great hit among families who are looking for relaxing getaways, the Sugar Beach Resort merely occupies 7 acres of land but packs a world of family-friendly vibes and activities into it!

Located on the quiet St. Croix island, the Sugar Beach Resort is also a great option for multi-generational vacations, with spacious four-bedroom suites with fully-equipped kitchens and amenities.

The resort is also conveniently located along 500 feet of pristine beach territory — a gorgeous spot where you can combine fun and family time!

They also have hiking and bicycling activities, as well as an efficient babysitting service.

Also See:
Kid Friendly Fiji Resorts
Best Caribbean Family Resorts

8. Bolongo Bay Beach Resort

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort

Located on St. Thomas, the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort sets the scene for an unbelievably intimate, private family vacation, despite the hustle and bustle of the main island life that surrounds it!

This resort is an oasis of calm, with 62 rooms that provide spectacular beach views and an extremely popular onsite restaurant — Iggies Beach Bar — that has islanders flocking to it for its live music, bare-feet-swimsuits dress code and yummy food.

The beach itself is a thing of beauty, allowed to stay as natural as possible with ungroomed sand and palm trees fringing it.

What seals the deal with Balongo Bay Beach Resort, though, is that it’s one of the few resorts that allow an all-inclusive trip!

9. Caneel Bay Resort

Caneel Bay Resort

Caneel Bay has quite the history; after all, it’s the spot Laurence Rockefeller fell in love with when he first visited St. John, to the extent that he even built infrastructure and roads in the area and made it his home!

He also donated more than 5,000 acres of land to be turned into a national park, a whopping 170 acres of which make are Caneel Bay resort property; this makes the area a great spot to visit, even if you don’t plan to stay here.

If you do plan to stay here, Caneel Bay perfectly combines the preservation of Rockefeller’s love for the island and catering efficiently to traveling families.

The rooms are gorgeous and spacious but don’t have televisions or phones, letting you truly enjoy the island and each other’s company without any distractions (even the internet signal is limited and weak here!)

10. Secret Harbour Beach Resort

Secret Harbour Beach Resort

Another unbelievably intimate property (as the name indicates!) on busy St. Thomas, the Secret Harbour Beach Resort is justly named.

Not only is it a private getaway spot but it’s also a secret from most travelers!

The resort offers individually-owned condos, each uniquely styled and decorated, as villa accommodation to its guests.

These condos (ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms) are spread out over 1,400 square feet and come equipped with full kitchens, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and dining areas (both indoor and outdoor).

There are 48 villas on the property that are housed in 5 low-rise buildings that surround a peaceful, remote cove where you and the fam can indulge in leisurely swimming and water sports.

Also See:
Best Family Resorts in Bermuda
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11. Point Pleasant Resort

Point Pleasant Resort

Large, spacious and packed with tons of things to do, the Point Pleasant Resort may be last on my list but it is in no way the least; the resort is one of the best options when you travel to the Virgin Islands with kids in tow for its many features, spaciousness and activities.

Located on the St. Thomas Island’s east end, Point Pleasant is home to scenic views that are conveniently closely located to the Red Hook area’s restaurants and shopping centers that you can hit — if you find the motivation to leave the resort, in the first place!

With 3 pools, a world-class spa and an on-site restaurant, the resort is a world of fun unto itself.

The villas on the property are owned and managed privately, each decorated uniquely.

However, all of them are extremely spacious, with large living rooms and fully-equipped kitchens, making them a good family pick.

The resort also has a small albeit rocky beach; if that doesn’t suit your taste, you are always free to hop next door and enjoy the Sugar Bay Resort beach at any time!

Related: Best Hotels in The US Virgin Islands

The Final Word

Many travelers often stick to the paths most traveled; therefore, you may find that a lot of them recommend the main island of St. Thomas to be the best US Virgin Island for a family vacation.

Though the island is a superb option, don’t miss out on the beautiful resorts on the quieter St. Croix and St. John.

These islands are less mainstream and therefore, more private, intimate and mostly free of crowds, making them a great option for quality family time sans interruptions.

Having said that, whether you want a fun vacation with non-stop activity, a laidback getaway with the fam or something in between, the resorts on my list have the potential to give you just the kind of holiday you’re looking for.

The next time you’re planning to book a USVI getaway, do consider these family-friendly hotels for a fabulous combination of fun, quality time and the freedom for every member of the brood to shape their vacation as they like and still enjoy being together as a family!

List of image sources

11 Best U.S. Virgin Islands Hotels for Families for 2022

Best Family Resorts US Virgin Islands
  • Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
  • St. James’s Club & Villas
  • The Westin St. John Resort & Villas
  • The Palms at Pelican Cove
  • The Buccaneer
  • Marriottt’s Frenchman’s Cove
  • Sugar Beach Resort
  • Bolongo Bay Beach Resort
  • Caneel Bay Resort
  • Secret Harbour Beach Resort
  • Point Pleasant Resort

11 Best Family Resorts in
the U.S. Virgin Islands - All Ages Love!

Which of the Virgin islands are the most family friendly?

Family Activities in the U.S Virgin Islands Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix have become a family destination because of all the kid friendly activities. USVI vacation packages are available.

Are the Virgin islands a good place for family vacation?

St. John is an ideal destination for family vacations. In fact, there are few better places to take your family than a Caribbean vacation. Ideal for water sports, beach time, adventure, as well as resorts that cater specifically to families with an array of swimming pools, restaurants, and child-care options.

Which is better St. Thomas or St. Croix?

Thomas is more popular with travelers who like history, who want nightlife, or who want a lot of options for their dining and activities. What is this? St. Croix is more popular with those who are interested in tranquility, relaxing on secluded beaches, and natural activities like hiking.

Which is the safest US Virgin Island?

Which US Virgin Island is the safest? Of the three US Virgin Islands, St. John has the lowest crime rate.