Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HURRICANES
The hurricane season, the dark side of the Caribbean's beautiful
weather, officially lasts from June to November. The Virgin Islands chain lies in the
main pathway of many a hurricane raging through the Caribbean, and the islands are
often hit. If you're planning a vacation in hurricane season, stay abreast of weather
conditions. It may pay to get trip-cancellation insurance because of the possibility of
hurricanes.
Islanders certainly don't stand around waiting for a hurricane to strike. Satellite
forecasts generally give adequate warning to both residents and visitors. And of
course, there's always prayer: Islanders have a legal holiday in the third week of July
called Supplication Day, when they ask to be spared from devastating storms. In late
October, locals celebrate the end of the season on Hurricane Thanksgiving Day.
Average Temperatures & Rainfall (in.) for St. Thomas
2
JAN
FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
Temp (°F)
77
77
77
79
79
82
82
83
82
83
81
77
Temp (°C)
25
25
25
26
26
28
28
28
28
28
27
25
Precip.
1.86
.95
.97
8.32
9.25
1.62
2.25
3.6
2.04
4.43
7.77
2.46
The High Season & the Off Season
High season (or winter season) in the Virgin Islands, when hotel rates are at their
peak, runs roughly from mid-December to mid-April. However, package and resort
rates are sometimes lower in January, as a tourist slump usually occurs right after the
Christmas holidays. February is the busiest month. If you're planning on visiting dur-
ing the winter months, make reservations as far in advance as possible.
Off season begins when North America starts to warm up, and vacationers, assum-
ing that temperatures in the Virgin Islands are soaring into the 100s (upper 30s
Celsius), head for less tropical local beaches. However, it's actually quite balmy year-
round in the Virgin Islands—thanks to the fabled trade winds—with temperatures
varying little more than 5° between winter and summer.
There are many advantages to off-season travel in the Virgin Islands. First, from
mid-April to mid-December, hotel rates are slashed a startling 25% to 50%. Second,
you're less likely to encounter crowds at swimming pools, beaches, resorts, restaurants,
and shops. Especially in St. Thomas and St. Croix, a slower pace prevails in the off
season, and you'll have a better chance to appreciate the local culture and cuisine. Of
course, there are disadvantages to off-season travel, too: Many hotels use the slower
months for construction and/or restoration, fewer facilities are likely to be open, and
some hotels and restaurants may close completely when business is really slow.
Additionally, if you're planning a trip during the off season and traveling alone, ask
for the hotel's occupancy rate—you may want crowds. The social scene in both the
B.V.I. and the U.S.V.I. is intense from mid-December to mid-April. After that, it
slumbers a bit. If you seek escape from the world and its masses, summer is the way
to go, especially if you aren't depending on meeting others.
Holidays
In addition to the standard legal holidays observed in the United States,
U.S. Virgin
Islanders
also observe the following holidays: Three Kings' Day (Jan 6); Transfer Day,
commemorating the transfer of the Danish Virgin Islands to the Americans (Mar 31);
Organic Act Day, honoring the legislation that granted voting rights to the islanders
(June 20); Emancipation Day, celebrating the freeing of the slaves by the Danish in
1848 (July 3); Hurricane Supplication Day (July 25); Hurricane Thanksgiving Day
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