St John Villas & Luxury Vacation Rentals

A passport is not required for visitors from the US, though it does serve as useful identification while travelling.
A visa is also not required for most visitors from Canada, the EU, and the Commonwealth; however, a valid passport is required.

Most visitors to the island of St John will first land in St. Thomas at the Cyril E. King Airport.
From there, you can catch a ferry or water taxi to St. John, or you can charter your own boat ride, including a speedboat or sailboat charter.
Once you arrive in St. John, you may want to rent a car. While a rental car is not necessarily needed the closer you stay to Cruz Bay, it is recommended so you can explore the island, including the amazing views and beautiful beaches on the north shore.
Your Rental Escapes Concierge can arrange your airport transfer and rental car.

December-March is peak season in St. John. Temperatures hover around 80°F (26°C), and you'll see great views of the Caribbean, very little rainfall, and a slight breeze in the evenings. That said, this is also when you'll see the highest prices on the island.
That's why, for many, shoulder season from April-July is the best time to visit St John. Temperatures are just as mild as during peak season, and while there's a slightly higher chance of rainfall, it's mostly relegated to some afternoon showers here and there.
Wet season runs from July to November, which is when you'll see the highest chance of rain and storms. Temperatures during this time are also the highest and go up to the upper 80s. If you can deal with that, though, this is when you'll find the absolute best deals on St. John villas.

Yes, a rental car is highly recommended for St John, especially if you're staying in a villa outside Cruz Bay. The island's best beaches, hiking trails, and viewpoints are spread across the northern and eastern coasts, and while taxis are available, they add up quickly for multiple trips. Most villas are located in hillside locations with winding roads, so having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to explore on your schedule. Your Rental Escapes Concierge can arrange your rental car to be waiting when you arrive at the ferry dock.

St Thomas offers direct airport access, more dining and entertainment options, and easier logistics, making it ideal for families and groups who want variety and convenience. St John is two-thirds national park with a quieter, more secluded atmosphere focused on natural beauty and pristine beaches. St John requires a ferry from St Thomas but rewards you with better snorkeling, fewer crowds, and a more intimate island experience. Both offer exceptional luxury villas with private chefs and concierge services.

Yes, St John has several grocery stores in Cruz Bay, including Starfish Market and Dolphin Market, which carry everything from fresh produce to wine and spirits. However, prices are higher than mainland US due to shipping costs. Most luxury villa guests opt for pre-arrival provisioning, where your Concierge coordinates with local suppliers to stock your villa before you arrive based on your preferences and dietary needs. This means your kitchen, bar, and pantry are fully stocked when you walk through the door.

St John luxury villas offer varying levels of staffing, from daily housekeeping to full-service experiences with private chefs, villa managers, and concierge services. Some villas include staff in the nightly rate, while others offer it as an add-on. A private chef typically handles 2-3 meals per day with grocery shopping and cleanup included, while villa managers coordinate everything from restaurant reservations to yacht charters. Your Rental Escapes Concierge will match you to the right staffing level for your group and handle all arrangements in advance.

St John can be excellent for families with young children, though it requires more planning than St Thomas. Look for villas with easy beach access, pools with shallow entries, and single-level layouts to avoid stairs. Beaches like Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay offer calm, shallow water perfect for young swimmers and snorkelers. The quieter pace means less overstimulation, and having a private chef means you're not constantly searching for kid-friendly restaurants. That said, St Thomas offers more variety if you need backup activity options.

US cell carriers work on St John without international roaming charges since it's a US territory. AT&T and T-Mobile generally have the best coverage, though signal can be spotty in remote areas and some villa locations. Most luxury villas have reliable high-speed WiFi throughout the property, including pool and terrace areas, so you can stay connected when needed. If consistent connectivity is essential for work, confirm coverage with your Villa Specialist during booking.

Yes, St John is perfectly positioned for island hopping. You can easily visit St Thomas for dining and shopping via the public ferry or private water taxi. The British Virgin Islands (Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda) are visible from St John's north shore and accessible via day charters, though you'll need passports for BVI entry. Many St John villa guests book private yacht charters to explore nearby cays, secluded beaches, and snorkel spots throughout the USVI and BVI. Your Concierge can arrange everything from half-day sails to full-day adventures.

St John's beaches are generally much less crowded than other Caribbean destinations, thanks to national park protection and the lack of large resorts. Trunk Bay sees the most visitors, especially when cruise ships are in port, but beaches like Cinnamon Bay, Salt Pond Bay, Waterlemon Cay, and Francis Bay offer stunning beauty with far fewer people. Early mornings and late afternoons provide the most solitude. Some villa guests with beach access rarely leave their property's private shoreline.

Visit Virgin Islands National Park: Over 60% of St John is operated by the National Park Service, who maintain trails and offers guided sightseeing and birdwatching tours. The park itself is full of wildlife, lush tropical forests, and even historical sites with ancient petroglyphs and plantation ruins. Trunk Bay, within the park, is also one of the most picturesque beaches in USVI, where you can catch some beautiful coral reefs on an underwater snorkelling trail or rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for a bit of fun.
Hike Ram's Head Trail: Located on the southeastern tip of the island, Ram's Head Bay directly faces the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument and offers some great hiking and snorkelling opportunities. Ram's Head Trail itself is known for its stunning views all throughout the hike, and while it can get hot (especially in the sun), swimming and snorkelling in Salt Pond afterward is a lovely refresher.
Visit Maho Bay Beach: A favourite of those staying near Cruz Bay and especially near the north shore, Maho Bay Beach on the island's northern coast features the white sand and cerulean water you want in a Caribbean beach. The beach and water are both generally quite calm, and there are some amenities to have drinks nearby. The turtles here are the real stars of the show, though, and you can swim with Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles and even with the endangered Green Turtle.

For such a relatively small island, St John has a strong food scene, with a big focus on fresh seafood and contemporary Caribbean cuisine.
You'll find plenty of great restaurants as you walk to Cruz Bay, as well as St John's own answer to food trucks – food boats!
And if you want to try some traditional USVI cuisine, be sure to sample some conch with butter sauce, conch fritters, johnny cakes, and fish and fungi, which many consider the national dish of USVI.
If you want to combine drinks and dessert, have a Bushwacker Cocktail – it's like a Mudslide made with dark rum, and it was born in the USVI.
Your Rental Escapes Concierge can also arrange private chef service and villa pre-stocking on any St John villa.

St. John sees warm, tropical weather year-round, with a dry season running from December to June, and a wet season from July to November.
January to March sees the lowest overall temperatures, with averages near 82°F (28°C) and water temperatures hovering between 79°F-81°F (26-27°C).
The weather heats up a bit more from April onward, with the average temperature increasing by 1°C per month until July's peak of 90°F (32°C).
August sees the most sunshine, with an average of 10 hours per day, while St. John as a whole sees between 11 hours of daylight per day in December and 13.2 hours of daylight in June.
Lastly, while October and November have the highest chance of rain, March and April have the lowest, with only 12.5 days of rain. That said, the UV rating is highest at this time, hovering near 7.5.