US Virgin Islands Open For Canadian Business

The U.S. Virgin Islands has a renewed commitment to the Canadian market and is working to restore direct flights from Toronto.

USVI tourism officials held a fine lunch event in Toronto on Thursday on the eve of the Toronto Film Festival, which the tourism board is involved with.

The U.S. Virgin Islands, which include St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, were slammed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria two years ago. They were hit by Dorian a few days ago but the storm was a Category 1 hurricane at the time and moved quickly, causing some electrical outages but no serious damage.

Officials said most boutique hotels have re-opened and that airports are busy.

The Ritz Carlton, a lovely hotel/resort on the east end of St. Thomas, is expected to re-open its doors in December. The Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix and the Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort and Spa (I had a fine stay there a few years ago) should re-open in mid or late 2020, while Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort on St. Thomas should be open again late next year.

“We’ve recovered well and we continue to rebuild,” said Joseph Boschulte, the USVI tourism commissioner.

The best way for Canadians to get there is to connect in New York, Miami, Atlanta or several other U.S. cities, from which you can fly to St. Thomas or St. Croix. St. John, a beautiful, mountainous island, is easily reached via a short ferry from St. Thomas.

Officials are hoping to convince Air Canada to resume direct flights to the USVI from Toronto.

Many Canadians arrive in St. Thomas on cruise ships, touring the pretty, engaging port city of Charlotte Amalie. Cruise traffic to St. Thomas is down about 20% this year, partly due to cruise growth in the Western Caribbean, but officials hope two new slips in the St. Thomas harbour – slips that will accommodate the biggest cruise ships out there – will help turn things around.

Tourism board officials are pushing St. Croix as the next big thing for visitors to the USVI.

“The other islands might disagree, but St. Croix has the best food scene in the USVI,” Boschulte said with a smile.

Boschulte said the Dine VI event will be held the second week of November on all three main islands. The Agricultural Fair in St. Croix takes place in February.

I had the pleasure of visiting the US Virgin Islands a few years back and loved it. Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas has lovely laneways and pretty boutique hotels, including the 1829 Hotel. Magen’s Bay is a stunning beach on the north side of the island.

A large portion of St. John is given over to the U.S. National Park Service, thanks to a generous gift from the Rockefeller family some years ago. The hiking trails are amazing, and Trunk Bay is one of the prettiest beaches in the world.

I also got to visit St. Croix, where I kayaked in a bio-luminescent river at sunset, toured old sugar plantations and snorkelled an underwater trail on Buck Island, a stunning piece of real estate that’s only a short boat ride from Christiansted, where you’ll also find a cool fort that kids – and most adults – will love.