Travelling to The Virgin Isles with Kids
Back before we had kids, we travelled to Jamaica for a friend’s wedding. It hadn’t been a travelling destination that we had thought of prior to our friend getting married there but we ended up loving every minute and we realised that the Carribbean would be a great family holiday destination for kids too. The Virgin Isles is a collection of beautiful islands in the Carribbean. Travelling in the Virgin Isles with kids is fairly safe and a perfect holiday destination for families who wants to unwind and have some precious family time. It’s a stunning location with fine white sand and clear turquoise waters. It is easy to rent any waterproof equipment that you need from which you can take full advantage of the beautiful waters with snorkels to paddle boards.
Things to do in the Virgin Isles with Kids
St Thomas has the most attractions for children than any of the other Virgin Islands.
- There’s the Butterfly Garden, where you can see more than 1,000 species of butterflies from all over the world.
- Coral World where you can see turtles, sea lions and dolphins.
- Kids will also love exploring Bluebeard and Blackbeard’s castles on St. Thomas
- Virgin Islands Ecotours – is amazing for hiking, snorkelling and kayaking. Bring a waterproof camera to capture all the memories!
- You can even watch movies under the stars on Water Island
- There is mini golf at Sugar Bay. iguana feedings at most resorts.
- Visit the shark pool with Viator where you can pet a shark or hand feed a stingray. There’s also the Lorikeets which will flock to your arm when offered a cup of nectar. And if you don’t mind getting wet bring your bathing suit so you can swim with the sea lions or try a Sea Trek Helmet Dive.
Best Beaches for kids in the Virgin Isles
The beaches on The Virgin islands are child friendly. You’re not going to find baby-change facilities or smooth pavements for prams but the beaches are not crowded and the water is shallow so young kids can play easily. Beaches in the Virgin Isles that are great for children, with shallow water and minimal waves, include Secret Harbour and Magens Bay (St Thomas), Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay (St John), and Protestant Cay (St Croix). Magens and Cinnamon have large water-sports centers that rent kayaks, paddle boards and more so these are brilliant beaches for teenagers. Magens beach was noted as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches by both Conde Nast and National Geographic so it’s a real must see.
Accommodation
There are lots of villas in The Virgin Isles, if you choose to rent a villa – check that they allow mobile children (not all do). Also, expect that the decor may be beautiful rather than child-friendly. For example, pools may not have safety gates or covers and electrical socket covers are not a requirement so make sure you check what is included when you book. If you have a couple of wild kids like us, you may want to consider timeshare rentals for your next vacation. Timeshares usually come with a kitchen and give everyone in the family more space than a hotel room. St Thomas timeshare rentals are an excellent value online as well. On St John, Island Baby (www.islandbabyvi.com) rents out baby products such as high chairs (per week US$60), baby hiking backpacks (per week US$50), baby monitors and much more, which is fab for lightening the luggage allowance!
If you’re looking for an all inclusive hotel that’s great for kids, the Westin St. John is the best kid-friendly resort on the U.S. Virgin Islands. The kids get complimentary beverages at mealtimes and there are lots of extras for kids like colouring books and there is a supervised kids club ($60 per day) — for ages three to 12 (it’s four-and-up at other hotels) which offers daily activities like sandcastle contests, swimming lessons. There are plenty of activities for tweens and teens too such as parasailing, kayaking and tennis. Caribbean Cruises are a great place to find family friendly cruises including the Virgin Isles.
Another all inclusive that has great outdoor activities for kids – head over to Caneel Bay. It’s not a luxurious hotel but there are lovely kids activities for kids three to 12 such as arts and crafts, treasure hunts, and nature walks through the Virgin Islands National Park where it’s situated.
Eating Out
Bare in mind that not all restaurants will have highchairs so if you have toddlers – take a fabric travel highchair like this one with you. But all restaurants are relaxed and family friendly which is a bonus. If you want to self cater, the Starfish Market in the Virgin Isles had a great selection of fruits, veggies and pre-cooked foods. This post is a great guide to the shops and restaurants on the Virgin Isles.
Restaurants don’t often have kids menus but there is normally something kid friendly such as burgers and chips or even pizza and pasta at Pizza Amore in Marriot. A family favourite is Dinghy’s Beach Bar and Grill which serves yummy Fish Tacos and is right on the sea front for a beautiful view.
If you have a very young child, a kid’s backpack is a good idea. Many families use pushchairs but the roads are quite slim without pavements in lots of places. It is a good idea to hire car in The Virgin Isles. Taxis charge per person and add up quick. With the excursions often one round trip will cost as much or more than the daily rate of a car. If you rent from anyone other than Hertz, you can take it on the car barge over to St John for a day of exploring there.
The Virgin Isles is perfect for nature lovers with it’s beautiful National Park but also has the comfort and relaxation of beaches that the Caribbean are known for – hope you’ll be convinced it’s a great place to visit with kids! You might also like these places to visit in San Jose Costa Rica with kids!
