Beach a Day?

[Ondine]

Any recommendations for a newbie on the best beaches for the first time? I'd like to go to a different beach each day, and it seems I would need several weeks to see all of the good ones! A condensed list of 6-7 best choices would be great. I'm hoping to snorkel and minimize seeing the scary stuff (barracuda,sharks,etc) Thx!

[waterguy]

My first stop is Maho for newbies
Then hawksnest
francis
trunk on a low curise ship day
honeymoon
saltpond

[jayseadee]

On our first trip we only went to Trunk; it's still our favorite and always the first stop.

Other favorites are Honeymoon, Cinnamon, Hawksnest, Maho and Francis.

You'll have a great time. You may not see everything, but you won't be missing a thing

Have a great trip,

[Ksea]

Hawksnest, Cinnamon, Trunk and White Bay were our first beaches. All were fabulous. I cannot wait to see the rest!

[liamsaunt]

In addition to waterguy's excellent choices I would also recommend:

Gibney. There is good snorkeling on the right side--you have to go out and along the rocks to get to it. Lots of fish, and the beach is beautiful if the surf isn't covering it....lots of shade.

Waterlemon/Leinster. Lots of people think the snorkeling around the cay is the best you can get to from land on St. John. You do have to walk out to the beach....about 1/2 mile or so, but the walk is flat and shady.

If you decide to go to Salt Pond, you might also want to go out on the Ram Head trail to Blue Cobblestone beach and snorkel there. (You pick up the Ram Head trail on Salt Pond Beach). The good stuff is to the right of the beach as you face the water. Interesting corals, lots of fish...we found a huge eagle ray there in October. Then come back and snorkel/hang out at Salt Pond.

[LMG]

You may not see everything, but you won't be missing a thing

I know it's early, but that's got to be the quote of the year.

I like all the suggestions so far. And really, depending on how early a starter you are, I think two/day can happen on some days without any rush or chaos. Or go to close beaches, like Honeymoon and Solomon.

[Lulu76]

My only rule was that we had to go to a beach everyday. Our list looks like most everyone's here.

The first day we did Trunk (no cruise ships that day).
The second day we did Cinnamon.
The third day we went to Vie's (Hansen Bay, I think).
The fourth day we went to Hawsknest.
The fifth day was White Bay.
The sixth day we went back to Vie's, and then stopped at Maho on our way back.

My favorite was Trunk. Hands down. However, it was a pain because of the cruise ships. It has earned it's reputation as one of the world's 10 best beaches, but apparently people know about this.

[Roberto]

While Maho is probably my favorite I'll throw Jumbie and Little Lameshur into the selection.

[RickG]

Hawksnest, Maho and Francis Bays can be busy on weekends. The distance between the car and the beach is the least.

In November trip Maho Bay was our favorite. The point between Maho and Lille Maho is a great snorkel.

Francis Bay usually comes in first.

With small kids, the far right side of Hawksnest has plenty of shade.

Vie's Beach (Hansen Bay) is great.

Gibney Beach is great at low tide.

Grootpan Bay is good for working on tan lines.

Kiddle Bay is good for a dramatic snorkel with free diving.

Cheers, RickG

[Ondine]

This is great! Everyone seems to have very similar lists, and I love the quote of the year, I'm sure that will sum up my trip quite nicely. I'm hoping to hike a bit each morning and then collapse on a beach each afternoon, with some snorkeling mixed in.
Is there any way to know which days the cruise ships come in? I'd really like to avoid those crowds as much as possible...Thx, always very appreciative of this forum, it's really going to make my trip!

[jayseadee]

HI,

If you go up to the Trip Planning blue bar, click on Getting Here and you'll see a link to the Cruise Ship schedules.

If you go later on any afternoon, you'll be fine. Keep in mind "crowded" on St. John isn't exactly like Old Silver Beach on a weekend in July

[Ksea]

If you Google Cruise Ship schedule St Thomas, you will get it!

[Steve S]

I can only add be flexible... If the seas are from the north try the south facing beaches like Vie's, Salt Pond and Lameshur. Likewise, hit the Northshore if the seas are from the south. If things are calm, start out on the North shore where parking isn't going to be a challenge like Hawksnest or Cinnamon.

My first preferences for our trip this year will be -

-Honeymoon/Solomon
-Little Lameshur perhaps combined with Drunk Bay visit and a Salt Pond Bay Dip
-Hawksnest/Gibney
-Leinster/Waterlemon followed by Francis
-Vie's
-Jumbie followed by Maho

Six all too short days...

[Ondine]

Yes, can be flexible, I'll be in tropical paradise, so no worries. Only a tsunami would really make it bad. Knock on wood. The cruise ships seem a nearly daily ocurrence, but I'll rest assured that it won't compare to cape cod tourist influxes here! Thx for that jayseadee

[Wolfhound]

Would hit all of the following:

Gibney
Francis
Waterlemon
Maho
Honeymoon
Cinnamon

One of these days Vie will be there when I am. It looks nice.