Is St. John, USVI, Expensive to Visit?

St. John is a beautiful destination that draws tourists to experience the beautiful white-sand beaches, lush forests, and deep history. But as fun of a destination as it can be, is St. John, USVI, expensive to visit? It certainly can be, but it doesn't need to be cost-prohibitive.

Since St. John is an island and it doesn't have its own airport, everything on the island has to be brought in by plane and then by boat, which drives up prices. Costs will be higher than they are on the mainland, but you should also take into account that there's no sales tax in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which will help to even out prices a bit. And like with all vacations, how much it costs to vacation on St. John can vary depending on how you plan your trip and how many people you bring.

For a week-long trip to St. John:

• The average solo traveler can expect to spend between $2,000 and $4,200 on transportation, lodging, food, and activities. If you put yourself on a budget, you can expect to pay between $1,300 and $2,800, and if you go all out for a luxury vacation, you may end up paying between $4,000 and $16,000 for your trip.
• The average couple may spend between $3,500 and $7,000 on food, lodging, activities, and transportation in St. John. If you're on a budget, you may pay between $2,000 and $4,300, and if you spring for a luxury trip, you may spend between $6,000 and $21,000.
• The average family of four visiting the island could spend about $6,000 to $12,000 on transportation, lodging, food, and activities. If you visit on a budget, you may spend between $4,000 and $8,000, but if you decide to make it a luxurious trip, you could spend between $12,000 and $35,000 easily.

These numbers may vary depending on the time of year you plan to visit, as there are three seasons for tourism on St. John: high season, low season, and holiday season. High season is from mid-January to mid-April and can be quite expensive, while low season, from mid-April through mid-December, typically ends up being the most affordable time to visit. However, if you'd like to visit from mid-December to mid-January, especially for the holidays, you can expect to spend much more money than you would during other seasons.

There is no right or wrong way to spend money on the island, as long as it fits your vacation budget, but keep in mind that costs can add up quickly. Thankfully, many of the best activities on the island are free, like going to the beach or hiking. Like with any vacation, you can spend as much or as little as you want; it all depends on your budget and what you have in mind.