How to save money (and not save money) in the Virgin Islands in 2024

Budget travel is like a mystery to me. I travel the world trying to put the pieces together, trying to turn the world’s most expensive destinations into Budget friendly destination.

I’ve been able to do it Iceland, Japan, Sweden,even Norway Affordable.

Of course, sometimes I fail, like when I BermudaAs it turns out, this country’s luxury travel scene is too strong even for me to beat.

Unfortunately, when I came to the United States and the British Virgin Islands, I failed again.

While there are many ways to make the islands semi-affordable, my visit taught me that they will never become a true budget destination. There are too many wealthy people, tax havens, yachts, and a priority focus on mid-budget and luxury travelers.

But this does not mean all Hope was dashed.

have Some Ways to cut costs and avoid spending hundreds of dollars every day – that’s what most people do here!

Just follow a few guidelines and you can have a great time on the island while still staying on a budget. Here’s everything you need to know to save money in the Virgin Islands:

How much did these islands cost me?

After 22 days of sailing, I spent a total of $2,255.75. The average is about $102 per day. When with My goal is $50 a daythat’s really bad. I was shocked when I saw the math.

Sure, I spent a little money – there were a few hotels and great food on my itinerary – but I didn’t realize how much I was spending, considering I also had a lot of free nights. Here’s how the funding breaks down (in U.S. dollars):

• Activity: $140
• stay: $714.50
• drinks: $216
• transportation: $228
• taxi: $260.50
• food: $635.75
• Others (visa, sunscreen): $61

Why did I spend so much money?

Although I can get Free accommodation on boardthe lack of budget accommodation really drove up my housing costs. Even if I split hotel costs, I still pay $60 some nights. A last minute change of plans and a baggage fee for the flight to St. Thomas meant an additional $80.

And, while I was cooking, I indulged in some delicious food over Thanksgiving, ate lots of seafood (so much lobster!), and bought drinks for my couch potato hosts (a rum punch here and there, It adds up quickly).

Looking at the numbers, I know I could do a little better with food and drink (but not too much).

So how to do it cheaper?

While I may have failed at going over budget, you don’t have to. Traveling to the Virgin Islands is never going to be cheap or backpacking friendly, but with a little planning, it doesn’t need to be a “luxury only” vacation.

I’m pretty comfortable on $100 a day – from delicious fish, never-ending happy hours, snorkeling to white sand beaches and sailing boats. However, if you learn from my mistakes, you can do it cheaper (around $75-85 per day). Here’s how to save money in the British Virgin Islands:

stay

This will be the biggest hurdle to overcome. There are very few hosts on Couchsurfing, no hotels, and a limited (but growing) number of hosts on Airbnb (or similar services).

Not a good situation for a hotel that costs hundreds of dollars a night. Here’s how to fix the problem:

Couch surfing– If you check early, you can find hosts in the US Virgin Islands and some on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Given that most hosts tend to work from boats, their schedules are erratic, and your response rate will be low, ask ahead of time (especially since Couch surfing has also declined in recent years). The flip side is that when they respond, they almost always say “yes.”

But there always has to be a plan B.

camp – There are several campgrounds on the island that can reduce costs: Cinnamon Bay (St. John), Ivan’s White Bay (Jost Van Dyke), and Mt. Victory Camp (St. Croix). The average cost for a cabin is $75 per night, or $25-$40 if you want to pitch your own tent. While not as glamorous, it’s affordable if you already own your own gear.

Airbnb – Use Airbnb as a hotel alternative. If you book early, rooms start at about $65-$75 per night. This is your best option for affordable accommodation – but only if you book in advance.

If you can’t find a budget Airbnb and don’t have a camping tent, sleeping on a boat is your next best option.

If you are on a tight budget, I would not recommend visiting the islands alone. It’s best to go with friends so you can share the cost of accommodation.

On the plus side, everyone on the island is friendly and welcoming. Locals often invite travelers into their homes, give them a ride, connect with friends on other islands, and make you part of their family. For example, one night while couch surfing our host asked his friend Hamish to drive us home as our host was at work. We eventually stopped along the way so Hamish could treat us to dinner.

And Augie, if we needed a place to stay, he would offer us a spot on his boat. Kirby drove us around for a day and Dan took us out on the boat.

It’s a small community on these islands, and once you “hang out” with a few people, they do their best to connect you with friends on other islands and find you a place to stay. I was impressed and surprised by their enthusiasm for strangers.

transportation

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Virgin Islands on a budget:

hitchhike – Taxis regulated by the government are overpriced. If you’re not careful, you can easily spend upwards of $30-$50 a day.

Another option is to just hitchhike. This is the preferred mode of transportation for locals and tourists alike. Since taxis and cars are expensive, many locals just carpool or hitchhike. Do the same thing. It’s very safe and the driver will follow the tour. For the latest tips and advice on hitchhiking, check out Hitch Wiki.

car rental – If you’re going to a lot of places on the larger islands like Tortola or St. Thomas, you’ll find that it’s hard to get a taxi in some of the more secluded places (taxis tend to stop in more crowded places) ). Renting a car gives you more flexibility and can be cheaper than a taxi if you split the cost with friends. My friend and I figured this out towards the end of the trip and kicked ourselves for not thinking about it sooner.

You can expect to pay $50-$70 per day for a small car. To get the best car rental prices, use discover cars.

Ask to get off – Sailing for a day but planning to head to the next island afterwards? If an island is nearby, most tour companies will drop you off for free. It’s like a free ferry!

Hitchhiking on board – Want to get from one island to another? Save thousands of dollars by hitchhiking on a boat. It’s actually easier to do than you think. Here’s how.

Take a shared taxi – The larger islands, such as St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Gorda and Tortola, offer taxi services shared by locals for just a few dollars each way. They run between major towns and although not common, can save you money if you can get one.

diet

Here’s everything you need to know to save money on food and drinks while exploring the island:

Cook – The cheapest meal I saw on the island was a small sandwich for $9. Generally speaking, $10-$20 will get you a fish or chicken plate or a burger. For an entree, steak, fish or seafood, you’ll pay over $20.

While groceries tend to be quite expensive since they have to be imported, there are some cheaper options. Five days of food cost me about $65, including pasta, chicken, some fruits and vegetables, eggs and bread. If you have a kitchen, cooking may be cheaper.

enjoy happy hour – $8-10 drinks add up, even when poured very heavily (duty-free rum!). Happy hour specials are half off, and many bars in St. John offer dollar specials. If you want to make soy sauce, do it early.

stick to local venues – The island is dotted with food trucks and small mom-and-pop roadside restaurants that primarily serve locals, not tourists. These roadside stalls offer hearty meals for about $10. Be sure to find the chicken eaters in the main square of St. Thomas. Delicious!

Activity

The activities and excursions here can really break your budget. To keep costs low, here are some tips:

Buy your own snorkeling gear – Snorkeling rentals cost approximately USD 10 per day. Save money by bringing your own equipment while enjoying ocean snorkeling. Buying gear at home is cheaper than buying it on the island because prices here go up.

Traveling in off-season – From October to November and May to June, prices for hotels, activities and boat rentals are more than 50% lower than during the peak season. You can get cheap prices and avoid the crowds.

Use points and miles – Redeem points for cheap flights or free hotel stays. Doing any of these can significantly reduce your travel costs and even allow you to splurge without spending too much. You can learn more about points and miles here If you are new to this topic.

***

While on the island, I couldn’t keep my budget as low as I wanted. But that doesn’t mean you need to make the same mistake. If you visit with friends and follow my advice above, with some planning you can spend $75-85 per day.

While the Virgin Islands will never be a budget paradise, you can see and experience all the same activities for a fraction of the price as those who book expensive vacations through Expedia and spend hundreds of dollars a day. You just have to be smart about it and plan ahead.

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