Along with fellow Virgin Island of St. Croix, St. Thomas has been officially built out. According to the Wall Street Journal, this means there is no more beachfront property left for new architecture. Every inch has been commandeered by resorts, luxury homes and hotels. So what does this mean for a traveler? That no matter when you go, there should be a number of villas and hotels in St. Thomas to choose from.

Even though it sounds overwhelmed and cluttered - when you arrive it doesn't appear that way. Plenty of St. Thomas hotels and resorts have their grounds spread out, so that even during high season only the popular beaches are heavily crowded. Besides, while other Caribbean islands market themselves as places to get away from the energy of everyday life - St. Thomas is for the active vacationer. Shopping and nightlife is why you come to this island, and the hotels in St. Thomas reflect that. There are a number of different options, whether you prefer small, moderately-priced accommodations, expansive resorts or the ever-popular St. Thomas villas, each nearby the bars and shops to while away your hours.

The town of Charlotte Amalie is where you'll find the largest amassing of hotels in St. Thomas. Reasonably priced, you'll find a mix of families, business travelers, couples and budget travelers - the city provides for pretty much everyone. You"ll also find a wide array of unimpressive St. Thomas hotels in wonderful locations - a trade-off that seems reasonable once you hit the beach. Chains like the Holiday Inn and Best Western are prevalent in the choicest spots but you won't get much character. For that, try the Villa Santana or The Hotel 1829. The former was created by the Mexican General Santa Anna while in exile, and the latter is a mix of Moroccan and modern architecture and decoration that has fantastic views of the island.

USVI Map

For those who want a little less urban atmosphere in their vacation, the east end is where to go. Here you'll find more of the high-end St. Thomas hotels and resorts, along with numerous condos and villas, both secluded and less so. You will also find better access to attractions like Sapphire Beach, the Coral World Ocean Park and Cabes Point. The Sapphire Beach Resort is overwhelmingly popular with families - a more adult oriented resort is the adjacent Antilles at Sapphire Beach Resort. But the real way to stay on the luxurious east end is in one of the many St Thomas villas found there. Caribbean Style is as nicely decorated as it is poorly named. Right on the beach, this area is well known for its wonderful water sports. Many more St Thomas villas dot the east end, and many of them are privately owned, which makes the internet a useful tool in booking your place to stay. Many of these villas don"t work through travel agents, so be careful when you plan your vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands.