By Guy Britton

It’s been said that some islands have more beaches, but few have more beautiful beaches than the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.  If you are headed to St Thomas for a few hours, a few days or even weeks, some basic beach knowledge can be critical. And whether you want to get away from the crowd or join the crowd you can do both here. Knowing the difference can make a big difference.  Experienced beach lovers choose the right beach for the right reason and at the right time.  While technically all beaches in the Virgin Islands are public beaches, we’ve chosen the ones here that residents, villa guests and cunning travelers prefer.

Lindquist Beach

We went there straight away looking for Hannah and her horse (You know this beach from Hannah Davis’ DirecTV ads). We did not find either, but what we did find was the best beach in St Thomas. The new Smith Bay beach facilities and friendly helpful staff here made a big difference. With new parking areas, nice pathways, large picnic areas and one of the nicest shower and bathroom facilities we have seen anywhere in the Caribbean, this beach bowled us over.  There is ample shade adjacent to the beach — a big plus on a Caribbean beach. This place you can have to yourself if you come at the right time of day, but it’s never overcrowded. What really sets this apart is the magnificent scenery.