March is not the best time to visit St. John, but it is all relative. While there is NEVER a bad time to visit the water is a little colder, the winter winds have dropped and there are not as many people here. It is still considered the prime season so you will pay a little bit more for lodging and for a rental car. You need to see when Easter occurs. Stay away from that the weeks that surround easter as they is generally more crowded.

Since we are 18 degrees above the equator the average temperature drops about 5 degrees in the winter months. Try to get a place on the east end of the island, say coral bay as you will get a better breeze. But any villa or condo will do. I'm sure they all have their advantages.

But all that aside choose a day and then come down. It will be the most enjoyable vacation you will have.

Billd

Easter is April 4th this year. Usually the week before and after can be crowded. So I would rule out the last week of March

STJ does not get a large spring break college crowd so it is not like Cabo for example.

However March is a popular month so you are not going anytime that it is going to be slow. Maybe just a little less popular weeks than others in March.

Wait till early May if you looking for a slower pace in the spring

Thank you for the feedback. Hubby only gets his vacation time the first few months after January 1st. So if March is out how does February look? We can get plane tickets for Feb. cheaper than going to Florida if I buy now coming from DTW. go figure on that one. But St. John is my favorite by far so I want to come back. You say it will be a little cooler but not near as bad as Michigan. lol And I bet we wont have to shovel out snow at the villa door. lol I would even be happy having to wear a light sweater or jacket if need be...

we were on St. John in late March this year and it didn't seem crowned, but it is all relative. It seemed warm but not hot. We stayed on the west end in Rondevous bay and had a nice breeze. It was the best vacation I have ever had with my family.

Stay away from Presidents Week in February. Many eastern schools are out for that week and there are lots of families visiting.

billD, I got a real hoot about your comment, "While there is NEVER a bad time to visit the water is a little colder ..." !!! In 25+ years of full time living here, this is something I've just never "got" as many times as I've heard it. In summer when the water temperature rises just a few degrees it feels like tepid bathwater and I can't wait to swim out a bit and find some deeper spots where the water is cooler and a respite from the baking sun to which I shall shortly return after a refreshing dip.

As a child I swam in the frigid North Sea and thought THAT was normal, after that I swam in somewhat warmer New England waters for many years and thought THAT was normal. Wouldn't touch either one of those waters with a 10' barge pole nowadays. The OP is coming from Michigan so is going to be in seventh heaven even with the sea temperature a few degrees cooler than it is in the height of summer.

That said, and purely from a local viewpoint, don't dismiss March by any stretch of the imagination. We've only just, in the last six months, started to feel the brunt and trickle-down effect of the US economic recession and, honestly, the outlook for any kind of a busy season this year/season is dismal at best. No speculation here, no doomsday mentality - simply reality. Our "high season" here just isn't going to happen and all indices point to it.

Make your reservations for either February or March, really makes no difference. Cheers!

Ok so to re-cap February or March is good to visit, not too hot or crowded just stay away from Presidents week? Got it....Thanks again....Anything else I should prepare for or need to know?

lmcneil1125 wrote:
Got it....Thanks again....Anything else I should prepare for or need to know?

Joe's BBQ is the best I have ever tasted!

lmcneil1125 wrote:
Ok so to re-cap February or March is good to visit, not too hot or crowded just stay away from Presidents week? Got it....Thanks again....Anything else I should prepare for or need to know?

Get your vehicle early - sometimes getting what you want in a car is harder than the villa.

I like to look at calendar and hit the full moon cycle.
Yeah there are parties, but sitting at the villa watching it twinkle on the sea is amazing and is more fun for me.

If you like sunsets or sunrises find out the orientation of the villa.

We have been very happy with Catered To as a rental agent, and they have a great map that shows each of the locations of their villas on their web page. Something like Blue Tang may work - it has great views in a nice area - we have never stayed there, but near it.

Bring a friend and split the cost. 😉