Welcome Holster! I think folks would need a little more information before offering specific suggestions. Do you prefer to eat all your meals out, have room service, housekeeping change linens and make the bed every day? If so, you might consider a hotel environment as your preferred choice. On the other hand, renting a villa offers more "home away from home" comfort with kitchen, fridge, privacy and other advantages to a hotel stay. Your family will be "together" rather than possibly in separate hotel rooms/spaces. Depending on your requirements for accomodations, generally a villa will be more cost efficient for room and 'board'. With 3 college age boys, I'm thinking east end St. Thomas would be a convenient place in an area that accomodates many varied interests. St. Thomas East End/Red Hook could be considered conveniently located as a "jumping off" place to explore St. Thomas, St. John and other islands. St. John/Cruz Bay would also be an great choice for your crew - again.......has a lot to offer just in itself and then also located in an area where you can easily take advantage of other islands and activities. Whether hotel or renting a villa - I would recommend you rent a car rather than rely on taxis. Most car rental companies require the driver to be 26 years of age or older. These considerations + your budget may help you decide what's best for you and your family.

Good luck!

Don't forget to bring passports so you can head to the BVI as well...renting a house is probably your best bet, though Marriott Frenchman's Cove is also a nice place for some space. Good luck and have fun!

I am now thinking of staying at the east end St Thomas, Thanks to FL Barrier Islander. What villas and hotels are in that area? Our only requirement is ocean front with a nice beach. Are there any all inclusives in this area? We have to been to Hawaii a few times and wanted to try something different in the US.

Go to this web site and scroll down toward the bottom you'll see a category called "USVI/St. Thomas". You will see multiple sub-categories for East End. Others on this board will have suggestions specifically regarding accomodations for East End.

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/caribbean/usvi-us-virgin-islands

Additional accomodations can be found on this web site.
https://www.vinow.com/stthomas/accommodations/

Next time, check out St Croix. Very laid back.

Hi,
If you want a laid-back, safe place to stay I would suggest Water Island ( a seven minute passenger ferry boat ride from St. Thomas.) Go to VRBO and look up listing # 277514.
bill & christy

Two of the most beautiful beaches on STT are on the East end of the island - Secret Harbour and Sapphire. Secret Harbour condos are rented through the management company there and if you look on www.vrbo.com under "East End St Thomas" you'll find many privately owned condos at Sapphire. Most of the units at Sapphire are one BR but there is one 2BR I'm familiar with which is owned by friends of mine and located in Sapphire Village, a 5 minute walk down to the beach and which would accommodate you and your boys. You can take a look at it at www.vrbo.com/134380

The Wyndham Sugar Bay resort is on the East End and recently switched to all-inclusive. It's a lovely property but the move to AI on an island where AI has never been popular was viewed by many as not such a good management decision and I understand it's proving a problem.

Wherever you end up staying, do figure a rental car in your budget. Getting out and about exploring is half the joy of staying here but public transportation is spotty and unreliable while taxis charge per person and the fares add up very fast. As long as you rent from any agency other than Hertz (which doesn't allow their cars to be taken to St John) you can pack up what you need for the day and take the car barge from STT to STJ and enjoy a day there exploring its beautiful beaches and that should absolutely be on your itinerary. Happy planning!

St. John would always be my choice.