If you are a traveling enthusiast, you might have traveled to Virgin Island in the Caribbean Sea. Apart from stunning and attractive beaches, the locality of the Virgin Islands is greatly adorable, and St Thomas is among them.
However, before booking your tickets, you must know – is St Thomas safe to visit for American tourists and global travelers. Though stunning beaches, various water activities, and greenery fields make it an attractive tourist spot, travelers must ensure their safety and this article helps you as a guide.
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What is St Thomas and where is it located?
Saint Thomas is one of the Virgin Islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea which is also a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands, often known as USVI. The approximate neighbor of St Thomas is Puerto Rico which is 40 miles (64 km).
It is part of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) which is composed of three large islands that include St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas. The weather in St. Thomas is also an attraction for tourists outside the United States.
Is St Thomas Safe to Visit?
The crime rate in St. Thomas is high with a crime rate of 77.94, according to the website, numbeo. But in actuality, this location is not such dangerous. Overall, St Thomas is considered a safe city, the high crime rating is due to thefts, pickpocketing, and muggings.
However, one should stay away from dangerous areas like Savan and Frenchman’s Hill, Coki Beach, etc where the crime rate is actually high. For tourists, St. Thomas is a safe destination as an abundance of police squads stay patrolling to ensure the safety of tourists.
According to the state US Department and the Canadian govt., St Thomas does not have a problem and doesn’t have a high crime rate that can bother tourists outside the United States.
As per the statement of the US Department, “people should take “normal safety precautions” because the US Virgin Islands, which include St. Thomas, is a level-1 territory.”
Simply said, this implies you should exercise sensible judgment, avoid circumstances that are known to be hazardous, and stay safe.
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Traveling Advisory for St Thomas for Visitors
Before you travel to any location, you must ensure to follow the traveling advisory of that location to stay safe while traveling. Below are some traveling advisory and safety guidelines to follow while visiting St. Thomas:
- St Thomas encounters a high number of thefts and pickpocketing cases, make sure to carry only important pieces of stuff necessary for traveling.
- You shouldn’t visit dangerous places like Savan and Frenchman’s Hill and stay safe, especially at night.
- Always be ready with a contingency plan in case of emergency situations.
- Be a member of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) of the US Department to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the official Facebook and Twitter pages of the United States government and local authorities to get an alert every time there are any odd situations for traveling.
- Is St Thomas Safe – Yes, it is safe but you have to take the safety precautions as referred by the local authorities.
- Nighttime, no doubt, is always prone to some risks, so avoid traveling at night alone. Catch up with some of your friends if want a night visit.
- Public transportation is the safest way of traveling. Always opt for public transport, they are safe, affordable, and easy to convenience, especially for short distances.
- If you are traveling to the beaches of the US Virgin Islands, don’t travel too close to water, they are unpredictable and may be risky to life.
Is St Thomas Safe for Female Solo Traveler?
The locality of the Caribbean Sea including St. Thomas is a very attractive location to travel especially for solo female travelers. Yes, St. Thomas is a safe destination for solo female travelers when we compare it to other Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico and Haiti.
According to the various surveys, the major crime of St. Thomas affects the local people instead of the travelers. However, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care about your safety. The first and foremost safety tip for a female solo traveler is to avoid traveling at night.
Just keep an eye on your valuables, and put the number of cops and police officials at the top list of your phonebook, don’t let an unknown go inside your room and lock the doors for safety purposes, and avoid traveling at night alone. Some locals are helpful, ask them for help if found any unusual situations.
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Conclusion – Is St Thomas Safe?
In general, St Thomas is a safe destination to travel to, however, it has some places that must be avoided. Thefts, pickpocketing, muggings, etc are common incidents and part of every location but staying informed is the only solution.
By keeping the required norms under safety tips and following the guidelines mentioned in this article, you will not face any issues while enjoying the stunning beach location of the Caribbean island.