The U.S. Virgin Islands is "America's Caribbean Paradise" -- the place to see moko jumbies dance at a Carnival parade, hear the lilting patois of a Creole dialect, or smell the spices in a saltfish pate; interrupted by the non-roaming thrum of your cell phone. You could visit either St.
Thomas, St. John or St. Croix, but better yet, spend a little time on all three islands. That way you'll get plenty of pampering, undisturbed nature and colonial history jammed into one vacation. And bonus: you can pay for everything with U.S. dollars.
Each island offers something different. Called "Rock City" for its hilly, craggy horizon, St. Thomas is better known for its luxury -- from the mega-yachts moored in the harbor to the Gucci, Nicole Miller and Tiffany & Co. storefronts along Main Street. Located a short ferry-ride east, St. John intoxicates honeymooners and nature lovers with more than 7,000 acres of dedicated parkland plus its pristine beaches. Way down south in the Caribbean Sea, less-visited St. Croix has sugar cane plantations and rum distilleries that offer a glimpse into both the past and the present of the Virgin Islands.
