Eight Ways to Save While Traveling to the USVI

Vacations are a time to splurge, let loose, and have a good time. Here’s the thing though, it’s way too easy to overdo it! We want to help you get the most out of your vacation for less. 

1. Plan your Trip During the Off Season

There are definitely pluses and minuses to this first point.

Pluses: 

1. Better deals on hotels and activities 
2. Touristy spots will be less crowded 
3. More affordable prices at restaurants and shops

Minuses:

1. From the lack of visitors, many businesses close up shop during part of slow season
2. Shortened hours for other small businesses 
3. It’s also Hurricane Season

Don’t let the term hurricane season completely scare you away though. Hurricanes are dangerous, so here a few tips. We suggest if you book during hurricane seasons, purchase travel insurance. Also, pay close attention to the weather leading up to your trip and keep an eye on it while you're on island. 

2. Book Direct With A Hotel or Villa

We are in the age where booking sites make it so easy to compare hotels and flights, but in most instances, it really pays to book direct. Use those booking sites to check out the differences between the hotels (like TripAdvisor, Priceline, Expedia, etc.), then visit their website to see if there are any deals or specials only available online and on their site. 

If you're looking to book on St. John, check out St. John Villa Rentals. This site lets you deal directly with St. John owners and on-island managers. You can avoid the crazy 4%-16% booking fees that VRBO/HomeAway/AirBnb adds to your bill! They don't charge owners commissions or booking fees don't charge guests a service fee. Another one of the many benefits of booking through this site is each listing clearly displays the owners/manager's contact info. 

3. Travel Light

Traveling light isn't always easy. You have so many activities planned, but only so much space in your suitcase. Just remember to pack what you need. See if you can find some outfits to mix and match, and utilize travel sized reusable liquid containers for your toiletries. Try packing multipurpose bulky items like shoes and pack a few small accessories that can turn any casual outfit into something dressy. 

Traveling light can save on baggage fees, and even make traveling less stressful. 

4. Discounts for Military / Seniors / Students 

If you’re a student, in the military, or a senior citizen, (as you probably know) many places will offer discounts… even when you’re traveling! Plenty of businesses will offer these discounts, even if they don’t state it on their website or at their front desk. It’s best to just ask, because the worst that’ll happen is they say no. Make sure you bring your ID for proof though! 

5. Don’t Dine Out for Every Meal

We know you’re on vacation and are excited to try all the great local cuisine, but going out to eat can get really pricy, really fast! Try stopping by the grocery store to stock up on basics that you can snack on throughout the day. Also, left overs are always great, too! Ask for a box and you have lunch for tomorrow! 

6. Eat a Larger Lunch

It’s no secret that dinner tends to be pricier than lunch. One easy way to save is eating a large lunch and a smaller dinner. Go ahead and get that lunch dessert too. (bonus points for sharing an appetizer and entrée during dinner) 

7. Make a Must-Do Excursion List and Stick To It

You may be overwhelmed by all the fun activities you can do while visiting a new place, but sites like TripAdvisor can make it easy to pick some of the best. Make a list of all the activities that really intrigue you, and narrow it down from there. Keep your budget in mind as well. That way you’ll get the most out of your vacation. 

Tree Limin’ Extreme is highly ranked on the outdoor activity category on TripAdvisor for St. Thomas… just in case you needed some ideas 😉

8. Check Out Free Activities 

Even though it might seem like it, not everything costs money! One great way to save is simply taking advantage of the many free activities St. Thomas and the rest of the Virgin Islands has to offer.  For example, all of the beaches in the USVI are public, so you may have access to any beach you’d like! Some cost money to park, but most beaches are free all around. Sight seeing around the towns is another fun, free activity that is always enjoyable! Downtown Charlotte Amalie has historic Danish architecture that is really something you’re going to want to check out. Also, St. John National Park has plenty of hiking trails that we really encourage you to explore. From awe-inspiring overlooks to petroglyphs and waterfalls, St. John is a treasure trove of exciting possibilities. 

Our goal is to expose as many people as we can to the incredible beauty of the USVI! And if could help you save a little bit of money in the process, then that’s always a plus. 

For more information, visit our website: www.ziplinestthomas.com

Why You Should Always Pack Tennis Shoes on Vacation

Let me start out by saying it’s always a good idea to pack tennis shoes when you’re going on a trip. Even though I’m an advocate for light packing (as you’ve read in past posts like Caribbean Vacation Packing Tips) I firmly stand by this rule. There are plenty of people out there who much rather free their toes, especially while on vacation, and that’s totally fine, but there are some situations where tennis shoes will save the day, your feet, and your positive attitude. 

Here are 4 reasons why you should always pack tennis shoes while on vacation:

There Tends to be More Walking on Vacation 

For you flip flop/sandal (or really any sneaker alternative) wearers out there, I know you’re conditioned, but when you’re on vacation, you don’t realize how much walking is involved. Even if you don’t get blisters, tennis shoes offer more support for your knees, hips, and back. You don't want to spend your vacation aching, do you? 

Lovely walk along the waterfront in Charlotte Amalie

It’ll Save You From Blisters 

Blisters are the best… said NO ONE ever! Sure, you can still get blisters from tennis shoes, but we suggest you pack your trusty, worn down pair that have become a literal mold of your foot. It’ll save you both your nice shoes and your feet!

Keep Your Nice Shoes Clean 

Like I stated above, by wearing your sneakers during activities and days you’ll be out and about, you simultaneously will be saving your nice shoes for those less active outings. There’s nothing like dining at local restaurants and dressing up for the occasion or checking out the nightlife. These are the perfect opportunities to wear those adorable sandals you bought for this trip. A day at the beach or pool is another great time to sport those fun, colorful flip flops as well. 

A Lot of Activities Require Tennis Shoes

There’s a time and a place for flip flops and sandals, and the same goes for tennis shoes. As we assessed earlier, a day walking about town is totally a comfort shoe day, so what else? Glad you asked! Our zip line canopy tour, for one, requires all participants wear closed toed shoes, preferably tennis shoes. There are plenty of opportunities for you to not only lose your shoes if you were to wear loose fitting, slip on shoes, but we want to save you from stubbing your toes on our metal stairs as well. 

Other activities include hiking, sight seeing tours, off-road 4 wheeler tours, and any activity that you want to spare your nice shoes. 

Here’s a little final anecdotal tidbit to express my point. I’m an avid sandal/flip flop wearer. While vacationing in Europe, my teenage self thought it would be so cool to wear my new strappy sandals for the day walking around Paris, even after my mom protested that I wear sneakers. Low and behold, not even an hour into the day, I was holding back tears of pain due to putting fashion ahead of comfort. I ended up getting painful blisters and trading shoes with my mom after a few hours, who won’t let me live that moment down to this day. 

Final thoughts: Is there a chance you won’t end up needing your tennis shoes at all? Sure! But trust the old saying “ I rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” 

For more info, visit our website at www.ziplinestthomas.com