Featured Gay Friendly Hotels in St. Thomas

Gay St. Thomas

The most populous and urban of the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is a one-stop shop for fun, beaches, relaxation, and island-inspired nightlife. Just minutes from St. John and about an hour from St. Croix, St. Thomas is home to two main settlements - Charlotte Amalie (also known as downtown) and Red Hook (also known as the East End). While Charlotte Amalie is where the cruise ships come in and most of the shopping is centered, both areas offer a number of dining and partying options. Make no mistake, the party never seems to stop here in St. Thomas, though! Still, thanks to the natural beauty and sandy beaches nearly all the way around, there’s always somewhere you can escape to.

Most people get to St. Thomas via cruise ship or flights into local airports. Ships often bring lots of tourists into port so be sure to anticipate the island's extra full capacity. There are plenty of places to rent cars once you are in town but beware of left side of the road driving. An easier but more expensive option would be taking advantage of the abundance of taxis and shuttles at the disposal of locals and tourists alike!

St. Thomas Gay Scene

Most of the gay-specific bars and clubs have relocated to neighboring St. Croix, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of options for gays and lesbians on St. Thomas.  Some locals and visitors alike tend to be liberal and open-minded, meaning the lack of gay venues on St. Thomas may have more to do with the fact that there is limited need for gay-oriented bars and clubs.  Go on, relax and have fun!

If you wish to get away from the crowds and worry less about being demonstrative in public, then head to Little Magens Bay. LMB is the unofficial gay beach where locals often sunbathe au natural. From Magens Bay Beach... find the marked path to Little Magens. Be sure and get beverages or sunscreen at the gift store at Magens Bay as there is nothing but surf and sand at Little Magens.

When to Visit

The late spring and early summer see the best weather in the US Virgin Islands—that's when you can expect mild weather with rare rainshowers. The peak season to visit St. Thomas is in the northern hemisphere's winter season, from December to March when many Americans have long winter breaks or the spring holiday season.

Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions

The Caribbean island has more things to do than just swimming, though you should definitely dip your feet in the Caribbean Sea while on St. Thomas. The most populous and urban of the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is a one-stop-shop for fun, beaches, relaxation, and island-inspired nightlife—enough to keep visitors busy!

Spend your time in the water

Voted “the Best Excursion of the Year in St. Thomas” among other honors, Heavenly Days offers a variety of sailing excursions or their boats can be rented for private charters and weddings on the Caribbean Sea. Besides the beaches, snorkeling, and swimming, you can also take a guided underwater walking tour designed for non-swimmers and non-divers with Sea TREK.

Little Magens Gay Beach

Litle Magens is still known as the "gay beach" where folks can be open and comfortable.

Yacht Haven Grande Marina

For beautiful waterfront shopping and dining located on Long Bay Rd in Charlotte Amalie, Yacht Haven Grande is a great spot to wander and shop. Check out the restaurants with waterfront views.

Gay-Friendly Dining

Dining on the Caribbean island is pretty standard—lots of seafood and typical American cuisine.

Iggie's Beach Bar & Grill

Grab a barstool, or relax in a colorful Adirondack chair on the beach and breathe in the fresh ocean air, meet locals, mingle with visitors, order a bucket of VooDoo juice and let the good times begin! Iggie's Beach Bar & Grill is a popular spot day and night on St. Thomas and very gay-friendly.

Amalia Café

Near the Charlotte Amalie Ferry Pier, Amalia Cafe is an upscale eatery serving tapas & other classic Spanish fare wines in a sunny, open-air location. There's an extensive in-house wine list, as well.

Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife

There are no specific gay bars or gay clubs in St. Thomas, though many of the seaside pubs and restaurants are LGBTQ-friendly. Iggie's Beach Bar & Grill is especially popular for LGBTQ visitors.

ARC Vodka

A Virgin Islands craft vodka distillery based in Charlotte Amalie, ARC Vodka is a great spot to sample Caribbean vodka — and in 2019, the distillery even hosted a gay pride event, one of the first in St. Thomas.

Safety

As far as safety goes, pedestrians need to be extra careful while walking roadside- roads are often narrow and busy, and left side driving often throws newcomers for a loop. Most shops and restaurants close around 8 or 9 each night so it's best to avoid being out and about alone after the locals settle in for the night. Also, water is potable most everywhere on the island but tends to be warmer in temperature than most people expect so don't be alarmed!

While there are many LGBTQ-friendly hotels, merchants, and proprietors that call St. Thomas home, the island is not completely gay-friendly. The US Virgin Islands have historically been a very homophobic place. There is a strong influence from a large number of churches and although many of the island's leading political and business leaders are gay themselves, the local government is less-than-welcoming. Though you would be unlikely to encounter any issues, use caution with regard to public displays of affection; especially when in town. 

The Gay Scene in St. Thomas

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