Arrival day · STT to the East End
From the plane to the patio in about half an hour
Cyril E. King airport sits on the west side of St. Thomas and the condo is on the east, which is a 28-minute drive across the whole island. Here is what happens in between, and the one stop worth making.
📍 6720 Estate Smith Bay, Unit D101, St. Thomas, VI 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands
Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is about ten miles and roughly 28 minutes from Sapphire Beach Resort, on the opposite side of St. Thomas. Taxis wait outside arrivals and do not need booking; U.S. Virgin Islands taxi fares are set by the government per person and by destination rather than by meter, so the cost per head drops as your group grows. Confirm the fare and the destination with the driver before you load the bags.
Arriving from the U.S. mainland there is no passport control and no customs on the way in — the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. territory, so a domestic flight arrives domestically. Unit D101 is at ground level with no stairs and no lift, so bags roll straight in. The one stop worth making is the supermarket at Red Hook, five minutes before you arrive.
Getting out of the airport
Taxi, rental car, or a pre-booked transfer
Taxis queue outside the terminal and there is no need to book one in advance. They are usually open-sided vans and often shared with other passengers heading the same way, which is normal here and not a sign that something has gone wrong. Fares are a published per-person rate by destination, with a lower rate each when two or more travel together, and luggage beyond a bag or two can add a little. Agree the figure before you set off.
Rental car desks are at the airport. If you are taking one, read the section on driving below before you pull out of the lot — St. Thomas drives on the left, in American cars.
Either way the drive crosses the island west to east, through or around Charlotte Amalie and out along the East End road. It is slower at rush hour and on days with several cruise ships in port.
The stop worth making
Provision at Red Hook on the way in
Red Hook is under a mile from the condo and has the supermarket you will want on arrival day. Stopping there on the way from the airport saves a second trip, and it means breakfast on the patio the next morning rather than a drive.
Note for anyone using an older guidebook: Marina Market, the Red Hook grocery that a lot of travel sites still name, has closed. Moe's Fresh Market operates at that location now.
The condo has a full kitchen, and the beach bar and grill on the sand covers the first evening if the flight has taken everything out of you.
Arriving at the condo
Ground floor, no stairs
Unit D101 is on the ground floor with step-free access from the parking to the door and from the door to the patio, which matters more with suitcases than most people expect on arrival day. There is no lift in the building and none is needed.
Check-in details, the door code and parking come from the host directly. If your flight lands early, ask — early check-in is often possible and is easier to arrange before the day than on it.
Frequently asked
Questions about from the airport
How long is the drive from St. Thomas airport to Sapphire Beach?
About 28 minutes, roughly ten miles across the island. Longer at rush hour or on a day with several cruise ships in port.
How much is a taxi from the airport?
Taxi fares in the U.S. Virgin Islands are set by the government per person and by destination, not by meter, and the per-person rate drops when two or more travel together. Rates are revised from time to time, so confirm the fare with the driver before you set off.
Do I need a passport to fly to St. Thomas?
Not from the U.S. mainland. The U.S. Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory, so it is a domestic flight with no passport control on arrival. A government-issued photo ID is enough.
Should I rent a car at the airport?
Only if you plan to leave the East End regularly. Sapphire, Lindquist, Red Hook and Coki are all reachable on foot, by taxi or by safari bus. A car earns its keep for Magens Bay, the north shore and repeat trips into town.
Where should I stop for groceries on the way?
Red Hook, under a mile before the condo, has the supermarket. Marina Market — still listed in a lot of older guides — has closed; Moe's Fresh Market is at that location now.
Is there step-free access at the condo?
Yes. Unit D101 is at ground level with no stairs from the parking to the door or from the door out to the patio and the sand.
Keep reading
The rest of the area, and the condo it starts from
Everything on this island is close. What changes is how long the road takes and how many cruise ships are in.
Photographs of the island on this page are by Karl Callwood, Joseph Corl, Andy Feliciotti, Roger Darnell, Matthew Valentino, Jamie Tudor and Island Guides, published on Unsplash. Every photograph of the condo itself is our own.
Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina · St. Thomas, USVI
Sapphire Beach Condo D101 — 9.8/10 from 259 stays
Book direct and the host answers you, not a call center. Rates include all fees.