Is St. Thomas Safe in 2023? (Travel Safety Guide)

St. Thomas is known for its beaches, mountains, and Danish history. It’s gorgeous, and the good news is, that you don’t need a passport to go here if you’re American.

You’re here today because you’re probably wondering if “Is St. Thomas safe in 2022” because you’ve read about the crimes that happen there. Fret not, this safety guide will give you safety tips to travel smartly when you visit the island.

This guide will answer your questions such as “Is St. Thomas safe”, and will answer important safety questions that you need to know before you go to St Thomas.

Is St. Thomas safe in 2023?

Table of Contents

Is St. Thomas Safe?

St. Thomas is a pretty safe island for tourists. It follows the same laws as the US does, as its US territory. This means that you can expect St. Thomas to be safe when you go there. In fact, St. Thomas is safer than many cities in mainland USA.

Every day thousands of tourists arrive on St. Thomas through cruise ships and explore this beautiful island without any problem. Locals usually try to help visitors since they know how important tourism is to their economy.

However, as with any other place in the world, certain areas in St. Thomas, such as the back streets of Charlotte Amalie, should be avoided at night. Although violent crime is rare in St. Thomas, stealing and pickpocketing are on the rise.

Tourists are rarely victims of the crimes that occur on St. Thomas. However, just like anywhere else in the globe, we advise following basic safety precautions when visiting St. Thomas in order to safeguard yourself against petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing.

Is St. Thomas Safe At Night?

It is advised for tourists and visitors to lock their rental cars and accommodations. This is because property crime is higher in St Thomas and crimes can happen, especially at nighttime. There are also areas in St. Thomas that should be avoided at nighttime because of the risk of being mugged. However, areas that are full of tourists are safe at all times of the day.

Is St. Thomas Safe For Families?

If you have children, you are probably wondering if St. Thomas is safe for families. Assuming you’ll be visiting the most popular spots in St. Thomas, there is nothing to worry about and there are a ton of activities that you can do with your family.

In fact, St. Thomas is considered one of the best destinations in St. Thomas for family vacations. But, if you are still worried about the safety of your family, you’ll want to look for accommodations that provide 24/7 security. You’ll also want to limit your family’s outings later at night if you want to be sure there’s no crime.

Is St. Thomas Safe For Female Travelers?

St Thomas is safe for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are a family, female traveler, or solo traveler, St Thomas is pretty safe for everyone. But, unfortunately, as you know, no place in the world is completely safe for women and a lot of crimes are directed toward women. This includes being mugged, kidnapped, or scammed.

However, as a female, you can keep yourself safe in St. Thomas, with the following tips:

Only walk around in the daytime. This is very obvious as daytime means it’ll be busy in most places. And, petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing happen mostly in the nighttime.
Let someone know your itinerary in St Thomas.
Ensure the flights get in the morning or afternoon in St. Thomas. Keep in mind, that the island is one hour ahead of the EST time zone.
Ensure that the taxi you’re taking is licensed.
Map out the distance from the airport to your accommodations. You can avoid getting scammed by taxi drivers and let the hotel know when you think you’ll be arriving.
Take a singles cruise to St. Thomas. This way you’ll only be in the area for the day and usually in the most popular areas such as Red Hook or Frenchtown.
Go to St. Thomas with a tour group. Many female travelers choose to do this because they feel safer. You can contact a travel agency to help you with this.

These tips will help you stay safe in St.Thomas if you’re a woman. The most important tip is to make sure everyone knows about your itinerary in case you do get in trouble. Otherwise, exploring the island alone can be an exhilarating experience!

Places to Avoid in St Thomas

Crimes happen in St Thomas. It can also be very confusing navigating St Thomas as the signs are sometimes not clearly marked. It is a lot safer traveling by vehicle, on the main roads in St Thomas. But here are the places you should avoid while you are there:

Backstreets in Charlotte Amalie: Backstreets in Charlotte Amalie are considered unsafe and they must be avoided, especially at night time. Many people have reported getting robbed and mugged, even in a daytime.
Public Housing Projects after dark Coki Beach: There have been reports of shootings happening here.
Frenchman’s Hill: Valuables often get stolen in this area.

Safest Area in St. Thomas to stay

Sapphire Beach St Thomas — Image by Punctuated Art on Wikimedia Commons

You’ve learned of the most dangerous areas in St Thomas, now let’s look at the safest area in St. Thomas, which would be Sapphire Beach. It is located on the east end of the island and is recommended by many travelers. It’s also safe for families and travelers who are traveling alone.

Another reason that Sapphire Beach is considered one of the safest is that security patrols the grounds here. The security checks all incoming vehicles as well, and the staff that works on the grounds are always on high alert for anything suspicious. There’s also an amazing beach here with ample snorkeling opportunities.

Red Hook is nearby, which is well-lit at night, so you will not have to worry about your safety at nighttime. Just remember to lock your car and call out for help if you do feel unsafe in any way.

Top Safety Tips For Traveling To St. Thomas

Here are some safety tips that will help you and/or your family enjoy your vacation more:

DO’s

Research the area you’ll be staying in. Check out TripAdvisor for reviews about the area.
Try to fly in during the day. Flying in at nighttime, you might run into locals that may harass you.
Use common sense. You already do this at home, do this when you’re in St. Thomas.
Let your friends and family know your itinerary, in case you do run into problems.
Ensure that you are using reliable transportation that is safe. Taxi drivers can take you where you need to go, and some will even wait for you.

DON’T

Dont bring valuables with you. There’s no reason for you to bring your valuables on your vacation.
Keep doors locked. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be robbed if things are locked.
Go in areas that locals tell you not to go into. Too many tourists accidentally become victims of domestic-related crimes because they were in the area.
Venture out late at night unless you are staying in a known safe area. A lot of crime happens late at night