St. Thomas vs Turks and Caicos — Why We Keep Choosing St. Thomas

Turks and Caicos kept coming up in conversation. Friends. Family. People who heard we were planning a Caribbean trip and immediately said — have you considered Turks and Caicos?

Not a single one of them had been there.

They were recommending a reputation. A magazine spread. Something they had seen on a list somewhere. We appreciate the enthusiasm. But something I always come back to — never take advice from somebody that hasn't done what you are wanting to do.

We had been to St. Thomas. We knew exactly what we were choosing and why.

Why St. Thomas Kept Winning

Every time we sat down to plan a trip the conversation went the same way.

What do you want to do this year? I don't know, you? I don't know. Let's do St. Thomas.

And we never once regretted it.

St. Thomas is mountainous with elevation changes that give you views that stop you in your tracks. We wanted hills to hike not just a flat beach to lie on. Mountaintop looks down over Magens Bay from high enough that the whole horseshoe shape of the bay spreads out below you. The Reef Bay trail on St. John drops through jungle past petroglyphs and plantation ruins to a secluded beach at the bottom. You cannot do that on a flat island.

The beaches are white sand and extraordinary — Magens Bay, Secret Harbor, Sapphire, Lindquist. Sea turtles feed in the seagrass at Magens. A stingray glides past while you are snorkeling. The kind of underwater wildlife encounters most people drive hours to an aquarium to see.

St. John is twenty minutes away by ferry. Two thirds national park. A completely different island for eight dollars each way. The food in Red Hook is genuinely excellent. After more trips than we can count there is still a long list of things we have not done.

That is not a problem. That is why we keep going back.

What About Turks and Caicos

We are not saying anything is wrong with Turks and Caicos. Grace Bay Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world for a reason. The water is extraordinarily clear. The sand is some of the finest in the Caribbean.

But from everything we researched it came back more expensive across the board — hotels, flights, food, activities. And the flat terrain meant the experience felt more resort-focused than island-focused to us. We wanted something to explore not just somewhere to sit.

St. Thomas stole our hearts before we ever got to do the comparison properly. That is not TCI's fault. It is just how it happened.

If the finest flat calm beach in the Caribbean with a polished luxury resort experience is what you are after — TCI sounds like the right answer. If you want hills, hiking, island hopping, sea turtles, excellent food, and a completely different island twenty minutes away at a price that does not require a second mortgage — St. Thomas is extraordinarily hard to beat.

We will get there one day. When we do we will tell you honestly what we found.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have you been to both St. Thomas and Turks and Caicos?
We have been to St. Thomas more times than we can count. We have not been to TCI yet — our comparison is based on research rather than firsthand experience of both. When we go we will tell you honestly what we found.

Which is cheaper — St. Thomas or Turks and Caicos?
Based on our research St. Thomas is significantly more affordable across hotels, flights, food, and activities. TCI carries a luxury premium. St. Thomas has options at multiple price points.

Do you need a passport for St. Thomas?
No — St. Thomas is a US territory. US citizens need only a valid government issued ID. Turks and Caicos requires a passport for US citizens.

Is there really that much to do in St. Thomas beyond the beach?
After more trips than we can count we have still not done everything. St. John alone could fill multiple separate trips. The hiking, the food, the shopping, the ferry connections — the answer is yes.

Would you ever go to Turks and Caicos?
One day. St. Thomas keeps winning the conversation. When we finally go we will tell you honestly which one we preferred.

Tell them we sent you.

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