One Beautiful Virgin Islands

Traveling throughout the British and U.S. Virgin Islands feels like a ritual for me. My family has been in the Virgin Islands for as long as I can remember. It’s not uncommon for people across the Virgin Islands to travel and visit one another for both work and play.

It breaks my heart that the Virgin Islands are often pitted against each other in competition when in reality, every island offers a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else. This blog post is not meant to say which nation I think is better—or even which one is my favorite—but rather to share observations based on my familial and personal experiences.

Close Enough to Touch

The Virgin Islands are all unique in their own right. A few minor yet beautiful differences I enjoy across cultures include accent, architecture, landscape, cuisine, and weather.

I often feel both at home and like a foreigner when I visit islands other than St. Thomas, where I’m from. It helps that all the islands speak relatively the same language and dialects, and all use American currency.

The Virgin Islands has Cultural Differences

A major cultural difference that shouldn’t be ignored is the influence of the separate colonial powers on their respective Virgin Islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands are often regarded as the most “Americanized” Caribbean territory—and to an extent, I understand the cultural influence of the U.S.

However, the British Virgin Islands are also undeniably impacted by the cultural norms of their ruling power. I noticed the difference most in everyday mannerisms and social interactions.

That said, a warm “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” or “Good evening,” a smile, and a “Thank you” remain universal.

United by Water, Divided by Ruler

One of the more frustrating aspects of traveling between the British and U.S. Virgin Islands is navigating international customs. Traveling between the two requires stopping at customs to declare who you are, what you have, and your purpose for travel.

I abhor this process because… free the people.

In times of crisis, it’s often our neighbors—not the colonial powers—who intervene with support first. I encourage all Virgin Islanders to lean into that unity as we continue to navigate growing international tensions.