The US Virgin Islands play connect-the-dots 1100 miles (1770km) southeast of Miami in the balmy waters where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. Most of the 50 or so islands, cays and jutting rocks that make up the territory are clustered around St Thomas (30 sq miles/245 sq km) and St John (20 sq miles/50 sq km), which lap it up 40 miles (65km) east of Puerto Rico and just southwest of the British Virgin Islands. Sts Thomas and John are a cozy conch-shell call apart, separated only by the 2-mile-wide (3km) Pillsbury Sound. Their distant big bro, St Croix, is plopped firmly in the Caribbean Sea 45 miles (72km) south and measures a whopping 80 sq miles (205 sq km).

The Virgin Islands' landscape includes dense subtropical forests (such as in the hills of St John), arid stretches dominated by succulents and coastal mangrove swamps. Indigenous trees include kapok, whose silky seedpod fiber was used as stuffing in pillows and lifejackets; calabash and the teylerpalm, whose delicate fronds make good brooms and were once used to construct fish traps. Madagascan flame trees brighten the vista along with bougainvillea, jasmine and frangipani.

The most common animals are rats, mongoose, donkeys and lizards. Mongoose were introduced to eat up the pesky rats but given that rats snoop by night and that mongoose are strict 9 to 5-ers, the plan failed. Unfortunately mongoose have developed a taste for the eggs laid by endangered leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles. The cheekiest bird of the islands is the bananaquit, a yellow-breasted sugar addict that thinks nothing of swooping your breakfast table for a hypoglycemic hit. Other birds include hummingbirds, herons, egrets and hawks.

Temperature is never an issue when planning a trip to the US Virgin Islands, since daily highs year round are between 70-80°F (22-27°C), trade winds keep humidity low and Caribbean currents keep waters warm. Rainfall is unlikely to dampen a visit, with the wettest months, September through November, averaging only about five days of rain each. The islands are prone to hurricanes, which can hit anytime between July and October, so keep an eye on weather reports if you're visiting during these months.

The US Virgin Islands haven't made tourism their number one industry for nothing. While a lot of money is made from the docking fees paid by cruise ships, you too will have to pay for placing yourself in such idyllic surroundings. Things are expensive here and it is best to be prepared to accept that.

Traveling in style can top US$300 a day. Staying in a moderate hotel and eating in modest restaurants will cost around US$150 a day. Budget travelers can squeeze by on around US$75 a day, but will have to come up with some creative ways to do so. Bunking in with a few buddies in a St John campground is a good way to keep costs down. Coming in the off season will reduce room prices by one third, and has the added bonus of less-crowded beaches and restaurants.

Traveler's checks and major credit cards are widely accepted and there are plenty of change bureaus if you need to exchange other currencies. Hotels add a local room tax of 8% and a 10-15% service charge. Restaurant servers will either include a 10-15% service charge with the check or expect a comparable tip.

The peak tourist season is December to May, but this has more to do with the weather in North America and Europe than it does with the reliably balmy Virgin Islands' weather. It's therefore best to visit outside this period, when you can expect room rates to be two thirds of those charged during the busier months. An additional draw is that the calmer weather between April and August tends to keep the waters clearer for diving.