Who

The Golub brothers: Trevor, 12, and William, 14.

Home Base

Long Island, New York.

Just Back From

St. Thomas.

Reason for Trip

To visit their dad, who lives on the island and owns a pool servicing company.

Tips for flying without parents

Go nonstop! And bring cards for solitaire, a DVD player, and trail mix.

Best Beaches

Magens Bay, for gorgeous, calm, clear water, and Hull Bay, which has good surf.

Favorite Sport

Skurfing: when the waves aren’t big enough to ride, get towed behind a boat on your board.

Ultimate Booty

Real pirate coins salvaged from St. Thomas’s shores, sold for $125–$9,000 at Pirate’s Chest (Paradise Point; 340/774-5279).

Super Stay

The boys’ dad votes for the Ritz-Carlton (ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $489), with its infinity pool, or the primo rental houses listed by McLaughlin Anderson (mclaughlinanderson.com; villa for four from $460 per night).

St. Thomas Treat

Johnnycakes, fried dough with powdered sugar, from streetcarts.

Bummer

No skate parks—and not nearly enough sidewalks.