After restoration from hurricanes Irma and Maria, The Ritz-Carlton, Saint Thomas on the US Virgin Islands is thriving. Two Category 5 hurricanes lashed the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017, reducing much of the infrastructure to rubble. Tourism experts predicted it would take four years for the area to make a full comeback.
Happily, restoration is moving ahead of schedule, with almost three-quarters of the destination’s hotel inventory back online, including The Ritz-Carlton, Saint Thomas 180 guest rooms and suites, each flaunting Frette bedding, a 55-inch LED TV, and an ocean-view balcony or terrace.
After a two-year, $100-million renovation, Saint Thomas’s most upscale address brims with upgrades, including a revamped infinity pool and a new family pool with a fun slide. Also new is the property’s Alloro restaurant, featuring a seafood-heavy menu of traditional Sicilian fare, including house-made pasta, craft pizza, and Italian wine.
If you want to book a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, with points, this is a Category 8 Marriott Bonvoy property, which means award nights will cost you 70,000 points for an off-peak night, 85,000 for a standard night, and 100,000 for a peak night redemption. Award nights can be booked on the Marriott website, but they don’t include any of our free benefits outlined above. The resort also requires a daily resort fee of $85 per night.
Why We Love This Hotel
The grounds at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, are gorgeous, full of tropical plants and foliage. The pool is great, and the beach is a few steps away. What more could you want?
Location
The Ritz-Carlton is located on the east end of Saint Thomas, 10 miles from the airport. A private transfer costs around $100 one way and takes around 45 minutes up winding, undulating roads.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands is April to June when you can expect mild weather and very little rainfall. The USVI peak season is from December to March. The hurricane season is rainy and runs from June through November.
How To Get There
Getting to the island of St. Thomas is fairly easy, with a nonstop flight from Newark (EWR) to St. Thomas (STT). From the UK, there is a stop or layover required, usually in New York.
Style & Character
An airy aesthetic incorporating swathes of white defines the property’s fresh look, infusing everything from the public areas and event spaces to the reimagined Club Lounge, an upgraded guest experience decked in shiplap and oyster chandeliers (worth the splurge for the private check-in, dedicated concierge, and impressive food-and-beverage presentations throughout the day).
Service & Facilities
Resort fees also cover garden tours and daily fitness classes, including water tai chi, as well as the use of water sports gear such as kayaks, Hobie Cats, paddleboards, and water tricycles. (Tip: Adults can get out on the water while children ages four through 12 take part in locally inspired environmental and cultural activities such as iguana feeding and sea-creature crafts, courtesy of the Ritz Kids program.)
The resort’s own catamaran is also bigger and better—the newly minted 60-foot-long Lady Lynsey II can take 75 passengers on snorkeling sails, sunset dinner cruises, and island-hopping day trips, as well as private parties. Another don’t-miss offering: “Catch and Cook” beach barbecues.
Rooms
Rooms are stunning and modern, with huge balconies that house two large padded loungers as well as two chairs around a table where you can sit and enjoy the view. Bathrooms are vast with a stand-alone tub and Purple Water amenities by Aspray (same amenities as those at Four Seasons Hampshire).
Food & Drink
The beloved restaurant Sails, Coconut Cove (sip painkillers to a soundtrack of live music in the evenings), and surf-and-turf at Bleuwater remain favorites with guests. During the popular rum-tasting experience, sample locally produced rums infused with flavors like coconut, lemon-lime, mango, passion fruit, and pineapple.
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