By Kathryn Kardos, www.travelenvogue.com
The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas is a stunning resort located on 30 acres of private, beachfront property along the island’s Great Bay. I recently had the pleasure of staying at their Residence Club, which is a building of vacation condos located within the resort. We were greeted at both the airport and Ritz with rum punch! Everyone was so friendly and we immediately felt the laid back, island vibe.
These Ritz Carlton St. Thomas vacation rentals felt very private, but still included hotel services and amenities. The Ritz provided twice daily maid service, room service, and concierge service. We bought groceries for the week at Marina Market and enjoyed perusing their interesting selection of tropical gourmet products! With the fridge fully stocked, we decided to cook in the kitchen and throw a dinner party in the dining room of the condo. Afterwards, we relaxed on the balcony with some drinks and took in the beautiful Caribbean sunset.
The infinity pool was stunning, as was the beach. The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas even offers a Dinner on the Beach option, where they set up a dining table with candlelight and bring the food from one of their restaurants to you! During the day, they have private cabanas and lounge chairs for sunbathers. Families can participate in the “Magic Milk Sand Art,” where parents and kids can create their own sand souvenirs.
The Spa was my favorite part. I got a massage and body wrap in the ocean-side cabana. The sound of the water right outside the window was very relaxing! The Ritz St. Thomas’s fine dining option, Bleuwater, was excellent as well. The fish was fresh and the cocktails were delicious.
Exploring Charlotte Amalie was a fun experience and it had a very bustling energy because of the cruise ships coming in. We bought some souvenirs from the locals and had lunch at Walker’s By the Sea. We also went island hopping to St. John and St. Croix on the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas’s private charter, the Lady Lynsey. Trunk Bay, an underwater snorkeling trail at St. John, was amazing. There was a ton of different fish to see and the underwater signs helped explain everything.
We were sad to see the week come to an end. The Ritz Carlton staff had been so helpful and accommodating throughout our stay and the resort was so gorgeous that we had a hard time saying goodbye!
