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katie riley
When asked about a family's favorite vacation, 9 times out of 10 it involves the beach. My family has been lucky enough to go on all kinds of vacations to the coast of Maine, national parks, and even Europe.
But nothing can compare to the sea, sand and absolute tranquility of a relaxing holiday. We were craving this kind of vacation and headed to the Caribbean for ten days of pure bliss. First stop: The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a family-friendly resort with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea for miles and a lively island vibe.
get there
Direct flights to St. Thomas are available from several airports along the East Coast. We took an easy four hour flight from the closest Dulles International Airport just outside of DC. St. Thomas' Cyril E. King Airport is small and notorious for inefficiencies and slow wait times, so I had to take all my luggage with me to avoid any potential mishaps.
The Ritz Carlton is located on the eastern tip of the island, about a 40-minute drive over hilly terrain. It's not worth renting a car, as taxis and Ubers are everywhere, and the 15-minute ferry to Saint John is just minutes from the resort. Be careful as taxis on the island are often shared and priced per person, so if you don't pre-book you could end up grouped with strangers and making multiple stops. We paid $100 in advance for a private taxi fare from Kelly's Taxi and it was fantastic. A minivan was waiting for us as we exited the airport and the driver couldn't have been nicer.
Stop!
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The island is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irma in 2017, and you can see everywhere that many homes and buildings still haven't been rebuilt since the damage. It was refreshing to see so many travelers returning to St. Thomas, as COVID-19 dealt yet another blow to an island that relies heavily on tourism.
We arrived at the resort after a hair-raising ride along a very narrow road with great views. The outdoor reception featured neutral colors, woven light fixtures, and a modern island style that I loved. We were provided with cold towels and rum punch for the parents and lemongrass iced tea for the kids and then immediately taken to a small side room to check in. There is no traditional lobby and check-in was smooth. This meant that since there was no traditional 'front desk', it was difficult to find staff when I had questions, and calls to the front desk were often not answered.
Midsize luxury with views for miles
After suffering extensive damage from Irma in 2017, The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas underwent a $100 million renovation and reopened in 2020. The resort has 180 rooms spread across several buildings facing Cruz Bay with views of St. John in the distance. The views from almost anywhere in the resort were spectacular, especially those from the Alloro restaurant, which were breathtaking at times. A paved path winds between the four-story buildings, and you can take a golf cart down there if you need to. We found the resort easy to navigate and completely free of golf carts, but the hilly setting can present challenges for any family with mobility issues.
Best rooms for families
For our family of 5 we booked 2 adjoining rooms. One has two queen size beds and the adjacent room has a king size bed. The décor is beach-chic, with woven light fixtures, light wood, and plush neutral-colored bedding and seating. Everything looked new and it was clear that very little detail had been spared during the renovation. Both rooms had private west-facing balconies with spectacular sunset views. (However, in the future I will be requesting an east-facing building with a balcony overlooking Cruz Bay and St. John's ocean.)
The resort's rooms were clean, ours was spacious and luxurious at 450 square feet, but what impressed us most was the full bathroom. The bathroom, with its double sinks, light wood vanity, and massive rain shower, was one of the nicest things I've seen at a Ritz. All bathrooms feature a large freestanding bathtub and Asprey toiletries.
Club-level rooms and suites feature private concierges, and the newly designed Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge offers four daily food and beverage presentations, including breakfast, a light lunch, a hearty appetizer at dinner, and a nightly dessert buffet. In all categories, room service is an easy option for your convenience.
beach and swimming pool
After a long morning of travel, we were itching to put our toes in the sand and head to the beach. The resort is beautifully located on Cruise Bay, a calm body of water surrounded by coral reefs, but the beach itself is not as large or wide as the Caymans or Turks and Caicos. The beach is completely private, but it is blocked on both sides by rocky outcrops, so there is no place to enjoy a leisurely beach stroll. Chairs were plentiful and water sports including kayaks, Hobie Cats, and snorkeling gear were free. We took full advantage of the many outdoor adventures during our stay.
Snorkeling at the beach was fantastic. We spotted stingrays, tropical fish, and even barracuda several times while swimming. The water is calm and resort staff pay close attention to all guests using Hobie Cats and kayaks. I have seen them several times racing their electric boats to help guests struggling with the winds in Cruz Bay, and it was nice to know that they were paying such close attention.
The resort owns the Lady Lynsey II, one of the area's luxury catamarans, which offers snorkeling trips and sunset sails. We booked a snorkeling trip a few weeks before our visit, but it was canceled for unexplained reasons two weeks before check-in. Looking back we didn't mind as we quickly realized that the on-site snorkeling was great.
There was no time to explore the island during our four-day visit, but many of the guests we met took advantage of the public ferry that leaves for St. John every hour. Ferries depart from Red Hook, the closest town to the resort, so it's easy to hop on a ferry to St. John and explore one of the dozens of white-sand beaches or one of the Virgin Islands National Parks dotted around the island.
Ritz St. Each of Thomas' outdoor swimming pools has been newly renovated and will appeal to families with children of all ages. A new addition to the “family pool area” features a gated pool with a fun waterslide to keep the kids busy for hours. The adjacent infinity pool is large and surrounded by a large deck with lounge chairs offering views of Cruise Bay and breathtaking natural beauty.
The pool cabana had loungers and a flat-screen TV, but it didn't feel particularly private. We also spent time in the hot tub and main pool at Coconut Cove Beach. During our stay in late June, the resort was completely sold out and the pools and beaches were bustling with families. We loved the fact that children were welcome everywhere in the property and the family friendly atmosphere was incredibly warm.
Ritz Kids Club
The resort has a Ritz Kids program with daily activity plans for children, and the pool has an activity desk listing daily classes, games, and crafts for families. The Ritz Kids Club was steps from the family pool and had several small rooms equipped with game consoles, puzzles, crafts, and a small aquarium. It's smaller than most kids clubs and was empty on the day I visited.
Although it offers all the amenities of a Ritz Kids experience, most families we saw had their children at the beach and pool and did not utilize child care. This is a testament to the family-friendly nature of the resort. This is not a place to come for complete tranquility, though. is This is a place where children can have fun and feel completely comfortable in luxurious surroundings.
While our activities focus on outdoor activities and take advantage of our seemingly always perfect climate, we also have a full fitness center and beautiful spa for those who wish to do so.
Enjoy your trip to St. Thomas with Luxe Recess VIP
Booked Luxe Recess Exclusive Marriott Star feeSo we enjoyed some nice welcome amenities, in addition to early check-in, 4pm check-out, $100 resort credit, and two daily breakfasts in the restaurant. Honestly, why would you book alone and leave money on the table?
Meal hits and misses
Ritz Carlton St. Thomas has 4 restaurants. Sails, a casual beachfront restaurant, serves fish tacos, poke bowls, chicken sandwiches and burgers. We had lunch at Sails restaurant the day we arrived, and although the burgers and sandwiches were fairly average, they did the job after a long morning of travel. Beach and pool dining options offer similar portable and kid-friendly menu items.
Bleuwater, a modern restaurant with an international menu, is also available for breakfast. In addition to the a la carte menu, an extensive buffet was served each morning featuring an omelet and waffle station, cheese and charcuterie, pastries and breakfast meats. (If you book with Luxe Recess, two people get free each morning.) Dining is available indoors as well as at Cruz Bay and St. Louis. Also available on the outdoor veranda overlooking St. John's. Starting every morning with such a panoramic ocean view is sublime. The resort's seafood restaurant, Coconut Cove, is located in the Ritz Residences, a short walk from the main resort.
Alloro, an Italian-inspired restaurant, was a culinary highlight at the resort. The menu includes homemade pizzas and pastas, seafood dishes and a variety of salads. The atmosphere is classy yet comfortable. It's the perfect place for families looking for a nicer dining experience without the stuffy dining area. The home-made focaccia was fantastic and the freshly made burrata salad was the best I've ever had. Her husband still dreams of lobster carbonara. The service the Ritz brand is renowned for was as friendly and punctual as usual.
One aspect the resort lacks is a proper bar and lounge. Each restaurant has a bar, and Sails was open in the evenings with sports broadcasts on TV, but the resort did not have a proper lobby lounge or dedicated bar area for evening entertainment.
We left this beachfront property twice during our four night stay. Our first night we had a casual pizza dinner in Red Hook, just 10 minutes away. Another night we walked across the street to the resort and had dinner at the Caribbean Fish Market, one of the best restaurants on the island. Our meal was amazing with fresh seafood and a beautiful beachfront setting.
to sum up
The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas is a premier luxury hotel and resort with five-star accommodations. Our room was beautifully decorated, spacious and very comfortable. We liked the size of the resort. It was large enough to offer fun amenities like multiple pools and waterslides, but not overwhelmingly large like a convention hotel.
Although our dining experience had a few downsides, it was nice that the resort was close to nearby Red Hook when we wanted to leave the property. The Ritz wasn't the most secluded or peaceful island getaway, but it was a great start to our Caribbean vacation for a few hours of fun and most importantly, family.
Book your Virgin Islands vacation
Did you know? Lux Recess It's a magazine and it's exclusive. Ritz-Carlton Partner? What does it mean to you? This means that as a luxury family travel magazine and travel agency, we can offer a variety of complimentary amenities to our customers.
Rates for Marriott luxury brands always include complimentary breakfast for two, resort credit, upgrades based on availability, early check-in, and late check-out. Complete this hotel reservation form to add these amenities to your stay for free.
Looking for more?
Be sure to read our review of Rosewood Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands!
The property is located at 6900 Great Bay, St. Located in Thomas, Virgin Islands (United States).