Whirlwind weekend: Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas

My mom and dad have been filling my ear with fond memories of their St. Thomas cruise for years (many, many years), so when I got invited to a wedding there this June, I knew I had to see its beachy beauty for myself. And once I learned the wedding was being held at the Ritz-Carlton, the decision of where to stay was essentially a no-brainer! Operation Vacation was officially in progress.

I arrived on a Thursday morning, feeling not so fresh after a 5 am wake-up call and bumpy flight from Manhattan. My mood immediately improved once I deplaned and was greeted by the smooth tropical stylings of a drum band. Around the airport, people were sipping fruity drinks and lei-ing each other. It was clear I was in for a festive few days!

About 40 twisty, turn-y minutes later, the shuttle pulled into the gates of the somewhat secluded Ritz-Carlton. There I was greeted with a tasty rum cocktail (already, there seemed to be a theme developing here…) and a golf cart ride to my room in the “Freesia” building. Along with residences, the property has 180 guestrooms total across its various buildings. I’d reserved an Ocean View guestroom for myself and gal pal Meghan—replete with king bed, marble bathroom, free Wi-fi, and special Ritz-y touches like evening turndown service. My favorite part, of course, was the private balcony which offered an inviting view of the cerulean Caribbean waters below. However, if I was really ballin’, I would have gotten a Club Level reservation, which entitles patrons to perks like free breakfast, bevvies, hors d’ouerves, and more. (And, as I was to learn later, it can actually be a good investment as the resort’s restaurants are tres pricy!)

I didn’t waste much time changing into my bikini and heading down to the pool area. Interestingly, the Ritz-Carlton offers one of the few infinity pools on the island—you’d think they’d be as common as the fruity drinks! (Later, in the evenings, my friends and I would make “friends” with the hot tub, P-Diddy style! Tropical fun indeed.) As our stay went on, I ended up spending more time down at the private beach than the pool. Tons of beach chairs (just raise the flag if you need a cocktail) and free access to Hobie cats, paddleboards, kayaks, and other active gear made it easy and affordable to entertain ourselves and enjoy the great outdoors. In fact, between the beach, restaurants, pool, and wedding festivities, we spent almost our entire stay on-site at the resort!

Of course, with my nose for news, I managed to extract myself from the ocean—and my new stand-up paddleboarding hobby—to sniff out some of the coolest options for getaway girls visiting the R-C. (I know, a tough job, but I’m here to take it on for you!) Here’s what I uncovered:

**As part of the daily “resort fee” ($58/room), there are all kinds of free classes goin’ on—-from aqua aerobics to Zumba to watercolor painting by the sea. You can even take windsurfing lessons from a former Olympic contender! If you’re not so much the joiner, you can go work out in the 2,000 sq. ft. fitness center free of charge and elliptical your heart out. Use the ocean views as a means of visualizing that bikini bod….

**Though the restaurants can be expensive, each one has its own unique appeal and is worth checking out. For instance, Bleuwater is known for its tasty breakfast and seafood offerings, while the more casual Great Bay Lounge serves up billiards and board games along with Asian and American fare. On the outdoor tip, the resort also has Sails just off the pool/beach and the open-air, beachy Coconut Cove. And for a truly authentic experience, you can also arrange “Dinner On the Beach,” in which the resort will set up a special table and deliver a four-course meal replete with private butler.

The beautiful bride, Meghan, and I set sail on the Lady Lynsey.

**For those who love to sail, don’t miss a cruise on the Lady Lynsey, the resort’s resident catamaran. I was lucky enough to take a sunset sail on the boat as part of the wedding festivities, but those who don’t have anything pre-scheduled can take part in snorkeling and sailing outings to the adjacent island of St. John.

**Speaking of St. John, it’s a MUST to get off the island and see what the rest of the Virgin Islands are all about! Friends highly reco’ed Tortola, but since I didn’t have my passport handy, it was out of the question. Luckily, St. John required no such documentation and didn’t disappoint. We visited the beach at scenic Cinnamon Bay, and bargain shopped at a lively street festival by the ferry stop. We feasted on seafood and wine at The Waterfront Bistro; only wish we’d had more time to go hiking and work it off. Rumor has it the ruins at the national park are an absolute must-see.

A few additional tips for an optimal island jaunt:

• Depending on where you stay, a private cab can cost up to $90! Take the shared airport shuttle and pay just $18-22/person. Shared cabs are also readily available for hitting up local clubs and restaurants.
• Bring your passport, as it’s a must for island hopping! (I learned the hard way.) You’ll need it to visit the British Virgin Islands, and trust me, you’ll want to do that.
• If you’re trying to save money, hop a cab to the general store in Red Hook and stock up on alcohol, soda, and food for the duration of your stay.

And, of course, what Ritz-Carlton would be complete without a visit to its lush spa? Stay tuned for part two of my Whirlwind Weekend roundup and the lo-down!

For more 411: Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, 6900 Great Bay, St. Thomas, V.I. 00802; (340) 775-3333