ST. THOMAS - Virgin Islands - page 65

elevator. The accommodations here have all you'll need for comfort, including gener-
ally spacious bathrooms. The bedrooms at Frenchman's Reef are traditionally fur-
nished and quite comfortable, while those at the Morning Star are more luxurious.
All units have private balconies with sea views.
There is enough variety in dining to keep you on the premises at night, and the
cuisine has become better and better. In general, we prefer the seafood to the frozen
meat imported from the U.S. mainland. The complex boasts the hip Havana Blue
(p. 78), a cocktail/cigar lounge with a truly inspired menu.
No. 5 Estate Bakkeroe, Flamboyant Point (P.O. Box 7100), St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00801. www.marriott.com.
& 888/236-2427 or 340/776-8500. Fax [phone] units. Winter $360-$745 double, from
$760 suite; off season $300-$630 double, from $600 suite. Children 12 and under stay free in parent's
room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: 6 restaurants; 3 bars; babysitting; health club and spa; room
service; 2 tennis courts (lit); watersports equipment/rentals. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, Wi-Fi
($7 per day).
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas This resort is as posh as it gets on St.
Thomas. It's great for either a honeymoon or an off-the-record weekend (the staff is
very discreet). Fronted by white-sand beaches, the Ritz-Carlton stands on 30 acres of
oceanfront at the island's southeastern tip, 4 miles from Charlotte Amalie. The hotel's
architecture evokes a palazzo in Venice, as befitting of a Ritz property, and is set amid
landscaped gardens, with bubbling fountains and hidden courtyards evoking the feel
of a truly sprawling villa.
Also befitting of the Ritz is the special, key-activated Club Lounge featuring 75
well-appointed units, each with views of the Caribbean and a private balcony. Some
of the rooms also contain separate bathtubs and “rain-shower stalls.” The resort fea-
tures an extensive spa with 11 luxurious treatment rooms and more open-air cabanas.
Of the restaurants, Bleuwater (p. 77) is highly recommended and has the best chef
on the island; the Great Bay Lounge (p. 79) is a chic place for cocktails, tapas, and
sushi. The Ritz Kids program is one of the best on the island, with such features as
snorkeling and scuba diving. Finally, the property has its own scuba-diving school and
private yacht, readily available for guests.
6900 Great Bay, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802. www.ritzcarlton.com. & 800/241-3333 or 340/775-3333.
Fax [phone] units. Winter $660-$880 double, from $1,290 suite; off season $380-$570
double, from $700 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: 4 restaurants; 3 bars; babysitting; children's
programs; concierge; health club and spa; 2 pools (outdoor); room service; 2 tennis courts (lit); water-
sports equipment/rentals. In room: A/C, TV, Internet (free), minibar.
EXPENSIVE
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort This family-run resort is an unpretentious,
barefooted-welcome kind of place. You'll find a half-moon-shaped white-sand beach
and a cluster of pink two- and three-story buildings, plus some motel-like units closer
to the sands. There's also a social center consisting of a smallish pool and a beach-
front bar, replete with palm fronds. It's a relatively small property, but it offers all the
facilities of a big resort. Many guests check in on the European Plan, which includes
watersports activities and even a scuba-diving lesson; others opt for all-inclusive plans
that include all meals, drinks, a sailboat excursion to St. John, and use of scuba
equipment. Rooms are simple, summery, and filled with unremarkable but comfort-
able furniture. Each unit has a balcony or patio, a refrigerator, and one king-size or
two double beds. Some of the units on the beach come with kitchenettes; and the
apartment-style condos, in a three-story building, have full kitchens.

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