Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
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Anonymous
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We are looking to book a last minute spring break trip the last week in March. It has to be a US destination due to my DD's expired passport.
Has anyone been to the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas lately? Reviews on Trip Advisor are a bit mixed. Prices are high for us, but we have a ton of miles to use for plane tickets so willing to spend some $$ on a nice luxury hotel. Also looking at Ritz Dorado Beach (wow $$$!) or St Regis Baha Mar in PR.... |
Anonymous
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Yes, I was there recently for a work reward trip. Service and food were good. There were always spots at the pool (don't let the towels left behind fool you) and service was pretty quick. There are a few restaurants at the resort as well as some in nearby Red Hook (it was easy to get a cab and I think the fare was $10/person). It wasn't too bad getting to the resort from the airport though several people on the trip felt motion sickness going around the hairpin turns. We saw a car flipped on its hood on the way to the resort and the driver said, "Oh, that always happens on that turn."
I wouldn't say that it felt like a super high-end resort, but everything was nice and service was reliably good. I had a nice massage at the spa. We also ate lunch at the restaurant over on the condo side, and it was good. Bring sunscreen! The store doesn't sell it. The spa carries some but it's pricey. I was surprised there wasn't more shopping at the hotel TBH. Just one general gift shop and one jewelry store. Would I choose it for my own trip? Probably, depending on my criteria and the cost. Last year we stayed at the Four Seasons Orlando and that was "OMG this hotel is so much nicer than anywhere I've ever stayed." I've stayed at several hotels as nice as the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas, but what I'll say is that it didn't have any misses, and often when you stay somewhere for 4 nights some ball gets dropped somewhere. Everything was very good, just not exceptional. |
Anonymous
| I went a few years ago also on a corporate boondoggle. Hotel itself was just ok. Almost no beach and quite windy. Didn’t love st Thomas in general. But lots of fun trips to other islands although those were bvi so not sure you coukd do without a passport. |
Anonymous
| I’d pick St. Croix over STT. |
Anonymous
Ugh St Croix is horrible. Do not recommend. |
Anonymous
| St. John all the way |
Anonymous
No luxury hotels there. They are all gone. |
Anonymous
Better than St. Thomas! OP doesn’t have passports. |
Anonymous
I was coming to say this! St. John is so much better than st Thomas. Hotels are limited though, you may have to get a villa/rental. |
Anonymous
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I’d do PR over st Thomas
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Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| Dorado Beach Ritz in PR. If you can spring for a plunge pool room. If you can't afford it the beach is nice and the pools are nice. Food is good. Food in town is good. |
Anonymous
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23:42 poster
If you can only afford a standard room (not plunge pool) the beach is nice and pools are nice. Standard rooms are very large and nice. Bathrooms are beautiful and large. |
Anonymous
| I haven't stayed at either resort, but in the USVI generally prefer St. John, which has a Westin. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sttwj-the-westin-st-john-resort-villas/overview/?EM=DNM_WESTINRESORTSTJOHN.COM |
Anonymous
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I did not like St. Thomas and thought the Ritz beach was not that great. Tons of seaweed, not great snorkeling. The pool was nice, but you could have been anywhere. The airport was awful and getting around via taxi can be pricey for families since they charge per person.
I'd rather go to a nice Florida resort - St Regis Bal Harbour, Boca Beach Club, Four Seasons Palm Beach or Breakers. |