Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 20:53     Subject: Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
Anonymous wrote: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....


To those recommending STJ, no way will OP find decent accomodation for her family this late in the game. She's trying to go in 2 weeks. Just not gonna happen OP unless you luck up on some cancellations, which is highly unlikely in St John.

Check out St Croix. I actually think it's a great island for a family vacation, my child loved it. Great snorkeling, you can go diving if you want as it's excellent as well. The water is clear, warm and so pretty and blue. Delicious affordable food all over the island. Fun historical properties to check out, as well as a botanical garden and rum factory tours. Boat tours as well. It's a much more affordable trip than STJ was, and you mingle more with the local islanders (whereas STJ you'll primarily be around other tourists who look, talk and act just like you). FWIW we did enjoy STJ as well, but STX is just as good if not better.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 10:49     Subject: Re:Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
Anonymous wrote: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.


This poster nailed it. I spent 10 days at the Ritz STT just 2 weeks ago. 5 days at the hotel followed by 5 days at the residences next door. It’s a nice place but I, also, prefer St John. The Westin there is very nice but I’d suggest Gallows Point instead. It’s an enclave of private condos just up the hill from Cruz Bay. They rent the available condos by the night and they have a website. No beach there but they do have a nice pool and it’s a very short walk to Cruz Bay.
Definitely do dinner at the on-site restaurant at Gallows called Ocean something. It was great. Also, on another night we had dinner at ZoZo’s at the old Caneel Bay. Absolutely fabulous.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 10:24     Subject: Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’d do PR over st Thomas


This. I have stayed at both. Dorado is MUCH better. St. Thomas Ritz has a super small beach with an enormous seaweed problem. The report does a decent job of raking the seaweed, but it smells really bad. There is much more to do at Dorado in PR both at the hotel/report AND in Puerto Rico itself vs. St. Thomas.

I will ever understand why people are snobby and against Puerto Rico. Not saying OP is, just that many people I have encountered turn their nose at it, but won't hesitate to go to the USVI.


Not everyone has a Ritz budget and many of the PR beaches are just not that nice. Also the water isn’t always clear (Atlantic) and often the surf is rough. Vieques is more like the VI’s but also hard to get to and no luxury hotels.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 09:13     Subject: Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’d do PR over st Thomas


This. I have stayed at both. Dorado is MUCH better. St. Thomas Ritz has a super small beach with an enormous seaweed problem. The report does a decent job of raking the seaweed, but it smells really bad. There is much more to do at Dorado in PR both at the hotel/report AND in Puerto Rico itself vs. St. Thomas.

I will ever understand why people are snobby and against Puerto Rico. Not saying OP is, just that many people I have encountered turn their nose at it, but won't hesitate to go to the USVI.


RESORT. OMFG autocorrect.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 09:12     Subject: Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
Anonymous wrote:I’d do PR over st Thomas


This. I have stayed at both. Dorado is MUCH better. St. Thomas Ritz has a super small beach with an enormous seaweed problem. The report does a decent job of raking the seaweed, but it smells really bad. There is much more to do at Dorado in PR both at the hotel/report AND in Puerto Rico itself vs. St. Thomas.

I will ever understand why people are snobby and against Puerto Rico. Not saying OP is, just that many people I have encountered turn their nose at it, but won't hesitate to go to the USVI.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 09:07     Subject: Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
I’d go to the Westin in St John too, but make sure you go to other beaches as well, the Westin beach is kinda meh relative to others on the island. I’ve never been a fan of St Thomas. I know some people rag on St Croix but I think that is a better option than at Thomas too- you could try the Buccaneer. I always thought St Croix had the best restaurants of the three islands too but I haven’t been since before the pandemic.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2023 08:02     Subject: Re:Recent review - Ritz St Thomas? Other US tropic destinations?
I’ve stayed at all three. Rank:
Dorado
St regis
Ritz ST

I’d actually stay at Westin St. John over ritz ST. The ritz is only slightly “nicer” than the Westin and St. John over ST makes up for that. Also the little town of Cruz bay is actually cute.

Dorado amazing. But the price is so painful.