Beautiful St Thomas

My husband and I had a wonderful time in St. Thomas. It was our first trip there, and we went without our children and really got to relax. Our trip was in September 2003, and it was off-season. The weather was beautiful while we were there, even though it was the tail-end of hurricane season. You can usually get a better deal at the hotel and several discount coupons for meals, etc, if you go during off-season.

Quick Tips:

The best day trip we took was the BVI tour, as described in another part of this journal. The concierge called and got our reservation when we got there. If you are going in high season, it may be wise to book online prior to your trip to ensure that you get the day you want.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxi is the best way to get around, and they are everywhere. There is a taxi desk at the hotel front door, and someone is always there to call the taxi to pick you up. The fares are set, and you will know before you leave the hotel what it will cost to get you to your destination. We met another couple who had rented a car, and they were afraid to drive it. The roads are very narrow and winding. Take plenty of cash in small bills in order to pay the taxi fares.

We stayed in a deluxe room, which had a balcony and an ocean view. We also chose to go all-inclusive. The rooms are large, and the bathrooms are spacious. There is a mini refrigerator, small table, chair, and a safe in each room. The swimming pool is nice, and there is a waterfall that lands in the pool, which you can swim under. When you go to the pool, make sure you take everything you want on the first trip. There are about 100 stairs to climb from the pool area up to the hotel level. Of course, this may be all the exercise you get while on vacation! There are tennis courts and a pro available. The concierge desk was helpful in recommending and setting up day excursions. There is also a resort-level scuba course that is included in your stay. There are two restaurants to choose from; one is more formal, and the other is casual and by the pool. The food was good and at times great. We did not have a bad meal. All this aside, the view from our balcony looked over to St. John and was breathtaking!

The only downside to this hotel was the beach access. The beach at the hotel is small and a bit rocky. If you are planning to enjoy the beach at the hotel, I recommend taking water shoes. The hotel does provide free snorkeling gear. As you swim into the water there are some large boulders under the water to your right. We swam among these and saw some great fish. We also got in a two-person kayak and paddled around for awhile. If you look closely, you will occasionally see giant turtles.

This is truly one of the prettiest beaches I have seen. It is a mile-long strip of white sand, lined by palm trees. In September, when we were there, the beach was almost deserted. The snorkeling is great and is easily accessible. Getting there from St. Thomas is easy. You take a ferry from Red Hook on St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, which costs $3 per person one way. Once at Cruz Bay, there are many taxis available to take you to Trunk Bay. There are also taxis stationed at the beach ready to transport you back to Cruz Bay for the return trip to St. Thomas. My advice, take a towel, grab some shade under a palm tree, and just relax!

This was by far the best day of our St. Thomas vacation. It started about 8:30am. We boarded the boat, which held about 15 people, and were served a continental breakfast. We traveled for about an hour and stopped at Virgin Gorda to clear customs. We had filled out all of our information when we boarded, and one of our tour guides handled the paperwork once we reached Virgin Gorda. From there, we motored over to the Baths. This place is spectacular. It is made up of huge boulders/rock formations that flow from the land into the water. There is nothing quite like it, and words do not do it justice. One of our guides lead us on a guided tour of the area, and then we had free time to snorkel (gear included with tour). Back onboard our boat, we were served painkillers, or Cokes. Our next stop was at Marina Cay for lunch, then off to Guana Island for more snorkeling. Back on board, there were more painkillers! Then we made our last stop at Jost Van Dyke, where we visited the world-famous Soggy Dollar Bar. They are the inventors of the painkiller, so we had to have one. At the end of the day, we cruised back to St. Thomas while our guide gave us details of the islands we were passing on the way. We arrived back on St. Thomas about 5pm.

Honeymoon Beach is just what you would expect from the sound of its name. It is a secluded strip of white sand with overhanging palm trees and calm, crystal blue water. The seclusion of the beach is the reward you get for hiking a one-mile trail through the national forest of St John. If you start in St. Thomas, take the ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. The cost is $3 per person one-way. Once at Cruz Bay, go to the National Park Service Cruz Bay Visitor's Center (open 8am to 4:30pm). There, you can get a cool drink of water and pick up a forest trail map. The Lind Point trailhead is located just outside the visitor's center. The hike is not difficult, and the payoff is great. There was one other person on this beach besides my husband and me. It is very quiet and peaceful. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, because there are no facilities at Honeymoon Beach. If your hotel offers snorkel rental, take the snorkel gear along with you.

Journeys Spa is located on the property of the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort. The phone number is 340/777-7100, ext. 2236. The website is www.journeysspa.com. This spa was voted best spa in the Virgin Islands. It offers the usual spa treatments, including manicures, pedicures, facials, couple’s massages, etc. There is also an exercise room on the second floor of the spa, and it houses treadmills, stationary bikes, and some free weights. The spa can book up at times, so call in advance for a reservation.

While at the spa, you can change from your clothes into a spa robe and slippers. While waiting for your treatment, you sit in a lounge with magazines, coffee, water, and fruit. The lights are dimmed, and the mood is relaxing. After your treatment, you can shower off in the rainforest showers or relax in a private hot tub. The treatments can be paid in full while you are there or you can charge them to your room. This is a great way to relax and take a break from your vacation!