Only ten minutes from Charlotte Amalie, the Marriott's Frenchman's Reef hotel is set upon a hill on the Southern tip of the island overlooking the harbour on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. Steps lead from the hotel and guest rooms to the beach and the Marriott's Morningstar Beach Resort. The Morningstar Resort consists of several small buildings of guest rooms right on the beach. Guests have access to all facilities at both resorts including 4 restaurants, 4 bars, 2 shops, tennis courts, spa, gym and a private beach. There are 2 connected pools at Frenchman's Reef with a swim up bar and waterfall. There's another pool by the beach at the Morningstar resort. The waves can be rough on the beach so stick to the pool if you're not a good swimmer.
We used Marriott Rewards points for 2 weeks (130,000 pts/week) and paid $145/night for the 3rd week. As a bonus, our "garden view" room in the "seacliff building" had a great water view too. The room was really big for a Marriott room with a huge King sized bed. It had all the standard amenities - cable TV, telephone, bathroom with shower/bath, a/c, desk, in-room safe and comfy chair. In addition every room has a private patio (or balcony), fridge and separate ice maker (very handy).
The grounds of the hotel are beautifully bathed in lush greens, hibiscus and Flamboyant trees with vibrantly colored flowers. There are many iguanas sunning themselves along the path to the beach. Don't be afraid of them. They are friendly and let you get pretty close to them. The hotel's gardener gives a talk on the iguanas for nature-loving guests every Tuesday.
A water taxi leaves every hour from the Marriott's dock to downtown Charlotte Amalie. The fare ($5 each one way) and journey time are probably equivalent to that of a normal taxi cab but it's a nicer, more scenic and relaxing journey. Only drawback - the steps from the dock to the hotel are long and steep.
If you are looking for a meal in town, the concierge desk has a book of menus from all types of restaurants. Also, don't be afraid to ask the concierge or bell hops for their favorites.
The tour desk is located on the same level as the pool. Here you can book all kinds of tours and excursions in St Thomas and the neighboring Virgin Islands. Snorkelling, sunset cruises, helicopter tours and submarine tours are also available. They can also help you book a powerboat for the day. I highly recommend this (see separate Powerboat Activity section).
The friendly and helpful staff at the Marriott added to the Caribbean feel and atmosphere. We also enjoyed having the local newspaper delivered daily.
We really loved this hotel for its location, comfort and services. It's much more than the standard Marriott hotel. Just be prepared for a lot of stairs.