Staying at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the USVI – Hotel Review & Everything You Need to Know!
If you’re thinking about St. Thomas for a family trip, girls trip, group trip, or romantic getaway, I have allll of the details for you.
I just got back from a girls trip to the Virgin Islands and we had the best time!!!!! We were torn on where to stay and finally decided on Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas and are so glad we did. It’s not perfect, but it made for the perfect base for us to explore the islands!
If you read the online reviews, you might see that this Ritz is a little dated, and maybe more Marriott level than Ritz-Carlton level, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you go into it with the right expectations! I just got back from our trip here on a girls trip and it was a great base for us. St. Thomas to me is not a “sit at your hotel all day” destination, it’s a jumping off point to the greater Virgin Islands, which have SO much to offer, whether you’re traveling to the British Virgin Islands or around the USVI.
Here’s exactly what to know.
What the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is Like
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas sits on Great Bay in St. Thomas, is easy to get to from the airport (and lots of direct flights into STT), and immediately feels colonial-chic, breezy, and cute!
It’s not overly polished, but it’s the best luxury hotel on St. Thomas, so if you’re planning a trip to the USVI, this is the best option. That being said, don’t set your standards toooo high. It’s great. But service is a little on island time (but the people are SO nice!).
Who is the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Good For?
Families (especially with young kids)
I definitely would come back here with the fam if we were trying to do an easy Caribbean trip. Everything is easy! calm beach, multiple pools, space to spread out, and you don’t have to overthink anything. You can actually relax here with kids, which is the whole point.
Group trips / multi-generational travel
It works really well when you have different ages and energy levels. There’s enough going on that everyone can do their own thing, but it still feels simple and cohesive.
Travelers who want an easy Caribbean trip
You fly in, you’re at the hotel in minutes, and everything is taken care of. No ferries, no complicated logistics. It’s one of the most seamless ways to do the Caribbean.
People who plan to get out on the water
This is the biggest one for me. The Ritz is a great home base, but the real highlight of this trip is getting out to St. John and the BVI. If you’re planning boat days, this is a really convenient place to stay.
Girls trips!
We strugggled hard with where to do our girls trip this year. We didn’t want anything TOO expensive, but we wanted somewhere nice and somewhere we’d have a fun, easy time. this was perfect for that!!!!
Who it’s not for
Honeymoons / ultra-romantic trips
It’s a larger, livelier resort and definitely leans more family than intimate.
Design-driven or boutique hotel lovers
If you’re looking for something super unique or aesthetic-forward, this isn’t that.
If your priority is the best beach in the Caribbean
The beach is nice and easy, but it’s not the main draw. The most beautiful beaches are just a boat ride away. Or I’d recommend you check out somewhere like Anguilla! (but it’s going to be a higher price point than USVI)
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas: What I’d Book
The rooms are spacious, pretty standard, and have great views!
If you’re deciding between categories, I would absolutely book Ocean View or Oceanfront.
This is one of those destinations where waking up and seeing the water from your room really makes the trip.
The Beach & Pools (Honest Take)
The beach here is swimmable, calm, but a little rocky!
Is it the most dramatically beautiful beach in the Caribbean? No. (but don’t worry, when you get out on a boat to the BVI’s you’ll get those!)
This hotel works for an easy pool/beach, especially for families (there’s a waterslide for kids).
However, the chairs and chaise lounges deffffinitely leave a lot to be desired, however (plastic and tired), I wish they were nice cushioned five star beach chairs, since theirs definitely give more 4-star vibes.
My Honest Review of the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas
This is the part most people miss. St. Thomas isn’t like Turks or Anguilla where the hotel is the destination.
The real magic here is:
- St. John
- The British Virgin Islands
- Hidden beaches and coves
- Beach bars you can only get to by water
And St. Thomas is your jumping-off-point to ALL of those. It’s easy to fly into (more direct flights than the BVI airports), making it a great base if you want to be in the Virgin Islands, but not be on a sailing charter for a week.
So what you want is a hotel that feels:
✔ Comfortable
✔ Easy
✔ Well-located
That’s exactly what this is.
Boat Days from St. Thomas (Plan at least two! Trust me)
If you’re coming to the USVI, I would strongly recommend planning two separate boat days.
This is what turns the trip from “nice beach vacation” into something you’ll talk about forever.
1. British Virgin Islands (the best!!!!!)
This is your iconic Caribbean day.
Think:
- Cruising between islands
- Beach bars
- Insanely clear water
- That “this doesn’t feel real” energy
This is usually the bigger, more adventurous day, and absolutely worth it.
Check availability for the boat charter we did with the best rate using the ‘book now’ link below!
2. St. John Day
This one feels more relaxed and local, and honestly ended up being one of our favorite days.
We did:
- Lime Out (floating taco bar – so fun, think a floating Margaritaville vibes, but with delicious margaritas and AMAZING tacos, we loved it!!!!)
- Cruz Bay (great for walking around, grabbing drinks, shopping, eating (we loved Longboard for dinner, we actually had our charter drop us in St. John and we took the ferry back which worked great!))
The water around St. John is some of the prettiest in the USVI, and the whole day just feels easy.
Why Two Boat Days?
Because they’re completely different experiences.
- BVI = bigger, iconic, more adventurous
- St. John = relaxed, local, easy
And once you do one… you’ll wish you had another.
The Best Boat Charter in St. Thomas: Trident Charters
We used Trident Charters Virgin Islands Private Yacht Charters for our boat days, and I would book them again in a second.
If you’re looking for a private boat charter in St. Thomas USVI, this is exactly the kind of experience you want.
What we loved:
They make everything easy
They helped us choose the right boat, planned the best itinerary and took all the guesswork out of it.
The boats themselves
Beautiful, comfortable, and chic!!!! We also LOVED the crew and they made the day so fun and relaxed for us!!!!!
The itinerary
They took us to a mix of:
- quiet swim spots (Sandy Spit is a MUST!!!!)
- beach bars (Jost van Dyke is a MUST!!! Go to Soggy Dollar Bar! and if you have time, hit Willy T’s , the floating pirate ship bar!!!)
- hidden coves & turtle spots!
Everything felt easy, and so much fun.
It was just one of those perfect days on the water. We loved everything about it!!!!!! Check availability and boat options with the best rate using the ‘book now’ link below!
Dining at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
We ended up eating most of our meals at Coconut Cove and SAILS, and both were exactly what we wanted for this kind of trip.
Coconut Cove
Right on the water with a relaxed, open-air setting — ocean breeze, sunset, tropical drinks… just really easy and enjoyable.
The menu leans Caribbean with a focus on seafood and grilled dishes, and everything we had was really good.
This is the kind of place where:
- you go for dinner
- order a cocktail
- and end up staying waaaay longer than planned
We sat at the bar and ordered way too many drinks and just yapped the night away, it was the best.
SAILS
This is the beachside restaurant right by the pool, perfect for a fun dinner.
Casual, in the best way, think: fish tacos, salads, burgers!
My Overall Take on Food at the Ritz
The food here is:
- good
- easy
- what you want on a beach trip
But the best meals of our trip were Longboard on St. John (dinner or lunch, get a poke bowl!!!) and on the beach at Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands (get a shrimp or lobster quesadilla!!!)
Should You Stay on St. Thomas or St. John?
St. Thomas is where you want to stay if your goal is: arrive, exhale, and not overthink anything. It’s easy. It’s right by the airport.
The biggest advantage here is convenience. You land at the airport and you’re at your hotel within 15–30 minutes, no ferry, no transfers, no juggling bags (which, if you’re traveling with kids or just want a truly easy trip, matters more than you think).
It’s also where you’ll find the most full-service resorts. places where you can settle in, have everything taken care of, and still do incredible boat days around the islands from a home base that feels effortless.
Best for:
- First-time Caribbean trips
- Traveling with kids or a group
- Anyone who values ease and structure
- Resort-style stays where you don’t need to leave much
St. John: More Beautiful, More Special, A Little More Work
St. John is, without question, the prettier island.
It’s quieter, more untouched (two-thirds of it is national park), and the beaches are better.
But you do have to work a little bit to get there.
You’ll land in St. Thomas, then take a ferry (or private boat transfer), and once you’re on St. John, getting around definitely involves taxis or a rental car, it’s a huge island.
That said, if you’re someone who cares about vibe over convenience, this is where the magic is.
It feels more like a true island escape versus a resort destination.
Is the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Worth It?
Yes – if you do it the right way.
This isn’t a “stay at the resort all day” destination in my opinion.
This is a great, easy home base
If you pair:
- the right room
- two boat days
- a mix of relaxing + exploring
- maybe a club level upgrade (we loved the club level at the Ritz for easy snacks, drinks, breakfast, etc!)
…it becomes a really perfect trip!
Booking Tip (How to Get JETSET VIP Perks)
When you book the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas (or most luxury hotels around the world) through me, you’ll receive:
- Upgrade on arrival (subject to availability)
- Daily breakfast for two
- $100 resort credit
- Early check-in / late check-out when available
- VIP recognition throughout your stay
If you want help planning your trip – including hotel, boat charters, and everything in between, email me here and I’d love to help.
FAQ: Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas
Is the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas worth it?
Yes – especially if you’re planning to explore the Virgin Islands by boat.
Does the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas have a swimmable beach?
Yes, the water is calm and very swimmable. but a bit rocky.
What are the best things to do in St. Thomas USVI?
Boat days to the BVIs and St. John are the highlight of any trip. You’ll need a passport for BVI’s boat days (but not if you just stay in the USVI)
Do you need a boat charter in St. Thomas?
Yes! Use Trident Charters, it’s the best way to experience the destination.
