Magens Bay St. Thomas

If you take a Caribbean cruise, chances are that you’ll spend at least a day in St. Thomas. It’s the busiest cruise ship port in the region. And no wonder. With convenient air service, great shopping, beautiful views, and good beaches, what’s not to like?

But there are lots more things to do in St. Thomas than just shopping and dining. The island has an interesting history, and there are places where you can relive the days when pirates sailed here or when the Danish ruled the islands in the 17th century.

The top attraction on the island is Coral World Ocean Park. If you’ve also wanted to have personal encounters with sea critters, this is your best bet. A series of interactive exhibits lets you feed stingrays, touch sharks and starfish, or swim with sea lions. Those who don’t like to snorkel can don a special helmet and go for a stroll on the sea floor. You can also walk through an aviary with tropical birds and flowers, explore the 80,000-gallon coral reef aquarium, or take a semi-submersible submarine ride.

For views above the water line, the Skyride to Paradise Point is a must-do. The modern gondola speeds you up above the harbor for breathtaking views of Charlotte Amalie and the surrounding Virgin Islands. If you enjoy hiking, a rocky trail leads to a gorgeous panorama that includes St. Croix.

If you’re spending a few days here, make sure to get out on the water. Snorkeling trips to The Baths at Virgin Gorda and Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke leave from Red Hook. You’ll need your passport to visit these British Virgin Islands.

If you have less time, head to Red Hook and take the ferry to Cruz Bay on the island of St. John. There are plenty of good restaurants and shops within walking distance of the ferry dock. There are also a couple of St. John resorts where you can have lunch in a beautiful setting.

These waters are some of the best in the world for sailing, so if you know how to sail, don’t miss the opportunity to test your skills here. Yacht Haven Grande outside the main town of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook have sailboats you can charter. The marina’s worth a visit even if you’re not looking for a boat. There are half a dozen good restaurants right on the waterfront, and upscale shops when ships are in port.

Kayaking trips are available, and there’s a wildlife sanctuary and marine preserve where you can paddle or snorkel.

On the north side of the island, St. Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens has more than 200 kinds of West Indian flora. Set on 11 acres 1,000 feet above sea level, the estate has self-guided hikes, an impressive collection of orchids, and views of more than 20 islands.

Most people who visit the Virgin Islands come for the beaches, and St. Thomas has some fine ones. The most beautiful – and most crowded – is Magens Bay. You’ll have a better experience at this crescent of white sand if you go on a weekday when there are no cruise ships in port. The beach has all the facilities including changing rooms, bathrooms, and a snack bar.

Find more Caribbean travel ideas.

Legend:
1) Coral World Marine Park
2) Paradise Point Skyride
3) Red Hook
4) Yacht Have Grande
5) St Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens
6) Magens Bay Beach

View Things to do in St Thomas Virgin Islands Map in a larger map

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Magens Bay St. Thomas Image Flickr: ZacharyTirrell

Trunk Bay

Most of the St. John Virgin Island Resorts are expensive, and exclusive. You’ll never have trouble finding a lounge by the pool or getting service at the bar.

The oldest and best-known Virgin Island resorts is Caneel Bay. Laurance Rockefeller opened it in 1956, and it was the first eco-resort. Some of the green practices it uses are still innovative today.

The resort is located on one of the most beautiful bays in St. John – which is saying something. And there are seven beaches to choose from on the 170-acre property. Accommodations are scattered around the grounds, and to be honest — some could use a renovation.

But the relaxed ambience is what keeps guests coming back. With no telephones or TVs in the rooms, it’s a great place to get away from it all. And the restaurants are excellent, albeit expensive. There’s a dress code in the evenings.

Caneel Bay has an outdoor pool, a health club, and tennis courts. It’s about a ten-minute drive — or a harrowing cab ride — from Cruz Bay.

Those who want a more conventional Caribbean resort with amenities like whirlpool baths, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies may prefer the Westin St. John Resort & Villas. Located on the southwest side of the island, the 34-acre resort has 21 buildings, housing a variety of accommodations.

The Westin has a good beach, one of the largest pools in the Virgin Islands, four restaurants, tennis, and water sports equipment rentals. The villas have kitchenettes, which helps keep the cost down. Prime serves some of the best steaks on the island.

Gallows Point Resort is within walking distance of Cruz Bay, which is great if you like to try lots of different restaurants and bars. The resort sits on a peninsula that looks back toward St. Thomas. The views are beautiful day and night, when the twinkling lights of the East End compete with the stars.

Caneel Bay

The beach here is pretty rocky, but there’s a pool. And Zozo’s restaurant is your best bet for Italian on St. John. The views from the upstairs bar are smashing.

On our recent visit, we stayed at the Grande Bay Resort and loved it. It’s between Gallows Point and Cruz Bay, so you can walk to everything. We stayed in a one-bedroom penthouse and had beautiful views of Cruz Bay. Two- and three-bedroom units are also available.

The complex has a pretty outdoor pool overlooking the beach, an exercise room, and a concierge who can arrange excursions or activities. It’s walking distance to the Cruz Bay ferry dock.

Read more about St. John Virgin Islands.

Legend:
1) Caneel Bay
2) Westin St. John Resort & Villas
3) Gallows Point Resort
4) Grande Bay Resort

View St John Virgin Islands resorts map in a larger map

Trunk Bay, St John Virgin Islands

We just got back from St. John, and it was one of the best vacations we’ve had in a long time. If you dream of impossibly beautiful turquoise water lapping at pristine, white-sand beaches, this is the place. It’s so breathtaking, you’ll run out of adjectives on the first day. And the views just keep getting better and better.

Because it’s a U.S. territory, it’s easy to get to from the states, U.S. dollars are the currency, and getting through customs is a snap. What we like best about St. John is that two thirds of the island is National Park, so compared to many Caribbean islands it’s really undeveloped.

Chances are, you’ll fly into St. Thomas. From there, you can take a 45-minute ferry from Charlotte Amalie. Or you can take a taxi to Redhook – it costs about $20 – and then take the 15-minute ferry from there. It’s a lovely ride.

You’ll arrive at Cruz Bay, a bustling little town with dozens of bars and restaurants – some of them quite good – some nice shops, and a couple of grocery and convenience stores.

There are remarkably few St. John hotels – two, in fact. Caneel Bay and The Westin St. John Resort & Villas. Both are expensive and a fair distance from Cruz Bay.

The Cinnamon Bay Campground is another option for the young and/or adventurous. Located on a gorgeous beach, Cinnamon Bay has tents, campsites and a few small cottages.

For our money, St. John vacation rentals are the way to go. You can rent anything from a studio apartment to a five-bedroom home. We opted for a one-bedroom condo overlooking Cruz Bay and loved being walking distance to all the restaurants.

VRBO – Vacation Rentals By Owner

If you like to hike, there are dozens of trails throughout the National Park. When you arrive in Cruz Bay, the National Park Visitors Center is to the left of the ferry dock. They can provide you with more information. The Lind Point trailhead is right behind the visitors center. The trail leads to Caneel Bay, Honeymoon Beach, and Salomon Bay. It takes about 45 minutes and is well worth doing.

Take or wear a swimming suit and keep an eye out for mongooses and bananaquits, a bright yellow bird.

The most popular hike in St. John is the Reef Hike which begins in the mountains and ends at the beach at Genti Bay. The National Park service will take you by van to the trail head and then bring you back to the visitors center by boat. But during the season, you’ll have to make reservations is advance as the trip fills up fast. Along the way, you’ll see old petroglyphs and the ruins of a sugar mill.

Snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay

We especially enjoyed the Leinster Bay and Johnny Horn trails which lead up to the ruins of Windy Hill. From up there, the views of Tortola, Peter Island, Jost Van Dyke, and Waterlemon Cay absolutely take your breath away.

If you don’t feel like making the hike, the views from the Annaberg Plantation, which can be reached by a stairway from the parking lot, are well worth it.

If beaches are your thing, you can visit a different one every day of your stay. Trunk Bay is the best known and perhaps the most photogenic. It has an underwater trail for snorkelers. But there are dozens of beaches and if you arrive by boat or trail, you’ll only share them with a few others.

Every visitor should snorkel at least once while they’re here. You can see fish and coral off virtually any beach, but for the best snorkeling, take the Leinster Bay trail to Waterlemon Cay. You can rent equipment at Low Key Watersports next to the Beach Bar.

Be sure to take your passport along so you can visit the British Virgin Islands. Snorkel trips that go to the Baths in Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke are great fun and a must-do.

Find more Caribbean travel ideas.

Trunk Bay, St John Virgin Islands Image Flickr: Advantage Lendl
Snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay Image Flickr: redagainPatti

Aruba

One of the Lesser Antilles, the island of Aruba lies just 17 miles off the coast of Venzuela.   A popular cruise ship port, it offers travelers beautiful beaches, glitzy casinos, Dutch architecture, and good shopping.

Many cruisers feel so at home here – everyone speaks English and the U.S. dollar is accepted – that they return home and book Aruba vacations on land.  Most of the resorts are on the island’s west coast in the Eagle Beach area, and they’re so well equipped, you need never leave.

Luxury Aruba Resorts

Set on 14 ocean-front acres on one of Aruba’s best beaches, Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort is a top choice for Europeans, sophisticated Americans, and gay couples.  It’s one of the greenest resorts on the island and the design is sleek and up-market.  With just 100 rooms and suites, it’s significantly smaller than some places, and service is a cut above.  Balconies overlook the garden or pool, and the Tara Suites have fantastic views.    During high season, it fills up well in advance.

The Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino has the biggest rooms in the area.  In fact, the balconies weigh in at nearly 100 square feet.  Located at the northern end of Palm Beach, it has six restaurants, a shopping mall, health club, tennis, and golf nearby.  A $50 million renovation completed in 2009 left the resort looking fresh and new.  For something truly memorable, pop for a suite with a hot tub.

Redone in 2007 at a cost of $20 million, the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino has a huge, al fresco lobby, beautiful grounds, and connecting tropical pools that create a lagoon that’s accented with exotic plants and birds.  Rooms and especially balconies are smaller than at the Marriott Resort, but with so many activities, it’s unlikely that you’ll spend much time there.  There are six restaurants, four bars, a casino, fitness center, tennis, and lots of water sports.

Radisson’s flagship resort, the Radisson Aruba Resort and Casino is set on 14 acres of tropical gardens, gurgling waterfalls, and shimmering lagoons.  With plantation shutters instead of drapes, four poster beds, and hard wood chaise lounges, the rooms here are the most luxurious in Aruba.  The spa and fitness center are also best of breed, and the pools and grounds are gorgeous.  Intimate it’s not, but on many levels, the Radisson is one of the most impressive Aruba resorts.

Couples looking for a little peace and quiet can stay at the Renaissance Marina Hotel, part of the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino.  Rooms look out toward the ocean or the resort’s shopping complex.  Because it’s not on a beach, the resort has a small private island ten-minutes off shore that’s served by a free water taxi.  Gamblers will appreciate Aruba’s only 24-hour casino, and the Renaissance is walking distance to all the downtown shops and restaurants.

Updated with flat-screen TVs, Heavenly Beds, and excellent restaurants, the Westin Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino is popular with Starwood frequent travelers.  At 18 stories, it’s the tallest resort in Aruba, and views from the upper floors are unrivaled.  Its 560 rooms and suites are nicely decorated and every conceivable activity is available.

Affordable Aruba resorts and vacation rentals.

The Amsterdam Manor Aruba Beach Resort is a low-key, low-rise (three-story) boutique hotel that appeals to couples who don’t want the mega-resort experience.  The studio, one-, and two-bedroom units have balconies or patios, and kitchenettes.   There’s a small grocery for supplies.  Service is warm and friendly, and the Dutch style buildings surround a pretty courtyard with a small pool.  The property is across from Eagle Beach and water sports rentals are available.  You can even have the restaurant serve you there.   It’s Green Globe certified for its environmental awareness, and it offers good value for money in Aruba.

Another good option for those looking for more then a hotel room will find it at Casa del Mar Beach Resort.  Part time-share property, the resort has one-bedroom Ambassador suites and two-bedroom Presidential suites with kitchen and patios or balconies.   The complex has four lighted tennis courts, two large pools, a fitness center, swim-wear boutique, tennis shop, and kids’ activity center.  The Alhambra Casino is across the street.

Costa Linda Beach Resort has two- and three-bedroom units right on Eagle Beach.  Outfitted with full kitchens, living rooms, balconies, and Roman tubs, the suites here are large enough for entertaining, but there are two restaurants and two bars on site.  The five-story buildings were built in 1991 but frequent renovations keep everything ship shape.  Families will appreciate the children’s pool and kids’ programs.

The most upscale timeshare units on the island, Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club’s one- and two-bedroom suites have gourmet kitchens, dining rooms, whirlpool baths, and balconies, most with ocean views.  Guests are welcome to use any of the facilities at the Marriott.

VRBO – Vacation Rentals By Owner

Legend:
1) Amsterdam Manor Aruba Beach Resort
2) Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites and Spa
3) Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
4) Casa del Mar Beach Resort Review
5) Costa Linda Beach Resort
6) Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino
7) Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club
8) Playa Linda Beach Resort
9) Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino
10) Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino
11) Westin Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino Review

View Aruba Resorts in a larger map

Aruba Image Flickr: wirralwater (where to next?)