PUTTING ON the RITZ, ST THOMAS STYLE...............Great Hotel W/O
Written: Sep 24 '03 (Updated Oct 15 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: This place is the essence of fine service and beauty.
Cons: A bit of a walk uphill from the beach to some of the rooms.
The Bottom Line: This is the place to really relax and pamper yourself.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Ritz-Carlton St.Thomas |
I have been the the US Virgin Island a couple of times now. We have stayed at the Antilles@Sapphire Beach, and the Sapphire Beach and Marina Resort, one time while on St Thomas and once at the Westin Resort in St John. While in St John we also visited the famed Caneel Bay Resort for an afternoon visit. Though the Westin property was gorgeous, and Caneel Bay, Antilles Sapphire, and Sapphire Beach and Marina were on world class beaches, none of them could stand up to the Ritz-Carlton St Thomas for service, class, and charm!!
LOCATION
The Ritz is located on what is known as the East End of St Thomas. There are many hotels and resorts on this part of the island. This area is about a half hour ride from the airport. You have to ride over some hilly terrain to get there. Taxis make the ride or cars may be rented at the airport. Different packages offer complimentary airport service. Not all do. Some packages pick you up at the airport but not back at the end of your trip.
This also makes you about twenty five minutes from Charlotte Amalie, the St Thomas town well known for its island shopping. Really good prises can be had there.
The hotel is just ten minutes from Red Hook. This is s small town that has built up around the ferry business that go to nearby St John USVI That is a very short ride to that very quiet island that is largely pristine due to most of the island being a US National Park. We also took a ferry from there to the British Virgin Islands. We went to see the Baths on Virgin Gorda. I tell you this so you know, if you can drag yourself away from the Ritz for a day excursion, you are close by the proper transportation.
From the beach side of the hotel you look across the waters at Cruz Bay, the main town of St John. The view is particularly beautiful at night when just the lights of the town can be seen twinkling in the distant hills.
It's also good to know you are only fifteen minutes away from St Thomas's only golf course, the famed Mahogany Run. The hotel will arrange tee times.
I had mentioned the ten minutes or less to Red Hook. This town, though a bit rough around the edges in places, is a lot of fun and offers some really great dining if the four fine dining restaurants at the Ritz Resort aren't enough.
A BRIEF OVERVIEW
"The Ritz is back". This was a quote I had read from a travel book. Probably a Frommer's or Fodor's guide. This was telling the reader of a huge multi million dollar face lift this 30 acre property had fairly recently undergone.
Forty new units, some of them suites were added to the original 200 guest rooms. The landscaping is gorgeous. There are setting of trees and other plantings that are very attractive to the eye from any direction you are walking.
The resort is on what might be described as a semi horse-shoe shape with the main reception building being high and overlooking much of the rest of the resort that wings out on both sides of the building and down toward the pools, outdoor restaurant, and beaches further below.
This is one thing I did not like about the layout. None of the buildings are actually beach front. They are all up the hill a bit. You do have magnificent views from most of the rooms, all of which offer a deck or terraces. The problem is that after having relaxing time at the pool or beach, you then have to walk up a bit to your room. This can be especially hot in the afternoon and you are ready to go into the water to cool of a bit. The rooms are all air-conditioned, so it is true, you can cool of there.
One other note is that the resort is on the perfect side of the island so that you receive the tropical breezes all day and night. They are wonderful to feel and certainly keep the body temperatures way down.
Down on the beach they have their own aquatic area. You can be dive certified, take sailing trips on the resort sailboat, take out non motored boats yourself, use aquatic equipment, or just snorkel right off the beach!!
The beach is pretty nice, fairly quiet, but not drop dead gorgeous like some of the USVI beaches. Actually the resort has two beaches.
THE MAIN BUILDING
Everyone enters the Ritz Carlton through the large three + story building that dominates the top of the hill overlooking the resort. If you look at the picture at the top of this review you get a feeling of the buildings decor and simply grandeur. It is large with halls and stores working there way around the perimeter of the inside of the building. The desks and service areas almost look lost in the magnificent high ceiling halls.
High end shops for gifts, beach wear, and jewelry are open most of the day. All is quiet and serene as you walk the halls and wide stairs down toward the beach levels at the foot of the building.
THE ROOMS
As I mentioned, all the rooms are overlooking the bay below. Some are closer to the beach and pool area than others. The rooms are set in Mediterranean style villas. Every one has a balcony or a terrace, There are suits and deluxe rooms. The suits are double the size of the rooms. Hey the room are still large at nearly 450 square feet.
We did get to sneak a peak at the rooms. We were just visiting for lunch and an afternoon of relaxing at the pool. The rooms have an open and airy feeling. They have fine furniture and all the expected amenities. A safe is in every room along with coffee maker, mini bar, cable TV and video games, twice a day maid service that also includes turn down. The rooms have one king or two double beds.
The baths are all marble with hair dryer. I don't know much more about them except to say, if the rooms are anything like what the rest of the hotel offers, then you know you are going first class!!
OUTSIDE LUNCH
We went to the Ritz for an afternoon lunch at the Iguana Restaurant. This is a poolside place where iguanas do hang out. The afternoon we were there we waited five minutes and were seated promptly. That was as fast as anything else would go that afternoon. The service was dreadfully slow. It wasn't an "island time" thing. They simply didn't have enough staff to cover all the meals that were coming out of the small kitchen.
At first, after an unsolicited apology from our friendly and attentive waiter for taking so long, I didn't understand why it was taking so long to get our order. There were only twenty or so guests in the place.
Then I noticed all the people around the pool and the beach area on their lounge chairs ordering lunch to the chair site. It seemed that's how most people had their lunch.
Our lunch was moderately priced for such an upscale property. The drinks were excellent and the food was good. The wait was endless. Some people actually left after ordering drinks and not getting the entrees.
Of course you can pay for lunch or just sign it off to your room.
The POOL AREA
Right next to the Iguana Restaurant was one of the property's pools. This pool was an Infinity pool. These are the pools that give the illusion that they are endless, going from one side where you enter blending into the waters of the bays beyond. The illusion adds to the serenity of the quiet afternoon mood.
Most of the people there were couples, many in their thirties and forties. This place, at least at off season in the summer, was not catering to an older crowd. I have to say that watching many of the couples interacting that "Love was in the air"
The foam mats that float were available. They were extremely comfortable to lie down on in the afternoon sun. Be sure to have your sun block on if you aren't skin prepared.
LOUNGE CHAIR SERVICE
After lunch we planned to use the pool area. We changed in the nearby restrooms and went to the desk where they had towels. We got a couple and found lounge chairs where we wanted. Every padded chair is given a white soft teri-cloth cover when you sit down. There is plenty of very attentive and friendly staff.
What a wonderful afternoon it was. We stretched out in the sun and floated on mats in the pool, had another drink and relaxed some more. The mood was wonderfully tranquil.
At one point the young and fit guys and gals servicing the pool area came around with fresh fruit for all. That was a nice touch that they do daily. Cool towels are also brought around from time to time.
I mentioned that many people were having lunch at their lounges. Many rounds of drinks were also making the way to all the lounges.
Many people stayed on lounges that were lined up at the beaches. There were plenty of lounges for all. No, "saving" chairs here. Because there were so many chairs they were lined up in straight rows side by side , one row behind the next. That area seemed a bit to tight for me. The pool area was excellent.
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
We were on the island in the summer. The Ritz, and all the hotels on the island for that matter, have some terrific off season prices. Look for deals at the Ritz that also offer breakfast. The rooms are either bay view or garden view. Bay is best.
If you don't get to stay at the Ritz you can go there for lunch or dinner. I suggest calling for reservations. We drove their and the place had plenty of available parking for our rented vehicle.
They even take non guests for appointments in their new spas.
For "The Life of Riley", go to the Ritz.
Other Virgin Island reviews by popsrocks
US Virgin Islands An overview
St. Thomas VI An Island that has action!
Westin Resort, St John VI
St. John VI The island that is quiet and pristine.
US Virgin Islands National Park This park is awesome with private beaches and fantastic snorkeling!
Sapphire Beach and Marina One of the best beaches on St Thomas right out side your beachfront room.
Antilles@Sapphire Beach, St Thomas VI
The BATHS of the British Virgin IslandsLike nothing else you have ever seen!
Recommended:
Yes
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