 |
|
|
The Best Resorts & Spas
Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (St. Thomas; tel. 800/524-2000 or 340/776-8500; www.marriott.com): The sprawling, luxe resort of Frenchman's Reef practically put St. Thomas on the tourist map. Now, it's linked to its even better sibling next door, Marriott Morning Star Beach Resort, to make up one mega-resort. Guests at both properties share the same amenities, facilities, and restaurants. The resort stands on one of the best beaches on the island.
The Ritz-Carlton (St. Thomas; tel. 800/241-3333 or 340/775-3333; www.ritzcarlton.com): There is no grander place to stay in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fronted by white-sand beaches, this is the resort for those who want to escape to the Caribbean not like Robinson Crusoe, but as Bill Gates might if he showed up on a yacht.
The Buccaneer (St. Croix; tel. 800/255-3881 or 340/773-2100; www.thebuccaneer.com): Newer and glitzier competitors have sprouted up, but this large, luxurious, family-owned resort is still a class act. It lies on the island's best beaches, and has the best sports program, the best entertainment, and the best food of any hotel.
Caneel Bay (St. John; tel. 888/767-3966 or 340/776-6111; www.caneelbay.com): There is no resort in the islands with a greater pedigree than this place. Laurance S. Rockefeller created Caneel Bay as the Caribbean's first eco-resort back in the days when no one knew what that word meant. Even though the resort isn't posh, it's an understated classic, an outpost of refinement without ostentation. In other words, Walter Cronkite would be happier here than Madonna.
Westin Resort St. John (St. John; tel. 888/627-7206 or 340/693-8000; www.westinresortstjohn.com): The glitz and glitter missing at Caneel Bay can be found here. Architecturally dramatic and visually appealing, this resort sprawls across 34 landscaped acres, opening onto a 1,200-foot white-sand beach. It boasts a huge array of activities, including lots of watersports.
Biras Creek Resort (Virgin Gorda; tel. 800/223-1108 or 310/440-4225; www.biras.com): A private and romantic retreat, this resort is built around an old hillside fortress. It's an escapist's hideaway, on a 61-hectare (151-acre) estate with its own marina. There are no phones and no TVs, but you can find the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal.
Bitter End Yacht Club (Virgin Gorda; tel. 800/872-2392 or 284/494-2746; www.beyc.com): This is the best sailing and diving resort in all of the Virgin Islands, opening onto one of the most unspoiled and secluded deep-water harbors in the Caribbean. You'll live and dine here in style; you can even stay aboard a 9m (30-ft.) yacht.
Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas (Tortola; tel. 800/345-0356 or 284/495-4252; www.longbay.com): The finest resort in the capital of the B.V.I., this complex borders a 1.6km-long (1-mile) sandy beach. It's the only full-service resort in Tortola, and its deluxe beachfront rooms and cabanas are quite nice.
Peter Island Resort (Peter Island; tel. 800/346-4451 or 284/495-2000; www.peterisland.com): This posh resort lies on its own 728-hectare (1,799-acre) tropical island. It opens onto Deadman's Beach, which, in spite of its name, is consistently voted one of the most romantic beaches in the world by various travel magazine reader polls. This is a true retreat -- a hedonistic resort that's a monument to the good life.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
|
|
|
