Virgin Islands, U.S. Travel Guide
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Scoping Out The Views From The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas
While the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott is busy getting itself pretty, another hotel in St. Thomas is celebrating its birthday. The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas turns the big 1-5 this year, and is running a range of Crystal Anniversary promotions throughout the year to celebrate.
As for us, we just popped over to scout out the hotel's views ...
Hotel Renovations / U.S. Virgin Island Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Video Tours / → All Tags
Frenchman's Reef Marriott Is Getting a Face Lift, But Its Morning Star Rooms Will Stay Open
On Friday, we told you about the friendly service we encountered at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort. But, as we all know, personality is not everything. Looks are what we notice first.
And while Frenchman's Reef looks pretty on the outside, especially in the late afternoon light, the interior could need some work. The hotel knows it, and has just closed part of its property for a $48 million-dollar renovation.
Even better, you can still stay at the resort during the work and not be bothered by construction noise, since the beachfront boutique part of the property--the Morning Star Beach Club--along with the already-renovated Sea Cliff Tower of the main building will stay open.
Rooms in the Sea Cliff tower have great views of the ocean, and the rooms at Morning Star are right on the beach, where you can hear the waves crashing from bed, even if you close your shutters.
Here's a look at the nip/tucks taking place at Frenchman's Reef, and a sneak peek of what you can expect when the rooms re-open on October 1.
Snapshot / Hotel Staff / Housekeeping / Hotel Tipping / → All Tags
Has Your Housekeeper Ever Left You a Note? Ours Did
Hotel notepads: we're big fans. Sometimes we even take them. But last week we encountered something new on the notepad by our hotel bed--a note from our housekeeper. And it was sweet, to boot!
This is the note we found when we returned to our room late in the day after our first night at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now, there's lots to love here, so let's break it down...
Room Rate Gimmicks / Hotel Deals / USVI Hotels / → All Tags
US Virgin Islands Offering Rooms For Just 25 Cents
In a celebration of the first-ever United States quarter for the U.S. Virgin Islands, the USVI Department of Tourism has offered 25 cent rates at participating hotels. Yes, a quarter a night.
The promotion will also including a $25 per person dining credit, $25 per person activities credit and a commemorative quarter Scotiabank coin set. To book go to Bookit.com. You have from today until November 2, 2009 (25 days only) to book. You must travel between the days of October 9 and November 15, so put in your vacation notice at work and get packing.
Photo Shoot Resorts / Model Hang Outs / Hotel News / → All Tags
The 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Has a Cover Resort
Turns out Caneel Resort shared the spotlight with Marisa Miller on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2008 Swimsuit Issue, released today. Fashion photographer Raphael Mazzucco shot the cover back in October of 2007 when he and a bevvy of swimsuit models shacked up in Cottage #7 -- the original quarters of founder Laurence Rockefeller and still the resort's most requested accommodation -- for a twelve day shoot.
The St. John, U.S.V.I., which already boasts seven white-sand beaches, and Rockefeller roots, can now claim to be a SI cover resort.
Over on Jaunted, they have details on all the 2008 SI swimsuit shoot locations, mapped of course.
Warm Weather Hotels / Warm-Weather-Hotels-Map / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / → All Tags
Warm Weather Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas
Close your eyes and think luxury. Think private white sand beaches, lapping blue waves, cocktails. Think scuba diving, think sun and sunsets, think hot loving.
You're on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, staying in the Ritz-Carlton.
It's the ultimate in beachside luxury on a grand scale. One hundred and eighty rooms the size of a good-sized city apartment or larger, four restaurants/bars (one serving bucket-sized cocktails by the pool), two huge pools and an outdoor jacuzzi all within a 30-acre estate.
Hotel Wedding Crashers / Hotel Weddings / Hotel Proposal Packages / → All Tags
Hotel Wedding Crashers: An Engagement Package at Frenchman's Reef
First comes love, then comes marriage. In between, could there be a destination engagement in the offing for some high-spirited couples? An increasing number of hotels and resorts are, yuck, yuck, proposing just that.
Several weeks ago, we described the engagement package at The James Hotel Chicago. Today, as we carouse into one of the coolest wedding dates in recent memory (07-07-07; advance congrats to Eva Longoria and Tony Parker and all the other million couples who decided to get married on this day), we bring you an engagement package from Frenchman's Reef and Morning Start Marriott Beach Resort.
Conception Moons / Virgin Island Hotel Reviews / Insane Hotel Packages / Westin Hotels / → All Tags
Conception Moons Are Somehow, Someway Still Popular
A while back, some marketing folk introduced the Conception Moon, aimed at getting couples who were trying for a baby to do it at a hotel instead of their bedroom. And to probably dupe the couples into thinking that your chances of conceiving a child were greater in a king-sized hotel bed.
Surely, this silly type of hotel promotion wouldn't last, afterall conception moon doesn't quite roll off your tongue like honeymoon, babymoon or romance package.
Sadly, conception moons are still around, except the name has changed to a "Procreation Vacation" and USA Today has the low-down on where it all began--The Westin St. John Resort & Villas.
The idea for this conception moon started when the hotel's housekeepers were praising the fertility benefits of a pumpkin soup which sparked an idea in the mind of a Starwood exec. He said:
"We're simply enhancing the baby-making process by offering island remedies that have been passed down for generations."
So now the hotel's three-day procreation vacation includes all the pumpkin soup you can eat (for the ladies at least) and unlimited drinks of the sea-moss elixir (for men, it's "the island version of Viagra").
Also thrown in is a couples massage, an in-suite dinner and a romantic dinner at the restaurant. But be prepared to shell out the dough as the packages costs $3,427, plus the daily $25 resort fee. Yet we guess that's chump change next to fertility treatments.
Related Stories:
· Hotels' romantic intentions: to help guests make babies [USA Today]
· Westin St. John reviews [TripAdvisor]
Hotel Packages / Westin Hotels / St. John Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Westin St. John Offers Expensive 'Lady Luck' Package
There's been too much talk of Mancations these days so the Westin St. John Resort & Villas is getting back to basics by giving women a traditional girlie getaway. Except this time, their incorporating a bit of a Mancation favorite--poker.
Available now is the resort's "Lady Luck" Girls Getaway package. For $679 nightly and per person, the trip includes, a 3-bedroom villa with private pool, a full poker set, an instructional poker video, unlimited chocolate fondue with fruit, champagne upon arrival, a half day at the Westin Spa and a snorkeling trip at the Westin spa.
This sounds lovely, but the $679 a night per person sounds a bit too excessive. We may just settle for calling our girlfriends over and watching the World Series of Poker. On second thought, we'll just watch Sex and the City.
[Photo: Mr. Billy]
Related Stories:
· Twenty-Somethings Enjoy This Smoke-Free Westin [HotelChatter]
Marriott Smoking Ban / Westin Hotels / → All Tags
Twenty-Somethings Enjoy This Smoke-Free Westin
Westin's St. John Resort resort was one of the first of Starwood's hotel to go smoke-free and apparently, it's a big hit, even amongst these partying 20-year-olds shown above.
"It thinks it's great. I wish they would do it at more resorts," said Adam Wood of the no smoking policy, who is from Utah and also in his early 20s. "One person can ruin it for everyone."
Now if only the Westin can smoke out that $25.00 per day resort fee.
Related Stories:
· Westin Resort Guests Appreciating Newly Implemented No Smoking Policy [Tradewinds]
Eco-Hotels / Green Hotels / → All Tags
Exploring Eco-Hotels :: The Maho Bay Camps
If you're heading to the U.S. Virgin Islands you don't have to spend your time at some sprawling luxurious (i.e. wasteful) resort.
At the Maho Bay Camps you can pick your type of accommodations from tents to cottages that have all been built with protecting the environment in mind by using recycled building materials. Of course, the resort doesn't stop there. This eco-resort attracts 20,000 visitors a year and each part of the place is working to protect the environment. Like the elevated walkways that prevent soil erosion and protect the beach and its fragile coral.
Lots of recycled building materials, such as "plastic lumber" and recycled glass tiles, were used in construction that also minimized removal of native plants. Elevated walkways prevent soil erosion and protect the beach and fragile coral. Maho's self-sustaining "eco-tents" and cottages use passive solar design, photovoltaic panels, rain collection and roof scoops that circulate cooling breezes.
The resort also gets rid of your garbage in an eco-friendly way with their Trash to Treasures" program, where artists take glass and aluminun from the trash and turn it into craft items and art.
However, like a lot of eco-resorst, this place isn't for everone:
It's all true.... If you are not a "Camper", this is not a place for you!! If you don't like 200 steps to the beach (from the Registration Desk), this is not a place for you!
If you feel inconvenienced because you have to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and climb up 6 flights of stairs to get there... this is not a place for you!!
Related Stories:
· Ecotrips: 'Green' resorts offer choices that make a difference [Post-Gazette]
· Maho Bay Camps reviews [TripAdvisor]
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Romance on the Cheap
Can you find romance for under $200 on St. Thomas? That is the question. Or at least one of the questions answered in this week's Washington Post Travel Q & A section.
The answer is yes and no... depending on your idea of romance. The island is in fact a romantic quintessential paradise, and if you spend minimal time in a cheap room, you'll stilll feel good vibrations, even at the Best Western. Room rates start at $129.
For $180, you can get a villa-style suite at The Point Pleasant Resort. Private balconies, ocean views, beaches... what other romance is there? OK, so there's not much design (think tile and rattan), but what the place lacks in style it makes up for in bang for your buck. In addition to reasonable rates, the resort offers some free activities like intro scuba lessons, free snorkel gear rentals, and a bottle of rum.
[image via Bruno Campos]
Related Stories:
· A Golden (Gate) Reunion [Washington Post]
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