Caribbean Travel Magazine

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Zach Stovall

Continued from Road Map to Romance...St. Thomas draws most visitors from mid-December to late-April, when the weather is at its most stable and prices are highest. If you're searching for a deal, target the months between May and November. If you're planning a stay in late April, it's best to make hotel reservations way in advance: The St. Thomas Carnival, easily the largest annual street party in the U.S.Virgin Islands, is typically held the last week of the month; this year it's May 1-2.WHERE TO STAY THE RITZ-CARLTON, ST. THOMASStyle: Luxurious villa-style resortLocation: Secluded south-shore bay near Red HookAccommodations: 180 modern rooms with balcony or terraceRates: From $339 in low season ($619 high)Amenities: Four restaurants, two pools, Jacuzzi, nonmotorized water sports, 53-foot catamaran for day sails and private charters, children's programs, full-service spaContact: 340-775-3333; ritzcarlton.comBOLONGO BAY BEACH RESORTStyle: Laid-back and family-friendlyLocation: Bolongo Bay, a 15-minute drive from Charlotte AmalieAccommodations: 65 beachfront rooms with kitchenettesRates: From $212 in low season ($493 high)Amenities: Pool, dive shop, sailing charters, sea kayaks, windsurfing, Sunfish, Hobie cats, Iggies Beach Bar and Grill, Lobster Grille Contact: 800-524-4746; bolongobay.comISLAND VIEW GUEST HOUSEStyle: Cozy hilltop bed-and-breakfastLocation: Near Charlotte Amalie, atop Crown Mountain Accommodations: 15 air-conditioned rooms, some with balconies and kitchenettesRates: From $106 in low season ($118 high)Amenities: Free continental breakfast; honor bar; pool; gas grill; wireless Internet; activities desk; restaurant; library of books, DVDs and gamesContact: 800-524-2023; islandviewstthomas.comWHERE TO EAT BANANA TREE GRILLESetting: Hilltop dining room with a view, in Bluebeard's CastleCuisine: Italian with a dash of the islandsRecommendations: Chef Patrick Bellantoni's specialties include a homemade ravioli appetizer (it changes daily), a crusty loaf of bread smothered in gorgonzola cheese, and his own Steak Gaetano, a grilled New York sirloin finished with olive oil, garlic and parsley.Price: Entreés $27 to $49Contact: 340-776-4050; bananatreegrille.comCUZZIN'SSetting: Casual Charlotte Amalie cafe Cuisine: Authentic West IndianRecommendations: Conch stewed in onion butter, curried shrimp, and a host of home-style sides, including rice and peas, fried plantains, and fungi - a traditional dish made with minced okra and cornmeal.Price: Entreés $12 to $40Contact: 340-777-4711THE OLD STONE FARMHOUSESetting: Old World elegance in a restored 200-year-old plantation houseCuisine: Continental meets CaribbeanRecommendations: Dine a la carte or choose from a three-, four- or five-course tasting menu. Selections change seasonally, but favorites include foie gras with red-onion jam and chocolate-port syrup, striped bass with duck confit and potato hash, and wagyu short ribs with jumbo prawns.Price: Three-course tasting menu from $63Contact: 340-777-6277; oldstonefarmhouse.comFUNGI'S ON THE BEACHSetting: Dockside shack on Water BayCuisine: Island-inspired pub grubRecommendations: Johnnycakes, lobster roti, grilled mahimahi sandwiches and a shot of "roots" - homemade 185-proof rum made from local botanicals and dried insects.Price: Entreés $6.50 to $29Contact: 340-775-4142BLUE MOON CAFÉSetting: Open-air beachfront dining on Nazareth BayCuisine: Upscale AmericanRecommendations: Try the jumbo lump crab cake with black-bean-and-roasted-corn salsa or the twice-cooked baby-back ribs drizzled with a Black Strap Cruzan-rum barbecue sauce.Price: Entrées $17 to $36Contact: 340-779-2262; bluemooncafevi.comLOTUS ASIAN GRILL AND SUSHI BARSetting: South Beach chic in Red HookCuisine: Asian, with a focus on nouveau sushiRecommendations: Specialties include the Fire & Ice Tiradito, thin sashimi served with champagne-yuzu sorbet and flaming ginger.Price: Maki rolls $6 to $16Contact: 340-774-7253; lotusasiangrill.comWHAT TO DO Lindquist Beach, by far one of the island's best, is accessible via an unmarked road on the northeastern shore (it's between the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Paradise Point Villas). If you're headed to Magens Bay, avoid it between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the height of the cruise-ship day. To learn more about the history of Charlotte Amalie, contact island expert Simon Larsen, who leads walking tours of the capital (340-998-0135; simon@pamlarsen.com).  For day trips to St. John and the British Virgin Islands, board a daily ferry from Red Hook (grab a free copy of St. Thomas This Week, or visit stthomasthisweek.com for schedules). Coral World Ocean Park has much more than Snuba: Explore its lorikeet-filled aviary, pet a live shark or interact with sea lions (340-775-1555; coralworldvi.com). Virgin Islands Eco Tours offers half-day kayaking, hiking and snorkeling excursions through a protected mangrove lagoon (877-845-2925; viecotours.com). Day trips and sunset sails aboard the Lady Lynsey can be arranged through the activities desk at the Ritz-Carlton (340-775-3333; ritzcarlton.com). Bolongo Bay Beach Resort operates trips aboard its catamaran, Heavenly Days (340-775-1800; bolongobay.com).WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Tourist Information: 800-372-USVI (-8784); usvitourism.viDocuments: U.S. citizens need  government-issued identificationGetting There: St. Thomas' Cyril E. King Airport (STT) welcomes nonstop flights from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami and Fort Lauderdale on several major airlines. Seabourne Airlines and Cape Air also make connections from St. Croix and San Juan. Dialing In: 1 + 340 + seven-digit numberCurrency: U.S. dollarGetting Around: Hertz, Budget and Avis all have airport locations (a four-wheel-drive vehicle is helpful but not necessary). Taxis - both large passenger vans and open-air "safaris" - are widely available at flat rates for point-to-point trips or island tours.Learn more about St. Thomas