Why Honeymoon on St. Thomas
Convenience is the main argument. Nonstop flights from a long list of US cities land you at STT in three to five hours. Your resort can be 40 minutes from the gate. There is no ferry to catch on day one and no rental car to wrestle with if you don't want one.
The island also gives you choice. In one week you can lie on Magens Bay, eat in the Frenchtown fishing neighborhood, walk Danish-era streets in Charlotte Amalie and sail to two other countries' worth of islands. The British Virgin Islands are visible from the east end.
It suits couples who like having a resort as home base, with day trips layered on top.
When to Go
The best weather runs from December through April, with dry days, cooling trade winds and temperatures in the low to mid 80s. Holiday weeks and spring break push resort rates to their highest. Cruise traffic also peaks in winter, so check the port schedule before planning a town day.
May through early July is a strong alternative with warmer water and better rates. St. Thomas Carnival, usually in late April or early May, brings parades, steel pan and late nights to Charlotte Amalie; join in or book on the east end to stay clear of it.
Hurricane season runs June through November and peaks from August to October. Some hotels and restaurants close for part of September.
Where to Stay
The east end is the honeymoon zone. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas sits on Great Bay with views to St. John and a calm swimming beach. Nearby Secret Harbour has smaller suites on a sheltered cove with good snorkeling. Red Hook itself is a lively marina village with bars and the St. John ferry, handy if you plan frequent day trips.
On the south shore near Charlotte Amalie, the rebuilt Frenchman's Reef complex has reopened under Marriott brands, with a cliff above the harbor and a beach below at Morningstar.
The north side, around Magens Bay and Hull Bay, is mostly private villas on steep hillsides. They give you big views and privacy, but you will need a car and steady nerves on the roads.
As a rough guide, good east end beach resorts commonly run about $500 to $900 a night in high season, with top suites costing more.
Romantic Things to Do
Go to Magens Bay early, before tour buses arrive. The mile-long beach curves around a deep, sheltered bay and charges a small admission fee.
In Charlotte Amalie, walk up the brick 99 Steps and the lanes behind Main Street, where old Danish warehouses now hold jewelers and cafes. Fort Christian, the red fort by the waterfront, dates to the 1670s.
Take the small ferry from Crown Bay to Water Island and swim at its own Honeymoon Beach. Snorkel at Coki Point on the north shore or at Secret Harbour. On a clear evening, ride the Skyride up to Paradise Point for drinks over the harbor.
Book a full-day sail to Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island or the Baths on Virgin Gorda; passports required.
Getting There and Around
Cyril E. King Airport (STT) has nonstop service from Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, New York JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Washington Dulles, Baltimore and Orlando, plus seasonal flights from cities including Boston and Chicago. Tampa nonstops have also been added to the schedule.
Taxis meet every flight. They charge fixed per-person rates by zone, so confirm the total for two before you set off. Open-air safari taxis run cheap shared routes between town and Red Hook.
Renting a car is worthwhile if you want to explore the north shore, but traffic keeps left, roads are steep and Charlotte Amalie jams at rush hour. Ferries to St. John leave from Red Hook about hourly. Ferries to Water Island leave from Crown Bay.
Food and Drink
St. Thomas has more restaurant variety than its neighbors. Frenchtown, just west of downtown, is the old fishing village of families who came from St. Barths. It holds a cluster of seafood spots and wine bars by the water. Red Hook has casual marina restaurants and the island's busiest happy hours.
For local food, try johnnycakes and saltfish, conch in butter sauce, fried fish with fungi and fresh pates from roadside stands. Gladys' Cafe in Charlotte Amalie has long served West Indian dishes and its own hot sauces to locals and visitors.
Rum is everywhere. Ask for a bushwacker, a frozen cocktail of rum, coffee liqueur and cream that many bars on the island claim to have perfected.
Honeymoon Tips
Check the cruise ship calendar before you plan a day in Charlotte Amalie. On days with several ships in port, downtown and Magens Bay get crowded by late morning, so go to the beach on those days and save town for a quieter one.
If you split time with St. John, put St. Thomas at the end. You will be close to the airport for your flight home.
Allow extra time at the airport because everyone passes through US Customs before security. Keep receipts for any jewelry or rum, since you declare purchases there.
Bring passports. You won't need them to land, but they open up day sails to the British Virgin Islands.
After dark, take taxis in and around Charlotte Amalie rather than walking quiet streets.
