Take Me to Warm St. Thomas for #IGTravelThursday

It's unusual for North Carolina, but we were in the deep freeze this week. It looked like this around here.

And temperatures got as low as 9 degrees in Raleigh.  That's cold for us, but it was in the negative numbers above the Mason-Dixon Line this week.

When I saw this Instagram photo from @TheRitzCarlton in St. Thomas this week, I swooned and it made me think of a tropical getaway.

I have not personally been to St. Thomas, but I've had the Ritz-Carlton there on my list of hotels as my number one choice to stay for years. Honestly, I've been waiting until my youngest child reached the age of 5 before going because that's the age where they can participate in the Ritz's Kid Club programs. It's not fun for the child or parent when one child has to be left behind due to age, but luckily, my family will be reaching that "all children over 5" milestone at the end of the year.

In addition to the regular children's programming, the St. Thomas Ritz Carlton is joining other Ritz-Carlton Hotels across the country by offering  a unique children's program and experiences for the entire family, featuring Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment. The new programs look fantastic, and would be a great asset to any vacation. 

The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas

It is no surprise that sunny, warm resorts are in demand this time of year. The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas has a special offer currently with daily breakfast, and a $100 daily resort credit. The hotel has a $62 resort fee daily, which is in addition to the room cost. One amenity that makes me swoon at this particular hotel though is Lady Lynsey, the resort's 53-foot catamaran. I'm so ready for a sunset cruise in the Virgin Islands one day. 

  

Other Luxury St. Thomas Accommodation Options

  

Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort 

Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort: This popular Marriott Resort was renovated and refreshed in 2011, and is the largest resort in St. Thomas. It, of course, is a sister property to the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. With a kid's splash pool, spa, several restaurants on-site, and rates below $500 per night, it is a good choice for the luxury traveler who doesn't want to entirely drain the piggy bank, but still get an upscale vacation experience. 

For those of you who may be weighing costs, it is my experience that Ritz-Carlton creates a less busy and a more tranquil environment in the public common areas. Rooms, especially bathrooms, are a step up in luxury and amenities, dining is usually top-notch, and the staff to guest ratio is typically higher, making a more superior level of service. However, the Marriott in St. Thomas looks absolutely beautiful, and as tranquil as ever, but it is a much larger resort than the Ritz. Overall, I think it will have a different feel based on what I know about the brands, but it still be a great place to stay. Two to three hundred dollars per night in price savings does add up in overall trip savings. 

The Marriott has $35 resort fee, but it is about half the price of its sister hotel. The hotel is offering several packages for this season, and I think the “The Best of St. Thomas for Less”package is one to consider.  I think it offers some lux for your bucks by allowing guests to choose three different experiences from four categories. The package is valid through March 15, 2014.

Marriott Frenchman's Cove in St. Thomas

Marriott Frenchman’s Cove is part of the Marriott Vacation Club. This 2-3 bedroom villa resort has no resort fee, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary parking. It’s located near the Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort. Guests can stay at the property even if they are not timeshare owners. Space is usually limited though during peak season times. I think this would be an ideal choice for families seeking more space, but still want a luxury resort atmosphere. 

Join us for #IGTRAVELThursday. 

Do you have a great Instagram travel story to share? Read the linky rules below and join us this week (but don’t forget to grab our logo {here} and link to at least one of hosts in your post). If you are not a blogger, but have an Instagram account tag your lovely travel moments with #IGTravelThursday. No blog, no Instagram? You can still join in the fun by reading our IG-related travel stories and by giving us some feedback love!  If you want to host the IG Travel linky on your blog so that your readers can easily find our posts, you may use this,  get the InLinkz code