I can’t believe it has already been two weeks since my vacation to Saint Thomas Virgin Islands. What an amazing trip. And thanks to my East Coast bestie for getting married there because I don’t think I would have had this experience otherwise!
I’ve visited nearby islands briefly during a cruise but never had the opportunity to experience the beauty of USVI until this trip. And if I can say one thing that would summarize my trip to Saint Thomas, it would be: GO.
The beauty, the people, the food, and the hospitality were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And when I boarded my flight home after four days in paradise, I was already missing and plotting a trip back to see more of this beautiful place.
Day 1 (Arrival & Welcome Drinks)
The Hotel
When I first arrived at our hotel, The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef, I was blown away by the beautiful newly renovated resort.
A stunning view of the pool deck and ocean was just off the lobby. I had the same incredible view from my room.
The hotel was very clean, and the staff was extremely friendly. Aside from maybe the Ritz, this has to be one if not the nicest hotels in Saint Thomas.
Welcome Drinks
My first night in Saint Thomas, I met the bride and groom and the other wedding guests at Sugar Fin, the hotel bar area, for a welcome bag and drinks.
The drink menu had three options and a whole lot of rum brands! No idea what drink to make, I opted for one of the recommended drinks, a banana daiquiri. YUM! It was not frozen and made with real ingredients. This was a great start to the trip.
Since I had essentially stopped drinking alcohol when I became pregnant, these drinks were STRONG. I stopped with two and made it my daily limit for the rest of the vacation!
It was so fun meeting the guests and family members before the wedding. I even reconnected with a few girls I had met from the bachelorette party. Going solo it made the whole experience that much better to have a couple of friends to stick with during the trip.
Apricot Crop Top and Tie Skort
Watching the sunset at the Frenchman’s Reef was unreal.
Day 2 (Sunset Cruise)
On the second day of the trip, I woke up super early, thanks to my consistent morning routine with the baby. Having all the free time in the world, I did a quick circuit workout at the gym, then grabbed breakfast, an iced coffee, and relaxed on the pool deck.
There was a brief rain shower, but the most amazing thing happened. An entire rainbow arched over the island across the way as the rain passed. You cannot make this up! Something similar happened to me on a sunrise kayak tour in Myrtle Beach. This is why I absolutely LOVE waking up early; you catch things that nobody else sees.
Pool Day
The girls and I decided it was a pool day, so I grabbed a book and enjoyed the rest of the day before the main event that evening: a sunset cruise.
The The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef had three infinity pools and one with a swim up bar.
Sunset Cruise
As the sun dipped, the entire wedding party boarded the Sunset Boat Cruise for an evening of margaritas and tacos! The cruise provided spectacular views of Saint Thomas, and the guides gave a bit of history about the island.
The VI Cat Catamaran toured around islands along the waters of Charlotte Amalie for two hours, arriving to shore by the time the sun had completely set. It was so dark we almost ran into a couple of night kayakers. Scratch that; they nearly ran into our boat (amateurs, lol)!
Day 3 (The Ceremony)
Beach Day
With another early morning wake, I decided to head to the beach on the resort property. The Westin offered free activities like snorkeling and kayaking.
I opted for the paddle board to explore the waters and get some exercise for the day. Sitting on the board, looking down into the clear waters, and enjoying the views was the most relaxing thing.
Villa Norbu
The pinnacle of the trip was the wedding ceremony at Villa Norbu, a private property on the island’s north side with breathtaking views.
Seriously, it was one of those houses on a cliff you see from the water that you’ve always been curious to see what the home and views were like. I got to experience one for real!
The open terrace overlooking the water provided a stunning backdrop for the ceremony. Of course, we all snapped pics before the bride made her entrance!
The theme was tropical, so I was thrilled when all the girls showed up in bright colors and floral dresses. Don’t you love this group pic?
The Ceremony
My friend Courtney made the most beautiful bride. At the rehearsal dinner, someone described her as a “ball of glitter,” which was so appropriate when she walked down the steps wearing a fully sequined gown.
I loved that the groom and groomsman wore the classiest Hawaiian shirts I have ever seen paired with navy linen pants. Tropical flowers brought the whole picture-perfect wedding together, and I am so thrilled for this couple’s future!
Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour was right on theme with steel drums and a champagne wall, how fun!
The drink of the island was a “pain killer,” and oh my god, the ones they made at the reception were out of this world. They tasted like a light pineapple coconut drink, and they topped them with freshly grated nutmeg. They were beautiful to photograph, too! My favorite appetizer was the lobster mac and cheese.
Dinner served was surf and turf, and I tried lobster on its own (not covered in cheese!), and I was surprised that I really liked it. The bride said it was the best lobster she’s ever had, so now I’m afraid to try it again because I don’t think it will taste as good!
The night ended with dancing on an LED floor covering the pool, yup! The group was transported back to the resort, where I crushed the after-hour party pizza and chicken nuggets, then promptly went to bed so I could get some sleep before my flight out the next day.
It was an unusually hot day for the island, but I was so thankful I picked this criss cross tie backless dress to kept me cool!
Day 4 (Departure)
All around, the food was amazing and better quality than I’ve ever experienced on other vacations like an all-inclusive or cruise. I mean, the market inside of the Westin sold fresh juice and organic smoothies.
What a magical trip. Every day offered a beautiful view, and I am most grateful the activities were planned ahead of time, so I didn’t spend one second trying to figure out what to get into next!
I was only there for four days, but it was the perfect amount of time to relax before I started to miss my baby!
On my next trip, I want to skip over to Saint John’s and explore what the other islands have in store. It might be a while before my next one, so thanks for reading, and until next time!
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