6 Best Hotels in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

This expansive Marriott-branded resort has a stellar beach and peaceful ambience as well as standalone rooms with terra-cotta floors, ceramic lamps, mahogany ceilings and furnishings, and rocking chairs. Each has a private patio, and lushly planted walkways connect the rooms and the hotel's restaurants and pool. As of this writing, amenities were limited as the resort continues to recover from Hurricane Maria; the work-in-progress atmosphere has not sat well with some guests.

An oceanfront location, one of the island's only casinos, and plenty of activities make this resort a reliable option for adults (guests must be 18 and over). Rooms are in two wings close to the beach and each has soothing decor with light-wood furniture and flooring and blue and white linens. Although the East End location puts you a long way from anywhere, there's plenty to keep you busy, including tennis, pickleball, water sports, a fitness center, and organized pool games and exercise classes. The Divi's all-inclusive plan includes food, beverages, and water sports.

Hop on the free ferry to reach this peaceful time-share resort in the middle of Christiansted Harbor and offering pleasantly furnished rooms with harbor views, balconies or patios, and kitchenettes for times when you don't want to eat at the hotel's beach bar. The island location sounds remote, but the ferry ride takes no time at all. The captain zips over to the waterfront whenever he sees someone waiting. In addition to sunning at the sandy beach or pool, chatting with fellow travelers, and strolling the lushly planted grounds, you can play beach volleyball or try snorkeling and other water sports. Keep an eye out for one of the endangered St. Croix ground lizards that call the 5-acre Protestant Cay home—but don't touch, as they can deliver a nasty bite.

Right on a gorgeous stretch of white beach, the adults-only Sand Castle has a tropical charm that harks back to a simpler time in the Caribbean; its nearness to Frederiksted's interesting dining scene is also a plus. Rooms, which have contemporary decor, tile floors, and bright fabrics, come in several sizes and locations. Some have kitchens or kitchenettes, and many have sea views; several rooms cluster around a clothing-optional pool across the street from the main hotel building. The on-site restaurant, the Beach Side Cafe, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch.

Aimed at travelers who want everything at their fingertips, this family-friendly resort has sandy beaches, multiple restaurants, golf, tennis, a spa, and swimming pools. A palm-tree-lined main drive leads to the large, pink main building atop a hill; the rest of the resort sits on the grounds of a 340-acre former sugar plantation, where guest facilities and quarters are scattered about the manicured lawns. Spacious rooms are tropical in style, with tile floors, four-poster beds, massive wardrobes of pale wood, marble baths, and local art. The beachside Doubloon rooms are the largest and are steps from the sand, but you can be perfectly comfortable no matter where you stay. The resort abuts an 18-hole waterfront golf course and has an excellent tennis center with eight courts, a pro shop, lessons, and night play

A 10-minute drive from Christiansted's interesting shopping and restaurants, this resort, with its eclectic mix of guests, sits on a gorgeous strand of white sand, its beachfront rooms with clean, modern designs, dark-wood furnishings, framed tropical photos, and tile floors. You'll need a car if you plan to venture beyond the hotel's gates, but The Palms bar and restaurant has live music on the weekends.