10 Best Hotels in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

All the rooms at this family-run resort tucked along a 1,000-foot-long palm-lined beach have balconies with ocean views; down the beach are 12 studio and two-bedroom condos with full kitchens. This place is more homey than fancy, but the friendliness of the longtime staff keeps visitors coming back. The beach is a bit rocky for swimming, but sails aboard the resort's 53-foot catamaran and excursions arranged by the on-site dive shop are popular. You can opt out of the all-inclusive plan and pay less, but then you'd want to rent a car, because the resort is a bit isolated. The fresh seafood-stuffed 1-pound spiny lobster at the Lobster Grille Restaurant, and Wednesday's Carnival Night with calypso music, a limbo show, and West Indian buffet at Iggies Beach Bar and Grill, shouldn't be missed.

You get beachfront ambience at this reasonably priced mini-resort tucked beneath the palm trees, but the trade-off is that it's directly across from a noisy airport runway. You'll definitely want to spend time on the white-sand beach, which can be seen from nearly every room in the four three-story, lime-color buildings. Stay here if you need the beach on a budget or if you have an early-morning flight. The Emerald Cafe opens at 6 am with hot coffee, smoothies, and grab-and-go fare.

Perched 545 feet up the face of Crown Mountain, this small, homey inn has hands-on owners who can book tours or offer tips about the best sightseeing spots. Rooms range from a suite with a kitchenette that's perfect for families to simply furnished verandah rooms. The two verandah rooms and six poolside rooms have no air-conditioning, but at this altitude there's always a breeze. Six of the rooms have kitchenettes, so you don't have to eat out for every meal. There's an honor bar for drinks and snacks and a communal verandah where guests congregate for continental breakfasts.

The view and the value are the selling points of this simply furnished family-run hotel perched 800 feet above Charlotte Amalie's harbor. A few rooms pool level don't have much of a breeze, making air-conditioning a must. Rooms above the restaurant are tiny and lack privacy in the evening, because of the steady stream of diners. Rooms 101 and 102 have the best views. The restaurant is known for its well-prepared Continental cuisine, featuring fresh seafood, steaks, and chicken.

Hilltop suites give you an eagle's-eye view of the East End and beyond, and those in a building adjacent to the reception area offer incredible sea views, but the sea-level junior suites, where the sounds of lapping waves lull you to sleep, are smaller. The beach is tiny, though some may call it wonderfully private, but three pools give you more swimming and sunning options. The property also has a labyrinth of well-marked nature trails to explore. There are two restaurants on property: the casual waterfront Shoreline Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Mirador, an elegant American-Latin–inspired eatery, offers fantastic views of the British Virgin Islands. If you prefer to self-cater, you can opt to buy groceries online in advance.

Everything sparkles at the island's most luxurious resort, from the in-room furnishings and amenities to the infinity pool, white-sand, eco-friendly Blue Flag–designated beach, and turquoise sea beyond. Spacious guest rooms, with high-speed Internet access, private balconies, and marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, are in buildings fanning out from the main building. Six somewhat institutional-looking buildings, with two- and three-bedroom condos, sit on their own adjacent beach. The spa, salon, and fitness center serve adult bodies and souls; the Ritz Kids program packs in a full day of activities for kids, including collecting seashells and feeding iguanas. A 60-foot catamaran is available for a day or sunset sail. There is an additional $85 per person per day resort fee that includes valet parking, use of tennis courts and the fitness center, high-speed Internet, nonmotorized water sports, and resort garden tours.

There's not a bad view from these low-rise studio, one-, and two-bedroom condos, which are either beachfront or perched on a hill overlooking an inviting cove. All units, which have white-tile floors and tropical-print wood and wicker furnishings, are spacious; even the studios are more than 600 square feet and certainly big enough for a family with two children. The pool is small, but the beach is the real focal point here. Calm seas make for excellent swimming, and snorkeling is especially good near the small dock to the east of the cove, where coral outcroppings attract a bevy of marine life. Watch spectacular sunsets from your balcony or the Sunset Grille restaurant on the beach. Kids under 13 stay free, making this a good value for families.

Atop Blackbeard's Hill, this value-priced small hotel offers the perfect mix of gorgeous harbor views, proximity to shopping (five-minute walk), and secluded privacy provided by the surrounding showy trees and bushy hibiscus. Accommodations range from a roomy, top-floor junior suite with two queen beds to a balcony room with queen bed and full kitchen. All rooms have refrigerators, microwave ovens, and coffeemakers. There's also a pool and picnic area with a gas barbecue grill. The managing couple lives on the property and is very helpful in giving restaurant, sightseeing, or beach suggestions.

Built by exiled General Antonio López Santa Anna of Mexico, this 1857 landmark provides a panoramic view of the harbor and plenty of West Indian charm, which will make you feel as if you're living in a slice of Virgin Islands history. Each of the rooms is unique and lovely. Two favorites are La Mansion, a former library that is now an elegant villa with a large living area crowned by cathedral ceilings, full kitchen, two baths, and four-poster bed; and El Establo, a three-bedroom house with a full kitchen and laundry facilities that is rented by the week. 

Business travelers, tourists on their way to the British Virgin Islands, and laid-back vacationers who want the convenience of being able to walk to duty-free shopping, sights, and restaurants favor this harbor-front hotel. But if your ideal Caribbean beach vacation means having the beach at your doorstep, this isn't the place for you, despite the presence of a free beach shuttle. Contemporary rooms have such amenities as coffeemakers, hair dryers, ironing boards, and irons.