The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

As Marriott Vacation Club owners staying at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove and Titanium Elite members, we decided to visit The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas for drinks and to enjoy the property for the evening. Unfortunately, our experience did not start well. Upon arriving at the entrance, the gate guard refused to allow us onto the property. He informed us that The Ritz-Carlton was private, that reservations were required, and suggested that we visit a public beach or a public bar instead. I explained that we were not attempting to use the beach or resort amenities—we simply wanted to visit one of the resort's bars for drinks. The gate guard then stated that reservations were required even for the bar and that reservations could only be made online. We were directed to make a U-turn and leave the property. Confused by this response, I called the hotel directly. The hotel representative immediately informed me that we should have been allowed onto the property. While I was still on the phone, the gate guard asked to speak with the hotel representative himself. Only after that conversation were we permitted to enter. Fortunately, everything changed once we arrived inside the resort. Every employee we encountered was friendly, professional, and welcoming. The service at the bar was excellent, the property was immaculate, and the atmosphere was exactly what one would expect from a Ritz-Carlton. The views, food, drinks, and overall experience were outstanding. What could have been a very disappointing experience was completely turned around by the professionalism and hospitality of the resort staff. The contrast between our experience at the gate and the service we received everywhere else on the property could not have been greater. Management may want to ensure that gate personnel provide accurate and consistent information to visitors. Based on our experience, we were incorrectly told that reservations were required even to visit the bar, while hotel staff advised otherwise. Despite the rocky start, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and would gladly return. The exceptional service we received from everyone inside the resort more than made up for our initial experience at the entrance. Special recognition goes to the hotel representative who took the time to resolve the situation and to the outstanding staff throughout the resort who made us feel genuinely welcome.

Our stay at The Ritz-Carlton was exceptional, and Larry played a huge role in making it unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, he went above and beyond to ensure every detail was handled with care and professionalism. Larry's warm personality, attention to detail, and genuine desire to make our experience special did not go unnoticed. He anticipated our needs before we even had to ask and consistently provided service with a smile. His commitment to excellence truly reflects the high standards of The Ritz-Carlton. What impressed us most was how he treated us like valued guests rather than just another reservation. His kindness, patience, and willingness to go the extra mile turned a great stay into an extraordinary one. Thank you, Larry, for your outstanding hospitality and for creating such a memorable experience. The Ritz-Carlton is fortunate to have someone of your caliber representing their brand. We look forward to returning and hope to see Larry again on our next visit.

We stayed here using our Marriott timeshare. What makes this place a step above are the people. From the time we arrived everyone was so welcoming. Everyone seems to love their job. Many pools to choose from and you don’t have to fight for a chair. Plenty of shade at the beach. All restaurants are walkable. Our housekeeping staff was just great. We tried all the restaurants and our favorite was coconut cove. Blackened grouper was superb. Service at all restaurants was top notch. If we ever go to St Thomas again this is our place to stay.

Dont go if you want a quiet relaxing vacation! Individual speakers around the pool people walking around the property on speaker phone everywhere. The staff however is very nice and accommodating. I don’t know about you but to me smart casual dress code means just that smart a nice relaxed look. Well it is not bare feet swim suit with cut off tee shirt and camo baseball hats with the brim turn backwards! I also don’t think it’s ok for the hostess to be on her speaker phone where I needed to ask her to please turn it off followed by various guests also on their speaker phone in the restaurant ! For $1100 a night plus fees and tax there are many more options too bad this place is beautiful but there are no rules very spring break feeling will never go there again we left early!

I have been to this property about 15-20 times over the last 10 years or so, and it has been an amazing experience every time! From the front desk, to the team at Sails, to the business event team - truly superb! Specifically, Lorenz at the pool (she has been there 25+ years!) and Kianna who helped plan my events - amazing people! And you will love the views. This is truly a special place.