To get me through the too-long cold season, I often plan an escape to a warmer climate. My husband says it takes the edge off my winter blues. If I can't be a bear, I'll be a duck and fly south for winter — at least for a few days of it.
This year I escaped winter by running away to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a 3 day, 4 night stay at Frenchman's Reef & Morningstar Marriott Beach Resort.
Frenchman's Reef & Morningstar Marriott Beach Resort is an award winning Caribbean Resort, and St. Thomas is a perfect vacation spot for couples and families. You get all the perks of being in the Caribbean — pristine beaches, a tropical setting, and plenty of sunshine — but with one major distinction that is important for families... you don't need a passport to get there! A passport still serves as the best form of identification when traveling, but since St. Thomas is a part of the US Virgin Islands, which is a US territory, a government issued photo ID or raised-seal birth certificate for children is all you need. Any parent who has impatiently waited for the arrival of a passport or calculated the cost for passports for the entire family will understand why this is such a huge deal! Back to Frenchman's Reef...
Frenchman's Reef & Morningstar Marriott Beach Resort is a big place. You could spend hours exploring the property from end to end, and I recommend that you do. You'll find great photo op spots (nicely labeled with "Selfie Spot" signage), a really cool waterfall, loads of iguanas to photograph, spectacular views of the ocean and the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, and you might even catch sight of a cruise ship coming in or out of the port (this is even better at night when the ship is all lit up). Friendly staff is readily available around the resort to answer questions and offer suggestions on how to spend the day.
Guest rooms at Frenchman's Reef are what you would expect from a Marriott — clean, well cared for, comfortable and tastefully decorated. If you are traveling with kids, opt for a Harbour Suite. This room offers a separate bedroom and sofa bed - plenty of space for everyone. While you will like your room, I promise you won't spend much time in it. There's just too much to do at the resort...
Starting with taking advantage of the beach. On our first day at the resort we went in search of snorkel gear — gear is offered for use at no cost to resort guests along with water mattresses, paddle boards, kayaks and more. During our search a staff member suggested we take our gear over to Frenchman's Cove (a free shuttle ride away) where just a few feet from the shore you can see loads of tropical fish and coral. Our dip in the cove didn't disappoint.
Frenchman's Reef makes having an adventure easy. Make room on your agenda for a sailing and snorkeling excursion aboard The CAT. This 3-hour adventure departs from the Marriott dock and takes you to Turtle Cove to see... sea turtles! This bucket-list worthy experience is topped off with a guided tour of the reef where you can see hundreds of tropical fish up close while snorkeling with your fellow sailors and crew. For a perfect day, opt for the 1pm sail which brings you back in time for dinner with time to spare to join in on the 7pm Clear Kayak Night Tour. This tour places you in a 2-person clear-bottom kayak that illuminates the ocean floor with powerful LED lights. You'll see sting rays, tarpon and other marine life as they swim below you. The knowledgeable tour guide will tell you all about them and the rich history of area.
Both of these must-do activities can be booked through the on-site Adventure Center located right in the lobby, and yes, they are kid-friendly.
Other on-site kid-friendly activities include table tennis, movies under the stars, beach volleyball, a kids' splash zone, and staff-led daily activities such as t-shirt tie-dying, beach olympics, kids' crafts and more.
Ready to explore more of the area? Hop a water taxi from the Marriott dock and head over to Charlotte Amalie Harbor. Street vendors have t-shirts, jewelry and souveniers for sale, and a walk into the shop-lined streets will give you your fill of even more jewelry, local art, and other trinkets to bring home as a reminder of your time in St. Thomas.
All this exploring will work up an appetite. Aqua Terra is the place to go for breakfast. A full buffet has something and more for every member of the family — from made-to-order omelets to french toast and plenty of fresh fruit — it's a perfect start to the day. For lunch or dinner head to Morningstar Beach for a bite at Coco Joe's. This open-air beachfront restaurant offers everything from buffalo wings to fresh seafood and steak. Perfect for either a lite bite or filling meal. For a more upscale experience head to Havana Blue. Your plate will arrive looking like a work of art and will taste even better than it looks. Sure, it costs a little more, but you'll walk away not regretting one penny spent. Mac Kid Tip: save room for dessert and order the deep fried cheesecake. It is to die for.
If you're going to run away this winter, you might as well head to paradise. Find it at Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort.
Learn more about Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort by clicking HERE. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The writer was a guest of Frenchman's Reef for a three-night stay to facilitate this review. Accommodations, meals and activities were included. No other compensation was received. All opinions are her own.
