St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has attractive beaches and clear waters, but it can feel commercialized and crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. Though it’s not the untouched paradise you might expect, you could have cause to pass through. St. Thomas is a convenient entry point to the Caribbean with direct flights from major cities like Miami, New York and Atlanta, plus it’s a major hub of yacht charters. Hoping to find a recommendable base, I paid an anonymous visit to The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, a grand property on the island's east coast that reopened in 2019 following a $100 million overhaul.

Several buildings housing the 180 rooms curl around the picturesque Great Bay. My traveling companion and I arrived at the open-air reception, where neutral tones and island-inspired décor set a relaxed tone, and staff members welcomed us with chilled glasses of iced lemongrass tea.

They soon escorted us to our room in the Freesia building. The sandy color scheme of our Club Oceanfront King was bland, but the sea-view balcony offering striking panoramas of the bay and distant St. John island made up for it. Booking a Club-level accommodation was worthwhile, as it granted us access to a private lounge, a designated beach area and a superior outlook from our room.