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

Built by exiled General Antonio López Santa Anna of Mexico, this 1857 landmark provides a panoramic view of the harbor, plenty of West Indian charm, and rooms that are both 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. 

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 at 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 and Caribbean cuisine.

All the rooms at this all-inclusive, family-run resort tucked along a palm-lined beach have balconies with ocean views, and down the beach are nine condos with full kitchens. This place is more flip-flop casual than fancy, and 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, Heavenly Days, and excursions arranged by the on-site PADI Five Star dive shop are popular, as are a number of complimentary water sports, including an introductory scuba lesson and aqua-tricycles. 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 Caribbean spiny lobster tail at Iggies Oasis shouldn't be missed. 

You get beachfront ambience at this reasonably priced miniresort 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.

Atop Blackbeard's Hill, this small hotel offers the perfect mix of gorgeous harbor views, proximity to shopping (five-minute walk), and 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.

Not to be confused with neighboring Frenchman's Reef Hotel, this beachfront villa-style timeshare property offers the glitz of a resort with the comfort and amenities of a private club. All rooms face the historic harbor, where you can watch cruise ships enter and depart daily, and accommodations are either steps or yards away from the sandy beach, cabana-rimmed pool, open-air restaurant, spa, marketplace and activities building. There’s something happening hourly on property from organized yoga to bingo for adults to games and craft activities for kids. Or, guests can jump on The Reefer ferry at the property’s dock for a 10-minute trip into Charlotte Amalie for shopping.

There’s a boutique-style intimate beach club vibe at this Frenchman’s Reef oceanfront property where even garden view rooms in the five low-rise buildings are only steps away from the ¼-mile long white sand beach. A conscious green theme spans from the smart fridges and wood-decorated rooms to a table-top-size artwork made of recycled materials in the lobby. The lush landscape crafted from tall palms to flowering hibiscus throughout the property provides privacy, whether you’re relaxing on your balcony or sunning at the tide pool. Cozy cabanas line the pool, with food and beverage served from the casual Salt Shack Bar & Grill. The Isla Blue restaurant, on the second floor of the lobby building, features fresh seafood and a chef’s tasting table. Cabanas, lounge chairs, and non-motorized water sports rentals are on the beach.

Hilltop villas 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, a five minute walk away, is tiny, though some may call it wonderfully private. Three pools give you more swimming and sunning options. The property also has a labyrinth of well-marked nature trails to explore. The casual waterfront Sun and Sea Bar & Grille serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Ocean 180, an elegant American-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 private balconies and marble bathrooms that have 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 young guests, 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, 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.

This cozy bed-and-breakfast feels like a home away from home because of its casual ambience, picturesque setting overlooking Red Hook Harbor, and the friendliness of the owners. All rooms have air-conditioning and continental breakfast served on the balcony each morning. Just five minutes' drive to the beach, shopping, and ferries to St. John and the BVI, this is a great spot if you're looking for something intimate.

Fully renovated and re-opened in 2023, this 8-floor, high-rise, family-friendly resort by Frenchman’s Reef sits on a cliff overlooking the Charlotte Amalie harbor. Spacious rooms boast a bright blue-and-white seascape décor equipped with king or queen beds, mini-fridges, coffee makers, 65” flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi. Restaurants span from the Shorebird for buffet breakfasts and brunch, to Luna Mar serving pasta and pizza next to the main pool, Sugar Fin sushi and sake bar, and Frenchman’s Roast Coffee shop. Other features that make this resort feel like an upscale cruise ship with every vacation need and want self-contained are three oceanfront pools, a fully equipped gym, tennis courts, retail shops, Westin’s signature Heavenly Spa and Kid’s Club, Palm Court toes-in-the-sand event space, a small beach with water sports rental, and pier where the resort 65’ Flying Frenchman catamaran casts off on day sails.

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. Contemporary rooms have such amenities as coffeemakers, hair dryers, ironing boards, and irons. There's also a free beach shuttle.

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.