St.Thomas Ritz(USVI)/ Scrub Island Resort(BVI)
Feb 6, 2013, 10:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, SPG PLAT
Posts: 445
St.Thomas Ritz(USVI)/ Scrub Island Resort(BVI)
I am debating between staying in Scrub Island or Ritz in St.Thomas.
I am planning to stay 3 nights.
Can someone please guide me about the properties comparision?
I am planning to stay 3 nights.
Can someone please guide me about the properties comparision?
Feb 6, 2013, 10:22 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott, AAdvantage, United, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,687
Can you offer some insight into what your interests are?
Here is a good comparison:
St. Thomas Ritz
- Located very close to Red Hook near some great restaurants, beaches, and the ferry over to St. John.
- Ritz has its own private beach
- Staying on St. Thomas offers you the opportunity to explore the whole island and see the main attractions: Megan's Bay, downtown Charlotte Amalie, etc.
- You can easily take a day trip to the BVIs right from the Red Hook ferry dock: about a 5 minute drive from the Ritz
Scrub Island
- The hotel is quite luxurious and offers very nice accommodation
- The island is just that: an island - but an island of small size. The only thing on the island is the hotel.
- If you just want to sit on the beach and drink expensive hotel cocktails and eat overpriced (but good) hotel food all day every day, this is an excellent option.
- There is some great snorkeling right off the island - Diamond Reef is right there - aptly named for a man who lost a diamond engagement ring in the reef.
- You will have to take a ferry/boat to the other islands: Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Tortolla.
Overall, I would choose St. Thomas - more options for food and entertainment. You can always take a ferry or charter a boat to the BVIs.
Here is a good comparison:
St. Thomas Ritz
- Located very close to Red Hook near some great restaurants, beaches, and the ferry over to St. John.
- Ritz has its own private beach
- Staying on St. Thomas offers you the opportunity to explore the whole island and see the main attractions: Megan's Bay, downtown Charlotte Amalie, etc.
- You can easily take a day trip to the BVIs right from the Red Hook ferry dock: about a 5 minute drive from the Ritz
Scrub Island
- The hotel is quite luxurious and offers very nice accommodation
- The island is just that: an island - but an island of small size. The only thing on the island is the hotel.
- If you just want to sit on the beach and drink expensive hotel cocktails and eat overpriced (but good) hotel food all day every day, this is an excellent option.
- There is some great snorkeling right off the island - Diamond Reef is right there - aptly named for a man who lost a diamond engagement ring in the reef.
- You will have to take a ferry/boat to the other islands: Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Tortolla.
Overall, I would choose St. Thomas - more options for food and entertainment. You can always take a ferry or charter a boat to the BVIs.
Feb 6, 2013, 11:25 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, SPG PLAT
Posts: 445
BostonFlyer1624 - Thank you for your suggestions. I am already staying in St.John for 5 nights. The other 3 nights i am trying to stay in St.Thomas or Scrub Island.
It is a 8 nights trip to the Virgin Islands area.
What are the other things to do in the area?
It is a 8 nights trip to the Virgin Islands area.
What are the other things to do in the area?
Can you offer some insight into what your interests are?
Here is a good comparison:
St. Thomas Ritz
- Located very close to Red Hook near some great restaurants, beaches, and the ferry over to St. John.
- Ritz has its own private beach
- Staying on St. Thomas offers you the opportunity to explore the whole island and see the main attractions: Megan's Bay, downtown Charlotte Amalie, etc.
- You can easily take a day trip to the BVIs right from the Red Hook ferry dock: about a 5 minute drive from the Ritz
Scrub Island
- The hotel is quite luxurious and offers very nice accommodation
- The island is just that: an island - but an island of small size. The only thing on the island is the hotel.
- If you just want to sit on the beach and drink expensive hotel cocktails and eat overpriced (but good) hotel food all day every day, this is an excellent option.
- There is some great snorkeling right off the island - Diamond Reef is right there - aptly named for a man who lost a diamond engagement ring in the reef.
- You will have to take a ferry/boat to the other islands: Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Tortolla.
Overall, I would choose St. Thomas - more options for food and entertainment. You can always take a ferry or charter a boat to the BVIs.
Here is a good comparison:
St. Thomas Ritz
- Located very close to Red Hook near some great restaurants, beaches, and the ferry over to St. John.
- Ritz has its own private beach
- Staying on St. Thomas offers you the opportunity to explore the whole island and see the main attractions: Megan's Bay, downtown Charlotte Amalie, etc.
- You can easily take a day trip to the BVIs right from the Red Hook ferry dock: about a 5 minute drive from the Ritz
Scrub Island
- The hotel is quite luxurious and offers very nice accommodation
- The island is just that: an island - but an island of small size. The only thing on the island is the hotel.
- If you just want to sit on the beach and drink expensive hotel cocktails and eat overpriced (but good) hotel food all day every day, this is an excellent option.
- There is some great snorkeling right off the island - Diamond Reef is right there - aptly named for a man who lost a diamond engagement ring in the reef.
- You will have to take a ferry/boat to the other islands: Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Tortolla.
Overall, I would choose St. Thomas - more options for food and entertainment. You can always take a ferry or charter a boat to the BVIs.
Feb 6, 2013, 11:35 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott, AAdvantage, United, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,687
In St. Thomas, the options break down into three basic categories, with many options for each:
1. Water Activities: beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing
2. Shopping: duty-free shopping for alcohol, tobacco, jewelry
3. Entertainment: bars, restaurants, nightclubs
At Scrub Island, you have the options of sitting on the beach and staying at the hotel, or taking a ferry to visit other local islands. You do not get items #2 and #3 from above (other than what is provided at the hotel).
1. Water Activities: beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing
2. Shopping: duty-free shopping for alcohol, tobacco, jewelry
3. Entertainment: bars, restaurants, nightclubs
At Scrub Island, you have the options of sitting on the beach and staying at the hotel, or taking a ferry to visit other local islands. You do not get items #2 and #3 from above (other than what is provided at the hotel).
Last edited by BostonFlyer1624; Feb 19, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Feb 6, 2013, 6:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NC
Programs: IHG PC - Plat, HHonors - Gold, Marriott - Plat
Posts: 329
we stayed on scrub 5 nts last spring. only ate on the island 1 nt. there is a free ferry that picks you up at the hotel and takes you to Marina Cay which has a nice restaurant and bar high on the island with live music some nts. we chartered a boat with a captain one day and hit the baths on virgin gorda and snorkeling around norman island and hit some restaurants and bars along the way. You also could just rent the boat if you are comfortable. The accomodations are very nice, we were upgraded to a nice suite using MR points. Staff very friendly. YMMV
Feb 7, 2013, 8:03 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: SkyMiles, MileagePlus
Posts: 188
we stayed on scrub 5 nts last spring. only ate on the island 1 nt. there is a free ferry that picks you up at the hotel and takes you to Marina Cay which has a nice restaurant and bar high on the island with live music some nts. we chartered a boat with a captain one day and hit the baths on virgin gorda and snorkeling around norman island and hit some restaurants and bars along the way. You also could just rent the boat if you are comfortable. The accomodations are very nice, we were upgraded to a nice suite using MR points. Staff very friendly. YMMV
Feb 7, 2013, 10:12 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 1
Full disclosure: I work for Scrub Island Resort and am based in Tampa, FL, so yes, I am BIASED!! Here's arrival and ferry information:
We greet each and every guest upon arrival at the Beef Island Airport. We then drive you to Trellis Bay Dock, just a 2 minute drive from the Airport where you will board our private launch to Scrub Island. In order to provide this service seamlessly, it’s important for our staff to know your incoming and departing flight information.
Travel to Scrub Island
Scrub Island is just a 10-minute ride from Tortola's Trellis Bay Dock via our private launch. Scrub Island also has two heliports available to guests.
Ferry Schedule
Scrub Island's private launch departs Trellis Bay Dock at :45 minutes after each hour and departs Scrub Island at :30 minutes after each hour.
Hours of operation:
From Trellis Bay 5:45am to 10:45pm
From Scrub Island 6:30am to 10:30pm
Hope you stay with us at Scrub; we're 52 rooms and suites with 7 amazing oceanview villas. Great on-site dive shop... they offer a really fun Island Hopper Tour, if you'd like to visit the surrounding islands. Happy travels!
We greet each and every guest upon arrival at the Beef Island Airport. We then drive you to Trellis Bay Dock, just a 2 minute drive from the Airport where you will board our private launch to Scrub Island. In order to provide this service seamlessly, it’s important for our staff to know your incoming and departing flight information.
Travel to Scrub Island
Scrub Island is just a 10-minute ride from Tortola's Trellis Bay Dock via our private launch. Scrub Island also has two heliports available to guests.
Ferry Schedule
Scrub Island's private launch departs Trellis Bay Dock at :45 minutes after each hour and departs Scrub Island at :30 minutes after each hour.
Hours of operation:
From Trellis Bay 5:45am to 10:45pm
From Scrub Island 6:30am to 10:30pm
Hope you stay with us at Scrub; we're 52 rooms and suites with 7 amazing oceanview villas. Great on-site dive shop... they offer a really fun Island Hopper Tour, if you'd like to visit the surrounding islands. Happy travels!
Feb 7, 2013, 5:08 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NC
Programs: IHG PC - Plat, HHonors - Gold, Marriott - Plat
Posts: 329
If you asking about the ferry to Marina Cay, it runs when the resort calls them to come pick you up. It is only a short 3-5 minute ride to Marina Cay. If the weather cooperates it is a nice kayak ride over for lunch and snorkeling around their island. One evening we stayed a little late and had to wake the captain up to take us back but no problem. The previous post had the ferry schedule to beef island.