Why You Should Take a Solo Vacation in St. Thomas

I know the thought of a solo vacation in St. Thomas may seem a little unconventional, but honestly, how many times this year have you said, “I need a vacation”? Chances are, you probably do, but you’re probably thinking a vacation needs to include at least one other person. Does it? I don’t think so.

Why wait around for someone else to be available when you’re the one who needs the vacay? Why subject yourself to the potential stress of planning a group trip when you can easily decide in a split second what you want to do on your own? When you go on a solo vacation, you get a chance to really relax, both mentally and physically, and in my opinion, St. Thomas is the perfect place to do it.

I had the pleasure of escaping for a few days to Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort on the charming island of St. Thomas within the U.S. Virgin Island, and honestly had a hard time even wanting to leave the property! It’s one of those places where everything you could possibly want to do is at your fingertips, and the views can be stared at all day.

But wait! It gets better! The properties within Marriott Carribbean & Latin America Resorts have also started an awesome new program catering specifically to us solo travelers — Solo Traveler Packages! 

FINALLY a collection of resorts that acknowledges that not everyone goes on vacation as a couple or family! The new solo programs include perks that keep in mind the safety and well-being of solo travelers, from private excursions and tours, to “I’ll be back” forms you can leave at the front desk while you’re out. I gladly opted to test out the new program, here’s everything I did and some reasons why I loved it!

St. Thomas is Easy to Get to

Since St. Thomas is a part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, that makes it both easy, and convenient to get to! No passport is required for U.S. citizens, which makes the airport a breeze! St. Thomas is also fairly close to the U.S., with a flight from Miami that’s only about two hours! Flights also tend to be fairly inexpensive, and if you can’t find one direct from your hometown, you can easily consider flying to Miami first to get a better deal!

Once you arrive in St. Thomas, Marriott’s solo package includes a personal airport pick-up which will be waiting for you to arrive. You’ll then enjoy a short ride through the main town of St. Thomas, with stunning views of the boat-flecked bay! Next stop, solo vacation paradise!

It’s Easy to Stay Connected (or Not!)

One of the main things people ask me about traveling solo, is if I ever get lonely. In all honesty, my answer is no, because I’m literally always connected to the internet or talking to people! Marriott includes free Wifi in the solo packages so that you can always feel comfortable being connected to friends, family, or your partner back home. Or if you’re like me, you can use it to share your vacation on Snapchat or Instagram!

Another nice thing about staying connected in St. Thomas, is that your cell phone should work! You’re technically still in the U.S. which means most carriers still provide coverage on the island! I had no problem at all staying connected the whole time I was there, and also no problem disconnecting when I needed a break from being social!

Relax at One of the Infinity Pools

Since the Marriott in St. Kitts is situated on a cliff overlooking Pacquereau Bay on the Caribbean coast, you better believe it has some incredible infinity pools to emphasize those views. You could literally spend hours just floating along the edge of the cascading pool, watching the cruise ships and catamarans enter and exit the island.

There’s two main infinity pools, and one private infinity pool for spa guests, which is definitely something to consider! One of the main infinity pools even has a swim up bar that’s “For Adult’s Only“, and is a great place to meet fellow vacationers! Or, you can simply order a cocktail poolside from one of the constantly-happy staff members!

Have Me-Time at the On-Site Beach

Use the included beach shuttle to get down to Marriott’s on-site beach, where you can also take a peak at their 2 and 3 bedroom villas! The beach is lined with chairs and umbrellas, as well as a couple of fun island bars and restaurants. If you’re feeling like getting your hair wet, you can also rent a mask and snorkel, kayak, or paddleboard to take out into the water!

Whenever you’re ready to head back to the main area of the resort, all you have to do is tell a friendly staff member, and the shuttle will come right back to pick you up!

Treat Yourself to a Tropical Lunch

One thing I absolutely loved about St. Thomas, was the incredible Caribbean food! When you’re ready to take a break from the sun, treat yourself to some delicious tropical cuisine at one of the restaurants on the property! I had a grilled mahi-mahi sandwich that was scarfed down in ten minutes, and on another day, crab bisque soup and lobster salad! #YUM!

I also had a phenomenal time poking fun at myself for eating alone on Snapchat, where I claimed to be making friends with a bird I kept feeding who kept me company the whole time (AKA used me for my crumbs). That’s something I learned to love about solo travel — being confident enough to enjoy doing things on my own without caring about what other people think.

Anyway! You can also have your concierge recommend local restaurants, or restaurants in the market area, which you can get to by car or water taxi! Since the island is quite small, it’s not hard to go into town for a quick lunch, or even the afternoon! Go ahead and indulge, you’re allowed to on your solo vacation!

Explore the Island!

The solo package includes two different options which cater to the different types of solo travelers — “All About Me” caters to those seeking alone time, or “Solo & Social” for those who want to meet new people and socialize! If you get the “All About Me” solo package at Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, it includes a private excursion or tour, which you can use to explore the island! There’s some great lookout points, but also some great shopping areas, so it’s up to you (no one else!) to decide.

If you like to shop, the market place has tons of little vendor booths and shops with everything you can possibly imagine. If you’re looking to buy something that’s representative of St. Thomas, their signature jewelry is called cruzan bracelets, and they have their very own local signature designer of a similar design called Island Girl.

If you opt for an excursion, you can choose several things like a catamaran adventure, paddleboarding, kayaking, and Snuba! They even have a yoga session on paddleboards, as well as special night-tours with light-up paddleboards and kayaks!

So now you really don’t have an excuse to not go on that vacation you’ve been dreaming of! Marriott is making it easy with Solo Traveler Packages, so check your schedule, and get booking! If you’d like more information on the packages, you can find it at ParadisebyMarriott.com!

Disclaimer: This post is (proudly) in collaboration with Marriott to help get the word out about their awesome new solo traveler packages. All photos, opinions, and fun times are my own.