What’s The Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef?

Previously the Frenchman’s Reef Marriott Lodge, the valuables used to be at the beginning inbuilt 1973 and has, for many years, remained a cherished U.S. Virgin Islands vacation spot, drawing new and veteran travelers to its cliffside locale for many years. When hurricanes Irma and Maria hit St. Thomas in 2017, the valuables used to be compelled to near its doorways because of the wear and tear, as used to be the case at close by Morningstar Seaside Lodge, now named Morningstar Buoy Haus Seaside Lodge at Frenchman’s Reef, Autograph Assortment (additionally now owned by way of Marriott).

So started the gradual means of a five-year, $425-million-dollar renovation, leading to those refurbished side-by-side resorts on a few of St. Thomas’s maximum top actual property. Each motels be offering an increased hospitality enjoy and fall below Marriott’s top rate tier of resorts, however the Westin has a selected center of attention on well-being, whilst Buoy Haus is somewhat quieter and centered extra towards adults and honeymooners.

Formally opened in September of 2023, the Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef is composed of 392 rooms unfold amongst a multibuilding lodge. With 5 eating places, a spa, 3 swimming pools and lots of commonplace spaces, there may be quite a few room to unfold out around the assets — made even sweeter by way of the truth that visitors can wander all the way down to Morningstar Buoy Haus at their recreational to revel in many of the facilities (excluding the infinity pool) there, too.

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The best way to ebook The Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef

An unbeatable location no longer too a ways from the town

Visitors have direct get entry to to each the seaside and the dock

While you force up the winding highway to the Frenchman’s Reef compound, which totals 20 acres, you’ll be able to see the Westin to the suitable, which is made up of 3 constructions (together with an ocean-facing tower), after which you’ll be able to force down the opposite aspect of the cliff to the choice of beachfront villas that make up Morningstar Buoy Haus. Just a little trip operates each and every 10-Quarter-hour, taking visitors between the 2 resorts, however those that wish to stroll can simply accomplish that as the entirety is attached by way of ocean-facing staircases. You’ll additionally achieve the seaside by way of strolling and the use of an elevator — despite the fact that I did not see an elevator resulting in the dock (simply the seaside).

From the Westin foyer, visitors can stroll down a collection of stairs that lead immediately to a dock, the place a number of boats operated by way of the lodge are moored. Tours on those boats, like sundown catamaran sails and personal snorkel commute charters, may also be booked on the Purple Hospitality table.

To succeed in the seaside, Westin visitors can both take the unfastened trip or take the aforementioned stairs — what I would name the scenic direction — that descend the cliff to the Morningstar Buoy Haus seaside. (Professional tip: Take the steps at the approach down and the trip at the approach up except you need a excellent uphill exercise after some seaside time!) As soon as at the shore, you’ll be able to to find two spaces with cabanas, umbrellas, chaise lounges and job huts the place towels, snorkel tools, kayaks and Hobie cats may also be looked at.

In spite of one of the most lodge’s greatest attracts being its proximity to the sea, the seaside used to be moderately uncrowded when compared with the valuables’s swimming pools, particularly within the overdue morning and overdue afternoon. On my first day, I bee-lined it to the seaside round 4 p.m. and there have been solely 3 or 4 people there.

Swim in no longer 1, no longer 2, however 3 ocean-facing swimming pools

That is proper — glimmering swimming pools abound at this sprawling beach lodge. Westin visitors could have get entry to to the 3 Westin swimming pools, and there truly is an choice for everybody. The adults-only infinity pool, which is the smallest of the 3, overlooks the sea and includes a full-service swim-up bar.

The principle pool is the most important one, and is surrounded by way of the lodge’s signature white-and-orange umbrellas and reservable cabanas — and there are even personal, air-conditioned indoor rooms you’ll be able to hire only some steps from the pool deck for an break out from the solar when you do not need to head the entire as far back as your visitor room. This pool is your best choice for households, because it includes a splash zone for the kiddos.

The 3rd pool is the adults-only Serenity Pool, situated out of doors the spa and overlooking the harbor. That is the quietest pool (I rarely noticed someone the use of it right through my keep) and includes a chilly plunge, a sizzling bathtub, umbrella-covered chaise lounges and a smaller cabana house.

Be aware that there’s an infinity pool proper at the seaside at Morningstar Buoy Haus, however this pool is reserved just for Morningstar visitors.

Spa-seekers will likely be in excellent fingers (actually)

The Westin model is understood for its signature Heavenly Spas, and my time on the one at Frenchman’s Reef used to be a ways and away one of the most absolute best portions of my keep. I favored that the spa makes use of merchandise from an area, woman-owned model, Just right T’ings.

The more or less 10,000-square-foot house, tucked right into a ground-level nook of the harbor-facing aspect of the valuables, has a gentle and ethereal leisure room overlooking the Serenity Pool.

Visitors can unwind in a floating chair or stretch out on an opulent chaise living room whilst playing a choice of natural teas or infused waters earlier than heading into one of the most 14 soothing remedy rooms (considered one of which is a {couples} remedy room).

Therapies come with vintage leisure massages and facials, in addition to extra state of the art and in the neighborhood impressed remedies like an natural enzyme peel facial or a seaweed frame remedy. Salon services and products like haircuts, make-up and waxing will quickly be to be had, however the assets’s salon continues to be below development.

After a morning spent bobbing within the Caribbean Sea, I opted for the hourlong sizzling stone therapeutic massage, which put me right into a euphoric post-swim state of leisure due to the nice and cozy basalt stones, skilled power and soothing crucial oils.

Following my remedy, I wasted no time slipping into the side-by-side sauna and steam room (each the lads’s and ladies’s locker rooms have a collection).

There may be quite a few house to roam

Commonplace areas proliferate on the Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef. The expansive foyer, which options undulating couches, distinctive putting lighting fixtures, textured partitions and quite a lot of greenery (together with a residing plant wall), is a well-liked position for visitors to hang around. There may be additionally a handy hydration station the place you’ll be able to replenish water bottles and a library with books, hand-crafted pottery and native knickknacks.

Each and every route turns out to result in a water-facing vista, so when you find yourself strolling between areas, there are virtually at all times perspectives in more than one instructions. Whilst many visitors come to the valuables for holiday, there have been additionally a number of convention and match areas, smaller paintings rooms and puts to make a telephone name close to the foyer.

Rooms and suites characteristic pared-back decor, stunning perspectives and (on occasion) balconies

There are a handful of room and suite sorts on the Westin: garden-view rooms, partial ocean-view rooms, ocean-view rooms, terrace ocean-view rooms, ocean-view suites, bi-level ocean-view suites and one Governors Suite.

Earlier than my commute, I envisioned waking as much as a sweeping landscape from a personal balcony, and that’s precisely what I were given with the ocean-view suite, which includes a bed room with a king mattress; a separate residing house with a pullout settee, tv and table; a complete rest room; and — the cherry on most sensible — a sea-facing balcony with two separate seating spaces and hanging perspectives of the yacht-dotted harbor and plush mountains of St. Thomas.

The suite felt, like a lot of the remainder of the valuables, stuffed with herbal gentle, earth tones and marine motifs. Instantly upon getting into, the toilet used to be to the left, after which a brief corridor led into the spacious front room, which consisted of a double-door closet, a table house, a pullout sofa with a espresso desk and two chairs and a tv set over a console which held a espresso gadget and minifridge.

The double-door closet in the lounge used to be the principle garage house of the suite. There have been cabinets and quite a few house to hold clothes, however I discovered it extraordinary that there used to be no folding baggage holder. This closet could also be the place towels, additional rest room paper, a hair dryer, the secure and a steamer have been saved, in addition to additional gowns.

Thru a door to the suitable used to be the bed room with glass sliding doorways to the balcony from each the lounge and the bed room, bearing in mind abundant gentle to pour into the suite all through the day. Suite sizes vary from a beneficiant 625 sq. ft to 820 sq. ft, and on account of the entire herbal gentle and the partitions of glass doorways, I would say they really feel even larger. The balcony had a comfy sofa with a cushioned chair on one aspect and somewhat desk with smaller chairs at the different, tailored for playing a morning espresso or nightcap overlooking the harbor.

The decor all through used to be tasteful and minimum, truly drawing the attention to the floor-to-ceiling perspectives of the water and mountains past. Wall artwork and lovable accents impressed by way of the herbal setting incorporated a serene seaside portray hung above the sofa, bronze floral wall sconces in the lounge and a seashell replicate within the bed room. The colour palette all through the distance used to be impartial, that includes many earth tones and ranging patterns paying homage to ocean waves and sand simply past the suite.

The mattress used to be extraordinarily comfy due to the signature Westin Heavenly Mattress and featured 4 fluffy pillows and a comforter, despite the fact that I did not want it, given the 80-degree temperatures out of doors.

Each and every bedside desk had a small lamp, and one aspect had an alarm clock console with USB-A and USB-C shops. There have been usual energy shops at the wall in the back of every bedside desk. A big 65-inch flat-screen TV (the similar as the only in the lounge) hung at the wall simply in entrance of the mattress.

Toilets are easy however enough

Given the scale of my suite — the residing house felt cavernous, even — I would expected a big rest room, but it surely used to be in truth slightly small. In spite of this, it used to be tremendous for my wishes, taking into account I spent maximum of my time within the suite ensconced in one of the most balcony’s two comfy seating spaces.

The toilet had a shiny granite countertop that ran the period of a protracted replicate, which used to be bordered with LED strips. There have been two sinks; a basket protecting self-importance units, washcloths and Westin model lotion; and two water glasses. Underneath the counter used to be a collection of six picket drawers, despite the fact that after I attempted to open one, the take care of got here off. This appeared to be the one drawer-style cupboard space within the suite, despite the fact that I did not use it as it felt finicky. There have been usual U.S. energy shops on both sides of the countertop.

Reverse the counter used to be the white-tiled walk-in bathe with a rainfall-style showerhead and a detachable wand showerhead. Shampoo, conditioner and frame wash, affixed to the wall, have been Westin-branded and got here in a pleasing white tea perfume. Subsequent to the bathe used to be a small wash closet with a separate door, that includes the bathroom and a small trash can.

Numerous eating choices

Between the Westin and the Morningstar Buoy Haus, there are 8 eating places: 5 on the Westin and 3 at Buoy Haus. Take into account that some are seaside or poolside bars, no longer essentially sit-down eating places, and one is a grab-and-go genre cafe and comfort retailer (Frenchman’s Roast). Probably the most absolute best portions of eating at both the Westin and Morningstar Buoy Haus is the truth that a significant portion of the eateries are both totally out of doors or be offering out of doors seating, hanging you as with reference to the seaside, or no less than perspectives of it, as conceivable.

For breakfast, I attempted Shorebird (situated on the Westin) a number of instances. This buffet-style eating place sits in a brightly lit house overlooking the sea and gives breakfast and brunch till 11 a.m. ($34 for the breakfast buffet, a los angeles carte pieces priced in my opinion). Take into account that it is considered one of two sit-down breakfast choices (the opposite, Salt Shack, being down at Morningstar Buoy Haus), so it’s well liked by Westin visitors, and the road for a desk may also be very lengthy — sooner or later, I needed to wait about 20 mins to sit down down.

The breakfasts right here did not blow me away, however they have been simply tremendous for purchasing the day began, and the espresso used to be superb. There have been quite a few pastries, contemporary fruit and alternatives of sizzling meals like eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage and waffles. Alternatively, I spotted that my picks from the recent meals phase were not precisely sizzling, extra lukewarm, however the meals nonetheless tasted excellent.

My favourite meal used to be at Sugarfin, the sushi and rum bar. Right here, you’ll be able to take a seat indoors close to the bustling bar or out at the patio overlooking the harbor, which used to be a particularly pretty position to be right through sundown and properly into the night when the water beneath sparkled below the moon, and the mountains past twinkled with lighting fixtures from personal houses. From the menu, I sampled yellowfin tuna poke nachos ($22), a Caribbean roll consisting of tuna, unagi and jalapeno ($22) and a scrumptious mai tai ($14). The seafood used to be extremely contemporary, and the entire flavors got here in combination fantastically.

I extremely counsel visiting the bar at Sugarfin, which is just surprising — and where to be in the dark in case you are taking a look to socialise.

The opposite can’t-miss eating place, in my ebook, is Luna Mar, which provides coastal Mediterranean delicacies and places visitors outside, proper above the 2 primary swimming pools and with a chief view of the sea and the sundown. At the hunt for extra seafood, I opted for the contemporary mussels ($26) as an appetizer — the broth used to be scrumptious and savory and got here with a garlicky toast level — adopted by way of a flavorful roasted native younger chicken served with sauteed kale, fingerling potatoes and creme fraiche ($30). The entire components tasted contemporary.

The lodge fitness center is price a consult with

It could appear foolish to believe spending time within whilst visiting this slice of Caribbean paradise however believe me after I say that the fitness center is price a consult with for many who wish to destroy a sweat clear of the solar. The spacious room overlooks the harbor and mountains, and every time I went, it used to be totally (or just about) empty, which means that I had quite a few room to unfold out and my select of machines and weights. Plus, there is something particular about understanding in a fitness center with brand-new apparatus.

Simply out of doors the fitness center, you’ll be able to see tennis and pickleball courts, which may also be reserved within the foyer.

The reason why The Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef will not be for you

Whilst this St. Thomas gem is simply that, a gem, it nonetheless will not be for all types of traveler.

Accessibility 

The Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa has slightly a couple of options for vacationers with accessibility wishes and the grounds are normally navigable by means of wheelchair, except achieving the dock house. Spacious, wheelchair-friendly elevators are situated all through the valuables on each and every surface, and the lodge swimming swimming pools have self-operating lifts and sloped entrances. Provider animals are welcome at this lodge, too. Commonplace spaces such because the fitness center, trade heart, spa, assembly heart and eating places are obtainable and will accommodate wheelchairs.

Out there visitor rooms characteristic bogs with tub seize rails and tub seats, roll-in showers, switch showers, adjustable handheld bathe wands and bathroom seats at wheelchair peak. Different accessibility options come with alarm clock phone ringers, closed-caption TVs, flashing door titties, hearing-accessible kits, diminished deadbolts on doorways and diminished electric shops. To make sure you get lodging that meet your wishes, touch the lodge immediately to make your reserving.

Testing of The Westin Seaside Lodge & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef

A commute to St. Thomas will solely be sweetened by way of reserving a room or suite at this gorgeous new Westin, a assets price making plans a commute round if you need direct seaside and ocean get entry to, a lodge brimming with facilities and abundant on- and off-site actions. Whether or not you are looking to ebook a toes-in-the-sand holiday with the youngsters or a grown-up getaway with buddies, the quite a lot of forms of room and suite choices and the get entry to to the close by sister assets make this an interesting assets for plenty of several types of vacationers and journeys.

You’ll spend all of the period of your keep, as I did, at the assets and really feel like there is lots to do (and consume!), or you’ll be able to ebook taxis or a automotive to wander farther afield. The ones with a bigger funds must completely plan a ship commute by means of the lodge’s job table, as getting out at the water is one of the simplest ways to discover the encircling coves, islands and attractiveness that St. Thomas provides. Travelers who’ve ignored Frenchman’s Reef will pride at this contemporary tackle a vintage vacation spot, and beginners will most likely depart in need of to devise their subsequent commute again to this heavenly nook of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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