Flights of Fancy

If You’re All Partied-Out

St. Thomas
Couples whose perfect afternoon consists of nada can take refuge in this surprisingly low-key Caribbean escape.

Sure, you could kayak, jet-ski, or parasail. Or take a day trip to nearby St. John or Tortola. But why bother? The pool is calling, the blenders are whirring, and planning excursions seems too much like…work. Long seen as a pit stop for souvenir-hungry cruise ship passengers, 32-square-mile St. Thomas has a less-traveled side. With its always-perfect Caribbean climate, impossibly soft sand, and perpetually warm sea, the island (beyond downtown) is yours to wander—or take in from a beach chair.

STAY
The sprawling 479-room Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort sits on a peninsula with breathtaking views. Honeymooners should book ocean-side rooms, which feel more like private bungalows, in the resort’s Morning Star section. Extend your lethargy by lingering over after-dinner drinks and cigars at Havana Blue, the resort’s chic Latin-fusion eatery and martini bar (340-776-8500, marriott.com).

EAT
Have Havana Blue set up an über-romantic, seven-course dinner on the beach; star dishes include beef carpaccio with ginger coulis, and five-spice duck confit (340-715-2583, havanabluerestaurant.com). Or, head to Grande Cru, where you can gawk at mega-yachts while dining on lobster-and-citrus salad. Don’t miss the Samba, a martini made with chili-pepper vodka and mango purée (340-775-8278, igymarinas.com/grandecru).

PLAY
Kick off the day at Morning Star Beach with a seaside couples’ massage. When you’re ready to wander off-property, sunbathe in the company of iguanas on palm-lined Bluebeard’s Beach (formerly Limetree Beach). In need of some one-on-one time? Try the sand at the oft-deserted Secret Harbour. In the evenings, sunset sails depart from Charlotte Amalie (340-774-2992, adventurecenters.net). If you need a break from sand and sea, do some high-end shopping in Yacht Haven, a 10-minute ferry ride from the resort, or browse the downtown jewelry shops. –Donna Garlough