The omnipotent social-media algorithm gods lately served me one thing so seductive, I booked a flight days later. My Instagram feed streamed content material creator Kevin Droniak dwelling it up in Paris within the area of 24 hours, introducing me to the thought of micro-travel.
Years in the past, The New York Instances revealed 36 Hours, a ebook compiling its column about spending a day and a half in several locales—the same idea. With torrential rain beating down on a dreary New York Metropolis, I shortly googled “finest seaside on the planet” and selected a check run, micro-traveling for 48 hours on a paradise island. Subsequent cease: St. Thomas.
MONDAY
Actually virgin territory for me, the U.S. Virgin Islands weren’t among the many many “saints” I used to be acquainted with in my travels. St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Kitts, sure. However the primary Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John by no means magnetized my curiosity. Nicely, they need to have. As speedy a Caribbean getaway as Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, as United States territories, the Virgin Isles don’t require passports.
Solely 4 hours from NYC, with peekaboo sunshine always disappearing and reappearing all through the day over fine-sand seashores, St. Thomas makes the right micro-travel vacation spot.
Taxis bumping Soca music await at Cyril E. King Airport, able to whisk vacationers away to resorts just like the Morningstar Buoy Haus at Frenchman’s Reef, round 20 minutes away. The whole island spans solely 32 sq. miles, simply 10 miles bigger than Manhattan.
Buoy Haus, a five-star boutique property comprising 94 rooms off the shore of Morningstar Bay, provides luxurious vibes all day with bungalow-style suites and the hanging hammock chairs of its stylish patios. Greeted by sliced fruit, charcuterie and a relaxing bottle of champagne, I imagined the resort’s honeymoon {couples} receiving the identical luxe remedy.
The bigger Westin St. Thomas, a brief strolling distance or shuttle away, shares facilities with Buoy Haus, together with a spa, three swimming pools and 9 eating places.
Day one in every of any island escape ought to be dedicated to most chill. Non-public cabanas on Morningstar Seashore present a picture-perfect view to offer your self credit score in your quickie trip: turquoise waters, sunbeams on waves. Pleasant seaside attendants ship cocktails, gentle bites and JBL audio system for no matter soundtrack to nirvana you may take note of. Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure goes nice with all tropical retreats.
The chef at Indigo 4—an upscale Caribbean restaurant on the island’s Yacht Haven Grande marina—took sick and closed for the evening after I was on the island. However the number of eating places on property, together with Luna Mar, Shorebird, Salt Shack, and extra, undoubtedly stepped as much as the problem. The Asian-leaning Sugarfin saved the day with delectably hand-rolled sushi, sashimi and rum cocktails. An evening swim may find yourself extra of a lounge scenario moderately than burning off any energy—the picturesque swimming pools, alas, aren’t heated.
TUESDAY
With solely 24 extra hours to spare, day two may get full of actions. Tempo your self. Tremendous enjoyable and FOMO-worthy for social media, water sports activities can kick off the day with distinctive island pleasure. FunTime Adventures, positioned on the simply accessible Lindbergh Bay Seashore, provides flyboarding, jet ski rental and boat chartering.
St. Thomas naturally additionally provides parasailing and snorkeling elsewhere on the island, together with at Frenchman’s Reef. Sampling Virgin Island indulgences on a decent schedule means catching the ferry to close by St. John after lunchtime, to bask in 2024’s finest seaside on the planet (based on The World’s 50 Greatest Seashores): the crystalline waters of Trunk Bay.
When you’re there, it doesn’t take lengthy to know. Postcard fairly, Trunk Bay Seashore is located inside the nationally protected environs of Virgin Islands Nationwide Park. Although cruise ship vacationers sometimes flood its powdery seaside for transient durations, Trunk Bay didn’t really feel crowded after I arrived in mid-April. A rum punch or two from Excessive Tide Bar & Seafood Grill close by will make issues full. You should definitely seize drinks, an umbrella and towels earlier than 4:00, when the seaside stays open however all the pieces else begins shutting down.
Whereas nonetheless on St. John, Morgan’s Mango restaurant is a should. Lobster evening kicks off each Tuesday and Saturday evening, with domestically caught grilled lobster served in a wide range of sizes with candy plantains, seasoned rice and black beans. Diners suggesting the important thing lime pie dessert appeared like they had been strategically planted simply to affect individuals, however no. Topped with white chocolate mousse, it’s a should, even when key lime pie isn’t your jam.
WEDNESDAY
One of many greatest components with micro-travel is finances. Earlier than a late afternoon flight on the tail finish of my 48 hours, I booked a deep tissue therapeutic massage with a reflexology improve at Heavenly Spa—the Westin St. Thomas’s “sanctuary of self-care,” fortified with a leisure lounge and serenity pool. Previous to heading for the airport, I indulged in some extra cabana poolside service with mai tais. The luxe model of micro-travel isn’t vital; Droniak normally simply stuffs a backpack with out reserving a lodge. No matter works, although for 48 hours wherever, you’ll want someplace to relaxation your head.
Completely make the most of the wonders of the U.S. Virgin Islands, for nevertheless lengthy you plan to remain. For a romantic hideaway, vacation spot marriage ceremony or merely a micro-travel break, St. Thomas and St. John give life.
