Have you ever considered the idea of gifting yourself a vacation instead of presents? With the holidays right around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to take your family on a holiday vacation to St. Thomas. Check out our three reasons below as to why going on vacation for the holidays is a much better idea than exchanging gifts! 

1. The number one reason on our list for going on vacation around the holidays is the amount of uninterrupted time you get to spend with your entire family. Absolutely no interruptions, just quality time with family and friends! 

2. Basking in the sunshine and playing on the beach is proven to elevate your mood and keep you relaxed, preparing you for a successful new year.

3. The Festivities in St. Thomas are so much fun! Dance the night away with the Junkanoo bands, hop on and off boats, and eat delicious seafood every night — it's a fun and unique way to welcome the holidays.  

As summer comes to a close, wahoo season begins to rev up here in St. Thomas. All across the island, the sports fishing buzz is all about the wahoo. This silver-blue fish is native to the subtropical waters, right offshore of St. Thomas. It is known for the tough fight it gives its opponent once it is hooked on the line, making them one of the most challenging fish to reel in.

Although September truly starts wahoo season, it is said that October is the best time to catch them as they tend to be the most plentiful in the fall. If you are the competitive type, November hosts the Wahoo Windup, a fishing tournament solely based on the catching and releasing of this majestic fish. Choose from one of the many experienced charter companies on the island to angle your way through the fall season!

St. Thomas is known for its vibrant tropical colors, captivating Caribbean vibes, and delectable island flavors. A must-do while you are visiting St. Thomas is to sample all of the unique, exotic fruits that cover our island. Most of the fruits on our island come from trees and are a staple in our diet. Some of the more well-known fruits are mangos, coconuts, and bananas, but if you wanted to try something a little more local, we would suggest you try soursop, genip, tamarind, and sea grapes. All of these tropical fruits can be found around the island, from our beaches to our forests, and are all completely edible and amazing. Take a walking tour around St. Thomas and see if you can identify the different fruits that you see. If you come across some of these exotic Caribbean fruits, we highly suggest that you partake in an island-style taste test.  

Sail high above the island and catch incredible views of St. Thomas that you just can’t get from sea level. Parasailing is a thrilling way to explore St. Thomas and spark a little adrenaline boost at the same time. Experience the wind in your hair from new levels when you are parasailing. The day will start out by meeting with the captain and discussing the parasailing process. Then, once everyone on the boat is briefed, the rides will begin. Each couple will take their turn flying high while the rest of the guests enjoy a comfortable boat ride and cheer on the people in the sky. The captain will begin to pull you in once your time is up, but not before giving each rider a nice refreshing dip in the sea. Take your St. Thomas vacation to new heights with this incredible island adventure!

Before coming to the Virgin Islands, the images that probably come to your mind are crystal clear oceans, soft sandy shores, and tall, swaying palm trees. And while you are definitely right, this is not the only thing that makes up our island. In the coastal waters of the Caribbean, an important player in preserving our outer banks are the mangroves. Mangroves are twisty little trees that live right on the shore of the island that help protect us from bad storms and rising waters. These beautiful little trees have adapted over time to thrive in super salty, brackish water and house many little creatures like crabs and small fish. In St. Thomas, we adore the mangrove trees and even use them to help our tourist understand and explore the island life. Pull up a kayak and try to weave your way around these beautiful little water trails on your next visit to the USVI.

St. Thomas is a culturally diverse island. People from all over the world travel here, and in the 1800’s, people from all over the world began to settle here too. One of the most interesting areas on the island is a little tiny town stuck in time, known to islanders at Frenchtown. Between 1800-1900, a group of people from St. Barthelemy from the French Caribbean decided to migrate to St. Thomas. Although they also lived on an island, their ways of life were slightly different — and even though they have adapted in some ways, many of their French customs have still stuck with them even after all of these years. Stop by this quaint little area of St. Thomas to see the different style of boats, bustling fish markets, and a beautiful church by the name of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Visiting Frenchtown is a fun way to take a step back in time while still playing in St. Thomas.

It is exciting to announce that according to the Tourism Commissioner Nicholson-Doty, as of April 14, 2018, the USVI is open for business. There is still a lot of work that needs to be put into the island, however, power has been restored throughout the entire island, hotels are beginning to re-open and the yachting industry is healthy and thriving. Although Sugar Bay is not up and running yet, we are proud of our island and our community, we cannot wait to join the party! 

More and more airlines are reinstating their flights to and from St. Thomas, and as stated in the press release, the best way to help our island is by coming to visit us! You can read the full press release HERE. Thank you for your continued support throughout the last six months, we cannot wait to see some familiar faces soon.

Welcome to April! This month is all about the environment and we are proud to say that the Virgin Islands are constantly making strides towards a greener, less wasteful lifestyle. Because we are surrounded by the ocean, it is important for us to take care of our beaches and home. In the weeks leading up to April, there has been a lot of focus on reducing the need for single use plastic and other items that tend to end up in our oceans. Many organizations all around the island are starting to prepare for a major clean-up effort alongside the entire world on Earth Day. We know it is impossible to make the earth a better place in just one day, but each day makes a difference. With more helping hands each year, it won’t be long before we can all see a difference.

Speak softly while visiting Linquist Beach. This well kept secret is a quiet place to kick back and enjoy the sounds of the ocean. Pack up the essentials for a day on the water — lots of fresh drinking water, sunscreen, towels, and a few snacks should do the trick. Once your feet hit the sand on this hidden piece of paradise, you will not want to leave. 

A short swim away are amazing reefs that are filled with tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks and many more intriguing sea creatures. Linquist is completely secluded so you will not stumble upon a restaurant or anything overly touristy, but it is fully equipped with a bathroom and shower facility, so you can continue your day without interruption. On cruise days, you can catch locals selling sweet treats and cold drinks. Sneak into Nirvana and hideaway for a few hours while you are visiting St. Thomas.

It’s true — FEMA has bunked up with us while we all straighten up the island. Since the back to back storms that rolled through our home, we have been on a mission to get St. Thomas back up and running as quickly as possible. With that comes challenges and rewards, and one of the challenging parts of putting an island back together is finding enough suitable shelter to house everyone staying here to help. 

Fortunately for Sugar Bay, we happened to have a few rooms that were in fair condition. Due to this miracle, we have extended the olive branch to our friends at FEMA to offer lodging to those that are far away from their homes to help us rebuild ours. Please swing by for bottomless coffee, Friday night karaoke, or any night at the lobby bar to help our new guests feel at home — and send them a warm welcome the St. Thomas way!

As we start to return to normal, we thought it was important to let you know that some of our friendly neighbors are back up and running too! Check out this full list of businesses that are either open, rebuilding or still closed for repairs. Maybe your favorite is back up in full force. In the meantime, we wanted to highlight a couple of our local favorites. 

1. For an ice cold drink, good company and even better stories check out Dog House Pub. While there may still be a little bit of dust. you can ensure that their party atmosphere is not rusty. 

2. The Fat Turtle is open for breakfast lunch and dinner with a great view of the Caribbean ocean. Take a load off and unwind any hour of the day. 

3. Get your island fix at Ideal Roti — they have your Caribbean breakfast or lunch covered all day long. 

And as a friendly reminder, don't forget to bring cash when you are visiting these gradually re-opening establishments. 

With the magnitude of the last few weeks, we are happy to hear that this years Crucian Christmas Festival is still on! Unwind while catching up with community over food, drinks, and dancing. After putting all of our efforts into repairing the island, we are ready for a little stress relief and celebration! This event takes place all month long and has made its annual appearance every December since 1952. Colorful costumes and St. Thomas Pride will flood the streets on both January 5th and 6th. The children's parade will preform first on the fifth, showcasing their costumes and productions to the lively crowd cheering them on. January 6th is for the adults — sip on your cocktail and cheer on the dancers as they make their way through the streets. King Street will be full of cheer and festivity all December long — please put on your St. Thomas pride and join your neighbors for this years Crucian Christmas Festival! 

A big island thank you to all that have helped us with their donations! We are happy to report that twenty generators have been attained and distributed because of your contributions. St. Thomas is in the midst of cleaning up the remaining devastation and trying to get back to normal life as quickly as possible. As always, in a time of tragedy, our friends, families, and neighbors have truly come together to help one another in a great time of need. We are happy to report that commercial flights are making their way back to our home, seaports are open, as well as grocery stores, restaurants and even schools! Our resilient community and the help from everyone around us has truly been incredible, and we can’t wait for you to come visit us again soon! Stop by our Facebook page to keep up with our progress and send us some love in the comment section – we’ll be happy to hear from you!

Due to the back to back Hurricanes (Irma & Maria) that have hit our home here in the beautiful island of St. Thomas, we are currently in recovery mode. The devastating category five storms that ran through our island were only a mere twelve days apart and have required our full attention the past few weeks.

We are requesting that if you’d like to aid in the recovery of St. Thomas and Sugar Bay Resort and Spa, that you please consider donating to the hurricane relief fund that was created by SITE Florida & Caribbean, to help make this devastating time more bearable. The funds that are raised will be allotted for basic need items and generators to power the island. You can find the donation site HERE. Sugar Bay is sure that the island of St. Thomas will be resilient and strong on our road to recovery — any and all donations are extremely helpful and will be truly appreciated in our time of need.

Not everything is as it appears. Though you may believe that the best view of the island is the one where your toes can hide in the sand, some may argue that it is high above the clouds grasping the railing while peeking over the edge of the cliffs, from 1,500 feet above the sea. Opening their doors in 1953, Top Mountain quickly became a staple for shopaholics and thrill seekers visiting the Virgin Islands.

From the tippy top of our sweet little island you can see the breathtaking views of the bright blue water and lush greenery all across the Caribbean. It has also been whispered that Top Mountain carries the best duty free items of anywhere that kisses the Atlantic Ocean. Our iconic banana daiquiri should bring you the liquid courage you need to take that little step out onto the observation deck — sip, sip, step and you’ll be looking like a local in no time!

Feel the sand between your toes and the warm waters at your ankles — taking a peek at St Thomas’ marine life is closer than you think. Just a shores walk away you can experience a beautiful living coral reef, vibrant colorful fish, sea turtles and so much more. Our oceans are bursting with activity and are excited to be explored. Grab your gear from the hotel and dive right in — guided tours are available to everyone or you can take the afternoon to explore on your own.

The refreshing waters of St. Thomas are home to over four hundred different species of fish, as well as dolphins, stingrays, starfish and even whales. Keep a checklist on your island excursion and see how many species you can spot — earn bragging rights by checking off the most! Winner takes all — and by all we mean another dip in the ocean tomorrow. Rinse & Repeat! 

After a successful February concert, Jazz in the Park is back for its summer debut. Grab a chair and pop yourself right into the heart and soul of this music extravaganza. A perfect event for friends and family to attend, the evening of music will feature local and visiting jazz artists throughout the night. The concert will be held on July 22nd beginning at 4pm and will be grooving all the way until 10pm.

Sit down, sing along, and enjoy the sounds of the island in the inviting tropical weather. You can expect to find two stages with different Virgin Island artists, food vendors, cooking demonstrations, art expos and a kids center. Becoming one with the community is a great way to see the real rhythm of St. Thomas from a different perspective — the local jazz concert is the best way to relax and unwind and feel like a true local. 

A pit stop is all that is necessary to get a glance at this incredible view. Drake's Seat is one for the books while visiting St. Thomas. If you have ever wondered what a birds eye view would be like from the Caribbean then you absolutely must stop at this look out point. A ten minute drive off the beaten path is all it is to see this incredible view — the best part is that most taxi drivers will take you here with a simple please and thank you. It is said that Sir Francis Drake used this as his place to spot incoming boats and scope out his next victims. Make out like a pirate and imagine yourself sitting sky high anticipating a boat full of treasures for you to keep! A rumor has been told that the pirates life is a life of scallywags and luxury — after spending the afternoon at Drake's Seat you will agree with the latter. 

It is near impossible to come to St. Thomas and not want to spend every single second splashing around in the perfect Caribbean Ocean. However for those of us that also love to be on land, we suggest you take a ride over to Magens Bay to take on the best of both worlds. In this subtropical region of the island, you can experience the wind from sea-level or climb up the nature trail to get a breeze from a few miles above. 

The mile and a half trails covers everything from tropical forest to mangroves  — and it is said that different species of birds can be spotted while making your way through the trail. This path can be a bit tough, however those that trek through will find a pleasant surprise at the end. Each twist and turn will lead you to even more exploration, but a secret beach may be the reason you keep going.

In a world that is constantly busy, taking a moment to pause and be completely disconnected can be hard to find. In St. Thomas we know we can always count on the ocean to slow us down and take us back to our roots. Bring yourself to the sandy shore of the Water Bay oceanfront, just a few steps away from your hotel room, and enjoy the serenity the sea will bring you. Rise before the sun, grab a cup of coffee and take in the full effect that mother nature has to offer. The early morning is the most peaceful part of the day, quiet and crisp; it is the perfect time to reset your mind and help you focus on what the day will hold. Complete relaxation exists here on the island, it starts with fresh air and ends with sandy toes.