Margaritaville St. Thomas — Our Honest Review After Many Stays
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We are not Parrotheads. We do not own Hawaiian shirts. But we have stayed at Margaritaville St. Thomas more times than we can count.
Here is why.
Quick Facts
| Best time to visit | Thanksgiving week and mid-December through April — see below |
| Getting there | 25 minutes from STT airport by taxi |
| Getting around | Taxi stand right out front |
| Budget range | $$ |
| Language | English |
| Passport required | No |
The Location is the Point
The resort sits on Water Bay on the east end of the island — away from the cruise ship chaos of Charlotte Amalie and close enough to Red Hook that the St. John ferry is a short taxi ride away. The beach at Water Bay is fine for lounging. The water is not suitable for swimming — particularly after heavy rain. The resort has two well maintained pools for swimming and that has never once been a problem.
We use Margaritaville as a base camp. From here we have hit Secret Harbor, Sapphire Beach, Magens Bay, and Coki Beach. We have taken the Red Hook ferry to St. John more times than we can count — Trunk Bay, Waterlemon Cay, the Reef Bay trail. The resort sits in exactly the right spot to make all of it easy.
[AFFILIATE LINK PLACEHOLDER — Margaritaville St. Thomas booking]
When To Go
We travel to St. Thomas every year over Thanksgiving week. It sits right at the tail end of hurricane season and the beginning of the winter high season — which means the weather is reliably good, the crowds have not fully arrived yet, and flight prices are reasonable if you book a few months out.
The sweet spot for St. Thomas overall is mid-December through April. Weather is at its best, humidity is lower, and the trade winds keep things comfortable. This is peak season which means higher prices on flights and hotels but the conditions are worth it.
If budget is the priority the shoulder seasons — late April through June and again in November — offer lower prices and thinner crowds with generally good weather. Thanksgiving week specifically tends to be a solid value window before the December rush hits.
Hurricane season runs June through November with the peak threat in August and September. St. Thomas does not get hit often but it does get hit. Maria in 2017 was significant. If you are traveling between August and October keep an eye on forecasts and make sure your travel insurance covers hurricane related cancellations. We always get travel insurance for Caribbean trips regardless of season.
[AFFILIATE LINK PLACEHOLDER — World Nomads travel insurance]
The best flight deals we have found tend to appear when you book three to four months out. Last minute peak season flights to STT get expensive fast.
The First Night Routine
The night we arrive we walk to the Red Hook grocery store and stock up. Rum, mixers, snacks, whatever we need for the week. The kitchenette in every room has a full-size fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and a Margaritaville blender. We make our own drinks in the morning, fill the Hydroflasks, pack the sackpack, and we are out the door before most people have found the breakfast buffet.
[AMAZON LINK — Margaritaville blender]
[AMAZON LINK — Under Armour sackpack]
[AMAZON LINK — Hydroflask]
The on-site laundry is why we can pack for ten days in a carry-on. We do a load in the evening when we are back from the day and it costs almost nothing.
The Taxi Stand
Taxis park right out front of the lobby. You walk out, tell them where you are going, and you are off. No waiting, no calling, no rental car stress.
One lesson we learned the hard way — always confirm the price before you get in. We had taken a particular route before and assumed the price was the same as last time. It was not, and we did not find that out until we arrived. Confirming upfront takes five seconds and avoids an awkward conversation at the destination.
Cash goes a long way with taxi drivers in St. Thomas. Carry small bills and tip well — it makes every subsequent interaction on the island smoother.
The Sun and Sea Bar and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Restaurant
The resort has two distinct dining options and they serve different purposes.
To get to the Sun and Sea Bar you take a small path that wraps around the side of Water Bay. It sits literally on the water — open air, evening light, the ocean right there. The tarpon hang around just below the surface and people throw food to them. It is the kind of place you end up staying longer than you planned. This is where we land most evenings after a day of beach hopping.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Restaurant is the main on-site restaurant and it is more than the cheeseburger in paradise reputation suggests. Full menu, proper sit-down dining — the place you go when you want a real meal rather than drinks and appetizers on the water.
Between the two of them you rarely need to leave the property for dinner if you do not want to. Though the Sun and Sea Bar at sunset with tarpon in the water below usually wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the beach at Margaritaville good?
Water Bay is perfectly fine for lounging but the water is not suitable for swimming, particularly after heavy rain. The resort has two pools which are well maintained. We use the resort as a base camp — Secret Harbor, Sapphire, Magens Bay, and Coki Beach are all easy taxi rides away.
Do the rooms have kitchens?
Every room has a kitchenette — fridge, microwave, blender, and coffee maker. Stock up at the Red Hook grocery store the first night and your daily drink budget drops significantly.
How far is Red Hook?
About ten minutes by taxi. Which puts the St. John ferry right in range for a day trip — or five.
What is the taxi situation?
Taxis park right out front of the lobby — convenient and always available. Always confirm the price before you get in. We once assumed the fare on a route we had taken before and were surprised at the destination. Five seconds of confirmation saves the awkward conversation. Cash tips go a long way with drivers and make every interaction on the island smoother.
What dining options are on site?
Two good ones. The Sun and Sea Bar sits at the end of a path around Water Bay — open air, right on the water, tarpon swimming below, perfect for evenings. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Restaurant is the full service on-site restaurant with a proper menu that goes well beyond the cheeseburger reputation.
When is the best time to visit?
We go every Thanksgiving week and have never been disappointed. Mid-December through April is peak season with the best weather. If you are traveling between August and October get travel insurance that covers hurricane cancellations — St. Thomas does not get hit often but it does get hit.
Is Margaritaville worth it if you are not a Jimmy Buffett fan?
We are not. We have stayed here more times than we can count. The location, the taxi stand, the kitchenette system, and the Sun and Sea Bar make it worth it every time.
Does the resort have pools?
Yes — two pools. Since the water at Water Bay is not suitable for swimming the pools get good use. They are well maintained and a genuinely good alternative to fighting for space at a crowded beach on days when you just want to stay close to the resort.
Tell them we sent you.