Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort
We fell in love with St. Thomas while staying at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort. After a small courthouse wedding, we spent our honeymoon enjoying the warm nights, snorkeling, gazing into the exceptional views, and eating more than our stomachs were capable of handling.
The property is large and filled with a ton of activities. You don't even have to leave, everything is there for you! This would be an ideal setting to host a destination wedding for your friends and family. Not only can you enjoy a tropical paradise and ceremony with a view, but you can fill your days with a ton of activities ... or nothing at all! Perk: If you live in the U.S. you don't even need your passport.
You'll find some friendly island pets living on the property. We saw a few cats, but we especially saw tons of Iguanas. They are totally harmless and will run and duck for cover if you startle them. On your walk down to the beach you will see the same family of Iguanas just chilling there on the plants, eating, and sunbathing. Sometimes they get in the way, but are super easy to simply walk around!
Can you say VIEWS? Everywhere you turn the Frenchman's Reef is just thriving with all shades of greens, and blues, clouds, and water. Being immersed in such a tranquil setting really sets the tone for a honeymoon. We felt so fortunate to be staying here, and experiencing everything there was to offer! One of our favorite things that the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort had to offer was their rum bar. Drinks of choice? The Dark and Stormy or Painkiller. You're pretty much unable to taste the alcohol in either of those so be careful because they could be dangerous! So sip responsibly, or not ... you're on vacay.
All of the food that we consumed from Frenchman's Reef was delectable. From steaks to lobster, and desserts we were very pleased! We spoiled ourselves every day and every meal. We ate at Aqua Terra Italian Trattoria for dinners, Coco Joe's for lunches, Sunset Grill for steak ... The STEAK covered in a tasty sauce with mushrooms and sat upon a bed of mashed potatoes! We highly recommend indulging.
Our last night we treated ourselves to a fine dining experience on the property at Havana Blue, a short walk from the main hotel. You are overlooking the ocean in a very serene setting. For drinks we started with a Havana Old Fashioned and Paloma Limonada. We definitely recommend ordering the Pink Lady Roll. I can still taste the spicy tuna and crispy ginger *drools.* The menu was so unique, and we recommend making a reservation beforehand. This place was poppin'!
As we mentioned before, there are a ton of activities that the Frenchman's Reef has to offer! We spent one of our days on a half-day Catamaran Sail and Snorkel tour via The VI Cat Snorkel. We sailed to Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is an uninhabited island off St. Thomas. We snorkeled turtle cove which is a protected reef filled with brain coral, blue tang fish, and green sea turtles! The staff was extremely personable, fun and helpful.
While snorkeling is definitely a must-see, so is the Night Kayaking. The floor of the kayaks are clear and lined with LED lights so that you can gaze into the ocean. We saw so many different sting rays, and sleeping turtles. It's such a different world at night compared to in the day. An experience we have never had before and were lucky to share together. Believe it or not there was even a mermaid swimming around the shallow parts helping the staff draw in the kayaks.
The view from our room was phenomenal. We overlooked the spa pool and cabanas. The moody sunsets with clouds, and rays of sun were unreal. Since we were on our honeymoon we definitely took advantage of the LAZULE Sea Spa. I will admit, this was my first massage and it was dreamlike! I definitely recommend asking for Jenny or Monique. We enjoyed a 55 minute full body couples massage. The cabanas are free to use at your own disposal either before or after your treatment, and there's also a quiet pool and cold plunge pool available.
We truly are enamored with St. Thomas and we know that you will be too! It is easy to request a proposal and get in touch with the resort's expert team of wedding planners. Providing a large range of wedding packages you are sure to find something that suits your needs. Get Planning!