Triple B's Bridgette Bartlett-Royall hit the ground running in St. Thomas!

Last month I had the pleasure of visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of a USVINice initiative. (!) I, along with about ten other lifestyle bloggers and digital influencers, headed down to the Caribbean for a chance to experience the beauty of island life in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was a wonderful opportunity to visit St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. There’s so much useful information to share about destination weddings, honeymoons and bachelor/ette getaways that I’m giving each island their own post. Find out what people, places and things in St. Thomas are now on the Triple B radar and why they should be on yours, too!

Up, up and away...

EAT

Gladys Cafe – Authentic Caribbean cuisine at reasonable prices. (Who wants to go to another country and eat the same food you can easily get at home?) Be sure to try the mango hot pepper sauce! You can even purchase a bottle to take home with you.

Old Stone Farmhouse – One of the top three culinary experiences I’ve had to date was at this restaurant! I was able to visit the kitchen and hear about the menu directly from the chef, the atmosphere is classy yet unpretentious and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Plus, Oldstone is a popular wedding and rehearsal dinner venue — score.

Island Sweet Stuff – The people’s choice for yummy baked goods including delish tropical fillings like guava and mango and traditional black cake for weddings.

Le sigh.

PLAY

Zip Lining at Tree Lime Extreme – I’m a self-proclaimed “punk” when it comes to activities like zip lining so I shocked myself but I couldn’t have chosen a more beautiful location to try it out. An added plus of having gorgeous scenery to look at while gliding through the air were hilarious guides (Thanks again, Lew!) who made me feel much more at ease while they cracked jokes.

Duty-free shopping is a popular past-time in St. Thomas. Fave shopping areas include: Havensight Mall, Red Hook, Crown Bay Center, Yacht Haven Grande and Main Street. I didn’t purchase anything worth noting in St. Thomas on this recent trip but many people have been known to score fab deals on jewelry there.

Magen’s Bay – Arguably home to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and (wait for it…) they host weddings, too! Click here for deets.

Frederick Lutheran Church – Regardless of your religious affiliation, this church will help enhance your visit to the island. Established in 1666, it is filled with culture and history. Plus the front steps make for a memorable photo.

Nighttime Kayaking Kayaking is generally a fun actitivity to engage in, especially while on vacay, but at night in a glass bottom boat with LED lights? Next level-ish for sure.

Triple B on the scene in St. Thomas!

STAY

Sugar Bay Beach Resort – I dipped over to Sugar Bay for a spa treatment (the massages there rock) and yoga class and was very impressed with what I saw — so much so that it is the resort of choice during my next stay in St. Thomas. FYI: The grand lobby would be an awesome backdrop for wedding pics!

Ritz Carlton – Proven luxury, hands down.

Bluebeard Castle – This resort was my home away from home during my stay in St. Thomas. It was definitely not an Aquamare experience but the views were postcard worthy and the rooms quite spacious.

Other Helpful Notes: Since St. Thomas (and St. Croix and St. John) are part of the United States, a passport is not needed for U.S. citizens to visit. An official birth certificate with a raised seal might be however so be prepared.

Zip lining in St. Thomas!

Have you been to St. Thomas? What are your favorite parts of the island? Would you recommend it for a destination wedding or honeymoon?

Head to the Triple B Instagram account for more behind the scenes pics and video from Triple B’s stay in St. Thomas.