Spending Christmas at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas means plenty of tanning on the beach, sipping cocktails, and sailing on the blue waters of the Caribbean. While Christmas on the island is much more tropical than a typical American Christmas, they do have some festive traditions.

The holidays are coming up and before you know it, Christmas will be here! It's time to start planning your trip to the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas for a tropical Christmas vacation. The Residence Club condos at the resort are the perfect accommodations for the whole family. The resort is located along the Great Bay, where you can sip St. Thomas's holiday drink, guavaberry rum, on white sand beaches.

Caribbean Travel + Life named the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas one of the best snorkeling resorts. Their onsite Patagon Dive Center caters to divers of all levels and group sizes and offers a superior snorkeling and diving experience.

The Baths of the British Virgin Island of Virgin Gorda are a great tourist attraction that are easily accessible to visitors of other islands, including those staying on St. Thomas at the Ritz Carlton Residence Club. Charter the Lady Lynsey or hop on the public ferry and head over to this natural wonder for some snorkeling and exploration.

Once you've settled into your Ritz Carlton St. Thomas vacation rental, head over to Marina Market for groceries! Marina Market has everything you need to stock your fridge for your vacation - fresh produce and fish, prime meats, wines, spirits, gourmet cheeses, fruit, and a full service deli.

Photo by Marina Market

If you're staying at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Residence Club, you must go to Coral World! Coral World is located at Coki Beach and is a great way to experience St. Thomas's abundant marine life with your group.

Magens Bay is one of St. Thomas's most beautiful and popular beaches. It has been recognized by National Geographic as one of the world's top 10 most beautiful beaches, thanks to its calm turquoise waters and white sand shores.

These posts will help you find the best St. Thomas nightlife, shopping, activites, attractions, and St. Thomas restaurants while you enjoy your stay at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas (the only 5 star resort on the island!).

St. Thomas has a fun nighlife scene, thanks to an abundance of hotel bars, beach bars, and restaurant bars. There is a good variety, some being more lively while others are more lounge inspired. Here is a list of the best bars St. Thomas has to offer!

Guests of the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Residence Club have membership access to the Mahogany Run Golf Course, designed by George and Tom Fazio.

 Guests of the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Residence Club luxury villas are granted full use of the adjacent resort, including their amazing West Indies-inspired spa. The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Spa features 11 Mediterranean style treatment rooms, 1 beachside cabana, salon, and retail boutique.

The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas is the only 5-star resort on the island, a feat that ensures top-of-the-line service, the most luxurious accommodations to be had, and a sense of exclusivity among guests. The Ritz Carlton Resort and Residence Club commands 30 acres of prime beachfront property on the picturesque, white powder beach of the Great Bay. All Residence Club luxury condos are just steps from the beach and feature ocean views.

St. Thomas is more than just fabulous beaches - there is a ton of culture and history, shopping, sightseeing, and opportunities to interact with unusual creatures. The concierge at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas will be able to make suggestions for you, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

Perfect water conditions, a variety of coral reef and marine life, cays (pronounced "keys"), and bays make St. John a premier Caribbean snorkeling destination. St. John is accessible from St. Thomas via a 45 minute boat ride. If you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Club St. Thomas, you can charter their 53' catamaran, Lady Lynsey. If you do charter a boat to go to St. John, you might want to hang on to it for a while. Some of the best snorkeling is found by jumping from a boat in deeper waters off the coast, such as Flanagan's Cay off of Trunk Bay.

The best snorkeling in St. Thomas can be found at Coki Beach. Snorkeling is a fun and safe activity that can be done during the day or at night. Guests of the Ritz Carlton Club St. Thomas have many snorkeling options close by, like Coki Beach, Secret Harbour, and Sapphire Beach. Snorkeling conditions are great on the island thanks to the calm waters, great visibility, and constant warm temperatures of 79 to 83 degrees. Coki Beach is one St. Thomas beach that has snorkeling comparable to St. John's National Park. Snorkelers can stand chest deep and play with lots of fish. There are also deeper reefs farther off shore for more experienced snorkelers and divers.

Mim's Southside Bistro is a hidden gem on Coki Beach at the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort that overlooks the water. This little beach shack serves delicious seafood that is fresh and locally caught. Mim's has an amazing seafood lobster bisque, as well as great lobster dishes. Thursday is all you can eat shrimp night! All you can eat shrimp is served with fries and corn on the cob. Mim's also has tropical drinks, like the Beach Bar Bomber and the Shark Bite.

Photo Credit: Mim's Southside Bistro

The East End area is home to the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Resort and a lot of amazing restaurants and bars. To view a restaurant, click on a link below or scroll down to see the complete list of restaurants.

The Havensight Mall is a picturesque outside mall where everything is duty free. It is located at the Havensight Cruise Ship Dock, and there are over 100 stores, restaurants and bars. Take advantage of the free shuttle so that you don't have to walk in the intense heat. There are plenty of restaurants where you can relax and grab some food and cocktails after shopping.

Photo Credit: Move My Group

 Charlotte Amalie is St. Thomas's biggest city, so it makes sense that some of the best St. Thomas restaurants are located there. Many of them have amazing views of the harbor and serve fresh, local seafood with Caribbean flavors. After checking out the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas's dining options, head into town and try some of these!

Photo Credit: Daquella Manera

 There are an amazing amount of restaurants in St. Thomas. Those located in the historic Frenchtown distric are located southwest from the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Resort and Residence Club. To view a restaurant, click on a link below or scroll down to see the complete list of restaurants.

Boston natives Nicci and Scott write a blog called St. Thomas Blog, dedicated to sharing restaurant and nightlife information, as well as tips for tourists. Every year they do a "Best of St. Thomas" and announce which restaurants had the best of what!

There are tons of restaurants in St. Thomas! You can get delicious tropical food almost anywhere, whether it's a shack on the beach or a fine restaurant at a hotel. This is a list of the best fine dining options in St. Thomas.

St. John is less developed than St. Thomas, but is just as beautiful. Don't forget to take the ferry over when you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Club St. Thomas! St. John's Coral Bay is quieter and quirkier than Cruz Bay. While on the way to Coral Bay, you'll see Bordeaux Mountain Overlook. This is a very scenic spot that also has refreshments and some shopping.

You're sure to island hop when staying at the Ritz Carlton Club St. Thomas. The hourly ferries make the neighboring islands easily accessble. If you prefer a more luxurious method of island hopping transportation, the Ritz Carlton Clubprovides the Lady Lynsey, a 53-foot catamaran. The Lady Lynsey is available for half or full days, and can serve cocktails, hors d'ouevres, and an elaborate buffet.

You may want to get out and do some shopping and sightseeing while you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Club St. Thomas.Charlotte Amalie is the biggest conglomerate of stores in St. Thomas. Dronningens Gade, better known as Main Street, Back Street and Waterfront have the best shopping in Charlotte Amalie. You will also find unique boutiques in the alleys off of these three streets. Recommended alleys for shopping are Royal Dane Mall, Palm Passage, and Riise Alley.

Caribbean vacations are not limited to one island - if you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Residence Club in St. Thomas, you can easily head over to St. John. St. John is quickly accessible by a 20 minute ferry ride, which runs hourly. The St. John ferry dock is located in Cruz Bay, also called "Love City," at the West End of the island.

There are many, many beaches on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, so it's important to know where the best spots are. Otherwise you might waste time searching for or spending time at less than pristine beaches! Island hopping is easy and can be done via boat or sea plane. If you're spending a week at the Ritz Carlton Residence Club St. Thomas, you'll have plenty of time to check out all of the best beaches.

Sailing is a popular activity in St. Thomas. As a guest of the Ritz Carlton Residence Club in St. Thomas, you will have use of the Ritz Carlton's Lady Lynsey, a 53-foot catamaran that is available for half or full day of snorkeling and pirate treasure hunts. Have fun underwater, swimming amongst shipwrecks, coral, tropical fish, sea cucumbers and sea urchins!

Fungi's on the Beach in St. Thomas is a famous bar that is literally on the waters' edge. It's located at the Point Pleasant Resort on Pineapple Beach and serves authentic West Indian Cuisine. You will find Caribbean specialties such as conch with butter, roast suckling pig, johnnycakes, plantains, rice and beans, callaloo soup, and stewed chicken.

  The Ritz Carlton Residence Club in St. Thomas is the perfect place for you and your wedding party to enjoy a beautiful destination wedding. The Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas is a Travel + Leisure favorite, and was named one of the World's Best Hotels in 2008! Families and friends can stay at the Residence Club for a more spacious and luxurious stay. The Ritz Carlton provides brides with a Wedding Advisor. Click here to view packages

Big Bambooz has just opened in Red Hook in St. Thomas! Get yummy burgers, a chicken roti dish, seared BLT, wings, nachos, wraps, or daily seafood specials at this casual waterfront bar and restaurant. Prices range from $6.50 for a half dozen buffalo wings to $14.75 for a seared tuna BLT sandwich.

Duffy's Love Shack is an award winning parking lot bar in St. Thomas. This famous hang out is a must-see if you're staying at the Ritz Carlton Residence Club in St. Thomas. It was first built in an alleyway of Charlotte Amalie in 1995, until Hurricane Marilyn blew the little shack away. It was rebuilt in its current location of Red Hook on the east end of St. Thomas. Back in 1995, the Love Shack only had two specialty drinks. Times have changed!

  St. Thomas can definitely be the romantic getaway you're looking for, but why can’t the kids have fun too? St. Thomas has an unlimited amount of activities and entertainment to occupy your kids or the whole family alike.  St. Thomas is known for its stunning views of the clear blue water and the neighboring Caribbean islands that can be seen from the beach.  Your kids can appreciate the scenery too by taking watercolor art class, which is offered at the Ritz Carlton Resort, where they can paint the view and take a memento home with them. *The class is offered on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. It is taught by renowned St. Thomas Watercolor artist, Lucinda O'Connell.