Beachfront Resort with Open-Air Dining

Hibiscus Beach Resort sits on a stretch of St. Croix that Frommer's calls "one of the island's best beaches," but many guests leave praising the ultra-attentive staff. General manager Marc Mullins often ferries guests to a nearby grocery store, especially if they're not used to the island's custom of driving on the left. And co-owner John Odato has even been known to pick fresh aloe leaves by hand to soothe a guest's sunburn. The team keeps the resort laid-back and relaxing, which is why many couples return here year after year. As Mullins puts it, "St. Croix has a magnetic appeal."

Because cruise ships rarely dock here, the shores are never crowded with tourists—even though US citizens don't need a passport to visit. Pelican Cove Beach, which stretches alongside the hotel, is straight out of a postcard. It’s dotted with coconut palms, hammocks, and lime-green iguanas. A coral reef inhabited by tropical fish flourishes just beneath the waves; slip into the water using the resort’s complimentary snorkeling gear. All beachfront rooms are located on the beach with varying degrees of ocean view, although those who book well in advance will get the best views.

Because St. Croix temperatures stay in the 70s and 80s year-round and refreshing trade winds blow constantly, most restaurants here are open-air, including the H2O Caribbean Bistro overlooking the resort’s pool. The restaurant’s menu changes frequently but always includes fresh-caught seafood, such as orange-ginger mahi-mahi ($26) and coconut shrimp with mango salsa ($26). A free breakfast in the morning includes basics such as cereal, toast, and coffee.

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands: Historical Danish Architecture and Thriving Marine Life

Although now an American territory, the US Virgin Islands spent about 200 years under Danish rule. A handful of military forts from this era still dot the island. One of them, Fort Christiansvaern, is located about 10 minutes east of the hotel in Christiansted’s city center—a grid of cobblestone streets lined with 18th-century pastel buildings. From here, you can book a cruise to Buck Island Reef National Monument, an uninhabited island surrounded by a barrier reef of elkhorn coral. Snorkeling and diving excursions provide an up-close look at eagle rays, reef sharks, and sea turtles.

During nesting season (roughly March–July), leatherback turtles migrate to Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge and the hotel's own beach, Pelican Cove. When the eggs hatch a couple months later, you'll be in for a spectacular scene. According to Mullins, "All of a sudden you see thousands of little baby turtles coming out of the sand."

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.