Sunfinder Vacations

Created by the Doumeng family in 1974 and hands-on operated by Doumengs since, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort offers a homey, casual, open-air ambience. Many guests return regularly and are greeted by long-time staff members as family.

Trimmed in fieldstone, bamboo, and wood, an open-air lobby busy with guests day and night attests to the appeal of this Marriott resort for families and couples seeking a beachfront holiday, with ready access to downtown Charlotte Amalie's shopping and dining attractions.

The 31-acre Wyndham Sugar Bay & Spa overlooks Smith Bay to the north and St. John and the British Virgin Islands to the east. Romance-minded couples seek out the candlelit restaurant and spa treatments for two, while families are happy with the wealth of activities and supervised kids’ club.

The Westin St. John Resort and Villas is a 47-acre, campus-style resort with spacious lawns, forested hillsides, and tropical gardens, and views of turquoise Great Cruz Bay sheltered on both sides by more green hills. The resort attracts active families and celebrating couples.

Intimate, quiet, and barefoot-casual, Secret Harbour Beach Resort attracts vacationers seeking spacious accommodations and a warm, friendly atmosphere. Long-time staff members know guests' names, and regulars are treated as family.

Set on its own peninsula on St John and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort, is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, providing rest and rejuvenation in harmony with nature. Known as a retreat for celebrities and others seeking relief from stress, the resort emphasizes privacy and tranquility. A degree of gentility prevails: men are asked to wear long pants (or dress shorts), collared shirts, and closed-toe shoes (no athletic shoes) after dark. Loyal guests return yearly to be greeted by long-time staff members, and "Good morning," "good afternoon," and "good evening" are expected by all.

The 30-acre beachfront Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas co-exists comfortably with nature, including a salt pond, iguanas, deer, and sea turtles. Couples and families come here for tranquil vacations. The main building resembles an Italian villa, with pink-marble floors and red-tile roofs. Lodging buildings on hillsides form an amphitheater facing Great Bay.

This 30-acre Virgin Island beach resort attracts families with amenities such as complimentary water sports. Other guests include couples seeking sunny tranquility and relaxation, as well as yachting guests who moor their boats at the resort's 67-slip marina. The hotel features expansive Caribbean views from open-air vantage points.

Amenity highlights: Two beaches face the calm Caribbean waters. Sugar Beach, a small gem, is secluded at the end of a path along the cliffside. Pineapple Beach is a sandy, 250-yard stretch at the end of a short waterfront path. Three freshwater pools await at the beachfront, middle, and hilltop levels. Use of snorkeling gear, windsurfers, and kayaks is complimentary. The resort's acclaimed Agave Terrace restaurant showcases fresh seafood, complemented by inspiring views. The casual Fungi's on the Beach stands at water's edge.

Insider tip: Guests can walk a half-mile around the bay to the Coral World Ocean Park, which has an underwater observation tower; interactive feedings of sharks, stingrays, and turtles; helmet dives; snorkeling; and parasailing.