by Sandra Crittenden

We decided to take an impromptu vacation after our college kids' finals this year. They wanted to  relax on a beach and we were lucky to find space awaiting for us at the Ritz-Carlton on St Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands for a few days escape. This hotel reminded me of a smaller version of The Ritz-Carlton in Maui.  After checking in, we walked out back to survey the beautifully landscaped grounds. An infinity pool led the eye out to sea. The beach was wide with comfortable lounge chairs with optional shade tops. It was well attended with offers to bring food, drinks, towels, etc.  We spent the majority of our time on the property. The food options at the Ritz-Carlton in St Thomas were varied enough to keep our small group happy for our short stay. I enjoyed the Carribean lobster dinner at Bleuwater and the fresh fried fish wrap at Sails , in particular. We snacked on chips and guacamole by the pool. Enjoying the array of adult beverages kept our col...

I am no stranger to the delights of a Ritz-Carlton stay but the El Dorado Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico exceeded my expectations. My husband and I arrived late in the evening with a small group of friends. We were celebrating a momentous birthday for one in our group. We were quickly checked in and settled into a spacious and welcoming room. Our comfortable accommodations along with the lulling sounds of the sea right outside our terrace quickly put us to sleep after a long day of travel. We awoke the next morning and found ourselves in paradise. The casual elegance of the room along with the capacious bathroom made a perfect temporary home. We fueled up for our day of fun with the breakfast buffet at the hotel. Omelettes to order, prosciutto and an array of fresh fruit and pastries became the way to start off each morning. We spent most of our days enjoying the grounds; we biked, we swam and we napped poolside. The complimentary guava popsicles were a treat to look f...

I had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui with my husband this past January. The grounds were absolutely stunning with an expansive view of the ocean, we saw whales almost every day while we enjoyed our morning coffee. Our room was comfortable yet elegant. This was not our first time in Maui but it was our first time at this resort, it is definitely the one to beat right now for us on this Island. We had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dinner on site at The Banyon Tree with excellent and entertaining service from Robert. We were pleased to eat again at  Merriman's  located nearby; they have a diverse wine list and fantastic local seafood. Both get crowded so make your reservation in advance. We also love Sensei  for fresh sushi though we did not have the opportunity to enjoy it on this trip. The hotel spa featured private open air couples massage rooms where we indulged in the lomilomi massage with coco butter...