U.S. citizens can thank geography for one of the easiest Caribbean holidays around: St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, so flying there from the mainland or Puerto Rico counts as a domestic trip. No passport needed. Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, on the island's south coast, makes the most of that loophole with a proper all-inclusive setup on a crescent of sand.
The resort's appeal is its compactness. Rooms line the beach, a pool with a swim-up bar sits just above the sand, and you can snorkel from shore, order a rum punch from a stool in the water, and be back in your room in under a minute. The ground-floor beachfront rooms are the pick if stepping straight onto sand matters to you; upper-floor oceanfront rooms trade convenience for a wider view of the cove.
There's real history here too. Dick and Joyce Doumeng bought the property in 1974, when it had just three buildings, and the family still owns and runs the resort. They launched the first all-inclusive plan in the U.S. Virgin Islands back in 1989. The original Iggies Beach Bar, a long-time hangout for both locals and guests, was rebuilt poolside as Iggies' Oasis after hurricanes Irma and Maria, and now hosts dinners, live music and drinks in the water.
The all-inclusive plan covers à la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus cocktails and premium spirits — no buffet queues, and no surprise bar bill. The resort also runs a snorkeling treasure hunt where guests dive for bottles of rum, which is exactly as silly and enjoyable as it sounds.
Beyond the cove, the resort's 53-foot catamaran Heavenly Days sails snorkel trips to Turtle Cove and sunset cruises around Charlotte Amalie Harbor. Worth budgeting extra for, as excursions are priced separately. Off-resort, Magens Bay on the north side offers a completely different stretch of sand, and a ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay gets you to St. John's national park beaches for the day.
For Americans who want a Caribbean beach holiday without passport paperwork, Bolongo Bay is one of a very small number of options — and for families who like the idea of an owner-run resort rather than a big chain, it's a rare find either way.
