The Virgin Islands hold a special place in my heart—not just for their turquoise waters and soft, sandy beaches, but for the memories they helped create. I celebrated my 15th wedding anniversary on the private shores of Lovango Resort & Beach Club, a getaway where time seemed to slow and every sunset became a keepsake. From the laughter echoing at dinner to the gentle hush of the waves, this destination reminded me of how travel can deepen love and connection. It’s the kind of place that lingers in your spirit long after you leave.
I rise before dawn and unroll my mat on the clifftop for yoga as the sky blushes pink over the Caribbean Sea, then slip into a pair of sneakers for a gentle jog along the water’s edge, the tide whispering at my ankles.
By midmorning, I wander to the Beach Club Café for a fresh-pressed green juice and tropical acai bowl dusted with toasted coconut, savoring each spoonful against a backdrop of turquoise waves.
In the afternoon, I don my snorkel to explore Lovango’s hidden coral garden, marveling at parrotfish weaving through sea fans and sponges blooming like underwater mosaics.
As twilight descends, I claim a sundowner spritz on the deck—barrel-aged rum infused with passionfruit—while the sky shifts from apricot to indigo. I love this sequence because it balances mindful movement, sensory delight, and the kind of serene solitude only a private island can deliver.
Insider tips:
I reserve sunrise yoga the moment I check in to secure that coveted clifftop platform.
I ask my villa host for the secret north cove route when planning my jog—flat, shaded, and utterly private.
I claim my Beach Club towel first thing in the morning—the fluffiest ones disappear by midday.
I pack reef-safe sunscreen and a lightweight sarong that doubles as a yoga mat or impromptu picnic blanket.
Day 2: Spa day
I step into Coral Spa just past a shaded courtyard, where frangipani vines frame a mosaic fountain that tinkles with each breath of breeze. My therapist greets me with warm, salt-infused oil drawn from hand-harvested Caribbean sea salt and coconut butter—its scent rich with green papaya and lemongrass. As she applies the wrap, the grainy crystals gently buff away sun-kissed skin, while I sink into a heated basalt‐stone table that radiates steady warmth into every fiber of my being. When it’s time to rinse, I follow a slate-paved path to an open-air shower, where droplets mingling with sea breeze leave me renewed, every pore singing of the ocean’s memory.
Insider tips:
Arrive ten minutes early to sip house-made lemongrass-ginger tea in the relaxation pavilion.
Request a “salt-intensive” upgrade—adding crushed velvet taro salts for deeper exfoliation and a faint violet hue.
Book your wrap right after arrival—Coral Spa only offers two slots for this signature treatment per day.
Pack a lightweight cotton sarong: you’ll want something to swathe yourself in as you meander back to your villa, still glowing.
Day 3
Setting the scene
You step aboard “Seaborn,” a 40-foot mahogany sloop whose crisp white sails unfurl against the late-day breeze. Golden hour drapes the sea in molten tangerine and violet, and lanterns dangle from the boom like suspended fireflies.
Ceremonial highlights
As Captain Sol eases us toward the hidden reef, a local steel-drum player drifts aboard in time with the waves. Rose petals fall around your ankles, courtesy of the signature petal ritual—each bloom a soft punctuation mark in the unfolding sky. You cradle a flute of dry rosé fragrant with passionfruit, tasting the salt air with every sip.
Insider rituals & pairings
Request “Seaborn” by name and ask for the petal ritual at embarkation—it unlocks that private-moment glow.
Elevate your charcuterie: island cheeses, guava jam, spiced nuts, and slices of cured fish on a teak board. The sweet-savory interplay mirrors the horizon’s shift.
For a personalized soundtrack, tuck a portable speaker in a waterproof pouch and cue songs that echo your shared story.
Packing & preparations
Light cashmere wrap or breezy sarong for the post-sun dip in temperature.
Sunglasses with a subtle rose tint to amplify the color spectacle.
Small binoculars to peer at flying fish darting around the reef.
Optional add-ons
Upgrade to a private photo session at dusk—ask the crew to capture your silhouettes against the sinking sun.
Candle-lit sparklers for a festive finale when the last sliver of sun slips below the horizon.Dawn awakening
I stir beneath billowing linen canopies as the ocean’s salt-kissed breeze drifts through louvered shutters. A soft chorus of tropical birds greets the day, and sunlight spills across our canopy bed in ribbons of honey and pearl.
Sunrise yoga & coconut breakfast
By 7 am, we settle into the villa’s teak sunrise deck for a partner yoga flow. Warm wood beneath our palms and the gentle thrum of waves create a living metronome. Afterward, we sip coconut-milk lattes poured tableside, paired with a platter of papaya-coconut granola and mango slices still warm from the sun.
Midday Orchid Valley excursion
Midmorning finds us winding up a shaded path veiled in wild orchids. Petals in blush and lavender scent the air as we reach a hidden waterfall. Hand in hand, we step into its misty pool—cool water enveloping us like a shared secret.
Afternoon petal foot soak
Back at Villa Six, we sink into a marble basin threaded with rose and frangipani petals. A whisper of mint-and-geranium foot oil glides between our toes while we lounge on a shaded terrace, sipping iced lemongrass tea and listening to the slow heartbeat of the island.
Twilight culinary ceremony
As dusk falls, we don chef’s aprons in our open-air kitchen for a private ceviche and passionfruit ceviche workshop with a local chef. Citrus-bright aromas, crunchy plantain chips, and the hiss of an ice-cold mojito shift the evening into a playful, fragrant crescendo. We carry our creations to a lantern-lit table on the cliff’s edge, where the horizon blurs from tangerine to violet and our quiet laughter mingles with the first twinkle of stars.
Day 5: Bittersweet goodbye
Dawn’s quiet lament
I wake before sunrise to a hush hanging over tiled courtyards. The cool marble beneath my bare feet still carries last night’s warmth, and the faint melody of distant waves seems to sigh in rhythm with my own reluctant breath. Each shadow feels tinged with goodbye, and even the coffee’s rich aroma tastes bittersweet against the pre-dawn chill.
Morning reverie & scented sunrise
Stepping onto the sea-facing terrace, I inhale the bloom of frangipani and salt spray, the two scents mingling like an elegy. A single bird calls out as the horizon blushes—soft apricot blending into pale lavender—yet my heart aches for one more hour beneath this sky. I trace the intricate filigree of wrought-iron railings, memorizing the dance of light and shadow before it slips away.
The heavy heart of departure
Packing feels like folding memories into too-small suitcases. I press my palms against the cool glass of the sliding door, willing one more glimpse of sun-glazed palms swaying in the courtyard. Each neatly stacked towel, each handwritten note from staff, becomes a little farewell knell, reminding me why leaving here feels like losing a piece of myself.
Why I love it here so
This place taught me the art of stillness: how to read the pattern of ripples in a reflecting pool, how to savor every deliberate moment, how to let time stretch until each second tastes like honey. The staff greets me by name at every turn, anticipating my preference for extra lime in morning water and the way I linger over amber-toned tea at dusk. Even the architecture breathes—arched hallways whispering stories, secret gardens offering sanctuary, and every textured wall inviting my fingertips to linger a little longer.
How the hotel stole my soul
There is magic in the way lanterns ignite at twilight, draping the colonnade in soft pools of light that feel like lantern-lit prayers. The spa’s candle-lit alcove still echoes with the scent of jasmine as though it were your own heartbeat. The cliffside pool mirrors the sky so perfectly you believe you could dive straight into sunset. Here, every detail—from hand-woven linens to the hush of velvet-draped lounges—has been curated to cradle the spirit. I leave with a suitcase full of linens but a soul forever embroidered with this place’s grace.
Need to know
Outdoor adventures
Trunk Bay (St. John): Swim powder-white sands and follow the underwater snorkel trail through vibrant coral gardens.
Virgin Islands National Park (St. John): Hike any of 20 trails past secluded bays like Cinnamon Bay, camp under the stars, and discover hidden shorelines.
Buck Island Reef National Monument (St. Croix): Snorkel a submerged coral garden, swim with hawksbill turtles, and lounge on the boomerang-shaped atoll beach.
The Baths (Virgin Gorda, BVI): Navigate giant granite boulders into secret tide pools and sea-worn grottoes that feel plucked from another world.
Hansen Bay & Reef Bay Trail (St. John): Trek through tropical forest to petroglyph-decorated sugar-mill ruins and a tucked-away waterfall pool.
Blackbeard’s Castle & 99 Steps (St. Thomas): Climb the storied brick staircase for panoramic harbor views, then step inside the Danish-era lookout tower.
Anegada (BVI): Venture off-grid to this coral atoll’s turquoise flats for secluded snorkeling, flamingo-studded salt ponds, and beach-side lobster feasts.
Jost Van Dyke Island: Anchor off White Bay for the Soggy Dollar’s legendary Painkillers, then explore hidden coves by kayak or golf cart.
Cultural & historical sites
Fort Christiansvaern (St. Croix): Explore an 18th-century Danish fort’s cannon-lined courtyard, prison cells, and on-site museum.
Three Queens Monuments & Emancipation Park (St. Thomas): Honor Queen Mary, Queen Agnes, and Queen Josiah—figures central to the 1878 Fireburn uprising—amid sculpted marble and interpretive panels.
Hebrew Congregation Synagogue (St. Thomas): Step inside the oldest continually used synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, with its domed ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and Sephardic heritage dating to 1833.
Estate Whim Plantation Museum (St. Croix): Tour the Great House and restored sugar mill, then watch artisans demonstrate rope-making and other 18th-century crafts.
Logistics & essentials
Airports:
St. Thomas: Cyril E. King Airport (STT)
St. Croix: Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX)
Entry requirements:
US citizens: government-issued photo ID suffices for the US Virgin Islands—passport required for day trips to the British Virgin Islands
Driving & transportation:
Vehicles drive on the left—steering wheels are on the right—reserve rental cars early to avoid sell-outs
Shared “safari” taxis and VITRAN minibusses run island-wide—flag them down curbside, pay cash fares ($6–12) and tip $1–$2 per passenger
Frequent ferry service links St. Thomas and St. John—separate tickets and passports are needed to visit Tortola or Virgin Gorda in the BVI
Weather & seasonality:
Year-round temps hover 80–90°F with high humidity—pack light layers, reef-safe sunscreen, and always carry water
Hurricane season runs June through November—book accommodations with backup generators and travel insurance
Money & connectivity:
US dollar only—ATMs are scarce off the beaten path—carry $50–$100 cash per day for taxis, tips, and beach-side vendors
Cell service is strong in towns but can drop out on remote trails and beaches—download offline maps before exploring
Hidden gems
Mt. Pellier Domino Club (St. Croix): Jungle-bar atmosphere with corrugated-tin roof, bamboo accents, and non-alcoholic beer-chugging pigs that stand on hind legs to down a can in one gulp.
Point Udall (St. Croix): The easternmost point in US territory, crowned by the Millennium Monument sundial and panoramic views of turquoise seas and horizon ribboning with sunrise light.
Honeymoon Beach (St. John): Secluded white‐sand cove accessible only by a short hike or boat—gentle slopes and shallow, warm water framed by swaying palms make it a romantic haven.
Cup-N-Kettle Tea House (St. Thomas East End): Intimate garden setting beneath sea grape trees, sip Caribbean bush teas or coffee alongside homemade scones, coconut tarts, and Evelyn Turnbull’s rum cake recipe.
Seaplane Island Hop (St. Thomas ↔ St. Croix): 20-minute aerial shuttle over glass-flat waters—book from Charlotte Amalie to Christiansted for a bird’s-eye welcome to each island’s harborfront charm.
Sensory highlights
Frangipani and sea grape blossoms perfuming hidden garden paths at golden hour.
The hush of dawn on glassy bay waters as paddleboards cut silent arcs beneath pastel skies.
Buttery white sand of Trunk Bay curving around a coral-studded lagoon, each grain warm beneath your feet.
Effervescent rum-barrel-aged Painkiller cocktails crowned with fresh-grated nutmeg and the faint roar of trade winds.
Cool orchid-infused massage oils gliding over sun-warmed skin in candlelit spa casitas.
Underwater coral-garden trails marked by interpretive plaques, where angelfish dart among lettuce-leaf and elkhorn coral.
Sunset sails painted in molten tangerine and violet, rose petals drifting on teak decks, and lantern light echoing the stars overhead.