far west st thomasBeyond the island’s bustling port and hillside neighborhoods, the land rises above quiet bays and sandy beaches. mermaid chair.
Here, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet next to 300 acres of tropical terrain. Sandy Bay Beach is below. The airport is just minutes away, but this part of the island is closer to Charlotte Amalie and feels removed from the traffic and cruise activity.
Now, a new luxury resort is opening here this winter.
botanyA 20-villa retreat located within the protected area of Botany Bay is preparing to welcome its first visitors to the western end of St. Thomas. The solar-powered resort is operated by Practice Hospitality. The LVX Collection from Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
The opening will bring a new type of hotel to St. Thomas. It’s a secluded villa resort with much more land than the rooms, a private beach, and a focus on solar power, rainwater harvesting, and locally inspired design.
“Luxury used to mean more,” said Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality. “Here, that means intentionally less. Fewer villas. More land left over.”
The other side of St. Thomas
St. Thomas has long been one of the more accessible Caribbean islands from the United States. Direct flights arrive from major gateways, U.S. citizens do not need a passport, and visitors can enjoy a combination of beaches, sailing on the historic Charlotte Amalie, duty-free shopping, and day trips to St. John.
However, most hotels are concentrated in the eastern, southern and northern regions of the island.
Botany is open to the far west, a part of St. Thomas that many visitors never explore.
Botany Bay occupies a large swath of land beyond the airport, with steep hills descending to the ocean and secluded beaches overlooking Puerto Rico and the surrounding Virgin Islands.
The area’s relative isolation makes it much quieter than resort corridors near Magens Bay, Red Hook or Frenchman’s Reef.
Arriving visitors will first stop at the observation deck above the bay. Resort staff will collect your luggage before continuing your drive through the reserve towards the outdoor reception pavilion located between the two swimming pools.
The ocean remains visible throughout your arrival, with a mermaid’s chair stretching out into the water below.
Just 20 villas on 300 acres
Botany opens with three villa categories:
that Villa King It offers a single bedroom facing the water with a private terrace. that Villa Suite A separate living area, lounge seating and a casual dining area will be added.
The largest accommodations are two and three bedrooms. Villa ResidenceDesigned for families and groups. Some include private pools.
All villas feature indoor and outdoor showers, high ceilings, exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows. A private terrace connects the interior to the surrounding hills and sea views.
Blue volcanic stone from the Virgin Islands appears throughout the villa, along with green and pearl-white curved walls and tiles.
“We intentionally selected every material so that the design would blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape,” said Brynn Braun, director of design for developer By-the-Sea Resort Properties.
With only 20 villas, the resort feels more like a private residential retreat than a traditional hotel. Larger residences can accommodate multiple generations or groups of friends, while couples can choose one of the smaller villas with direct views of the ocean.
The pre-arrival team begins planning accommodations before visitors arrive on the island, arranging meals, spa treatments, excursions and other details in advance.
two swimming pools over the sea
The resort has two swimming pools, each with its own bar.
that sequence pool Curving over the bay, you look towards the mermaid’s chair. low legacy pool It will be located closer to Sandy Bay Beach.
This arrangement offers visitors several different places to spend the day: by the upper pool, near the sand or on the terrace of a private villa.
The three-room spa includes a couples’ suite, hot tub, and indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. A fitness center and yoga pavilion are nearby.
The resort will also offer much more. 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaceSpread across lawns, pool terraces, historic stone monuments, restaurants and beach areas.
Weddings and retreats can use multiple areas of the preserve instead of relying on a single banquet hall or lawn. The event may be held in the ruins or near the water, followed by dinner by the pool or on the resort grounds.
A new restaurant called Ginger Thomas
The main restaurants in Botany are: ginger thomasNamed for the yellow flowers associated with the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The restaurant will feature Caribbean cuisine through a modern fine dining menu.
The coffee shop and boutique offers specialty coffee, light meals, grab-and-go items and personalized picnic baskets for the beach.
The smaller number of villas will give a more intimate character to the food program. Ginger Thomas will primarily serve resort residents, private events and celebrations rather than the crowds associated with larger hotels.
Dining will also become part of the resort’s pre-arrival planning, allowing visitors to arrange meals, picnics and personal experiences before arriving on St. Thomas.
The restaurant will add a new dining destination to the west end of the island, away from the well-known restaurant districts of Frenchtown, Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook.
A resort powered by the sun
The Botany expects to generate most of its electricity year-round through solar power, significantly reducing its dependence on the island’s grid.
Goats graze beneath solar panels, helping control brush and reduce the need for mechanical maintenance.
All villas and public buildings are designed to collect and store rainwater. Water tank systems have long been an important feature of Virgin Islands homes, and the resort is incorporating the same tradition throughout its properties.
Recycled materials appear in signs and decorative details.
Environmental programs can be viewed throughout your stay. Visitors can see solar panels, grazing goats, rainwater systems and preserved lands surrounding the villa.
The resort’s limited space is key to its design. The majority of the 300-acre site remains intact, with the villas separated by expansive tropical terrain.
Close to the airport and away from the hustle and bustle of the island.
Botany’s location offers special advantages.
Cyril E. King Airport It’s a short drive away, making it easy to transfer after your flight. However, the resort is located beyond the island’s many commercial thoroughfares and high visitor areas.
St. Thomas has seasonal non-stop flights from major U.S. cities, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington.
Visitors can choose to spend most of their stay within the reserve or use the resort as a base to explore the island.
Charlotte Amalie’s Danish colonial architecture and historic streets are a short drive away. Frenchtown’s restaurants are nearby, and trips to Magens Bay, Hull Bay, Sapphire Beach and Red Hook pass through most of the island.
Ferries and private boats also connect St. Thomas with nearby islands. Saint John is home to Virgin Islands National Park and beaches including Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay. Water Island is just offshore from Crown Bay, and private charters can reach smaller reefs throughout the Virgin Islands.
Botany’s western location will also place visitors near the ocean and beaches that are often overlooked by travelers staying on the other side of the island.
Major new openings in St. Thomas
The opening comes as St. Thomas continues to rebuild and expand its hotel offering following the 2017 hurricanes.
Several of the island’s most popular resorts have undergone major renovations or been completely rebuilt, including the Frenchman’s Reef complex.
Botany is different from larger assets.
Rather than a traditional beachfront hotel, it is opening as an intimate villa resort, with just 20 accommodations set in expansive private reserves.
The Botany will also be part of the following: Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collectionis a group of independent luxury hotels selected for their design, service and destination character.
This debut will bring a new hotel option to one of St. Thomas’ quietest neighborhoods.
When The Botany opens this winter, it will add just 20 villas to the island’s hotel stock. But its arrival will open up to visitors a whole new corner of St. Thomas, defined by secluded beaches, preserved lands and the meeting place of two seas.
This is also a huge boost to the island’s luxury hotel stock. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas and the Villa Collection.
