How much to budget for a week of food in St. Thomas?

[cinmouse]

We got a great deal with our points (ariline & hotel) and will be heading to St. Thomas in the Spring for a week.
The hotel has an inclusive package that would be $875..includes 3 meals a day, all drinks and 1/2 day for kids camp each day.

We have never been to St. Thomas before..but the Bahama's (on Disney Cruise) and the price for food was high.

Has anyone been & does this sound like a good deal? There will be my husband, my son (7), our infant son (11 months...when we go) and myself?

We are staying at the https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr-frenchmans-reef-and-morning-star-marriott-beach-resort and not renting a car, so most likely eatting all meals at the resort anyways.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I have a friend who lived in St Thomas for a few years and I would get to go visit her. I am a lucky girl for sure! Anyway this has been years ago and I remember going to the grocery store with her and thinking ! Plan for food to be very expensive. They have to fly or ship in everything and it adds to the cost. I would say about double what you would spend at home. There are fast food places around the island and some great local pubs and outside sort of BBQ kinds of places but if you don't have a car I think I would go with the food plan.

St Thomas is just beautiful. The beaches are some of the best in the world. Be sure to see St John and take a catamaran and snorkel tour. Enjoy your trip!

 

[girli565]

We got a great deal with our points (ariline & hotel) and will be heading to St. Thomas in the Spring for a week.
The hotel has an inclusive package that would be $875..includes 3 meals a day, all drinks and 1/2 day for kids camp each day.

We have never been to St. Thomas before..but the Bahama's (on Disney Cruise) and the price for food was high.

Has anyone been & does this sound like a good deal? There will be my husband, my son (7), our infant son (11 months...when we go) and myself?

We are staying at the https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr-frenchmans-reef-and-morning-star-marriott-beach-resort and not renting a car, so most likely eatting all meals at the resort anyways.

I think the inclusive plan is a deal if it's $875 for all of you. Does it included alcoholic drinks too?

Food on islands is typically very expensive because most goods have to be shipped in by boat or plane. I visited family in Bermuda and just going to Wendy's was $50+ for 4 people. Groceries were also very high.

 

[PixiePlanner]

I lived in St. Thomas from 1988-1991. I can tell you that the cost of food is high. I used to go to that resort and hit the beach at least two weekends a month!

If I were going back and that was the meal plan I was offered, I would take it. Especially if all drinks are included. It's not the alcohol that costs. It's the mixers.

FYI, the sun is really strong there in the spring. I hadn't burned in months and would every spring. Of course, that was back when I was young and stupid and thought sunscreen was for sissies.

 

[cinmouse]

Thanks all for the advice...I think I am just going to add the food plan, it includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, all drinks & 1/2 day of kids camp every day.

 

[disneyfan007]

We were there several years ago at a different all inclusive. Not sure how close where you are staying is to town but one thing to keep in mind, all the taxis are VERY expensive to take into town so you would also need to factor that in if you were going to travel out for meals.

 

[okeydokey]

Thanks all for the advice...I think I am just going to add the food plan, it includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, all drinks & 1/2 day of kids camp every day.

Is 875 the price of the meal plan per person or for three people. When you say drinks, what kind of drinks?

 

[Helene]

If prices in St Thomas are anything like Paradise Island in the Bahamas, I would jump at that deal. I spent 4 nights in the Comfort Inn across from Atantis last summer. It was just me & 2 children. Despite packing our own lunches to take into Atlantis and cooking some meals/snacks in our room, I still spent close to $800 on food and drinks.

Our "cheap" meal that week was $40 for a pizza at the Atlantis Pizzeria.

Happy planning...enjoy your trip.

 

[cinmouse]

Is 875 the price of the meal plan per person or for three people. When you say drinks, what kind of drinks?

Yes for the 4 of us. Kids under 12 are considered free, so it is really for 2 adults and 2 kids. That is the cost when compared to Marriott Points...we are using points for this vacation but did not have enough to add the inclusive package but since Marriott allows you to buy extra points 10,000 pts = $125 dollars, we costed it out and we already bought 50,000 pts and need another 20,000...we will buy those Jan 1st as you can only buy up to 50,000 per year, but it is a great deal. Marriott did allow us to book the package and we do not have to have all the points until right before we good.

Drinks = soda, beer, wine, premium liquors...only by the glass...not whole bottles...so basically anything we want.

I think this is the best vacation deal I have gotten ever with using points.

 

[shortbun]

Thanks all for the advice...I think I am just going to add the food plan, it includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, all drinks & 1/2 day of kids camp every day.

First, is that $875 per person or for a family of four? If you're getting your room and all your meals in St. Thomas at the Marriot for that price, you are getting a good deal. Check on taxes, surcharges, etc.

P.S. I would want a car or at least to know that there was a taxi livery at that hotel. It's kind of far out and not close to anything. Also, it you're not at the Morningstar Beach part of the resort, the beach is a bit of a walk and a steep uphill on the way back. Be sure to take the ferry to St. John and rent a jeep for the day so you can snorkel and see the National Park.

 

[Kat&Dom]

Yes for the 4 of us. Kids under 12 are considered free, so it is really for 2 adults and 2 kids. That is the cost when compared to Marriott Points...we are using points for this vacation but did not have enough to add the inclusive package but since Marriott allows you to buy extra points 10,000 pts = $125 dollars, we costed it out and we already bought 50,000 pts and need another 20,000...we will buy those Jan 1st as you can only buy up to 50,000 per year, but it is a great deal. Marriott did allow us to book the package and we do not have to have all the points until right before we good.

Drinks = soda, beer, wine, premium liquors...only by the glass...not whole bottles...so basically anything we want.

I think this is the best vacation deal I have gotten ever with using points.

That's an awesome deal. You are going to love the relaxed atmosphere of St Thomas. We spent a day during a cruise there and I have always wanted to go back and spend more time. The people were lovely and the island was so beautiful. I think $875 to have all your meals & drinks included is a fantastic deal.

I do second the recommendation of a PP that you be careful in the sun. We snorkeled and although I had water proof sunscreen on & kept reapplying it, I burnt my back quite badly. On the cruise ship, the steward brought me vinegar when he saw how bad my back was. I kept applying the vinegar until the pain & tightness eased then I would apply lotion. I probably applied vinegar every 2 hours but within 24 hours, I was not in pain and the tightness was gone. It was also the first time in my life of getting burnt that I did not peel. Now, vinegar is an important part of every vacation if I get burnt. I am fair haired and fair skinned so I only have to be in the sun for 15 minutes and I am burning.

Have a wonderful time in St Thomas and enjoy the island.