Feel like you belong –
at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort…
This year, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, on the south shore of St. Thomas, is celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary. Owned and run by the Doumeng family, this casual and comfortable resort sits on 1,000 feet of sandy beach and boasts 62 beachfront and oceanview rooms.
The story of how the Doumeng family ended up in St. Thomas is an interesting one. Dick Doumeng was a watch salesman in Long Island in 1968 when he took his family on vacation to Puerto Rico. During a day trip to St. Thomas, they fell in love with the island. The Doumeng’s then did what many of us only dream of doing. Dick quit his job, the family sold everything and they moved to the US Virgin Islands! The Doumeng’s eventually took over the management of Bolongo Bay Resort in 1974 when it was just a small 36 room hotel. Over time they transformed Bolongo into one of the first beachfront resorts on the island.
Fast forward a few decades and the reins have been passed to Dick’s sons Richard and Paul, along with their wives Katarina and Colleen. We had the pleasure of staying at Bolongo Bay recently and met with Richard, Katarina and Colleen. They, along with other family members and their very pleasant staff (including 3 that have been with Bolongo the entire 40 years!), take pride in making their guests feel like family too. It’s easy to see why there’s a high percentage of return guests at Bolongo!
To celebrate their 40th Anniversary, Bolongo is offering special anniversary package rates, 40 free room nights through activities at the resort and more! Be sure to check the Bolongo Bay website for more information.
These are just some of the highlights of our stay at Bolongo.
A banner at the front desk welcomed, by name, all of the guests arriving that day.
We were escorted to our room which was just steps away from the beach, comfortable and nicely sized.
A in-room welcome back package is provided for return guests!
We enjoyed our morning coffee on the deck with a beautiful view of the bay.
The Bolongo Bay swimming pool offers a beach view, lots of lounge chairs and a swim up bar.
There are comfortable areas to relax with friends and enjoy the view.
Bolongo guests have complimentary and unlimited use of non-motorized water sports such as kayaks, paddle boards, Hobie Cats, aqua tricycles, swim mats, snorkel gear and paddle boats.
Not to be missed – the weekly snorkel rum hunt, where bottles of rum are hidden in the bay and guests snorkel to find it. If you find it – you keep it!
We enjoyed fine dining at the Lobster Grille
Eggs Benedict with grilled pineapple
Jerk Pork Tostadas
and Lobster Arancini. Mmmm…
And spent plenty of time at Iggies – a fun and lively on-site beach bar featuring tasty food, drinks and live music – 7 nights a week!
Awaiting a taste of Iggies infamous Voodoo Juice poured with skill by our bartender “Mr. Awesome”.
Happy Hour specials include Rum Punch made with Cruzan Rum.
We relaxed in the sun in colorful chairs on the beach, and played a little volleyball and cornhole in the sand.
Unfortunately we weren’t there for Carnival Night – held every Wednesday at Iggies, but hear it’s a favorite evening of entertainment for guests and locals alike. Carnival Night features a buffet of Caribbean specialties, live music, Moko Jumbi Stilt Dancers, a conga line, dance contest and a fiery finale that includes flame eating and glass dancing.
A lovely place for a wedding on the beach. Some guests have also chosen to get married aboard Bolongo Bay’s beautiful 53 foot catamaran – Heavenly Days.
We were treated to a lovely sunset harbor cocktail cruise on Heavenly Days, which also offers a day sail to the island of St. John and a half day trip to Turtle Cove to snorkel with the turtles.
During our sunset sail, the captain masterfully maneuvered the cat along the coastline, into Charlotte Amalie and around Water Island. The crew gave us some history of the area while pampering us with refreshing cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres.
The sunset was spectacular that evening,
…and the lights of the resort were reflected in the waters of the bay upon our return.
On our last night at Bolongo, after spending some time enjoying the live music at Iggies, we savored the cool ocean breeze and moonlight from one of the hammocks near the beach.
Perfect.
Bolongo Bay offers something for all ages and travelers. It’s a comfortable, casual and friendly resort that offers great travel deals and a lot of amenities for its guests. Choose a room only rate or the popular all-inclusive plan that includes food and beverages. The convenient location between Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook makes it ideal for island exploration!
To find out more about Bolongo Bay Resort, be sure to visit their website, join them on their Facebook page, or contact them directly:
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 00802
Reservations: (800) 524-4746
[email protected]
Oh – and if you’re a US resident, you don’t need a passport to get to Bolongo!
Find Bolongo Bay Beach Resort and Iggies on our St. Thomas Map
To see more posts on St. Thomas and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory
Copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013, 2014
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
