Congrats! I can feel the excitement in your post!!!

How old is your daughter? I hope you have perfect snorkeling weather on Christmas morning.

As for dinner....would you be looking for someplace that will serve a traditional Christmas meal...or does that not matter?

She is 13, therefore much smarter, wiser, and more easily bored than me. ::rolleyes::

I'm on the fence as to what we should do dinner-wise. I wouldn't mind having Christmas Eve dinner at Herve, then just Marriott-it on Christmas day. Traditional Christmas fare isn't necessary.

Other than all the restaurants at the Marriott, which I think are "meh", I have had dinner at Craig & Sally's and Herve. Craig & Sally's is not a place I really want to return to. I know, people LOVE that place. Herve was fantastic, I could live off the spinach salad (BTW, are they serving that after the spinach scare? I'm willing to risk e-coli for that dish)

We also had lunch at that Italian place downtown and the bistro at AH Riise. Can't remember the names. The Italian place was fantastic. The bistro was good and would lunch there again.

The most important thing on our "Must Do" list is a daysail on the "Independence" w/Pat & Al. If you have never sailed w/them, I highly recommend it. Capt. Pat's rum punch is incredible. I describe it as Cold Christmas in a Cup!

Richmond: Yes, let's talk about poor ole Lex here! 😉 Do you have a copy of Jimmy Buffett's "Christmas in the Caribbean?" Just to get you in the mood. Then we will have to get you King Obstinate's "How Will Santa Get Here?"

If you have a car, make sure to drive around and look at the lights. Government Hill (where Herve is) will be aglow.

It is difficult to know who will be open on Christmas Eve, but usually there is an assortment of choices.

Christmas is a huge holiday here. (You hear that Lex?)

We won't be renting a car. The thought of being directly responsible for deaths of innocent pedestrians keeps us from doing that. I heart cab drivers.

I can only listen to Jimmy Buffett if it is at least 80 degrees, sunny, and I have a margarita (rocks, salt) in my hand. Floating in the pool is bonus.

Who is King Obstinate? (I know, Google is my friend)

I am planning on bringing a small tree and some decorations.

I think you are talking about Virgilio's when you mention Italian.

The Marriott has "Havana Blue" now - excellent food! Service was snobbish on my visit - and it is pricey. But, did I mention that the food is excellent.

I'm also into "Meson Amalia" these days - Spanish - in Palm Passage. Excellent cuisine - excellent service - not snobbish. Still pricey - worth it.

People also seem to enjoy Banana Tree Grill.

I have enjoyed Craig and Sally's...but it is small and so enclosed. I don't even recall a window. Do they still have eggplant cheesecake. Sooooo yummy!

People love Herve'.

If you want to stick close to Marriott, I recommend Havana Blue. Try the Mango Mojitos and there is some kind of spring roll dessert with mango in it - ooooh!

Virgilio's, that's IT! Thanks Blu. Great food, I think the Richmondlet will enjoy it.

We ate at "Havana Blue" (confession time, the two of us have already been to St. Thomas twice this year. Three full days in May and two in July, stayed at Marriott) back in May, and I wasn't overly impressed. The food was great, but was overshadowed by "the show". I felt like I was in a Saturday Night Live parody of a Calvin Klein comercial. The service was not very good. At one point I questioned whether or not I would be justified in ripping off on of the sheets, er, curtains and fashioning into a lasso to land me a waiter! I was also in the midst of my "Top Chef" addiction and I kept giggling at the descriptions of the food. We'll probably give it another shot though.

I'll have to check out "Meson Amalia", I love paella!

When we went to "Craig & Sally's" they still had the eggplant cheesecake. I don't know why we didn't order it. All I remember is watching our waitress ask Craig what wine he would recommend based on what I told her I enjoyed, he just rolled his eyes and dismissed her. THAT made an impression on me. He may just have been having a bad night, but it soured my impression.

See if you can get a taxi van to take you on a lights tour. It really is amazing how much electricity the government can use when they don't pay their power bills!!

One place to check out for Christmas Eve is the Old Stone Farmhouse. It has one of the nicest interiors on the island. If they decorate it, it would be incredible. Go see Cuzzin's tree and ask for some coquito. Christmas morning Challenge of the Carols at Emanicipation Garden.

If you can't find King Obstinate on Google, try Modern Music in Havensight or Parrotfish Music downtown when you get here. Oh, yeah another song is "I've come for my guavaberry-Good morning!"

As someone said - check around to see what restaurants are open - alot are not.