The Best Luxury Resorts in The British Virgin Islands in 2024
Image: The Branson Estate, Mosquito Island
After two months of countless painkillers, salty hair, and some overzelous surfer’s froth, our editor has emerged from the British Virgin Islands ready to share her destination highlights.
This is your insider’s guide to the British Virgin Islands best luxury resorts. A tapestry of turquoise waters, hidden coves, and the kind of stays that turn a trip into a tale.
From secluded hideaways to the beachfront bungalows that promise a sunrise with your name on it, we’ve scoured the BVI for the places that define island living.
So, grab a cocktail, and set sail with us to the corners of paradise that only the locals know, until now.
The PWP Edit | The British Virgin Island’s Best Resorts
Image: Necker Island
1. Necker Island
Overview:
Necker Island, owned by Sir Richard Branson, is one of the world’s most exclusive private island retreats. It boasts pristine beaches, lush greenery, and luxurious amenities.
Located in the North Sound in Virgin Gorda, the island offers jaw dropping views of the surrounding reef. During whale season you’ll see whales off shore between Necker Island and Oil Nut Bay.
The resort has received numerous awards for its sustainability efforts and exceptional service. Necker Island can be booked exclusively for up to 48 guests with use of the island’s balinese inspired houses.
Image: Necker Island
Why We Love It:
Necker Island offers ultimate privacy with only a handful of guests at a time. This luxurious haven is a veritable playground for the affluent, offering a collection of extraordinary experiences that remain elusive to many.
Feed lemurs, experience the thrill of a Caribbean poker run, indulge in a floating sushi bar at the private beach, or dive into BVI’s breathtaking underwater world with off-shore scuba diving. At Necker Island, every moment is an invitation to create unparalleled memories.
Best British Virgin Island resort for all-out secluded luxury.
Necker Island is your quintessential elysian paradise.
Image: The Branson Estate, Mosquito Island
2. Branson Estate Mosquito Island
Overview:
The Branson Estate is the crown jewel in Sir Richard Branson’s property portfolio. Here, exclusivity reigns supreme. Each island buyout is a promise of unparalleled privacy. It’s a sanctuary where the world’s most discerning can unwind in peace.
Lauded by travel connoisseurs and A-listers, the estate’s bespoke service is legendary. Tailor-made stays are crafted to indulge every whim—from gastronomic adventures to awe-inspiring encounters. No wonder icons like Barack Obama, Kate Winslet, and Kevin Hart are drawn to its allure.
Image: The Branson Estate, Mosquito Island
Why We Love It:
The Branson Estate is a masterpiece of design, blending modern amenities into Mosquito Island’s pristine scenery. The result is an environment that feels contemporary, while being in harmony with nature.
Swim in your wrap-around cliff top pool while taking in the expansive views of the North Sound, and enjoy one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
Best British Virgin Island resort for romantic escapes.
Branson Estate Mosquito Bay is perfect for honeymooners and couples seeking seclusion.
Image: Rosewood Little Dix Bay
3. Rosewood Little Dix Bay
Overview:
Originally founded by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller in 1964, Rosewood Little Dix Bay is regularly voted as the best resort in the Caribbean by Conde Nast Traveler. It spans 500 acres of pristine beachfront on the beautiful Island of Virgin Gorda.
With a dedicated butler service, and twice daily housekeeping, whether you stay in a suite or a villa you’re sure to enjoy the extraordinary service the Rosewood Little Dix Bay has become renowned for. We found it hard to tear ourselves away from the aesthetic Rum Room that overlooks the hotel’s namesake - Little Dix Bay.
Image: Rosewood Little Dix Bay
Why We Love It:
While Virgin Gorda is spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury stays, there’s something special about the Rosewood. The location, the friendly staff, chic design, and delicious food are all outstanding, but it’s the relaxing ambience of the hotel that solidifies its position in 3rd place on our list. Come here for the views, and leave feeling completely renewed.
Best British Virgin Island resort for a honeymoon
If you're desperate to get away from it all and completely unwind, this is the place. A tropical sanctuary that offers both indulgence, and wellness in equal measure.
Image: Oil Nut Bay, British Virgin Islands
4. Oil Nut Bay
Overview:
Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Oil Nut Bay is a collection of luxury villas located on a private island in the North Sound. While it’s technically a gated community, owners at Oil Nut Bay offer villa rental. Each property has unique architecture and interior design, ranging from penthouse suites to palatial, 6 bedroom cliff side villas.
Oil Nut Bay is perfect for families or larger groups who want to book charters and private excursions during their vacation. The site has a Marina with berths that can accommodate yachts up to 130 feet (40 meters), as well as a provisions store, watersports store, and a boutique.
This private paradise isn’t just for yachties, guests at Oil Nut Bay have an extensive range of land based amenities, and facilities at their fingertips. From the wellness center, to the horse stables, hiking trails, tennis and pickleball courts, you’ll be pressed to find time for all the available activities.
Why We Love It:
Another millionaires playground in paradise, Oil Nut Bay is an experience of a lifetime for a fraction of the price of Necker Island or Mosquito Island.
Nightly room rates start from $650 per night in low season and give you access to the island's stunning private beaches, pools, and restaurants. The food here is delicious, and unpretentious, and Bottomless Bloody Mary Sunday’s at the beach club are an absolute must.
Best British Virgin Island resort for a splurge-worthy birthday vacation with friends.
Image: The Aerial BVI
5. The Aerial BVI
Overview:
The Aerial BVI is not your standard all-inclusive, with it’s “purpose luxury” philosophy, providing a private island escape that blends the breathtaking beauty of the British Virgin Islands with personal growth experiences. The resort has expansive views of the British Virgin Islands, overlooking 14 islands from the dramatic cliff tops of Buck Island.
Included in the stay is a personal concierge, nutritionist chefs, wellness consultants, and a variety of specialists who guide guests through a range of enriching activities. From guided writing to red light therapies and ocean water therapy, the wellness offerings are as diverse as they are rejuvenating.
Image: The Aerial BVI
Why We Love It:
We love The Aerial BVI for it’s up-market bohemian vibes. A modern wellness retreat where the chic interiors, and picturesque views provide the ultimate backdrop for a vacation full of meaningful experiences.
Indulge in cooking classes with fresh island fare, and superfood cocktails. Feed the island’s rescue zebras, and hike unforgettable scenery.
Best British Virgin Island resort for a wellness retreat
Image: Scrub Island Resort, Spa, and Marina
6. Scrub Island Resort
Overview:
Scrub Island Resort Spa & Marina is a piece of history, nestled in the Caribbean’s crystal-clear waters. Steeped in tales of discovery, pirates, and hidden treasures, Scrub Island offers a secluded escape, on an island that has captivated travelers since Columbus’s second voyage.
Today, it still stands as one of the most iconic developments in the British Virgin Islands. Inviting guests to explore the seas, and create their own stories in this legendary locale.
Image: Scrub Island Resort, Spa, and Marina
Why We Love It:
It’s Scrub Island’s blend of natural beauty, and authentic charm that persuades guest to switch from regulars to local residents. Spend your days lounging on white-sand beaches, indulge in ayurvedic spa treatments, and gazing at the stars from Sunset Point.
Best British Virgin Island resort for a family vacation
Image: Saba Rock
7. Saba Rock
Overview
Saba Rock, nestled in the heart of Virgin Gorda’s North Sound, has risen with grace and style from the challenges of Hurricane Irma.
This boutique resort, set against the backdrop of Eustatia reef, has been meticulously rebuilt by Czech-based ADR Architects to weather future storms while preserving its iconic island charm. With just seven guest rooms and two suites, each space is a canvas of contemporary nautical flair, boasting vibrant hues of blue and red that echo the vivacity of the Caribbean.
This barefoot-luxury accommodation, known for its intimate beach area and hammock-laden trees, offers a one-of-a-kind experience.
Image: Saba Rock
Why We Love It:
We’re charmed by Saba Rock’s unique blend of casual style, and nautical nuance. The resort’s design, a harmonious mix of beach-chic, and upscale elegance, reflects the adventurous spirit of its guests.
With an array of activities from kiteboarding to tranquil spa treatments, and dining experiences that capture the essence of Caribbean cuisine, Saba Rock is a destination that promises a unique vacation. Its location, accessible by a scenic ferry ride or a swift helicopter transfer, adds to the allure, making every journey to Saba Rock an integral part of the adventure.
Best British Virgin Island resort for a unique experience
Image: Long Bay Beach Resort
8. Long Bay Beach Resort
Overview
Long Bay Beach Resort, is one of the reasons travelers fall in love with Tortola. The vintage moke parked out front hints at the rustic Caribbean interiors that makes this hotel so aesthetic.
Here, the BVI painkiller isn’t just a drink; it’s a rite of passage to relaxation, served up with a side of beachside banter.
The beachfront villas are worth the upgrade, offering a home-away-from-home, where the only morning rush is deciding whether to paddleboard at sunrise or sleep in.
The recently rennovated pool area is the neighborhood’s best-kept secret, the loungers and umbrellas, classicly stylish yet unassuming.
Opt for a healthy morning over pool bar cocktails and spend the day jumping between the pickleball court, infrared sauna, and fitness center.
Just over the hill, Apple Bay’s gentle surf waves offer the perfect morning start for budding surfers.
Image: Long Bay Beach Resort
Why We Love It
Long Bay Beach Resort is a vibrant celebration of island culture. With live entertainment on Fridays, the resort comes alive with soulful melodies and the clinking of beachside cocktails, setting the stage for a weekend of relaxation and fun.
The rhythm of the resort is matched by the tranquility of yoga sessions held on Sundays and Thursdays in the pavilions, inviting guests to harmonize body and spirit with the serene backdrop of Long Bay.
It’s this perfect balance of jubilant evenings and peaceful mornings that makes Long Bay Beach Resort a destination for those who seek both the joyous and the serene in the heart of the Caribbean.
Best British Virgin Island resort for weddings
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