48-50 _ttg_lux_BVI 27/2/09 14:00 Page 50
HOW TO BOOK IT
Caribtours offers 10 nights
in the British Virgin Islands
combining Rosewood Little
Dix Bay and Peter Island from
£2,742pp including flights with
Virgin Atlantic and transfers.
Upgrade one-way to Upper
Class from £826pp.
Tel: 020 7751 0660
caribtours.co.uk
Tortola. For those looking for the cream of that will bring its rooms up to the same
Clockwise from left:
Biras Creek Resort;
the crop, wait for the 32m Necker Belle world-class standard as its restaurants. At
Caneel Bay on St John;
which joins the Virgin Limited Edition Rosewood sibling Little Dix Bay, a recent Little Dix Bay, Virgin
portfolio at the end of the year. Telling $30 million refurbishment has given it a
Gorda; Sunsail yacht
clients they can sail on Branson’s yacht historically sympathetic yet strikingly
Virgin
could prove a real sales wow factor. 21st-century look.
concierge
Islands
Many resorts gear a good proportion of Peter Island begun rolling out smarter,
their food and beverage business towards fresher interiors in February, and Bitter
When to go holiday residence on the
these well-heeled sailors looking to drop End commissioned Biba’s Barbara
The islands are a year- island. The couple are
anchor and kick back. Hulanicki for its last refurb. There’s also
round attraction in terms stocked with food (and a
The Bitter End resort on Virgin Gorda is hope that the ambitious Scrub Island
of weather, though prices chef if required) and left
a popular yachtie HQ. Peter Island offers project, which hit a financial hiatus in late fall in the spring and alone for the most
slips for docking and refueling services in 2008, may yet get off the ground this year.
summer months, and romantic week possible
addition to its 54 residences, so sailors can The USP of the Virgin Islands is peace,
September is hurricane (from $5,775 per week).
season in the region.
take advantage of its restaurants, its vast quiet and jaw-droppingly pristine beaches
Jellyfish can be a risk in Useful contacts
spa and truly incredible, otherwise private and resorts which aim to make you feel
July and August. bvitourism.com
beaches. In January of this year, which was like you’re the only person on your private
usvitourism.vi
unusually slow for the resort in terms of island – even when you’re not. Even the Getting there
package bookings, Peter Island’s manager, larger hotels are so blessed with space they
There are no direct Time
Wilbert Mason, reports that “the yacht can spread themselves out.
flights from the UK. GMT -4
business really was a great help”. At Caneel guests can cho0se from seven
Virgin Atlantic flies to
San Juan in Puerto Rico In touch
Because the law states there’s no such beaches, including several child-free zones.
– a hub for connections Internet is commonplace
thing as a private beach, even the more Many resorts position their swankiest villas
to St Thomas (USVI), and roaming should be
discouragingly ‘private’ islands can’t deny in prime ‘king of the hill’ positions. then boats or planes available for most UK
access to passing sailors. Indeed, many The $25,000 a night (very much
onwards. Or suggest a mobile customers.
resorts offer guests small crafts so they can negotiable, of course) Falcon’s Nest Villa at
‘shop-and-surf’: a city Telephone charges via
hop around and enjoy the quintessential Peter Island is incredible, with loft-like
break to New York, then hotel landline are
to San Juan with Jet Blue extortionate, and warn
Virgin Islands yachting experience. contemporary interiors, an infinity pool
(jetblue.com) and that most hotels charge
and faux rock landscaping outside
plugging into Cape Air’s even if a call isn’t
Beyond Mills & Boon wicker courtesy of SFX experts from Disney. (flycapeair.com) short- connected.
Perhaps because of the yachting story, the Then there are off-resort villas. Among hop routes onto to
Virgin Islands tend to have that reputation the finest are Katitche Point Greathouse on
Tortola, St Thomas or Cashflow
for being the cosier, more traditional St John, in the Small Luxury Hotels group,
St Croix. Cape Air and Stock up on US dollars.
JetBlue work together so ATMs are commonplace
Caribbean. Younger people who came to and the very flash nearby Villa Carlotta,
passengers and luggage on larger islands.
Caneel Bay, the Rosewood hotel on St John bookable via Wimco.
can be checked through
(USVI) 20 years ago are now bringing their As is often the way in the region, less is
from New York. Culture
children back. Many people come back more. Travellers may arrive via plane in Americanised Caribbean
here year on year, or even twice a year. St Thomas, but few will spend too much
Wow factor (though you drive on the
While ‘the look’ has, across the board in time there (even if President Obama
Take over a whole island. left) – the islands are
There’s Necker supremely safe and the
the Virgin Islands, been more attuned with recently stayed at the refurbished Ritz-
(neckerisland.com) or attitude friendly. A few
1970s Mills & Boon-tropical-and-wicker Carlton). Most will want to flee the cruise
book the whole Guana West Indian slants to the
than 21st-centrury design, things are crowds and get out to one of the smaller
Island resort (guana.com) cooking, but on the
moving rapidly islands, some protected with national park for 46 guests from whole it feels like an
with the times. status, and gloriously undeveloped.
$22,150 per night. extension of Miami with
Caneel Bay is to These may be trickier to get to than
For couples, book more audible patois. It is
close for two many a UK Caribbean favourite, but the
Seagrape Cottage relaxed, but wandering
(seagrapecottage.net) on around town in swim-
months later this pay-off in terms of idyll and eco-pristine
50
Little Thatch – the only wear is frowned upon.
year for an upgrade scenery is worth the hop.
feature caribbean
spring 09
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64