Of all of the places that I’ve traveled none have quite compared to the Caribbean. There is something special about the lifestyle here. It’s simplistic yet content and the word “stress” seems to have no meaning in the vocabulary of the local population. I am partial to the island of St. John having vacationed on the island during Christmas week for the past 12 years. However, my recent trip to Virgin Gorda in March had me rethinking where it is my devotion truly lies.
To get to this British Virgin Island, my family and I boarded a 4-hour flight from Newark, New Jersey to St. Thomas. We then took a puddle jumper from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda, which lasted approximately 35 minutes. For those who are uncomfortable flying, there is also the option of a 2-hour ferry ride between islands. I must admit that I was nervous on the small plane at first. However, my fears soon dissipated as I instead focused myself on the birds-eye view of this group of islands. The shimmering, crystal-blue water could be seen for miles. Sailboats rode with the wind and the tides, and mega yachts docked on secluded beaches in search of the area’s best snorkeling. It was an incredible sight to take in.
The ride from the airport to Rosewood Little Dix Bay is a short five minutes. The resort is set at the end of a long driveway and cannot be seen from the main road. I loved this about the hotel, as it gives guests a greater sense of seclusion and security, although I did not once feel unsafe on the island. The grounds of this Rosewood Resort are stunning, with flowers in full bloom lining the pathways. Trees and grass are plentiful, as Little Dix Bay was designed to be eco-friendly.
We were on the island in March, which is one of the busiest travel times of the year. However, Little Dix Bay was not at all crowded. At times, we were the only group on the beach and we never had a problem getting our favorite waterfront table at the Beach Grill for lunch. The gym was consistently quiet and is equipped with all of the necessary machines for a rigorous workout. The spa is set apart from the main resort area and even has its own small pool for guests who are looking for a greater sense of isolation. Tip: When booking a treatment, ask for a room overlooking the ocean. The views are some of the best on the island.
We stayed at Little Dix Bay for a total of 8 days. We slept in a hotel suite the first night and were then moved to a four-bedroom villa for the remaining week. While the hotel grounds are beautiful, the guest rooms are not built for luxury. They are simply decorated and appeared to me to be rather dated. The villas, on the other hand, are brand new and are truly exquisite. All have an incredible view of the ocean. They have been thoughtfully designed to blend with the surrounding environment and each is equipped with a private pool and outdoor grill.
Based on the simplicity of the resort and the casual atmosphere that guests enter into, Little Dix Bay is best for travelers who are in need of a relaxed, low-key vacation. There are not many restaurants to choose from off of the property and few guests ever leave the hotel grounds. Little Dix Bay is equipped with three restaurants, two of which serve dinner. The more casual of these features themed dinners that alternate on a nightly basis to avoid repetition. The Sugar Mill offers to serve guests dinner on the beach for a more unique dining experience. We chose to participate in this, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our stay. The table was decorated with white tablecloths, candles and fresh flowers and the surrounding sky was full of stars. While the food at both restaurants was good, do not expect to be wowed by the culinary creations here. Virgin Gorda is famous for its beaches, but unfortunately not for its restaurants.
That being said, we did have a couple of nice meals during our stay. I recommend Chez Bamboo, which is an easy 2-minute walk from the end of the resort driveway. This restaurant has an extensive menu, offering a mix of Mediterranean, Asian and Caribbean cuisine. There is a large outdoor seating area that is decorated with twinkle lights. We enjoyed sitting here, observing the local culture and could not help but laugh every time a car passed by blasting explicit reggae music (which was often!). During our last night on the island, we boarded a water taxi that drove us to the Bitter End Yacht Club. Our table was set right against the shoreline, giving us front row seats to watch the boats passing by. The food at the restaurant was delicious and the atmosphere created the perfect setting for a unique night.
The hotel offers many water toys to guests, including Sunfish sailboats, kayaks and paddleboards. Little Dix Bay also runs a complementary daily shuttle to and from The Baths, a unique rock formation that is famous to this island. Book a yacht for the day and take advantage of the British Virgin Island’s legendary snorkeling and boating. We used Captain Bennu Farrington as our tour guide. He was born and raised on Virgin Gorda and was able to teach us a great deal about the island. While on the boat we visited Necker Island, Richard Branson’s private island paradise (shhhh!), and enjoyed lunch at Saba Rock. That night, Captain Bennu hooked us up with freshly caught, 4-pound lobsters, which we cooked on the grill. It was an incredible day for an even better price.
A couple of final tips:
1. Don’t miss tea and scone time at Little Dix Bay. This activity occurs every day at 4pm and is a favorite among guests.
2. Ask your taxi driver to take you to some of the lookouts on the island. Of all of the places that I’ve traveled to, I have never seen sights quite like this.
3. When swimming in the ocean at Little Dix Bay, look out for sea turtles and stingrays. The turtles love the grass in the area and can almost always be spotted grazing on the ocean floor.
