Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by white-sand beaches, this is the resort for those who want to escape to the Carib-
bean not like Robinson Crusoe, but as Bill Gates might if he showed up on a yacht.
See p. 65.
W
The Buccaneer
(St. Croix;
&
800/255-3881
or 340/712-2100; www.the
buccaneer.com): Newer and glitzier competitors have sprouted up, but this large,
luxurious, family-owned resort is still a class act. It lies on the island's best beaches,
and has the best sports program, the best entertainment, and the best food of any
hotel. See p. 146.
W
Caneel Bay
(St. John;
&
888/767-3966
or 340/776-6111; www.caneelbay.com):
There is no resort in the islands with a greater pedigree than this place. Laurance
S. Rockefeller created Caneel Bay as the Caribbean's first eco-resort back in the
days when no one knew what that word meant. Even though the resort isn't posh,
it's an understated classic, an outpost of refinement without ostentation. See
p. 113.
W
Westin St John Resort & Villas
(St. John;
&
866/716-8108
or 340/693-8000;
www.westinresortstjohn.com): The glitz and glitter missing at Caneel Bay can be
found here. Architecturally dramatic and visually appealing, this resort sprawls
across 34 landscaped acres, opening onto a 1,200-foot white-sand beach. It boasts
a huge array of activities, including lots of watersports. See p. 114.
W
Biras Creek Resort
(Virgin Gorda;
&
877/883-0756
or 248/494-3555; www.
biras.com): A private and romantic retreat, this resort is built around an old hillside
fortress. It's an escapist's hideaway, on a 60-hectare (148-acre) estate with its own
marina. There are no phones and no TVs, but you can find the latest edition of the
Wall Street Journal.
See p. 226.
W
Bitter End Yacht Club
(Virgin Gorda;
&
800/872-2392
or 284/494-2746; www.
beyc.com): This is the best sailing and diving resort in all of the Virgin Islands,
opening onto one of the most unspoiled and secluded deepwater harbors in the
Caribbean. You'll live and dine here in style; you can even stay aboard a 30-foot
yacht. See p. 226.
W
Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas
(Tortola;
&
866/237-3491
or 284/495-4252;
www.longbay.com): The finest resort in the capital of the B.V.I., this complex bor-
ders a 1.6km-long (1-mile) sandy beach. It's the only full-service resort in Tortola,
and its deluxe beachfront rooms and cabanas are quite nice. See p. 202.
W
Peter Island Resort
(Peter Island;
&
800/346-4451
or 284/495-2000; www.
peterisland.com): This posh resort lies on its own 720-hectare (1,779-acre) tropical
island. It opens onto Deadman's Beach, which, in spite of its name, is consistently
voted one of the most romantic beaches in the world by various travel magazine
reader polls. This is a true retreat—a hedonistic resort that's a monument to the
good life. See p. 243.
THE
most
ROMANTIC
RESORTS
Many hotels in the Virgin Islands will help you plan your wedding, doing everything
from arranging the flowers and the photographer to applying for the marriage license
(see “Getting Married in the Virgin Islands,” in chapter 7, for more details). But even
if you don't actually tie the knot here, the Virgin Islands offer some of the world's most
romantic destinations for honeymooning couples (or those who just want to pretend
they're honeymooning).
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