The Billionaire Guide to the British Virgin Islands 2026/27: Private Islands, Resorts and Sailing
The British Virgin Islands are the Caribbean’s archipelago of private islands and sailing. More than fifty islands and cays are scattered across sheltered, turquoise water, many of them reachable only by boat, and several are private islands with very different ways of welcoming guests. Where Anguilla is about beaches and food and Turks and Caicos about villas on the water, the BVI are about movement: sailing from one island to the next, anchoring off deserted beaches, and staying on islands that feel entirely your own. Several of the BVI’s most celebrated resorts have undergone substantial rebuilding and renovation since the hurricanes of 2017, bringing renewed attention to the islands’ luxury hospitality. This guide covers the islands, where to stay, the private-island options, and how to experience the BVI from the water.
The Islands
Tortola is the largest island and the main hub, home to the capital, Road Town, and the main airport on neighbouring Beef Island. Virgin Gorda, to the east, is home to The Baths, its famous granite boulders, and to North Sound, a sheltered bay surrounded by some of the islands’ finest resorts. Jost Van Dyke, to the west, is known for its beach bars and relaxed character. Anegada, to the north, is a flat coral island quite unlike the volcanic islands around it, remote and surrounded by reefs. Between them lie the private islands, from Necker and Moskito to Guana and Peter Island.
Where to Stay
Rosewood Little Dix Bay
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, on Virgin Gorda, has been one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated resorts since it was founded by Laurance Rockefeller in 1964. Set on 500 acres along a crescent of white sand, it reopened in 2020 after a comprehensive transformation and remains the islands’ most complete luxury resort, with excellent dining and a strong offering for families and couples.
Peter Island Resort
Peter Island Resort, the largest private-island resort in the BVI, reopened in late 2024 after a long closure following Hurricane Irma, and it reopens for the 2026/27 season in October with new leadership. With several beaches and a sense of complete seclusion from Tortola, it is one of the islands’ most significant private-island stays.
Oil Nut Bay
Oil Nut Bay, on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda overlooking North Sound, offers cliffside and oceanside villas rather than conventional hotel rooms, which makes it an excellent choice for families and groups who want space and privacy.
Long Bay Beach Resort
On Tortola, Long Bay Beach Resort sits beside a mile-long beach, offering a relaxed, more accessible stay on the main island.
The British Virgin Islands offer a rare opportunity to combine exceptional private-island accommodation with time aboard a yacht. Our clients may want a particular estate on Necker or Moskito, several nights at a resort and a private yacht connecting the islands. We coordinate those arrangements through established relationships, bringing the accommodation, vessel and travel together as one carefully managed stay.
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The Ultra-Luxury Option: A Private Island
The BVI offer some of the finest private-island experiences in the world, but the islands work in quite different ways, and understanding the differences is the key to choosing well.
| Island | Experience |
|---|---|
| Necker Island | Whole-island exclusivity, with selected shared-stay periods |
| Moskito Island | Individual private estates within a larger island |
| Guana Island | Small private-island resort with potential exclusive-use arrangements |
| Peter Island | Established private-island resort with individual guest accommodation |
Necker Island is the most famous, available for whole-island stays for families and groups, and during its Celebration Weeks individual rooms can be booked alongside other guests. Moskito Island, nearby in North Sound, is home to a small collection of private estates, each with its own staff and facilities. Guana Island, just north of Tortola, is a private nature reserve of around 850 acres and seven beaches that welcomes only a small number of guests at a time, with no marina or public bar. Access for visiting boaters is restricted, although the precise arrangements should be confirmed with the island, and the whole island can be booked for exclusive use. Peter Island, described above, offers a private-island resort stay with individual accommodation. Each of these is planned with care, and the best periods are often committed a year or more ahead. VIP luxury Caribbean experiences explains how private-island stays are arranged, and Guana is also featured in our guide to hidden gem islands.
Sailing the British Virgin Islands
The BVI are often described as the sailing capital of the Caribbean. The islands sit close together on sheltered water, with short passages between them and countless anchorages, which makes them ideal for a week aboard a crewed yacht. A typical voyage might include The Baths on Virgin Gorda, the beach bars of Jost Van Dyke, the caves of Norman Island and the reefs of Anegada, with nights at anchor in quiet bays.
The choice of yacht changes the experience. A crewed sailing yacht offers a traditional way to explore the islands, while a luxury catamaran provides generous deck space and access to shallow anchorages. Larger motor yachts offer greater onboard facilities and the ability to cover more distance, although their draft and anchoring requirements can limit access to some bays. The itinerary should be built around the vessel, the weather and the experiences the guests want. A crewed yacht charter is the most flexible way to experience the islands, and it combines naturally with a few nights at a resort or on a private island.
Beyond the Main Resorts
Anegada
Anegada, a flat coral island to the north of the chain, is quite unlike the volcanic islands around it. Its long, empty beaches, surrounding reefs and simple beachside lobster lunches make it one of the most memorable days of any visit, and many visitors who see it wish they had stayed longer.
Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke, to the west of Tortola, is one of the BVI’s best-known sailing stops, a small island with a large reputation for its relaxed beach bars and the sheltered bay at White Bay. It is best visited by boat and offers a glimpse of the islands’ easygoing character.
Getting There
There are no direct long-haul flights to the BVI. Travellers from Britain commonly connect through Caribbean hubs such as Antigua, with onward regional flights to Tortola. Routes and connections vary by season, while private aviation and boat transfers offer additional options. From North America, travellers typically connect through San Juan or St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and continue by short flight or ferry. Private aviation into Tortola or a nearby hub, with onward transfers by small aircraft, helicopter or private boat arranged in advance, makes the journey seamless, subject to aircraft suitability and local operating requirements. Many of the islands, including the private islands, are reached only by boat or helicopter.
Common Mistakes
Overlooking the opportunity to explore beyond a single island is one of the most common missed experiences. Even guests staying at a private-island resort can arrange a day on the water to discover neighbouring bays, beaches and islands.
Underestimating the journey is another. There are no direct long-haul flights, so connections are worth planning carefully.
Assuming every private island works the same way is a third. Some are taken in their entirety, others host a small number of guests, and some offer private estates within a larger island.
Leaving the festive weeks and private-island stays too late is the last. The best weeks are often committed a year or more ahead.
When to Book the British Virgin Islands
The high season runs from mid-December to April, with the festive weeks the most demanding of the year. Private-island stays and the finest villas for Christmas and New Year are often committed a year or more ahead, and crewed yachts for the peak weeks are in high demand. Public availability, however, is rarely the full picture. Private islands, villas and yachts often change hands quietly through relationships rather than listings. For families who want the islands, the yacht and the travel between them handled as one plan, a luxury travel concierge can pursue them together. For other islands, see the Billionaire Guide to Anguilla, the Billionaire Guide to Turks and Caicos and the guide to the best Caribbean islands for luxury travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best resort in the British Virgin Islands?
Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda is the islands’ most complete luxury resort, while Peter Island Resort offers a private-island stay and Oil Nut Bay a collection of villas overlooking North Sound.
Can you rent a private island in the BVI?
Yes. Necker Island can be taken for whole-island stays, Moskito Island offers private estates, and Guana Island can be booked for exclusive use. The best periods are often committed a year or more ahead.
What is the best way to see the British Virgin Islands?
By yacht. The islands sit close together on sheltered water, which makes a crewed yacht charter the most flexible way to explore, often combined with a resort or private-island stay.
How do you get to the British Virgin Islands from the UK?
Travellers from Britain commonly connect through Caribbean hubs such as Antigua, with onward regional flights to Tortola. There are no direct long-haul flights to the BVI, and routes vary by season.
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