Breathtaking landscapes, unspoiled beaches, family-friendly activities…there are plenty of reasons to book your clients a British Virgin Islands vacation, and here are a few more luxury villa stays, fresh seafood, a fundraising triathlon…
A Hop, Skip and a Jump Away
This fall, BVI Airways plans to operate the first-ever nonstop service between Miami and the British Virgin Islands’ Beef Island Airport (EIS) in Tortola. “For us it’s a game-changer being able to offer a nonstop [service],” says Sharon Flax Mars, director of tourism for The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board. The direct flights will run three times a week, offer Coach and First-Class seating, and take about two-and-a-half hours each way. A RJ85 regional jet is being converted to accommodate 86 passengers per flight. For more information, visit bviairways.com.
A Villa Vacation
Situated off the coast of the northern end of Virgin Gorda in the Caribbean Sea, Moskito Island, part of the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio, offers a maximum of 22 guests a secluded island getaway in one of three ultra-luxurious, eco-friendly villas in the Branson Estate villas—the 3-bedroom Headland House, the 4-bedroom Beach Villa, or the 4-bedroom Mangrove Villa. The villas are typically booked all at once, making for an ideal multigenerational vacation. If your clients are traveling with children, the private property can make special arrangements for their children, including tailored meals and activities, twin beds in guestrooms and for guests traveling with smaller children, babysitting services and nurseries located just off the Master Suites in both the Mangrove and Beach villas.
All-inclusive rates for the entire Branson Estate start at $47,300 per night ($2,150 pp per night) for 22 guests, and include accommodations, all meals and drinks, and access to all facilities at the Branson Estate and a recreation area, plus the use of watersports equipment, complimentary WiFi, and laundry services. For more information, visit virginlimitededition.com/en/moskito-island.
Glamping, Island-Style
For guests looking to “rough it” on their island vacation, Anegada Beach Club offers luxury beachfront tent accommodations on the island of Anegada in the northernmost portion of the British Virgin Islands, approximately 15 miles north of Virgin Gorda. This low-key property features King Suites, Twin Suites, and Adjoining Family Suites in seven tents complete with a canopy bed, a furnished deck with a hammock, and a rain shower, plus a poolside restaurant serving fresh seafood, a full-service kitesurfing school and spa treatments available with 72-hours notice. Rates for a King Suite start at $265; $215 for a Twin Suite; $300 for Beachfront Luxury Tent; and $275 for a Ocean View Luxury Tent.
For more information, visit anegadabeachclub.com.
Island Active-ities
Island vacations conjure up mental images of sunbaked tourists lazing on the beach, and while this is a necessary component of any tropical vacation, the British Virgin Islands also offers more active entertainment—kitesurfing, treasure hunts, bone fishing, cycling, deep-sea fishing and lobster hunting. In fact, Peter Island hosts an annual Peter Island-Athlon triathlon (June 18), as well as an aquathlon, to raise money for the Family Support Network charity. The Peter Island Resort & Spa offers a weeklong wellness retreat for guests training for the race. The package, offered year-round, starts around $3,000 pp, and includes sessions with a private trainer, biking, hiking, and beach training, plus daily spa treatments.
“We can create tailor-made vacations, even when it’s not in the brochure,” says Flax Mars. “We aren’t just a tourist board, we are like a travel concierge.” Flax Mars also recommends island-hopping between the sister islands by sailboat, powerboat, or ferry with or without a captain. If your clients are planning a trip in November, make sure they visit Anegada’s annual 2-day Lobster Festival as part of the British Virgin Islands’ culinary month celebrations. The entire island is really a seafood haven, so they can’t go wrong.
The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board hosts small FAM trips for eight to nine people. For more information, call (800) 835-8530 or visit bvitourism.com.
