8 Ways to Truly Enjoy the BVI
For the first few months of this year, Revels in Hand’s creative director Lucy Eaton was based in the British Virgin Islands. Adult playground for the rich and famous, it has become one of the most popular holiday and second-home spots for everyone from celebrities to tech wizards. And Lucy was shown the ropes by some of the BVI’s most prestigious inhabitants. Here are her top 8 tips for the next time you make it to paradise.
Order Sharing Dishes at Coco Maya
Some of the best night’s out in the BVI are at Coco Maya; that’s something everyone agrees on. There’s giant Jenga, a cracking DJ on a Friday night and the tastiest Asian tapas this side of the Atlantic. My top recommendations are the orange and chipotle pork bao buns, the honey sesame deep fried cauliflower and the truffle fries (of course. Always the truffle fries.)
Kite-surf off Anegada
Anyone who’s anyone in the BVI spends a windy day on their kite-board. And Anegada has the best conditions and the most reliable windy days in the area. One of the 4 main islands of the BVI, Anegada is stuck out by itself to the north of the other islands. It’s got a bit of a “land that time forgot” feel to it, battered by harsh weather (it’s incredibly incredibly flat, leaving no room for protection) and a clear lack of investment. However that does give it a raw and genuine atmosphere that’s hard not to fall in love with. The best place to stay is undoubtedly Anegada Beach Club (ABC to those in the know) and that’s fortunately where the best kite instructors are based too. While you’re there, make sure you grab tacos at Sids and hire a scooter to get around. The latter is made 10 x more fun by the outrageous devil-horned and mohawked safety helmets. An Insta moment for sure.
Doo Yoga with Katie
The best person in the whole of the BVI to meet your yogic needs is the incomparable Katie Doo. Primarily based on Virgin Gorda and Necker Island (she’s personal trainer to Sir Richard Branson dontcha know), Katie can be hired privately throughout the BVI for one-on-one or group session, and she’s willing to travel to you wherever you are. For those of us stuck in cooler climes, she’s also got a brilliant Youtube channel with a selection of classes available for free. Do yourself a favour and plug in now.
“The best person in the whole of the BVI to meet your yogic needs is the incomparable Katie Doo”
Feed the Zebras on Buck Island
On a private island just of Tortola is the wellness retreat known as Aerial. This eco-resort is good for the soul and body; the food is all prepared with nutrition in mind (and it’s delicious, let me tell you!) and their t-total drinks menu out-does their alcoholic one. On top of all that, the island has a wildlife rescue program that currently features 4 stunning and very friendly zebras that I got the fortunate opportunity to feed one sunny Sunday. Unfortunately you can’t get to Aerial without being a paying guest, but it would be money well spent, if only to hang out in the glowing company of founder, Britnie Turner.
Hike Gorda Peak
Virgin Gorda (another of the 4 main islands in the BVI) has some of the steepest hills in the land - trust me, I cycled them. But it is well worth getting up at the crack of dawn and dragging yourself up to Gorda Peak. The views are breath-taking; you can watch weather systems out at sea and observe close-up the horrendous damage of 2017’s Hurricane Irma and the inspiring regeneration that has happened to the wildlife.
“You can watch weather systems out at sea and observe close-up the horrendous damage of 2017’s Hurricane Irma.”
Order the Kale Salad at Little Dix
The restaurant is Reef House and the dish is the Kale Caesar Salad. This was hyped up to me by multiple people before I went and it absolutely lived up to expectations. The kale is all grown on the hotel’s vegetable plot and you can taste the freshness. Their mini pizzas and calamari are great too, and the bay of the Little Dix hotel is a great space to wile away an afternoon. As such, I’d definitely recommend going for lunch and then sticking around to float in the sea as your food goes down. Just bear in mind that sun loungers are reserved for hotel guests only, so be prepared to chill out on the sand.
Kayak to Bitter End
One of the best lunches in the land is the fried chicken burger at Bitter End Yacht Club. You can only access it by boat though, so if you’re not on a yacht already just hire a kayak from Blue Rush Watersports and earn your feasting by kayaking to lunch! Even better, make it a bar crawl and stop off at Saba Rock - another BVI staple - on your way. The views are stunning and the whole restaurant area manages to be both peaceful and vibrant all at once. One of my favourite places to spend a Sunday lunchtime.
Site-specific Private Theatre
Revels in Hand are the ultimate in luxury holiday entertainment. We’ve travelled all across the world to provide intimate productions of plays to clients in villas and hotel suites. Enjoy a classic comedy on your yacht deck, Shakespeare on the beach beneath the stars, or have us write something new and bespoke that speaks to the location and the purpose of your trip. Whether it’s an anniversary, a birthday or just a gathering of old friends, we can create the perfect entertainment to slot into your holiday.
