British Virgin Islands

This is the resort that rocketed Virgin Gorda to glory, and it remains the island’s swankiest, celebrity-filled digs. — Lonely Planet

This laid-back luxury resort offers a gorgeous crescent of sand, plenty of activities, and good restaurants. — Fodor's

This palace of low-key luxury is scattered along a .8km (1/2-mile) crescent-shaped, white-sand beach and private bay, on a 200-hectare (494-acre) preserve. — Frommer's

Classic resort set on 500 acres curling around a picturesque beach. — Andrew Harper

Kids play dress up and do arts and crafts at the Child’s Grove, giving parents a break. There’s a complimentary party for children during the Monday manager’s sunset cocktail party. — DK Eyewitness

Hidden in lush surroundings, with views out over rocky atolls and cays, this prime property is located on an exclusive private island. The guest experience begins at Tortola's Beef... — Star Service

Total pampering and prices to match are the ticket at this luxury resort. — Fodor's

This private-island retreat is all about serenity and catering to classic desert-isle fantasies. — Travel + Leisure

On paper, Peter Island Resort & Spa has a lot to like. — Oyster

Romantic resort on a private island reached by cruiser from Tortola’s Beef Island Airport. The dramatic 1,800-acre mountainous islet is fringed by white-sand beaches. — Andrew Harper

At the family-owned Bitter End Yacht Club (one of the first hotels on the island), Boston Whaler motorboats are at the ready for island explorers. — Travel + Leisure

It’s hard to get more nautical than this place in North Sound, accessible only by ferry, and surrounded by boats of all sizes. — DK Eyewitness

After a week of migrating from gorgeous beach to gorgeous beach on Virgin Gorda, my traveling companions and I were ready for a change of pace. That is, heading to a gorgeous beach only... — Afar Magazine

Sailing's the thing at this busy hotel and marina in the nautically inclined North Sound, and the use of everything from small sailboats to kayaks to windsurfers is included in the price. — Fodor's

This all-inclusive resort at the east end of North Sound has 85 hillside villas adorned with batik bedspreads and teak floors. — Lonely Planet

In a league of its own for ambience, intimacy and customer service, this boutique hotel rises from the ruins of the Appleby Plantation that gave Apple Bay its name. — Lonely Planet

Tortola’s enchanting Sugar Mill Hotel is all about tranquil tropical days, casual candlelit evenings and the island’s finest restaurant just a few paces from your bed. — Jetsetter

The Sugar Mill can't miss when it comes to meeting (and often surpassing) guest expectations. Service is spot-on, and management concerns itself with all of the nuts-and-bolts details. — Star Service

Though it's not a sprawling resort, the Sugar Mill Hotel has a Caribbean cachet that's hard to beat, and it's a favorite place to stay on Tortola. — Fodor's

Children under 11 are not permitted from December 12 through April 14, but kids of all ages are welcome the rest of the year. (The hotel is closed August and September.). — Travel + Leisure

Stay at this sophisticated, relaxing hideaway if you want to retreat from the world... This private, romantic property is the classiest place on the island. — Frommer's

Tucked out of the way on the island's North Sound, Biras Creek has a get-away-from-it-all feel that's a major draw for its well-heeled clientele. — Fodor's

Biras Creek sits on 140 the hilly and secluded acres on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda. — Travel + Leisure

Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Biras Creek Resort offers remote luxury. — Afar Magazine

The Biras Creek Resort is a rustic-luxe retreat with just 31 suites. — Oyster

This is the island’s top lodging, a wonderful marriage of full-service resort and secluded villa. — Frommer's

The property is as secluded as one could hope for, as it juts out onto a promontory, with accommodations relegated to nine stand-alone cottages replete with kitchens and private balconies. — Star Service

Relaxation is the main event at this comfortable resort on Tortola's West End. — Fodor's

Frenchmans offers some of Tortola's most well-liked four-pearl accommodations right on a stunning, secluded peninsula overlooking the Caribbean. — Oyster

If you want all the resort amenities, including a beach, pool, spa, and tennis courts, in an intimate setting, then this is your only choice for Tortola. — Fodor's

Laid-back colonial-style Tortola resort with a restaurant and beachside bar on a milelong stretch of sand. — Jetsetter

Guests hardly need to leave the 52-acre, plantation-style Long Bay Resort, which has two restaurants, a spa, three bars, and tennis, snorkeling, and diving. — Travel + Leisure

An incredible location is about all the aging, three-and-a-half pearl, 50-room Long Bay Beach Club has going for it. The stunning Long Bay Beach boasts incredible views of neighboring... — Oyster

A favorite of travelers since the 1960s, this resort lies on a 2km-long (1 1/4-mile) sandy beach on the north shore, about 10 minutes from West End. — Frommer's

Here's a good resort if you want to stroll the hillsides, snorkel around the reefs, swim at its seven beaches, and still enjoy some degree of comfort. — Fodor's

Privately-owned castaway resort with private terraces, miles of nature trails, and a gourmet restaurant. — Jetsetter

Guana is the closest you'll get to a private island without a five-figures-a-day tab: Think a maximum of 36 guests spread over seven beaches. — Concierge

Utterly tranquil, mostly undeveloped private island 20 minutes north of Tortola with seaview cottages and villas. — Andrew Harper

Guests seeking a private island resort who don't want to shell out for Richard Branson's Necker Island might want to consider this private 850-acre island close off the north shore of... — Star Service

The atmosphere is entirely laid back and focused on relaxation, with plenty of elegant touches. — Star Service

Opening onto a lovely beach facing the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the Caribbean sea, this West End resort is built around what was once a 17th-century Dutch fort. The fort was actually... — Frommer's

Fort Recovery Beachfront Villa & Suites is a 30-room upscale hotel on Tortola’s west end. — Oyster

Boutique BVI beachfront sleep with 30 villas and suites, a restaurant and a pool. — Jetsetter

This quiet oasis is far enough from Road Town to give it a secluded feel but close enough to make shops and restaurants convenient. — Fodor's

Despite the 'resort' title, Nanny Cay is used more by boaters and business people than pleasure-seeking holiday-makers. — Lonely Planet

Rent power boats, hop into a day sail boat for a trip around Drake’s Passage, or stay ashore to enjoy meals at the two restaurants. — DK Eyewitness

This hotel, reached via a rutted private road, is often overshadowed by the huge marina that is part of its operation — Star Service

The place is artfully raffish, which seems to be the way its boating clientele here want to keep it. — Frommer's

Situated on Tortola’s northwest shore, among funky hotels and surf shacks, Sebastian’s on the Beach offers two-and-a-half-pearl, waterfront accommodations in a pleasant, but dated, package. — Oyster

Sitting on the island's north coast, Sebastian's definitely has a beachy feel, and that's its primary charm. — Fodor's

On the north shore of Tortola, this casual, laid-back retreat opens right onto the sands. — Frommer's

With beachfront and garden rooms, this spot at Apple Bay conjures up images of the old Caribbean. — DK Eyewitness

Well known for its friendly staff and its pretty stretch of beachfront, Sebastian’s 26 motel-style rooms come in a wide range of sizes and locations. — Lonely Planet

Located on the beach at Mahoe Bay, this resort is a compound of 12 Italian-style duplex villas. — Lonely Planet

Sitting seaside on Virgin Gorda's north coast, this collection of contemporary condos and villas will make you feel right at home. — Fodor's

The villas are individually decorated in tropical style and come complete with complimentary kayaks and snorkeling equipment. — DK Eyewitness

This small, welcoming villa property on Mahoe Bay, on a leeward stretch of sandy beach fringing Sir Francis Drake Channel, is a mirror image of neighboring Paradise Beach Resort — Star Service

This compound of eight villas is set on lushly landscaped grounds overlooking the scattered islets of Drake's Channel, on the island's western shore. You get good value for your money here. — Frommer's

This place has some of the most up-to-date accommodations on the island. — Frommer's

Full-service condominiums are the primary draw at this exceptional little resort, which is among the newest and most elaborate on the island for those seeking maximum living space on the island — Star Service

All the condos in this upscale complex a few minutes' drive from Spanish Town have at least partial ocean views. — Fodor's

A stone’s throw from the Baths and plopped amid similar hulking boulders, Guavaberry’s circular cottages come with one or two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area and sun porch. — Lonely Planet

Staying in one of these hexagonal, white-roofed redwood houses, all of which are built on stilts, is like living in a tree house. — Frommer's

Rambling back from the beach, these hexagonal one- and two-bedroom villas give you all the comforts of home—and that striking boulder-fringed beach is just minutes away. — Fodor's

The Moorings Mariner Inn Hotel is a 40-room mid-range hotel almost exclusively patronized by travelers chartering yachts around the BVIs. — Oyster

The marina at Wickhams Cay II houses bare and crewed boats aplenty. — DK Eyewitness

Located right in Road Town, close to restaurants, shops, and bars, the Caribbean's most complete yachting resort is outfitted with at least 180 sailing yachts. — Frommer's

If you enjoy the camaraderie of a busy marina, this inn on the edge of Road Town may appeal to you. — Fodor's

Situated across the road from the marina with great views, Fort Burt Hotel places you just a stroll away from the island’s shops, bars and charter boat fleet. — DK Eyewitness

The Fort Burt Hotel surrounds the ruins of an old Dutch fort, giving you a sense of history along with a night's sleep. — Fodor's

Once a Dutch fortress used to protect Road Town’s inner harbor, Fort Burt Hotel is now a budget-friendly property with 17 guest rooms. — Oyster

Accommodations are set at a higher elevation than any others in Road Town, offering panoramic views from private terraces to the waterfront below. — Frommer's

If you’re lucky enough to have family in Tortola, you stay with them when you visit the British Virgin Islands. If you don’t have such luck, staying with Icis Malone and her family is the... — Oyster

In a setting planted with coconut palms, this vacation retreat stands in close proximity to Brewer's Bay Beach. — Frommer's

It's more like a small hotel with a shady courtyard and pool, conveniently located a five-minute walk from Brewers Bay beach. — Lonely Planet

Head here if you want to bunk in comfortable lodging near Anegada's most popular anchorage. — Fodor's

Landlubbers like the rooms’ tropical style and the spectacular snorkeling right off the hotel’s stunning white beach. — DK Eyewitness

Standing on the site of a resort built in the 1970s that never opened, this is one of the most remote places covered in this guide, and a favorite of the yachting set. — Frommer's

A modest 17-room property that often schedules soca music during cocktail hour. — Travel + Leisure

The island’s first and largest hotel, this seaside lodge by the ferry dock has the feel of a classic out-island fishing camp. — Lonely Planet

Beautiful views and friendly staff keep guests coming back to these hilltop...villas and cottages. The villas are well-designed self-catering units. — Fodor's

It rents out beachfront villas, some private and some with shared common areas. — Lonely Planet

For guests seeking apartment-style rentals on Jost Van Dyke, White Bay is a solid option. — Oyster

You’ll find a relaxed vibe inside the 10 hillside retreats, which all have spectacular views of St. Thomas and St. John and are equipped with full kitchens and cool tile-floored rooms. — Travel + Leisure

Casual, beachfront villas and cottages welcome guests on a small, off-the-beaten-path island. — Gayot

Amongst the many pristine bays and islands that make up the British Virgin Islands lies the smaller and less populated, Jost Van Dyke, home to the famous Soggy Dollar Bar and Ivan's... — Afar Magazine

Stay in a tent or rent a cabin at this modest spot. You can snorkel the clear White Bay waters, hike around the island, or hang out at the beach or the bar. — DK Eyewitness

It’s one of the Virgin Islands’ most popular stops for backpackers. — Lonely Planet