Travel Diary: Peter Island & BVIs
^our transportation to Peter Island via their water taxi service WHERE WE STAYED Peter Island Resort Peter Island is a private island that contains an all-inclusive resort on its property, with not much else on the island at all. I went with my family and we opted for the package that included breakfast and dinner (we could live off of cheese and crackers tbh so…
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^our transportation to Peter Island via their water taxi service
WHERE WE STAYED
Peter Island is a private island that contains an all-inclusive resort on its property, with not much else on the island at all. I went with my family and we opted for the package that included breakfast and dinner (we could live off of cheese and crackers tbh so that was a lot for us, ha). It was a small resort, and the only one on the island, which made it extra special and intimate. We were there during one of the most crowded vacation times of the year, and most of the time we were the only people in the hot tub, on the tennis courts, etc., which was SO nice. The most crowded it got was on the main beach, and even then only a few dozen people were around. The resort was authentic and islandy– yet updated with a new lobby and impeccably maintained facilities. But don’t expect to find a TV in your room!
We stayed in a “beach front junior suite” on Deadman’s Beach, which is the island’s mile-long main beach. Our favorite parts about it were the front deck which was steps from the sand and the jacuzzi bath tub that overlooked the ocean. Usually, I have trouble sleeping when we go on vacation because I’m afraid of bugs (we’ve stayed at resorts with mosquito nets before so this is a totally warranted fear, ha), but I honestly had no trouble sleeping here and found it to be surprisingly non-buggy, despite its openness and proximity to the beach and island foliage.
Travel through this post to see the full resort, my must-do’s, and must-eats!
The view above Deadman’s beach, which is not a bad hike up! Definitely worth the sights. The beachfront junior suites are located in the small curve at the far end of the beach.
The infinity pool at the spa.
The hot tub overlooking the coral reef at the edge of the property.
Fresh coconut I saw fall out of a nearby palm tree. I had a waiter at the beach bar open it up for me and drank it on the beach. So. Refreshing.
View from being chest-high in the ocean off of Deadman’s Beach. This was the beach during peak-beach hours, which shows you how non-crowded it was!
MUST-DOS
Okay, usually sports aren’t at the top of my to-do list while on vacation (I blame Johnny for his influence in this one– an know that it would’ve been 100x more if he was there 🙂 ) but there are SO many water sport activities on Peter Island that are all-inclusive. At anytime we could pick up a paddle board, windsurfer, or Hobie Cat from the beach and into the ocean. Look at that crystal turquoise water! It was hard to stay out of.
We also played tennis a few nights around cocktail hour and there was a beach volleyball and basketball court as well which we didn’t utilize. I did hit up the small gym once or twice (okay, once), and it overlooked the ocean and was perfect for a quick vacation workout.
White Bay Beach is a private beach on Peter Island where you can have a picnic lunch delivered to you in a huge tiki hut. This is a favorite beach among the yachts that frequent the BVIs, as you can see in the background of this photo. Tip: grab snorkel gear from the resort’s Dive Shop to use around the reefs on this beach.
You can schedule to go on the “Sunset Loop Drive” with the resort and a car will take you up on a ten minute drive to the highest point on the island, where there may be a cheese plate and some champagne waiting 😉 There you can sit in colorful Adirondack chairs right on a cliff and watch the sun set over the lush mountainous islands in the distance. Tip: bring some bug spray.
Also, there’s an island tour that we took in addition to this but I wouldn’t recommend it as much. If you want to get your bearings of the island on your first day then the tour would be perfect though!
Of course my arm party had to match the sunset 😉
We visited the Soggy Dollar bar on New Year’s Eve day, and it was my second time there. It is FAMOUS for its painkillers and party atmosphere. The only way to get to the Soggy Dollar bar is by boat because there is no main dock. Therefore, you literally have to swim to the shore, hence the “soggy dollars” you have in your pocket to pay for the drinks once you get there! Tip: bring some speakers and all of your party floats!
We took an open-air taxi across the island to Foxy’s and saw them setting up for their huge NYE party– we didn’t stay because it’s not exactly a family affair (ha), but I bet a painkiller I’ll be back for another NYE sometime soon…
There are few natural wonders like the Baths at Virgin Gorda. This was my third trip to the Baths, and it still blows my mind with its grandeur beauty and extravagant wonder. Tip: Go as early as you can in the morning to beat the crowds. I think we arrived around 10 am and were only there with a few dozen people. Also, bring a GoPro if you can because you may have to swim to the shore but won’t want to miss the photo ops.
MUST-EATS
Drinks at Cooper’s Island Beach Club
While we were staying on Peter Island, some of our best family friends were staying on a boat and going from island to island. So of course we coordinated a meet up and they docked at Peter Island for a few nights. We took a day trip on their boat and went to Cooper’s Island for drinks and lunch. It was hands-down the most chic place we visited during this vacation and we would compare it to St. Barths but with a BVI twist (there were chest-high tables in the ocean for you to put down your drinks while you took a dip 😉 )
They have a rum bar, brewery, restaurant, ice cream shop, and boutique! You could pretty much stay there all day, ha. A few of us ended up swimming back to the boat and it was one of my favorite days from the trip.
Willie T’s is a true BVI’s gem. It’s essentially a floating bar/restaurant anchored off of Norman Island. You pull up your boat, tie it to another boat that’s tied to some other boat that’s tied to Willie T’s and then climb through everyone’s boat (or swim tbh) to get to it. Then you order Anegada Conch Fritters and a margarita and you’re good to go. Tip: Go at cocktail hour once the party really gets going and be sure to jump off the top deck into the ocean… drink in hand.
The Peter Island Resort had two main restaurants and a beach bar. We mostly ate at the Tradewinds Restaurant for breakfast and dinner, which was located right next to the harbor. However, we did eat a few times at the restaurant on the beach, Deadman’s Beach Bar and Grill. They always had live music going and the atmosphere was magical. Tip: Definitely try the goat cheese ravioli, coconut ice cream, and Jean Kelly’s famous coconut-crusted french toast. YUM. But stay away from buying the nachos for lunch on the beach if they’re not included in your all-inclusive plan– ours ended up being over $50, ha!
…
I think it’s fair to say that this vacation was everything we look for in an annual tropical trip and more– the weather was gorgeous, the resort was like a pristine playground and a relaxing oasis, and we kept ourselves entertained and laughing the whole time.
Be sure to share this post with any tropical island lovers you know who are looking for their next adventure! xx
xxAmy
