I just spent a magical week with my family at Rosewood Little Dix Bay on the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. It’s one of the Caribbean’s most respected and loved properties with one of the most spectacular settings I’ve seen anywhere in the world. Laurence Rockefeller created this little slice of heaven 50 years ago, and the owners and management team continue to carry on his vision for the hotel – one of quiet elegance and harmony with nature.
I booked connecting Ocean Cottages which are a great set-up for families. These oceanfront accommodations, just steps from the sand, come with expansive balconies where we spent many hours enjoying the magnificent scenery. There are quite a few unique room types at this property, so it’s important to work with someone who knows the options well and can help match guests with the right accommodations. I rarely book the same category twice in a row for my clients, as everyone’s needs are different.
The decor of the rooms at Little Dix Bay fits the setting. Local stone walls and teak and bamboo furniture make guests feel they’re truly somewhere exotic. The bathrooms are luxurious and some offer romantic outdoor showers. The housekeeping staff was flawless and kept our rooms in pristine shape.
The beach at Little Dix Bay has been ranked as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean for many years and is definitely a personal favorite of mine. The perfectly shaped crescent is the quintessential Caribbean beach – crystal clear calm water, soft white sand, and uncrowded. I also love the fact that you can see other islands in the distance and watch the many boats that sail the waters of the BVIs silently drift by throughout the day. To top it off, the beach staff at Little Dix Bay take care of food and drink requests throughout the day.
Taking a boat is a must-do activity for anyone visiting the British Virgin Islands. I opted to hire a power boat with a crew of two to take my family on an island-hopping day trip. It was a day we won’t soon forget. The crew (recommended by Little Dix Bay) knew the best snorkeling spots, where to stop for lunch (there are many little islands to explore, some with nothing on them other than a beach bar and restaurant), and which spots not to miss. We ended our day at locally famous Sandy Spit – a tiny, uninhabited island right out of a movie.
We also rented a jeep to explore the island, and I leveraged the helpful concierge staff at Little Dix Bay to map out our day. A trip to The Baths was of course our first stop. This famous national park is truly incredible – huge boulders form tunnels, caves, and tidal pools that are fun for both children and adults to explore. There’s also fantastic snorkeling to be done there. We spent the rest of the day on the few, uncrowded roads of Virgin Gorda and stopped for lunch on a bluff with views of all of the Virgin Islands below us.
No visit to Little Dix Bay would be complete without a visit to their stunning spa, Sense. Set on bluff at one end of the property, the scenery is like no other spa in the region. I made sure to get there early before my treatment and spend some time by the infinity pool perched on a cliff. Heaven.
The management team at Little Dix Bay does an excellent job of organizing activities, special meals, excursions, etc for their guests. One of the most unique experiences is a boat drop-off service, which is complimentary for all guests. Based on the suggestion of the beach staff, we opted for Savannah Bay, as my daughter was just learning to snorkel and the shallow, calm water there was perfect for her. A pre-ordered picnic from the kitchen at Little Dix Bay rounded out a perfect afternoon.
Extensive watersports and hiking opportunities ensure that active guests will have plenty to do while during their stay. The calm bay is ideal for snorkeling (there were plenty of fish and turtles to see), sailing, floating and paddle boarding. My husband and I hiked both of the trails on property. The trails are well-kept, and the scenery was spectacular.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay is a Virtuoso property, so my clients receive the following complimentary amenities when I make their arrangements:
- Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
- $100 USD Spa Services credit
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Early check-in/late check-out
- subject to availability
