Virgin Gorda on Any Budget
There is definitely a reason the North Sound of Virgin Gorda is called “The Billionaire’s Playground”. We regularly see mega yachts like Flying Fox and Artefact in the waters off Virgin Gorda. Each March, Virgin Gorda hosts our annual regatta and we see many more of the world’s finest and most expensive floating toys.
Then there are the homes of Oil Nut Bay, Moskito, Necker, and Eustasia Island. These ultra-exclusive addresses are inviting the wealthy to build beautiful and innovative homes on private lots only accessible by boat or helicopter. The North Sound has earned its reputation for grandeur and luxury and the world has taken notice. But that doesn’t mean you need to be the type of person that swan dives into a pile of gold coins daily ala Scrooge McDuck in order to visit Virgin Gorda! This blog is intended to provide an outline for how to live it up in Virgin Gorda on a small, midrange, or high end budget. There is something for everyone here and we’re available to help you realize your vacation dreams without breaking the bank!
Virgin Gorda has something for every traveler!
Villas Virgin Gorda has a villa to match your needs.
When considering your plans, know that the timing of your vacation will affect villa rates and availability of activities. Nightly rates are highest during holiday
season from mid-December to the beginning of January and villas usually are booked well in advance, prices come down slightly for high season running from the beginning of January through the end of April, and are lowest in shoulder season from May to December 15. While we do take reservations for villas during hurricane season for those few brave souls, many vendors and restaurants close for parts of August, September, and October. Activities during holiday and high season are often booked well in advance and become harder to reserve the closer you are to your travel dates.
Let’s start with what we know best, accommodations. The collection of villas we proudly represent has something for everyone. We pride ourselves on the care and love we pour into our homes, so regardless of what you spend to stay there, know that you are getting quality and the best service to make your stay amazing.
Budget Conscious
For our budget conscious traveler, you can opt for Southern Gables, Drift Away or Beloved Villa for your stay. Southern Gables & Beloved are located in the Little Trunk Bay Estates neighborhood in the Valley and you are only a short walk from some of the most renowned beaches on Virgin Gorda: Spring Bay, Little Trunk Bay, and Valley Trunk Bay.
Southern Gables is a charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath villa set in a well-manicured garden. The open floor plan and the large outdoor patio area are perfect for family gatherings.
Beloved Villa is a 4 bedroom, 4 bath villa with newly installed AC and a pool. It sits on a large lot littered with our iconic boulders and it has a private access path to Spring Bay. From both villas, you can enjoy million-dollar views of the Drake Channel and many of the islands that make up BVI and USVI.
Drift Away is a 2 bed/1 bathroom flat located near the Coppermine Ruins and has a fabulous pool and outdoor living and cooking space. Private location and dramatic views make this unique spot a favorite for the frugal traveler.
Midrange Budget
In the midrange budget category, we offer Christiana Villa or Villa Somoya for your consideration.
Christiana Villa is off Coppermine Road which is an ideal area to enjoy some peace and quiet but stay close to all Spanish Town has to offer. This 3 bedroom/2 bath villa has an impressive manicured lawn and a large pool for sun worshipers to enjoy. It has been recently refreshed inside and is well equipped for families to whip up a dinner in its open kitchen.
Villa Somoya sits on the highest point in the Valley in the area known as Princess Quarters. This contemporary Spanish style home has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths plus a pool. It is made for entertaining with a large outdoor dining and seating area. And the views are the best on the island in my humble opinion, you can see everything from the leeward side of the island to Fallen Jerusalem to the channel and all the surrounding islands (17 on a clear day!).
Top Budget
At the top of the budget, we offer Bayhouse and Beach Dreams.
Bayhouse is a modern beachfront home in Crooks Bay, a very secluded & private area of The Valley. There are 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths and a large pool where you can soak up the ocean views or watch a gorgeous moonrise. With 2 private beach paths to Crooks Bay, you can comb the beach to your heart’s delight and enjoy the solitude this rarely visited part of the island affords.
Beach Dreams is aptly named as is sits directly on the beach in Mahoe Bay and is one of our most popular villas. The traditional Caribbean home has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a pool with a jetted tub. It is perfect for a family gathering with a large outdoor entertaining space to enjoy the spectacular views of the sea and the small islands we call The Dog Islands.
Dining
So now that you are here, where will you eat? Virgin Gorda offers many restaurants that cover all budgets and all of our villas have fully equipped kitchens if you want to stay in. If you want to head out on a small budget, consider local establishments like Dixie’s where you can eat the best fried chicken outside the Southern U.S. (I say this as a Southerner), Mermaids & Pirates with its large menu and delicious local food, or the Jerk Pit where you can experience true Caribbean spice. Two of our most popular restaurants come with a budget friendly price tag as well. Head up to Hog Heaven for great BBQ and outrageous views of the North Sound or hit the beach area at Leverick Bay and enjoy dinner on the beach and the always entertaining Jumbies on Friday nights.
If you want to step it up a notch and get a little fancier, Virgin Gorda does not disappoint in the midrange budget. Enjoy a tapas dinner by the sea at CocoMaya, dine in town at Chez Bamboo with their extensive menu of internationally fused dishes, catch a sunset in Nail Bay at Sugarcane, drink an Under Da Mango Tree with your delicious shrimp tacos at Island Pot, or arrange a private and romantic beach dinner with Dare to Picnic. And if you want to enjoy a night where you blow the budget, hop on a (free) ferry at Gun Creek and dine at Saba Rock, The Bouy Room at Bitter End, or Nova at the Marina at Oil Nut Bay, enjoy a night at The Pavilion at Little Dix Bay, or hire a private chef like Chef Margaret to come to your villa and prepare an exquisite meal for you.
Contact information for all of the vendors sited in this blog are available here.
Things to Do
Now that you are well rested and fed, let’s talk about how to spend your time on Virgin Gorda. There are many ways to spend a day here without ever
opening your wallet if you choose. Hike the 99 Steps or Gorda Peak, walk around the Coppermine Ruins, navigate The Baths for a small entrance fee, do some bouldering with our complimentary crash pads, or just plant yourself in Savannah Bay with a beach chair and a cooler. Take it up a notch in the midrange budget category of activities and try BVI Snuba, head out with Sea it Clear Adventures to get up close and personal with some sea turtles, or rent a kayak from Blue Rush Water Sports. And for a day where you throw caution and your budget to the wind, enjoy being pampered at Touch of the Caribbean Day Spa or take the glass bottomed boat over to Necker Island with Gumption’s Learning Adventures and frolic with the lemurs.
A trip to BVI would not be complete without at least one day out on the water or island hopping. These trips are accessible on any budget and guaranteed to make your BVI vacation memorable. If you want to save some cash, try a join in boat trip with Dive BVI or Bradley Powerboats. You get the same experience as a private charter with the added bonus of making new friends. Spend a little more by doing a private charter to island hop and snorkel/dive with DiveBVI, Sunchaser Scuba or Bradley Powerboats. And if money is no object, take a luxury charter with Kuralu Catamaran Charters or spend a day sailing and being spoiled on the Anne Bonny 50’ Hudson Sailing Ketch.
Hopefully these suggestions have given you dreams of a Virgin Gorda vacation if you always assumed it was above your budget or given you ideas of how to mix and match lodging and activities to work within the budget you have. The staff at Villas Virgin Gorda is always available to help answer any other questions or help you make arrangements for your BVI vacation. Reach out to us, we are happy to assist and eager to see you in the islands!
