Why the British Virgin Islands for a Honeymoon
The BVI offers a kind of honeymoon few places can match: island-hopping on your own boat. Distances are so short that a typical sailing day is two or three hours on the water, a mooring ball in a calm bay, then snorkeling off the stern before dinner. On a crewed charter, a captain and chef handle everything while you choose the next stop.
If boats are not your thing, the resorts are some of the most secluded in the Caribbean. Several sit on private islands or on peninsulas reached only by water taxi, with villas spread out for privacy.
There are no big cruise-port strips outside Road Town, almost no international chains and very little high-rise building. Beach bars on Jost Van Dyke and Anegada have sand floors. For couples who want water, quiet and a little adventure in equal measure, the BVI earns its reputation.
Best Time to Visit
December through April is high season, with dry weather, steady trade winds of roughly 15 to 20 knots and air temperatures in the low to mid 80s. This is prime sailing weather and resorts and charter boats book up months ahead, especially for Christmas, New Year and spring break.
May and June are a sweet spot for honeymooners. The weather is still good, winds are lighter and prices fall. Seas are usually calm for snorkeling.
Hurricane season runs June through November, with the highest risk from August to October. Hurricane Irma caused major damage in September 2017. Many businesses rebuilt over the following years. Several resorts and restaurants close for part of September and October. Charter companies often have rules or insurance requirements during that window. November reopens the season with good conditions and some early-season deals before the winter peak.
Where to Go
Our three destination guides cover the islands that matter most for honeymooners.
Tortola is the hub, with the main airport on adjoining Beef Island, Road Town's marinas and the north shore beaches such as Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay and Smuggler's Cove. It is the base for most charters and the easiest island for exploring on your own.
Virgin Gorda is the island of The Baths and of the luxury resorts around North Sound and Little Dix Bay. It suits couples who want polished hotels, beach time and easy boat days.
Anegada is the outlier, a low coral island 15 miles to the north surrounded by Horseshoe Reef. It is for couples who want long empty beaches, flamingos and lobster grilled on the sand.
Beyond those, Jost Van Dyke has the famous beach bars at White Bay, Norman Island has snorkeling caves and Cooper Island has a small eco-minded beach club.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Days 1 to 2: Tortola. Arrive at Beef Island, settle into a hotel on the north shore and spend a day on the beaches of Cane Garden Bay and Smuggler's Cove. Take the winding road up to Sage Mountain for views across the islands.
Days 3 to 7: on the water. Board a crewed catamaran or bareboat charter in Road Town. Sail to Norman Island to snorkel the caves, then to Cooper Island and Salt Island for the wreck of the RMS Rhone. Continue to Virgin Gorda for The Baths and North Sound. Finish with a night off Jost Van Dyke for White Bay and the Soggy Dollar Bar.
Days 8 to 10: Virgin Gorda or Anegada. Spend your final nights at a resort on Virgin Gorda for spa time and quiet beaches, or fly or ferry to Anegada for lobster, flamingos and long walks on Loblolly Bay. Return to Beef Island for your flight home.
Budget and Costs
The BVI is one of the more expensive Caribbean destinations. These ranges are approximate and vary widely by season.
Flights to Tortola usually cost more than flights to San Juan or St. Thomas because routes are limited. Many couples save by flying to San Juan or St. Thomas and connecting by a regional flight or ferry, at the cost of extra time.
Comfortable hotels and guesthouses on Tortola often run $250 to $500 a night in high season. Top resorts on Virgin Gorda and the private islands commonly cost $1,000 to $2,500 or more a night, sometimes with meals included.
A crewed catamaran charter for a couple often runs into five figures for a week, with food and drinks included. Bareboat charters cost much less but require sailing experience and you pay for provisions, fuel and mooring fees. Dinners at sit-down restaurants are typically $60 to $120 per person with drinks. Ferries between islands are usually $20 to $40 one way, plus departure taxes.
Getting There and Around
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island, linked to Tortola by a short bridge, is the main gateway. Its runway is too short for large jets, so the only mainland nonstop is American Airlines from Miami, roughly 3 hours. Other routes connect through San Juan on small airlines such as Cape Air and InterCaribbean, or through Antigua and St. Maarten.
The other common route is to fly to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, which has many mainland nonstops, then take a ferry to Road Town or West End on Tortola in about 50 minutes. Some ferries also run to Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Check schedules carefully, since most stop in the late afternoon.
Between islands, public ferries link Tortola with Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada, while water taxis and private boats fill in the rest. On land, taxis are common and fares are set by law. Renting a car is possible on Tortola and Virgin Gorda, but driving on the left on steep, twisting roads takes care.
Culture and Etiquette
BVI culture is a mix of Caribbean warmth and British reserve. Greet people before you ask for anything. A simple good morning or good afternoon to a shopkeeper, taxi driver or server is expected. Skipping it comes across as rude.
Beachwear belongs on the beach and the boat. When you go into Road Town, Spanish Town or a village, put on a shirt and shorts or a cover-up. Nude or topless sunbathing is not accepted.
Tipping is customary. Many restaurants add a service charge of around 10 to 15 percent, so check before adding more. Charter crews generally expect a tip at the end of the week, often discussed in advance with the charter company.
The pace is slow. Service may take longer than at home and island time is real. Treat it as part of the experience. Respect marine rules: use moorings rather than anchoring on coral, avoid touching reefs and never take shells or coral from protected areas.
Quick tips
- Book crewed catamarans and the top resorts months ahead for December through April.
- Traffic drives on the left, roads are steep and narrow and many rental cars are left-hand drive, so take it slow.
- Most resorts and ferries take cards, but keep small bills for taxis, beach bars and the departure tax on ferries.
