Peter Island Resort, British Virgin Islands, Hotel Review

My boyfriend and I arrived at Peter Island Resort by boat, smiling and already salty-skinned after the ride over from St. Thomas. Usually, it takes a day or two for me to slip into vacation mode; here, the sparkling Caribbean sea and fresh ginger lemonade handed to us upon arrival instantly made real life seem a world, or at least a body of water, away. Staff waved from the shoreline, silhouetted by green hills and swaying palms.

Peter Island, the largest private island resort in the BVIs, was bought by Amway founders Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos in the 1970s, though the island’s history can be traced back to a Dutch settlement in the 1600s. The beloved resort underwent a seven-year renovation after destruction caused by 2017’s Hurricane Irma, and it reopened in December 2024.

“A key factor in reimagining the resort was our unwavering commitment to preserving what has made Peter Island a beloved Caribbean gem for decades: our family of colleagues, the island’s natural beauty, and our uniquely intimate atmosphere,” says Ed Linsley, Peter Island Resort's general manager, in an interview with Travel + Leisure.

Gone are the charming-but-outdated A-frames, with most of the 52 rooms, suites, and villas now relocated to the sheltered crescent of Deadman’s Beach. Our sprawling two-room villa opened right onto the white sand and our own private hot tub, where my boyfriend and I spent each night stargazing before bed. We slept with our windows and curtains open, waking to the pinch-me paradise of lapping waves and fragrant frangipani blooming beside our villa.

“Everyone falls in love with Peter Island,” one of the longtime staff members told me as we walked together by tamarind trees and baby goats. “It’s the landscape,” he continued. “It’s unlike anywhere else here.”

Only 300 of the island’s 1,800 acres are developed; there are secluded corners and intimate coves at every turn, and the staff, while always readily available, is happy to leave you in total privacy. On Valentine’s Day, we spent an idyllic afternoon cuddled up in a cabana on Honeymoon Beach, sipping potent Painkiller contacts and dipping in and out of the crystalline water.

And while we cherished our alone time, it was a joy to meet some of the guests who’ve been coming to the resort for decades. On our last night, we sat in the Adirondack chairs at Sunset Loop, chatting with our neighbors as the sky glazed pink. The longtime friends told us they’d first discovered Peter Island, quite literally, by sailing around the BVI; they’d spotted it from the water, stayed over, and always planned to come back. Now, they’d come to celebrate one of their 70th birthdays. They told me that while the reimagined resort felt distinctly more luxurious than its previous iteration, they found that the warmth of the staff and the island’s breathtaking natural beauty hadn’t changed a bit.

Here, everything you need to know about newly redone Peter Island Resort. 

The Rooms

Nearly all of Peter Island’s 52 guest rooms have been relocated to the crescent of Deadman’s Beach, now the heart of the resort. “Our vision was to elevate the resort’s luxury private island experience by introducing a blend of newly built and fully renovated accommodations designed with contemporary style and functionality in mind,” Linsley says.

The reimagined spaces cater to solo travelers, couples, and families or groups of varying sizes, with Beach Front Rooms, Junior Suites, and Beach Front Villas all tucked just steps away from the turquoise waves—some with their own private outdoor hot tub and outdoor shower. The only real reason to spend time inside is the cloudlike bed, custom-made for Peter Island Resort by Lady Americana Midwest.

The landscape is part of the design here, with sliding glass doors opening onto the sand for maximal indoor-outdoor living; rooms mirror the natural hues and textures of the island, from sea-blue blackout curtains and cabinets to driftwood tables, raffia light fixtures, and palm-printed throw pillows. Some rooms have a fully equipped kitchen, including a blender, coffee maker, electric kettle, and soft drinks that are replenished daily. Guests are able to pre-order items that they would like stocked in their kitchen prior to arrival (and private chefs are available upon request).

For those seeking a bit more space, the resort’s most luxurious accommodations are the Hawk’s Nest and Falcon’s Nest Villas, which can sleep eight and 12 people, respectively; the latter spans 22,000 square feet and boasts its own private infinity pool, swim-up bar, and waterfall. 

Food and Drink

The island has two restaurants: The Drake, a steakhouse with a lengthy wine list and creative cocktail pairings, and The Drunken Pelican, a casual, open-air seafood restaurant with a focus on Carribean dishes like jerk chicken wings and conch chowder.

Breakfast is served each morning at The Drake, with the option to choose from a buffet of lighter fare (fresh fruit, pastries, yogurt and granola, plus meat and cheese), or the à la carte menu, which offers familiar classics like eggs Benedict, avocado toast, and a full English breakfast. I highly recommend starting your day with the fried plantains and habanero-flecked hot sauce (be warned, it’s hot), as well as the signature thick-cut Jean Kelly French toast, served with a side of sweet tamarind sauce by its namesake, a woman who’s been working at the resort for decades.

At lunch and dinner, it’s the steak and seafood that stand out—think buttery lobster tail and Japanese A5 Wagyu beef. The roasted vegetable sides and salads were still finding their footing during our visit—most were brought out sans salt or dressing.

Despite the variety of freshly caught local seafood brought in daily, it’s easy to exhaust the menus after a week on the island. Culinary travelers looking for a bit more local flavor will love that the concierge is able to organize excursions like visits to an organic farm on neighboring Tortola and deep-sea fishing trips with local fishermen.

The Spa

I would return to Peter Island Resort for the Signature Celestial Black Diamond Life Facial alone—the opulent 90-minute combination of facial massage and top-tier products from 111Skin provided a much-needed boost of radiance and hydration after a few days in the sun.

Spa Director Ana Magro designed the treatment menu with local ingredients in mind: a sea salt scrub is sourced from nearby Salt Island, while the signature massage uses natural elements like lava shells and hot stones packed with minerals, algae, and essential oils.

The spa itself is striking, with 10,000 square feet of light-filled space spread over seven treatment rooms, each with its own outdoor patio. Be sure to arrive for your treatment early to take advantage of the steam room and the serene infinity pool, as well as the cliffside hot tub overlooking the water.

Family-friendly Offerings

There’s plenty to keep families happy while on vacation at Peter Island, including discounted group rates and spacious multi-bedroom villas. While the resort welcomes guests of all ages, the vibe is sophisticated and peaceful; it’s not a place you’d expect to see young children running around or yelling.

That being said, the airy Beach Front 2 Bedroom Villas are perfect for parents traveling with kids, as the two rooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, are on opposite sides of the villa with a connecting outdoor patio.

Activities and Amenities

Staying on a private island means there’s no shortage of places to swim and sunbathe. Five dreamy, white-sand beaches stitch together the island’s coastline, including secluded Honeymoon Beach (which you can reserve entirely) and Deadman’s Beach, where you can take advantage of complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling gear.

Prefer the pool? You’ve got a trio of options (plus a secret fourth, exclusive to the sumptuous Falcon’s Nest Villa). You’ll notice the first upon arrival, tucked over by The Drunken Pelican and The Yacht Club; this one tends to be the busiest, as folks who’ve docked their yachts are welcome to enjoy it as well. At the heart of the hotel is the lagoon-style pool beside The Drake, where you can sip Painkillers beneath the swaying palm trees. For true privacy, book in at the spa, where there’s a secluded infinity pool and hot tub overlooking the Atlantic.

Just up the hill, the newly renovated fitness center—housed in two glass-front buildings—offers a striking view over Big Reef Bay that makes running on a treadmill or lifting weights infinitely more enjoyable.

Given the hilly terrain and 1,800-acre sprawl of the island, the hotel provides shuttles (currently via golf cart or van; electric vehicles are coming down the line) to farther-flung beaches like White Bay Beach, or to the spectacular Sunset Loop, which more adventurous travelers may opt to hike instead.

And while there’s plenty to keep you occupied on the island, the concierge is happy to organize special excursions tailored to your interests, from sunset sails and visits to the iconic Baths of Virgin Gorda to a tour of Anegada’s flamingo reserve or a snorkeling adventure in the famed caves of Norman Island.

Accessibility and Sustainability

While private islands could hardly be called easily accessible, Peter Island Resort offers two ADA-compliant beachfront rooms and ensures golf carts and vans are available to help escort all guests around the island.

Sustainability is a major priority at the resort, which was one of the first in the BVI to implement wind turbines. You can check them out yourself during a hike on the Sunset Loop, a trail that goes around the island. The pair of turbines can generate up to 75 percent of the island’s power. When it comes to the water, an on-island water purification plant is used to up-cycle the supply; while our rooms were stocked with bottled water, we drank the filtered water at the restaurant, which tasted great. In the coming months, the resort will open a new water bottling plant on the island as well, which will provide clean drinking water for guests and staff in reusable glass bottles.

Location

It doesn’t get much better than your own private island—particularly when that island is nestled in the Caribbean Sea. Set on 1,800-acres of green, hilly terrain—only 300 of which have been developed—the island is home to a wealth of native flora and fauna: think sculptural cacti and tamarind bouquets dangling from trees, and an adorable herd of baby goats that you can spot on a walk along Sunset Loop.

While the island feels like a secluded sanctuary, it’s only a 30-minute ferry ride from the bustle of neighboring Tortola. There are public and private ferries to Tortola, and luxury water taxi services, like the one we took from St. Thomas directly to Peter Island. Prefer to travel by air? There’s a helipad on the island.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

The resort is part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ I Prefer rewards program, which earns members exclusive rates and the chance for room upgrades and early check-ins at Peter Island Resort. Doubles from $1,000.