Arriving at the Miami International Airport at six o’clock on a Friday morning is certainly not my idea of an enjoyable experience, but when checking in at such an obnoxious hour meant catching the three-hour flight to a weekend getaway in the British Virgin Islands, I decided to make certain concessions.
The gods smiled down upon me on that balmy day in August, delivering me safely to Tortola, the largest and most populated island in the BVI. From there, I was instantly whisked away by ferry, just four miles south, to my own personal nirvana at Peter Island Resort & Spa.
Peter Island is the largest private island in the BVI, encompassing 1,800 acres of pure bliss that showcases itself with secluded sandy beaches, lush tropical mountains, and electric blue waters reminiscent of the world’s finest jewels. While Mother Nature certainly delivered one of her masterpieces with the aesthetics of the island oasis, the features of the resort itself are what truly turned a trip to Peter Island Resort & Spa into a memory that will last a lifetime.
Accommodations at the luxury Caribbean property include 32 standard rooms housed in two-story, A-framed cottages that overlook the sparkling waters of the Sir Frances Drake Channel as well as the resort’s pool. There are also 20 junior suites, perfectly positioned on Deadman’s Beach, allowing guests to take in all the awaiting treasures from the comforts of their own private terraces and balconies.
While the guest rooms and beachfront suites consist of a variety of first class luxuries, it is Peter Island Resort & Spa’s elite villa program that will pique the curiosity of Haute Living readers who are fully embracing the joys of living the good life. Three private villas are peppered throughout the private island, with the Hawk’s Nest Villa offering three bedrooms in 3,000 square feet of space; the 6,500-square-foot Crow’s Nest Villa awarding four bedrooms for up to eight guests; and, the crown jewel of the villa program, the Falcon’s Nest Villa, perched high up on a mountaintop overlooking White Bay Beach. Hawk’s Nest Villa has housed international celebrities whose confidentiality remains closely guarded by the resort’s staff, but suffice it to say that this 21,645-square-foot abode was surely designed with revered Hollywood royalty in mind. A personal chef and butler are of course included in a stay at Falcon’s Nest, but so too are six master bedroom suites with flat screen televisions, rain showers and Jacuzzi tubs, a fully equipped private exercise room, nanny quarters, and a spa room. While the indoor amenities are headline grabbers to be sure, the 4,000 square feet of outdoor space must also be mentioned. A zero-entry, two-tiered, infinity-edge pool with a cascading waterfall, grotto, and expansive hot tub will soothe away the stresses of even the most pressured CEO.
When not partaking in the delights of the luxury accommodations, it should be mandated that no guest depart without a trip in tranquility at the Spa at Peter Island. Recently renovated, the $6 million, 10,000-square-foot spa embodies everything that defines an authentic island lifestyle. The senses are scintillated in one of 10 indoor treatment rooms or two outdoor suites that overlook the aforementioned sparkling waters of the Caribbean and the tropical gardens. The spa leads guests to discover the serenity within via a mediation area, indoor hydrotherapy tubs, and private steam rooms. And the newly implemented Ayurvedic wellness program aligns spa clients with a personal consultant who assesses overall mental, physical, and spiritual health, designing a treatment program for rejuvenation therapy based on the guest’s individual report.
Finally, a review of Peter Island Resort & Spa would not be complete without calling attention to the exceptional service. Promotional brochures tout their outstanding service program and they deliver on such promises with a staff to guest ratio of 177 to 104 throughout the high season. General Manager Wilbert Mason explains, “Everything that we do here is about going above and beyond what guests would generally expect. Our exceptional level of service and the relationships that our guests build with our staff is one of the benchmarks of our entire business philosophy, and it is the reason that we have a myriad of loyal return visitors year after year.”
With land and water activities galore, special programs designed for a honeymooner’s delight, five private beaches, a deep water marina, helicopter tours, and fine dining delicacies (I recommend the pan seared grouper with bay shrimp, herb risotto, and saffron jus at Deadman’s Beach Bar & Grill as well as the exquisite gala buffet at Tradewinds on Saturday nights), escaping to Peter Island Resort & Spa is the solution for anyone looking to slow down and jump out of life in the fast lane.
