• Aquamare
• Baraka Point
• The Villas at
      Little Dix Bay
• Mahoe Bay and
      Leverick Bay

At the airport, Lizzy, our concierge extraordinaire, picked us up in a late-model, air-conditioned SUV. Since we had to drive around the island to pick up some of our friends who had taken the ferry, and we had some time to kill, Lizzy took us to a local hangout at Leverick Bay that was right on the beach and had wonderful views. It couldn’t have been a nicer start to a wonderful trip.

After we picked up the rest of the group at the dock, we stopped at the local grocery store to pick up some essentials. While we chose not to, you can also arrange to have your villa stocked for you prior to arrival.

When we drove up to Villa Aquamare, the first place we stayed during our trip, we were all amazed. It was incredible. There is nothing between the villas and the ocean except for a beach park with plenty of chairs, chaise lounges, and romantic double-bed hammocks. The park also offers steps down to the beach, where the water is great for swimming and snorkeling.

Located in Mahoe Bay (see below), Aquamare is Virgin Gorda’s premier property, consisting of three 8,000 square foot five-bedroom villas (one oceanfront and two with ocean views). A feature not to be overlooked here is that the villas remain private from one another due to the gorgeous foliage and gardens, but they are also close enough in proximity. That means, while one of these homes accommodates 12, you can rent two or all three if you have a large group like we did. This option would also make Aquamare a great place to stage an intimate wedding.

The main living area of each villa at Aquamare boasts a gourmet kitchen with all stainless appliances, including a subzero fridge and wine cooler, thirty foot vaulted ceilings as well as stonework and travertine marble throughout. The dining room seats 12 and opens up to a huge deck that surrounds an infinity pool. Housekeeping is available seven days a week and you may also request extra staff, including a cook, chef, and butler.

The five bedrooms—three master bedrooms with king-sized beds, a fourth bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and a studio—feature 400 thread count Frette linens, Bulgari toiletries, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, and all have large decks with plunge pools, hammocks, and lounge chairs. And the bathrooms were one of the most exciting highlights of the villa—at least for us ladies! Beautiful marble floors and counters, double sinks, large Jacuzzi tubs, and indoor and outdoor showers. What more can you ask? Overall, these villas are the ultimate in luxur.

Aquamare was our favorite, here are some of the other wonderful villas that we stayed at during our journey in Virgin Gorda:

Baraka Point
Here, we enjoyed spectacular panoramic views, garden settings, evening fires, afternoon hammock naps, and a private estate atmosphere. The staff at Baraka Point does a phenomenal job to make guests feel right at home. Stays at this exclusive villa resort include the use of property-owned SUVs. Other features: cook and spa services right on site, three easily accessible beaches, kayaks, snorkel gear, and more! At Baraka Point, nothing is too much. It should be noted that some services are only available at an additional cost. Also, this property has 17% tax/service which includes staff gratuity. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, Baraka Point offers a one-of-a-kind Bohemian experience that left us aching to return!

The Villas at Little Dix Bay
Wow, what a place this resort villa is! The beach here is perfect, and the service is impeccable. Little Dix Bay recently added new villas (two-, three-, and four-bedroom hillside homes), and they are absolutely stunning! We were provided with golf carts which we used to cruise on down to the resort and enjoy the exceptional amenities offered, such as multiple restaurants, tennis facilities, watersports, and a wonderful children’s program, including babysitting. This is a great place for large groups like ours because there are a number of tightly knit villas.

On Location : Mahoe Bay and Leverick Bay
Mahoe Bay beach is great for swimming and fantastic snorkeling, and it is in a wonderful location between Spanish Town and Leverick Bay. You will likely never find the beach here crowded. Location here is everything! As for the villas, do not expect luxury (Aquamare is an exception). These are beach homes: clean, comfortable, open floor plans, family friendly, private pools.

Let's not forget Leverick Bay! The benefits to staying at a villa property in Leverick Bay: easy access to watersports, ferries to surrounding islands, spas, shops, tennis, internet cafés, and two excellent restaurants. Also, Leverick Bay Resort & Marina has improved its beach area in order to make it more appealing for weddings. The downside is that the area is not popular for its beaches (pebbly and a lot of boat traffic), so we recommend Mahoe Bay, Savannah Bay, or The Baths instead. As far as the villas, you can expect just about the same as you would in Mahoe Bay.

AUTHOR BIOS
Jennifer Molinelli - Specializing in Caribbean destinations, Jennifer has been a Villa Consultant for over four years. Previously, she was a high school history teacher. Studying abroad in her college years left her hungry for more travel experiences and convinced her to change careers. She is a mother and wife, and, in her spare time, she enjoys leisure travel, keeping up with current events, and photography.

Joanne Wick - When Joanne moved to Northern California from Southern California about 13 years ago, she also decided on a career change, moving into an industry that was her passion: travel. Previously, she worked in sales for a food broker, selling ads and products to grocery store managers and owners. To build the knowledge and credentials needed to break into travel, Joanne enrolled in the Travel and Hospitality program at Empire College, and, after graduating, she applied to Villas of Distinction and was hired. She started in the Reservations Department, where she gained valuable experience and had the pleasure of attending FAM trips frequently. After two years, she moved into the Customer Service department. Here, she had the opportunity to meet more people in the industry. But the most satisfying parts of working in Customer Service for Joanne was ensuring that clients enjoyed their vacation and gaining their loyalty. Most recently, she was promoted to Customer Relations & Reservations Manager. Today, Joanne continues to take great pleasure and pride in working with an incredibly knowledgeable reservation team.