A private island resort located just five minutes from the airport sounds almost too good to be true, but that is exactly what makes Scrub Island Resort one of the best-kept secrets in the BVIs. You get all the exclusivity of a secluded island escape without any of the travel hassle. Here is a breakdown of my recent stay, including the food, the facilities, and a few unique perks you definitely don’t want to miss.
Location and How to Get There
Scrub Island Resort sits on a small island just off Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Getting to Tortola is straightforward, as its international airport receives near-daily flights from major US carriers like United, Delta, and American Airlines. It also connects easily to neighbouring Caribbean hubs including Puerto Rico, Antigua, and the Dominican Republic. If you are travelling from Europe, booking a connecting flight through one of these regional hubs is usually your best route.
Once you land, the boat dock for Scrub Island is a quick 5-minute drive from the airport. You can even walk it if you prefer, thanks to a flat (mostly) paved walkway that leads straight from the airport down to Trellis Bay, although the gravel car park can be a bit challenging with rolling suitcases! Scrub Island runs a complimentary ferry back and forth every hour. If you happen to miss one, don’t fret about having to wait around for the next boat. You can grab a drink or a quick bite at one of the spots right along the shore, such as Loose Mongoose, Jeremy’s Kitchen, or Trellis Bay Market and Grill, which also has a small market if you need to pick up snacks, drinks, or souvenirs before heading over.
Check-in Process
I was met at the Trellis Bay dock by friendly staff and immediately asked for my welcome drink preference. It is no secret that I am partial to a rum punch, so that was an easy choice. The team helped me onto the boat for the quick 10-minute ride over to Scrub Island, where I was reunited with my rum punch and personally greeted by the general manager, Sandra, which was a lovely touch.
I received a brief overview of the resort before being shown to my room. I was thrilled to learn my room was already prepared so I could settle in right away, a huge relief since I was still covered in sea spray from my earlier ferry ride over from Anegada. We did briefly walk into the wrong room that was already occupied, but the team rectified it immediately and had me in the correct room in no time. The front desk staff took my passport and handled the entire check-in process effortlessly on my behalf, meaning I never even had to set foot inside reception. Before leaving me to unpack, they booked my dinner reservations and gave me a clear breakdown of which restaurants were open for lunch and dinner throughout my stay. I took a quick shower to refresh and headed straight down for lunch.
Rooms
Scrub Island offers a variety of accommodations, ranging from standard guest rooms to expansive three- and four-bedroom villas. I stayed in a guest room in Marina Village, where my balcony looked straight out over the marina. It made for excellent people-watching as I spent time enjoying the charter boats coming and going throughout the day. Marina Village is centrally located, putting you no more than a five-minute walk from reception, the pool, the main restaurants, and the market store.
My room was spacious and clean, featuring a balcony with two wooden deck chairs, a plush armchair indoors, and a work desk paired with a large smart TV. As someone travelling with a lot of electronic gear, I was pleasantly surprised by the bedside lamps, which came equipped with standard US power outlets, USB ports, and USB-C ports. The desk also offered plenty of outlets, alongside a two-cup coffee maker and a mini-fridge housed underneath the TV.
The bathroom was generous in size, complete with a soaking tub, a separate shower, a double vanity, and a private toilet area behind a frosted glass door. I was thrilled to find it stocked with Molton Brown toiletries, including proper conditioner, which feels like a rare luxury at many hotels. Inside the closet, you will find an iron, an ironing board, and two heavy, plush robes.
While exploring the property, I walked past a few of the multi-bedroom villas perched along the cliffs overlooking the water, many featuring their own infinity pools. You can call for a golf buggy at any point to get around the island, but I opted to walk everywhere to catch the photo opportunities and get my steps in.
Food and Drink
There are multiple dining options on Scrub Island, and I was fortunate enough to visit them all during my visit.
Donovan’s Reef is located right by the main pool. It serves casual beach fare and features a swim-up bar, making it my favourite spot for lunch. While I was initially told there were no gluten-free options on the menu, I spoke directly with the chef, who kindly offered to make me a gluten-free burger using proper gluten-free bread. It came with all the trimmings and was genuinely fantastic, I honestly cannot remember the last time I had such a good gluten-free burger!
Cardamom & Co. is the resort’s signature fine dining restaurant, and it completely blew me away. There was only one gluten-free entree option on the menu, the rack of lamb – but it turned out to be an incredible choice. I am not exaggerating when I say it was the best lamb I have ever had, which is high praise coming from someone who grew up in England eating lamb almost every week! It was served with a delicious jus and a mint jelly element. When I asked the hostess how the chef recommended cooking it, I took her advice, and it came out to absolute perfection. The ambience and service were equally top-tier.
Over on North Beach, you will find One Shoe Beach Bar, which serves light bites and drinks. They are open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM. While they did not have gluten-free food options available when I visited, the dishes being brought out looked great. I stopped by for a drink at the bar, which was delicious, and based on my experience at the other resort restaurants, I am sure the food is wonderful too.
The resort also houses its own market and deli. While it mainly caters to charter guests stocking up on supplies, I dropped in to pick up a few snacks. The deli counter serves gourmet sandwiches and pizzas, though unfortunately none were gluten-free. The packaged snacks are a bit on the pricier side, but that is expected given the remote island location.
It is also worth highlighting Marina Cay, a private island bar and restaurant under the same Scrub Island umbrella. A major perk is that you can charge your food and drinks directly back to your room. Getting there is seamless thanks to a free boat shuttle running from both Scrub Island and Trellis Bay. They are open for lunch and dinner (Wednesday through Sunday at the time of writing), and I decided to go for lunch to enjoy the daylight for photos and sit with my toes in the sand. They offer a few tables set directly in the ocean alongside a covered dining deck. I ordered the jerk chicken and was thrilled when three generous pieces arrived instead of one, excellent value for money! The location itself is unbeatable, complete with white sand, clear blue water, and zero sargassum during my visit.
Facilities
Scrub Island has the unique perk of featuring two private beaches. The first sits right at the front of the resort, adjacent to the marina, while North Beach is a scenic 15-minute walk (or a quick 5-minute golf buggy ride) over the hill. If you choose to walk, make sure to wear trainers as the final stretch of the road is quite steep and can be tricky in flip-flops! North Beach boasts its own pool, bar, restaurant, volleyball court, lawn games, and newly added beach cabanas available for day rentals. During my stay, it remained incredibly peaceful; I saw no more than four other guests enjoying the beach and pool facilities while I was there.
The main pool complex sits in the heart of the resort near reception and features a dramatic multi-tiered infinity pool, with the upper deck offering sweeping views of the bay below. Both levels feature bar service so you can order drinks and snacks directly to your lounge chair. The lower level includes swim-up bar stools and a waterslide that drops right into the pool.
For essentials and shopping, the Outpost market carries far more than just snacks and deli items. It is stocked with toiletries, travel necessities, and local souvenirs. Additionally, there is a boutique located next to the fitness center. While many of the designer resort wear pieces were outside my personal budget, it was fun to browse and discover some gorgeous new apparel brands. Right next door, the 24/7 fitness center was surprisingly well-equipped for a resort gym, offering a solid mix of cardio equipment and free weights without requiring keycard access.
High on the hill above the resort sits the Spa, which offers full treatment services alongside breathtaking ocean views. Finally, as a premier nautical destination, Scrub Island features a world-class, deep-water marina offering full-service slip rentals. Paired with the on-site dive shop and an array of water sports equipment available right on the dock, you truly have every ocean activity right at your doorstep.
Activities
As you can probably imagine, water activities are the main event here. With a full marina, a water sports center, and a dive shop on-site, the options during your stay are virtually endless. Plus, non-motorised equipment including kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling gear is complimentary for all resort guests.
One activity I missed this time around, but have firmly saved for my next visit, is the hike up to Big Scrub peak. Rising nearly 400 feet above sea level, it is said to be best at dawn for sweeping panoramic sunrise views over the neighbouring cays.
Service
Every member of the staff I interacted with during my stay was warm, friendly, and genuinely eager to help. Even staff members passing by took the time to say hello and ask how my day was going. Restaurant service was consistently prompt and attentive, but I have to give a special shout-out to the boat crew. Traveling solo, I really appreciated how attentive they were; they even let me board the ferry over half an hour early during a sudden rainstorm so I wouldn’t get soaked waiting on the dock.
Closing Remarks
After completing my second trip to Scrub Island, I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. Its location just minutes from Tortola’s main airport makes it an ideal launchpad for an island-hopping adventure in the BVIs. Despite a few minor hurdles with my gluten-free diet, I enjoyed some exceptional meals, and the staff truly elevated the entire experience. The rooms are beautifully appointed, everything you need is right at your fingertips, and it makes the perfect base for exploring the surrounding islands.
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You can find out more about my stay on my “BVI” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.
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