It might take a little extra effort to reach this corner of the BVIs, but Anegada Beach Club proves that the best boutique hotels are the ones off the beaten path. Whether you are eyeing the signature beachfront palapas or the poolside hotel suites, this stay completely exceeded my expectations. Read on for the full breakdown of my time at the resort.
Location and How to Get There
Anegada Beach Club sits on one of the least visited British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Don’t let that put you off because that is exactly what gives it its charm. It is not overrun with tourists yet, which easily makes it one of the BVI’s best hidden gems.
Reaching the island requires an extra step or two, and transfers are not quite as frequent, but with a little planning, it is a piece of cake.
Most travellers fly into Tortola first, which is serviced by the big three US airlines (American, Delta, and United) alongside regular regional flights from Caribbean hubs like Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. From the airport in Tortola, take a 20 minute taxi to the ferry port in Road Town.
Road Town runs about six scheduled ferries a week out to Anegada, usually operated by Smith’s Ferry (or occasionally Road Town Fast Ferry). You can buy tickets online or right at the counter. The online booking system goes down fairly often, so don’t panic if you can’t book ahead.
There are morning and evening departures that make a quick stop at Virgin Gorda. If you are already island hopping, you can hop on from there instead. That is actually what I did. After a moment of panic because there was no open ticket office on the dock, I was able to buy my ticket directly on the boat with cash.
The ferry ride takes about 75 to 90 minutes and the water can get choppy, so pack motion sickness remedies if you are prone to seasickness. Once you dock in Anegada, the hotel can arrange a shuttle to pick you up. At the time of writing, it was just $20 round trip per person.
If you prefer to skip the ferry entirely, you have a few other great options. You can catch a flight directly into Anegada through regional carriers like Cape Air or charter with Island Birds. Hiring a private water taxi or charter boat from neighboring islands is another flexible way to arrive on your own schedule.
If you are feeling super boujee, you can book a helicopter transfer through Caribbean Buzz and touch down right on the resort’s private helipad for the ultimate VIP entrance.
The Check In Process
Ahead of my arrival, the front desk team sent several helpful emails making sure I had all the details needed to reach the island smoothly, along with tips on what Anegada has to offer.
We caught the 7:30 AM ferry from Virgin Gorda and arrived on the island bright and early. After picking up our rental car and making the easy 20 minute drive over to the hotel, it was not even 9:00 AM yet. The staff greeted us warmly at the front desk, and we were thrilled to learn our room was already ready for early check-in.
A team member loaded our luggage onto a buggy, and within minutes, we were on our way to our palapa. They also handed each of us a fresh coconut that we watched them pick straight from the tree. Talk about an authentic welcome drink.
While checking in, you will notice a binder in the lobby containing dinner menus from across the island. The staff explained that on Anegada, nearly every restaurant asks you to place your dinner reservation and entree order by 3:00 PM the same day. This is standard practice here so local spots can source the exact amount of fresh catch and lobster needed for the evening.
It took a little getting used to on day one, but planning our evening meal by mid-afternoon quickly became second nature. My cell service was acting up on arrival, but the front desk team happily placed the phone calls to reserve our tables. Several local spots also use WhatsApp, which makes messaging your dinner choices even easier.
The Rooms
I had the pleasure of staying in a few different room categories during my visit, which gave me a great feel for what the property has to offer across the board.
The most iconic option is easily the beachfront luxury glamping palapas. Let me preface this by saying that this is far from roughing it. While they look like something plucked straight out of Southeast Asia, the setup is pure barefoot luxury. When people hear the term glamping, many picture a standard canvas tent with an air mattress on the floor. That could not be further from reality here.
The palapas come fully equipped with hot and cold running water, walk-in showers, proper flushing toilets, standard electricity, plenty of power outlets for charging gear, hair dryers, a coffee maker, an iron with an ironing board, and a plush king size bed.
While the palapas do not have air conditioning, they feature multiple high powered fans aimed right at the bed, and the steady island trade winds keep everything remarkably cool and breezy at night. The beds are draped in mosquito netting, though I will say that across my entire two week trip through the British Virgin Islands, I only got bitten twice, and not a single time at Anegada Beach Club. Each palapa includes a large cooler that the staff restocks with fresh ice every single day, and you can also request a mini fridge if you prefer.
I kicked off my stay in one of their signature double palapas, which connects two separate bedroom units with an oversized shared deck in the middle. I was travelling with friends, and it was the ultimate setup: plenty of communal outdoor lounge space, but complete privacy with our own bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms featuring double vanities. There is also an extra daybed in each unit that can easily accommodate a third guest.
Later in the week, I moved into one of the traditional hotel rooms located in the main two story building overlooking the pool. These rooms offer central air conditioning, flat screen TVs with satellite channels, and built-in mini fridges alongside all the standard essentials. Each has a private balcony facing the courtyard, putting you just steps from reception, parking, the pool deck, and the restaurant. If you are someone who strictly requires air conditioning, I still strongly suggest booking at least one night in a palapa for the experience alone, because waking up to that panoramic ocean view is hard to beat.
For my final stretch, I stayed in a single ocean view palapa, and it was every bit as dreamy as the first. I spent hours out on that deck swaying in the hammock chairs and catching up on a bit of laptop work at the table. The coastal breeze was dialed in, the view was unbelievable, and the sunsets from the porch were unforgettable.
Food and Drink
The restaurant at Anegada Beach Club is one of the few spots on the island open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, welcoming outside guests alongside hotel residents. I ate many of my meals here during my trip, and everything we ordered hit the mark.
Breakfast covers plenty of ground, with choices ranging from classic egg dishes and omelets to fluffy waffles, pancakes, and fresh tropical fruit.
For lunch, you can start with shareable appetizers like crispy conch fritters or their famous Irish nachos (trust me on this one, you have to try them). The rest of the midday menu features satisfying wraps, sandwiches, and burgers, alongside regional favorites like Caribbean curries and grilled local lobster.
Anegada lobster is legendary across the Caribbean for its sweet flavor and tender meat, and there is no better place to try it than fresh out of the surrounding waters.
Their bar menu is just as solid, offering a full list of wines, beers, and tropical cocktails. You cannot visit the British Virgin Islands without trying a Painkiller, the signature local drink mixed with dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and orange juice, finished with a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg. If you want something lighter and fruity, their rum punch is another crowd pleaser.
Just like everywhere else on the island, dinner reservations and entree selections need to be placed by around 3:00 PM.
Service was remarkably prompt throughout our stay, which was a pleasant surprise given the Caribbean’s relaxed reputation for island time, and the team always greeted us with genuine warmth. Getting to chat with the staff every day quickly became one of the highlights of dining here.
Facilities
This is where Anegada Beach Club truly sets itself apart. It is one of the only properties on the island with a swimming pool, which is also open to day visitors. The pool sits right next to the restaurant, making it easy to sip a cold drink while lounging by the water.
Step just past the pool deck and you are on a gorgeous stretch of white sand beach dotted with thatched palapa huts and private loungers.
The resort is also home to Tommy Gaunt Kitesurfing, an on-site outfit offering kiteboarding lessons, eFoil sessions, stand-up paddleboard tours, guided snorkeling, and boat trips out to Conch Shell Island. Back on land, you will find a volleyball court along with lawn games scattered across the grounds.
Before checking out, pop into the boutique near reception for souvenirs. One cool local highlight: jewellery and keychains crafted from real flamingo feathers. Anegada is famous for its resident flock of 200 to 300 wild flamingos that hang out in the salt ponds in the center of the island. If you want to see them in person, head over to the Flamingo Lookout point (easily found on Google Maps), where you will often spot birds feeding in the shallows alongside local fishermen casting lines from the bridge.
Activities
Between Tommy Gaunt’s watersports setup and the concierge desk, you will have no trouble filling your days. The front desk team acts as your personal guide to the island and can arrange everything from rental car bookings and deep sea fishing charters to guided horseback riding along the beach.
Service
The hospitality at Anegada Beach Club exceeded all my expectations. While I had braced myself for the notoriously sluggish pace often found across the Caribbean, the team here was consistently prompt, attentive, and organised, especially during busy dinner services.
The front desk staff are a goldmine of local knowledge and genuinely excited to help you discover the island’s best spots. By day two, nearly everyone greeted us by name, giving the entire stay that rare, personalised feel where you genuinely feel like family rather than just another guest.
Closing Thoughts
It is easy to see why Anegada Beach Club is widely considered the premier place to stay on the island. You get the choice between ultra-unique luxury glamping palapas right on the dunes and traditional air-conditioned hotel suites, paired with a pool, a top-tier beachfront, and a restaurant firing on all cylinders seven days a week.
Staying in the palapas felt like a serene escape to Southeast Asia, yet you are only a quick ten-minute drive from the lively beach bars and lobster shacks that put Anegada on the map. Reaching the island takes a little extra coordination, but in my experience, the most rewarding destinations always do. Anegada is worth every single nautical mile.
You can find out more about my stay on my “BVI” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.
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