There’s nothing wrong with planning your vacation around tourist attractions and enlisting the help of Rick Steves' to guide your trip. But sometimes, our idea of a true vacation is doing nothing but lying on a warm beach somewhere secluded, away from all the chaos of our daily lives. If you’re of the latter group, Oil Nut Bay in the Caribbean might just be your type of getaway.
The 300-acre residential community in Virgin Gorda from American developer David Johnson, is home to 88 luxury residences to purchase and private one- to six-bedroom villas available for rent. Accessible only by water or helicopter, the destination is a favorite for those seeking exclusive resort amenities with the discrepancy and isolation of their own private island.
Oil Nut Bay’s collection of residences features fine furnishings, plush beds, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls, plunge pools, premium finishes and interiors by Fendi Casa. Inside the two-bedroom Jewel Box Caribbean Villa, guests will find 2,800 square feet of space along with 2.5 bathrooms, full kitchen, dining room, living room and views of Oil Nut Bay. Most villas are also located within steps of the beach below and provide outdoor living spaces for al fresco dining and entertaining.
Guests who book a residence also have access to the community’s amenities and facilities. Around the resort is a wellness studio, the Beach Club restaurant, a business center, the Nut House & Nature Center (kid’s club) and marina facilities. The 88-slip marina accommodates boats up to 100 feet and sits next to the Victor International-developed YCCS Marina Virgin Gorda yacht club and world-class marina. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda offers 38 mega yacht owners the ability to dock their vessel as well (up to 300 feet with a draft of up to 30 feet).
At the community’s spa and wellness facility, travelers can enjoy in-residence spa treatments, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, outdoor activities and classes such as aerobics, Pilates and yoga. Families can take advantage of the Nut House Kid's Club and Nature Center which features programming for younger children, tweens and teens. The activities encourage a respect for land and sea with opportunities to learn about the island's flora and fauna, its unique history, and the culture of the North Sound and greater BVI.
From sailing and kayaking, to lounging poolside and hitting the bay’s calm waters for some paddle boarding, there’s also plenty of entertainment for adults. Oil Nut Bay can facilitate most any indoor or outdoor activity and arrange for private and personalized lessons and instructions for some of the island’s best pastimes. Playing host to at least four premiere race events each year including Melges 32, Rolex Swan Caribbean, Loro Piana and Transatlantic, Virgin Gorda boasts one of the world's most diverse regatta schedules.
Oil Nut Bay was created with a sustainable model in place to offer a luxury resort community that was also in harmony with nature. Through a number of philanthropic and environmental efforts, the resort is also dedicated to giving back to their community. Oil Nut Bay has been a part of empowering organizations like St. Mary's Schools, KATS, Special Olympics BVI and the BVI Fishing Clubs through a partnership with the North Sound Foundation.
Sun, sand, seclusion and sustainability, all the makings of a great vacation (and one that makes you feel good about giving at that). Nightly rates start at around $750 a night during low season with no minimum stay. High season rates require a seven-night minimum and prices rise during regattas.
