If it’s been a while since clients have considered traveling to the British Virgin Islands, then perhaps it’s time for them to get reacquainted with this beautiful Caribbean archipelago.

The BVI has always been a sought-after vacation destination for its stunning beaches, luxe resorts and access to underwater exploration. Its 60 islands and cays are also perfect for island hopping, making it a boater’s dream.

In 2024, the islands welcomed more than a million visitors, its highest numbers since the devastation of 2017’s Hurricane Irma.

“For travelers who haven’t been here in a while, they’ll find a virtually new destination,” said Keith Dawson, public relations manager for the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board. “Following the hurricane, we had to effectively rebuild everything. Across the islands, we have new and updated resorts and restaurants, and it’s easier for Americans to get here, which has boosted tourism, as well.”

While BVI remains a boating hub, I discovered on a recent visit that it has plenty to offer those who stay overnight. I recently spent a few blissful days island-hopping, checking out some of the area’s best resorts. After top-to-bottom renovations, here’s what’s new at the Long Bay Beach Resort, Peter Island Resort and Bitter End Yacht Club.

A guestroom at the resort, which underwent a two-year renovation before reopening in 2020. Photo Credit: Courtesy of The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

Long Bay Beach Resort

Like most travelers to BVI, I started my stay in Tortola, a three-hour flight from Miami. After a 45-minute drive from the airport, I arrived at Long Bay Beach, a chic resort tucked away on the secluded beach of the same name. Built in the 1960s, the resort attracted honeymooners, who fell in love with the property and returned year after year.

Like other resorts in BVI, Long Bay Beach experienced significant damage after Irma. In 2018, the property was bought by California-based entrepreneur Brian Strange and his family, and after a two-year renovation, it reopened its doors in 2020.

The intimate, nature-inspired resort was completely reimagined, with serene, boho interiors featuring crisp, white linens; jute rugs; straw lamps; and furniture imported from Bali. The result is equal parts laid-back and luxurious.

Accommodations at the 37-room resort include Hillside Rooms with views of Long Beach Bay and Jost Van Dyke. The Ocean View Suite, Ground Floor Suite and Beachside Villas are all king-bed, beachfront accommodations, and The Beach House is a two-bedroom accommodation with a living room and fully equipped kitchen.

I spent a few days in an 800-square-foot Beachside Villa, which was equipped with a patio and heated plunge pool, the beach just a few feet away. The property is as quiet as it is beautiful, and I spent a few mornings on the patio daybed, lulled by the sound of the waves.

My beachfront lounging was punctuated with trips to Johnny’s Beach Bar for rum punches and lazy lunch breaks at 1748 Restaurant, a former rum distillery, where I enjoyed red snapper and buttery lobster tail.

Besides overhauling the accommodations, other additions at the resort include the Pool Bar, a swim-up spot serving light bites; a day spa; and pickleball and tennis courts. And in May, the resort debuted the Ocean Presidential Suite, a three-bedroom, 2,651-square-foot villa featuring a private pool and furnished decks.

The Club House at the Bitter End Yacht Club was first established in 1969 by original owner Basil Symonette. Photo Credit: Courtesy of The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

Bitter End Yacht Club

Virgin Gorda’s Bitter End Yacht Club is just a 30-minute ride from Tortola by private ferry and has a long history in the British Virgin Islands. The family-owned property was established in the late 1960s by skipper Basil Symonette, who built a small pier, five guest cottages and a seaside pub. Symonette sold the property to the Hokin family in 1973, who over the next 50 years grew the property into a family retreat.

The property was devastated by Hurricane Irma, and after four years of rebuilding, it reopened in 2021. The property embodies the concept of “building back better,” with guests now able to book a stay in one of the Marina Lofts, the first overwater bungalows in the British Virgin Islands.

The resort also offers beach bungalows tucked away on Pelican Beach, each with a wraparound terrace and outdoor shower, separated from the beach by only a sandy path. And if you need to spread out, the Marina House has four king bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, ideal for families or groups of friends.

There’s also no shortage of places to eat at the Bitter End. The Clubhouse, established in 1969, was built by Symonette as a place for sailors to stop for a drink, and the rebuilt, rustic, open-air dining room offers dramatic views of the North Sound.

The Buoy Room is a casual watering hole where mahi-mahi tacos and Cajun shrimp summer rolls reign supreme. And the Reef Sampler is a boat-turned-bar crafted from a ship’s hull salvaged after Irma. If you’re lucky, you can snag the only table at the boat’s hull.

The Peter Island Resort’s newly built infinity pool looks out onto Deadman’s Bay. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Peter Island Resort

Peter Island Resort

Another gem of BVI is the Peter Island Resort, a chic 52-room private island property less than a 20-minute ferry ride from Tortola. After the resort was damaged by Irma, it closed for seven years and was one of the last properties to reopen when it did so on Dec. 1. Also built in the 1960s, the island hideaway has been a retreat for Hollywood stars and high-profile entertainers.

The resort’s impressive accommodations include 28 Beach Front Rooms set along Deadman’s Bay. There are also two secluded, luxury multi-bedroom villas, Hawk’s Nest and Falcon’s Nest, that come with personal staff on request.

I stayed in a 650-square-foot Beach Front Junior Suite, which had stone walls, oversize walk-in showers and a private patio. It’s easy to spend your whole vacation on the 1,800-acre island. It has plenty of places to explore: I flitted between the island’s five beaches (Honeymoon, Reef, White Bay, Little Deadman and Deadman), booked a spa service and trekked to Sunset Loop to watch the dazzling sunset.

Some of the most impressive changes are the enhancements to the resort’s food and beverage programs. The Drake Steakhouse is an elevated all-day restaurant adjacent to the newly built infinity pool and deck. And the once-destroyed marina has been completely built out and features a new pool, pickleball courts and the Drunken Pelican casual restaurant.

After all these years, though, one thing at the resort remains the same: Miss Jean Kelly. The Peter Island Resort employee has been with the resort since 1985 and serves as its ambassador.

Miss Jean was one of the first to welcome me to the resort, and during my stay, she ensured I ate well (which I did). The French toast on the Drake’s breakfast menu is even named after her.

It’s easy to see why travelers to the British Virgin Islands become repeat visitors. Though the resorts feel intimate and out of the way, there isn’t an air of pretension. Visiting the islands for the first time felt like being inducted into a special club of travelers who have discovered paradise and vow to keep returning year after year.