The British Virgin Islands is perfect for families. We were surprised too!

If you think a British Virgin Islands’ holiday might not be right for your kids, Sean King recently visited with his family and can confirm it’s the Caribbean holiday of a lifetime, for everyone.

The Village, Moskito Island

You can thank entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson for turning what was once the little-known British Virgin Islands into one of the most sought-after destinations for lovers of luxury family holidays, drawn by the allure of clear blue waters, brilliant sunshine and the wonderful laid-back Caribbean vibe combined with unrivalled, yet understated service.

Sir Richard (better known as Richard by the locals who clearly adore the charismatic, billionaire British businessman) started it all when he acquired the unheard of Necker Island back in 1979 for the unbelievable princely sum of $180,000. Back then it was an overgrown, unused and unloved Caribbean island, but has since been given the Virgin treatment, and transformed into the dream British Virgin Islands’ holiday destination, synonymous with the ultimate in laid-back luxury.

However, not satisfied with just one island Branson bought nearby Moskito in 2007. This 132 acre island was also overgrown and unused, but was soon to become home to The Branson Beach Estate; a sumptuous 10-bedroom, all-inclusive resort overlooking the coast. Since then Moskito has seen the sale of the island to other owners who developed four, new estates that collectively form the new, Moskito Island Estates: The Point; The Oasis; The Village and, newly-opened, Cape Stout.

The Point, Moskito Island

A British Virgin Islands’ holiday starts luxe, and stays that way

Each Moskito estate can accommodate 20-24 guests and are all totally unique, reflecting the wildly differing tastes and sense of style of each of the owners: for anyone wanting the taste of a billionaire lifestyle the Moskito Island Estates is as close as it gets.

Right from the start, nothing was too much trouble here. The moment we arrived at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport – after our flight from Miami where we’d stayed overnight – we were taken care of: bags collected, then whisked away to the IAM Jet Centre, where VIP guests are welcomed with a glass of bubbles, before the 30-minute boat transfer to Moskito, where our British Virgin Islands’ holiday began in earnest.

Perfect Caribbean holiday pool, The Point

The Point was our pick of the Moskito Island Estates

During our stay, we were lucky enough to get a tour of all the estates and found each had its own charm, depending on taste and situation. We stayed at The Point, which as it goes was our favourite as we loved the California design ethos and super-chilled ambiance. The bedrooms are beyond exquisite, oozing luxury and comfort: as you would expect for the cost of the stay! And we were very impressed by the cool 8-bed bunk bedroom, great for larger families.

Beach days, Oil Nut Bay

A British Virgin Islands’ holiday for kids is all about pools, beaches and water sports

Toddlers and younger children will love the The Point’s shallow pools and playing on the beach, while teens can get into water sports such as Hobie Cat sailing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, eFoiling, kite surfing and snorkelling.

Also, there are tennis and pizza-making sessions, as well as billiards, chess, beach Olympics and volleyball. A basketball hoop and movie nights in the home cinema add to the entertainment, so kids are easily occupied from dawn to dusk here.

Great Room, The Point, Moskito Island

World-class service with laid-back Caribbean holiday style

Another appealing thing about Moskito is how they genuinely put the ‘All’ into all-inclusive. So as well as all food and drink being included, all activities are too.

However, what struck us most, was the feeling of total luxury, privacy and exclusivity that’s hard to put into words. The team all seem genuinely thrilled to be working on the island and there was a real family vibe. And as it’s a fully-concierge set up, led by an estate manager with 20 staff, guests are totally taken care of 24/7.  In short, we were bowled over by the attention to detail and the team’s total dedication to making sure we had the very best time.

Caribbean holiday spirit, The Village, Moskito Island

No two nights are ever the same on Moskito Island

No two nights are the same on Moskito, as each estate hosts a number of different dining locations that make the most of the weather, sunset and any special requests. All the chefs have worked at top restaurants all over the world and can turn their hands to many different cuisines: Italian; Balinese; Thai; Caribbean; Japanese or even a grill night with themed cocktails. Each dining experience includes specially chosen wines, and it seems all you have to do is ask and they can make it happen. Although it’s a real delight to find that, while the service is first class, it’s delivered with super-friendly, laid-back Caribbean holiday style, which totally hits the mark.

If you’re tempted by this British Virgin Islands’ holiday, you’ll find all four estates designed to cater to multi-generational families, with activities and accommodation to suit. So my advice would be to contact the team and they’ll advise on the best fit for your family.

The Bitter End Yacht Club, British Virgin Islands

Sailing is an intrinsic part of any British Virgin Islands’ holiday

The British Virgin Islands has long been a favourite with the yachty crowd drawn to its calm waters and gentle trade winds making it an ideal location for yachting, which became one of the first big draws for international travellers in the 1960s and 1970s.

The BVI has since established itself as the sailing capital of the Caribbean, with its plentiful harbours, beautiful anchorages, and varied islands accessible within a short sail from one another. This reputation still holds strong, and the annual BVI Spring Regatta, launched in the 1970s, remains one of the Caribbean’s premier yachting events.

Another BVI favourite is the family-owned Bitter End Yacht Club which was largely destroyed by Hurricane Irma back in 2017, then painstakingly rebuilt by the locals before reopening its doors properly in 2022, and what an awesome job they have done.

While retaining the essence that has made it so popular in these parts the new accommodation is simply fabulous. Remaining true to Bitter End’s heritage, the lofts are made with sustainable, organic materials. Interiors are intentionally simple and open to the environment, filled with the sights and sounds of the sea. The two-story, timber-clad lofts, situated south of the marina, offer unparalleled panoramic views of the North Sound from private terraces on both the first and second floor.

There’s a lot to do here (mostly on the water), including sailing, paddleboarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing, as well as kayaking or, simply snoozing the afternoon away in one of the conveniently placed hammocks.

The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Charter a catamaran or take a trip and explore the Caribbean with your kids

For those families that just love being on the water what better way to explore the 60 islands that make up the BVI than to charter a luxury catamaran complete with skipper and private chef.

It’s an amazing way to experience and enjoy the Caribbean at its very best. We stayed aboard the brand new High 5 (part of the Dream Caribbean Blue collection) – which comfortably sleeps 8 and is fully air-conditioned and has all the toys to keep the whole family entertained:  scuba and snorkelling gear, underwater scooters, wakeboard and two stand up paddleboards. There’s also a 10ft. floating dock, as well as pool noodles, fishing gear, board and card games and TV in the salon, not to mention the Fusion 3 Bluetooth enabled sound system. Of course, the freshly prepared meals were totally delicious and super healthy too, just as requested.

Along with cruising the islands we made a few trips on land, once to see the well-known tourist attraction, The Baths National Park; where there are giant rock and boulder formations (it’s more fun than it sounds, honestly); and another exhilarating trip on quad bikes to get to see a bit of the island.

Oil Nut Bay Beach Club, Virgin Gorda

Another British Virgin Islands’ holiday to dream about

Just across the way from Moskito is the island of Virgin Gorda where US entrepreneur David Johnson has built a full-service luxury resort – Oil Nut Bay – with a private marina, active beach club and refined dining options, all brimming with island amenities, activities and services. Spread across 400 acres ONB (as it’s known) offers a range of high-spec villas and apartments to rent that are simply breathtaking.