Caribbean Getaways: British Virgin Islands’ Villas

Sometimes a hotel room isn’t enough. You want a villa so you can stretch out in the living area – not just to sip wine and watch the sea – but to save money by preparing breakfasts and picnic lunches in a kitchen. Surfsong Villa Resort, Beef Island, the British Virgin Islands, is a boutique property that offers villa living, resort services, and a quiet getaway. It’s a welcome hybrid: a villa property that offers the dining and concierge services of a boutique hotel.

Located on the south shore of Beef Island, an area connected to Tortola by a small bridge, Surfsong consists of eight villas on five acres of waterfront property that once served as a plant nursery.

That accounts for the large coconut palms, the lush frangipani, wide sea grape, and other luxuriant trees and flowering bushes. The courtyard dining area with its canopy of trees, border of black volcanic boulders, profusion of flowers, and sea view made me feel as if I’d landed in a secret island garden.

The food is very good. Chef David Cioppa, from New York City, serves dinner Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to guests and to a limited number of non-guests. “The idea is to create this little oasis of amazing food and service using local farm to table items,” says Cioppa.

Our meal’s local ingredients included chicken, pumpkin, eggplant, okra, and cilantro served in a homemade curry that was flavorful – Cioppa makes his own curry that’s not too spicy. The kitchen also serves breakfast and lunch to guests as well as prepares Gourmet to Go platters for dining in the comfort of your villa.

Each of the eight villas has a full kitchen and, except for the studio unit, a separate, air-conditioned bedroom. Studio to three-bedroom villas are available. The bedrooms with their sleek four-poster beds with netting convey a romantic air. However, some of the living area couches and chairs, although comfortable, look dated.

A short walk from most villas, the beach, a stretch of hard-packed sand shaded by palm and sea grape trees, fronts a bay. The water is calm and shallow a long way out, something that pleases waders and frustrates swimmers. Turtle grass that’s soft on your feet nearly covers the bottom. Kayaks, paddleboards, and Hobie Cats for sailing are complimentary.

Surfsong also has a lobby with an honor bar and a beach lounge – not on the beach, but waterfront – that has couches and a hammock. Situated in Well Bay, Surfsong offers a relaxing getaway. It’s recommended that guests rent a car for island adventures and for visiting Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, for nightlife. Surfsong welcomes children age eight and older.