Necker Island

At a glance

Famous as Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson’s Caribbean home, this 74-acre private island with accommodation for 28 people sits off the north of Virgin Gorda. A mix of Caribbean and Balinese styles, it is mainly villa but occasionally hotel-style accommodation. Excellent facilities and superb for entertaining. The Great House is due to be rebuilt following a fire in August 2011 however the island is now open for business for smaller groups. There are six newly refurbished Bali Houses, plus Sir Richard Branson’s private home, Temple House and his 105ft luxury catamaran Necker Belle, are being used in lieu of the bedrooms lost in the Great House.

Best for:

Beach, Corporate and Incentive, Weddings and Romance

Who for:

Celebrities, families, groups, couples and castaways looking to chill out in style

Not for:

Big resort fans

How to get there:

Fly to a Caribbean hub such as Antigua, St Maarten or Puerto Rico and take a flight to Beef Island, Tortola, from where guests are met by Necker’s own boat for the transfer to the island. Alternatively, guests can take the ferry from St Thomas to Tortola to meet the Necker transfer.

Key features

A private island run both as a villa and as a BVI hotel (during Celebration Weeks), with a superb range of facilities and toys. Service fully inclusive and as attentive or unobtrusive as you wish. Bedrooms in a main house (to be rebuilt) and cottages; two main freshwater swimming pools, one infinity, one with a swim-up bar, Jacuzzi, further swimming pool and a plunge pool for the cottages. WiFi. Book, video and music library, piano, fully stocked bar, two floodlit tennis courts (coach available), air-conditioned fitness centre, Bali Leha Spa (extra charge), snooker. Sailing, snorkelling, sea kayaking, wake boarding, kite and windsurfing, banana rides, aqua trampoline, speed boats, deep sea fishing (extra charge). Necker Nymph, a 3-person aero-submarine available for hire.

Style:

Necker Island BVI has a combination of tropical styles, with Caribbean features in the open-sided main house – in the stone walls and shingle roofs - and a Balinese theme to the thatched, pagoda-roofed cottages, all set in profuse tropical gardens. Generally hip and stylish, the largest and most distinctive of the villas for rent in the British Virgin Islands.

The beach:

Some lovely strips of white sand backed by sea grape and palms, all beaches private

The rooms / villas:

6 Bali Houses - plus the Temple House and cabins on Necker Belle (a 105ft luxury catamaran) are being used while the Great House is rebuilt

Children:

Families are welcome, some special equipment. Special children’s activities are arranged during the Family Fun Weeks

Staff:

About 50 staff altogether, including managers, butlers, housekeepers, chefs, beauty therapists, tennis coach, qualified watersports instructor, gardeners and maintenance team