Free at Last:
The last time we were on a true vacation, away from home and office, was in February of 2019. My wife and I planned several getaways over the past 14 months. Covid cancelled each planned getaway because of governmental restrictions. We kept searching for an opening in the travel restrictions imposed on fully vaccinated travelers. We found one, finally, that had minimal restrictions; Oil Nut Bay Resort.
Oil Nut Bay Resort is located on the eastern most tip of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea meet. It is comprised 117 home sites and 8 rental suites spread across 400 acres. It has three restaurants, a beach club, a health and wellness center, tennis courts, a kids club, two helipads, and a Marina Village with an overwater restaurant, bar and a 93 slip marina.
Survived Irma:
Hurricane Irma struck the BVI in September of 2017. Oil Nut Bay avoided disaster. Why was Oil Nut Bay able to open when so many other BVI resorts were, and are, still closed? Irma was, after all, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history and was the strongest system to ever make landfall in the Caribbean. The hurricane’s center passed just northeast of Oil Nut Bay with sustained wind speeds of 185 mph. Oil Nut Bay’s leadership and foresight allowed for the resort to re-open just 90 short days after the hurricane’s devastating winds, rain and storm surge.
Oil Nut Bay switched the tasks of the 200 resort construction workers to hurricane cleanup. No home owners or vacationers returned until early 2018. All 100 resort staff assisted with the clean up and replanting of the wind stripped grounds. The staff received paychecks the entire time. This was at a time when most people in the BVI went jobless. The resort reopened for business 90 days after the hurricane.
Oil Nut Bay Design:
Before it initially opened in 2012, Oil Nut Bay owners invested over $100 million in infrastructure including significant amounts for sustainability; environmental and structural. Structurally, the various building were built to the highest standards because of the persistent threat of hurricanes. Examples of the environmental initiatives include solar panels on some roofs, native vegetation growing to cover others, rainwater use for irrigation, and the conversion of sea water for every day water needs.
Oil Nut Bay is located where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. Their waters splash gently over a coral reef about 1,000 feet from the shore, protecting the main swimming and snorkeling beach, ensuring family-friendly 2 to 3 foot surf all the way out. It is almost as if the cove had been designed by a waterpark architect.
Perfection:
For at least 10 months each year a typical day at Oil Nut Bay has a high temperature of 82 degrees and a low of 75, with gentle breezes keeping things comfortable and sweeping away the BVI’s famous no-see-um sand flies. February March and April are the best months to experience Oil Nut Bay due to the perfect weather. These 3 month have the least precipitation over the fewest days, with the most hours of actual sunshine. April also signals the end of peak season rates.
Perfect white sand glistens in the sun all along the mile long crescent beach. Black pelicans swoop over the water. And somewhere close under the surface are very large sea turtles. These turtles usually have Remora’s attached to their backs getting a free ride and a snack along the way. The BVI government protects the turtles’ local breeding grounds just off the Oil Nut Bay shoreline. This all makes for incredible snorkeling.
After an afternoon of snorkeling and lounging, maybe Lobster Poppers will be selected from the appetizer menu at the Beach Club. At the Nova restaurant, entrées include Sous Vide Duck Breast with smoked eggplant jam. Take one of the Resort’s electric golf carts over to the Pavilion for dessert, where you’ll find a Caribbean Sundae made with several ingredients including mango ice cream, coconut chantilly and brownie bits.
Oil Nut Bay provided us with the great escape from covid, in part, because of the resort’s wide assortment of activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, hiking trails, tennis, pickle ball or a day of wellness. They even have a rescue barn that houses horses, an Emu, tortoises and cats.
We can’t wait to return in the very near future.
