Fifty years ago, when even nearby and now-bustling St.Thomas was still a backwater, places like Peter Island were considered mere markings on a chart. It's safe to say much has changed since then - the 1,800-acre/720-hectare private island just south of Tortola has been built into a tony and exclusive tropical resort complete with gourmet dining, extravagant villas and daydream-perfect beaches - there's even a tennis pro to help iron out the kinks in your backhand.
But don't think that the BVIs are only for the well-to-do. An affordable vacation is well within reach among the 50 or so islands; the only prerequisite is a penchant for relaxed, easy living. Whether taking a leisurely swim in a shimmering anchorage or stealing away to a private mountain retreat, the BVIs beckon both the frugal and the jet set to loosen up and lay back.
While nothing quite matches the local passion for sailing the well-protected, 20-mile-/32-km-long channel between Tortola and its smaller neighbors, world-class scuba diving, windsurfing and fishing are hot on its heels. Dozens of charter and guide services are available to help visitors discover the natural beauty of these laid-back islands and the turquoise seas that are the center of everyday life in paradise.
Posted online 09/01/97.
