Bitter End Yacht Club is located in the British Virgin Islands

“It’s going to be a big bruise“I thought as I once again fell face-first into the turquoise waters. Bitter End Yacht Club British Virgin Islands

I was riding my first e-foil – an electric surfboard which lifts and propels its riders above the surface of the water. The next morning, when I left this secluded resort, my legs had purple, yellow, or red splotches. The sand was in my luggage and the muscles were aching. The trip was transcendent.

Bitter End Yacht Club, located on a quiet peninsula in the middle of the ocean. peninsula off of Virgin Gorda’s North SoundJust beyond Richard Branson’s Necker Island Prickly PearIt is a national parks. It is the last land-based outpost before Caribbean Sea meets Atlantic Ocean. For adventurers or thalassophiles it is a paradise unlike any other.

Former charter skipper Basil Symonette founded Bitter End The late 1960s. The scrappy clubhouse where he served yachtsmen stiff drinks and simple meals was quite difficult to reach—and that was the whole point. Lauren Hokin, who is part of the third-generation of her family that runs Bitter End, said Symonette was ostracized because of homophobic, influential family members. He and his partner created a refuge on the remote shoreline.

Symonette, who was reluctantly forced to enter the hotel business by the law, did so because it required that you provide lodging if alcohol is served. Hokin said that he believed Symonette had two small cottages, and according to her grandmother, the beds were covered with paper.

In 1970, Hokin’s Sailor Family had become a regular. After three years of negotiations with Symonette, they finally got to claim the island as their own. Not long after, the BVI began to be a popular destination for sailing enthusiasts. spectacular reefs and sparse crowds. Like their predecessors, the Hokin family felt pressured to convert their personal retreat into an occupation out of duty rather than ambition.

“My grandpa, I think that he felt guilty for having things without a business reason. When he saw there were people who would actually eat at his restaurants if he showed just a little interest in cultivating their businesses, [he went for it]” Hokin said.

Bitter End was a hit with repeat guests for the next 40 years. The sound is deep enough to anchor, but surrounding reefs and islands protect it from rough weather—and give travelers endless opportunities to interact with the seascape. She said, “You can get from this safe harbor to the coral reef in just five minutes, and you’ll be surrounded by this amazing underwater ecosystem.” 

No one today knows the water like Captain Kinto. Born and raised in Virgin Gorda he was a Bitter End Bus Boy at the age of 17. He is a snorkel guide and is known for his ability to spot marine life in any condition. Sprauve makes it easy to enjoy a great day of snorkeling at Bitter End. 

Sprauve said that growing up on Virgin Gorda was “water raised me.” “I used to be two seconds away from a beach. After school, I would put my swim trunks on and head out.”  His expertise in finding the most stunning places to see the underwater world is “just natural,” according to him. 

Bitter End guests are often as passionate about playing in water as Sprauve. I spent my days kayaking and swimming beside fish. On a catamaran, I whizzed around a legion yachts. From my outdoor shower, I was amazed by the colors of the ocean. I fell to sleep listening to the sound waves crashing on the shore. Even though I repeatedly hit the surface of the water during my efoiling attempts, I felt completely at home in Bitter End.

In the decades since he began working at the resort, Sprauve has only been away from Bitter End once—after it was leveled by Hurricane Irma in 2017. He, along with the rest of the staff members, did not hesitate to return in 2021 when the resort reopened partially. Sprauve declared, “Bitter End has always been home to me.” “You can have the most beautiful place in the world—the people are what make whatever you have work.”

Hokin felt similarly.

Hokin explained, “Our goal is to cultivate friendships and relationships with people of like-minded spirits.” People who enjoy adventure, the sea or are curious about what life is like at sea or near the sea has to offer.

What’s it like to stay at Bitter End Yacht Club?

The Rooms

Bitter End Yacht Club provides three types on-land accommodation: Beach Bungalows; Marina Lofts; and Marina House. There is a minimum three-night stay for all. After Hurricane Irma wrecked the resort, the new accommodations are mainly made from salvaged or up-cycled material. The design was created in-house and the furnishings were made by local artisans. The aim was to revitalize the vintage nautical aesthetic While integrating guests into the natural landscape. “The main reason for being there is that you want to be outdoors or as close to it as possible. “All you need to be comfortable is a roof and mosquito net,” my dad says. Lauren Hokin, the owner of the store, said that was one of our guiding concepts. Travel + Leisure.

The bungalows are based on the original 1970s cottages at Bitter End. Each one blends perfectly with the beauty of the coastline while offering guests a luxurious stay. upscale amenities. The bungalows are 975 square feet and feature indoor and outdoor showers as well as dual sinks and a king size bed with panoramic views of a beach. The wraparound porch allows you to watch the powerful Caribbean rainstorms, or enjoy the sun on one of the private chaises at the beach. 

Bitter End Marina Lofts, a pair of two-story apartments perched over the water’s surface. They are the largest accommodations available at the club, measuring 1,200 square feet. These units have private terraces and swim docks that offer a sweeping view of the marina. Upper floor has a California-king bedroom. A downstairs lounge can be used to create a second sleeping area if necessary. 

The four-room Marina House is the best option for groups. Each 500-square foot room features a California King bed. Two sinks are available, as well as private terraces. Their airy design allows them to be able to feel the breeze from the sea. You can book the Marina House rooms individually.

Bitter End Yacht Club offers 70 moorings & dockage, which can accommodate 26 vessels.

Food and Drink

The oldest restaurant in Bitter End. The ClubhouseBreakfast, lunch, or dinner can be enjoyed al fresco while enjoying the view of the marina. Anegada lobsters, angus steaks, and green curries are perfect after a hot day. The Buoy Room The Clubhouse casual counterpart serves lunch and dinner. The menu includes a variety of share plates, including chicken wings, mahi-mahi ceviche and stone-fried pizzas. 

The Quarterdeck Mariner’s Lounge is a library and vintage games center by day. By night, it transforms into a bar open air serving rare rums. Every Tuesday, rum tastings take place. 

The Reef Sampler, a Bitter End Icon. The 34-foot Downeast boat, which had been in use since the 1960s, was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. In 2018, the sunken boat was discovered and meticulously resurfaced in Bitter End’s mooring fields. She now serves cocktails every day from 12 to 7 pm. 

A barista is on site to satisfy all your coffee and pastry needs. 

You can also get food between meals at The Market. This is the perfect place to stock up on all that boaters might need during their travels. It also has freshly baked pastries as well as local produce and dry snacks.

Amenities and Activities

You can choose between windsurfing and sailing, kayaking or even a combination of both. no shortage of water activities Bitter End has a wide range of water sports to offer. The stay includes all non-electric watersports, but lessons, e-foil and Seabob rentals, as well as other powered rentals, can be arranged at an additional cost. Bitter End’s calm waters and natural protection make it a great spot to learn something new.

Snorkeling is an absolute must for anyone who loves marine life. You can expect to see everything from eagle-rays to sea tortoises and nurse sharks.

You can also play vintage games or hike up to Drake’s Outlook, a nearby viewpoint that offers spectacular views of the island. 

Reeftique is next to the market. It has beach essentials, such as apparel and sunscreen, and souvenirs. The island boutique is not a bargain-hunting place, but they’re there when you need some extra SPF.

Offers for Families

While the kids’ programs that Bitter End used to have before Irma are still being slowly rebuilt, the resort retains a distinct distinctly. family-friendly destination. Kids are welcome to participate in any of the watersports or land activities, and there are sessions available with instructors. Nick Putnam, now manager of marina and watersports at the resort, ran the popular children’s program before Hurricane Irma. He said his team is working hard to launch the resort’s kids activities and group trips. He said that one of the biggest benefits was to allow parents to spend a few hours each morning or afternoon kitesurfing, windsurfing, or snorkeling without worrying about their children.

Accessibility, Sustainability and Sustainability

Bitter End is committed to environmental care. Lauren Hokin, owner of Bitter End, said: “Mother Nature, the star of the stage, is our inspiration. We want to integrate our lives as gently as we can into this landscape.” The team used a lot of natural, up-cycled and salvaged materials when rebuilding. Bitter End built and designed everything, from headboards to desks and minibars.

“Recycling is a complex process.” Nick Putnam, who has a degree on environmental economics and policies, said you end up doing more reusing than usual recycling. “We rebuilt using a lot repurposed materials. The entire boardwalk through the village is made from repurposed wood from our old bedrooms.”

Bitter End contributes to community environmental efforts. It opens its space and provides equipment to Green Sprouts Eco Club. The organization is aimed at getting youth involved in beach cleanups and gardening. Bitter End is the venue for its watersports introduction program.

Bitter End has no ADA compliant accommodations and is not wheelchair-accessible.

Location

Bitter End Yacht Club can be found on Virgin Gorda’s North Sound. Virgin Gorda is the third largest island within the British Virgin Islands. It is the last landoutpost between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, only accessible by boat. Bitter End isn’t the most straightforward place to get to—and diehard fans of the decades-old resort consider that a good thing. “I just do not think that this is a place for the masses and it likely never will be.” Putnam added, “And that’s what keeps people coming here.” “This is a well-kept secret, which no one really keeps.” If you have worked hard to come here, and then you actually do, you will be rewarded by the best experience you’ve ever had.

The most popular way to get to the resort is to fly to Terrance B. Lettsome Airport (EIS), which is located on Beef Island. Beef Island and Tortola are connected by a bridge. American Airlines offers direct flights from Miami directly to Beef Island. Bitter End charter boat will take you to the last 30 minutes of the trip for $415 per way. You can also take the public ferry from Trellis to Spanish Town and take a 15 minute taxi to Gun Creek. Then, enjoy a seven-minute complimentary ferry to Bitter End. Cape Air offers direct flights to Virgin Gorda Airport. Taxis are available to Gun Creek.

Bitter End veterans Putnam & Sprauve warn against this route because it is more expensive in terms of both time and money.

Book Now

Bitter End Yacht Club currently does not have a loyalty program or a partnership with credit card reward programs. Rates for the resort’s family-owned rooms start at $561.

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