Trigger warning: The following story may compel readers to drop everything and book the next flights out to these luxury resorts. Credit cards, be warned.
Choose your travel journey. Are you craving a Caribbean retreat or a Western getaway? Perhaps your heart desires both. (After all, you may be making up for lost time after the travel restricted last couple of years.) You’re in luck because Tampa-based luxury travel experts have scouted out two of the most enviable, exclusive resorts. Dive in and start dreaming about – and planning – your next trip.
Barefoot Luxury: Rosewood Little Dix Bay
(Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands)
Prepare to be waited on hand and foot at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, where a personal butler tends to your every need. This serene resort is a luxurious hideaway for those seeking extreme privacy. Located on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, guests can meander along a half-mile of private white-sand beach directly from their private cottages tucked into the lush tropical landscape. It’s the ultimate place to unplug and take in the awe-inspiring views. Managed by Rosewood, the global hotel brand delivers consistent, high-quality experiences.
“Rosewood Little Dix Bay has had enduring popularity with our clients,” says Lesley Cohen, founder of Lesley Cohen Travel Group, an affiliate of SmartFlyer. “It’s the most luxurious hotel option in the British Virgin Islands.”
Not only that, but Rosewood Little Dix has been regularly recognized as one of the top luxury resorts in the world since its debut in 1964. Even Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have opted for Rosewood’s royal treatment. Although the resort closed in 2016 for major renovations after Hurricane Irma, it reopened with a vengeance in 2020. The following year, it made TIME’s World’s Greatest Places list and won the Readers’ Choice Award from Conde Nast Traveler for Best Resort in the Caribbean. This year, U.S. News & World Report ranked it the No.1 Best British Virgin Islands Resort. In short, Rosewood’s impeccable reputation continues. But there’s nothing stuffy about it.
“There’s a chill vibe there,” says Tampa resident Laurie Powell, who went with her husband, Frank, in summer 2021. “I didn’t know what time it was. I didn’t even put on shoes. We’d walk to dinner along the beach barefoot and then dine at an open-air restaurant.”
The facility takes on a mid-century modern design with natural materials like wood and stone throughout its 80 rooms and facilities. Whether guests choose a cottage, suite or villa (for up to eight people), they can enjoy private ocean views, oversized bathtubs, outdoor showers, patios, designated beach chairs and umbrellas with service buttons. Private plunge pools are also an option.
Cohen recommends renting a charter boat for about four days to island hop, snorkel and visit the floating bars, as well as to explore The Baths on Virgin Gorda. (Read our bareboat charter guide here.) After all, the British Virgin Islands offer an elevated boating experience.
“It’s where Floridians go because it’s an even better version of what we have – even more fish, even bluer water and very laid back, but very well heeled everywhere that you go,” Cohen describes.
Then, spend around three days enjoying the resort’s amenities and comforts, including the spa, two pools, a fitness center, hiking trails and four gourmet restaurants and lounges. Powell was impressed with the all-inclusive beach activities offered by the resort, such as sailing, paddleboarding, snorkeling and bicycling. For travel arrangements from Tampa, choose between a connecting flight from San Juan (for those who don’t mind small airplanes) or a flight into St. Thomas followed by a ferry into the resort (for those who have more time and can handle a decent ride on the water), Cohen says. This trip is best suited for adults and makes for a romantic couples trip or a fun group destination. While it’s warm year-round, the ideal time to visit – and also the most expensive – is between January and May to avoid hurricane season. Christmas and New Years tend to book quickly.
Peak Serenity: The Lodge At Blue Sky
(Park City, Utah)
A new countryside resort is capturing mountaingoers’ hearts year-round. Opened in 2019, The Lodge at Blue Sky is pleasantly removed from downtown Park City, Utah, by 25 minutes, creating a rugged, remote retreat. The Auberge Resorts Collection property’s 3,500-acre estate boasts personal outdoor fireplaces and infinity pools overlooking Alexander Canyon and the Wasatch Mountains, where elk and moose roam.
“The location is fantastic because you are immersed in the great outdoors with an incredible amount of activities on property,” says Jennifer St. John, a luxury travel advisor with Virtuoso and Protravel.
Hiking trails abound and horseback riding and other equine programs are available on property, as well as an 18-stand sporting clay course and a distillery. Wellness is a major focus, with options like mountain-top heli-yoga and meditation, forest bathing and a high-end, cliffside spa. It’s no wonder the lodge has received such a long list of accolades. In 2021 alone, it won a Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Award as a Top 20 Resort in the Pacific Northwest & West, was ranked as the #1 Resort Hotel in Utah in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and was Andrew Harper’s Editors’ Choice Award for Hideaway of the Year worldwide. (Also worth noting, it ranked the No. 15 Hotel in the World in Harper’s Bazaar’s The Ultimate Travel Guide 2020.)
Take in the royal ranch life from one of 46 contemporary rooms and suites built from wood and limestone to blend with the landscape. Three main options are available. Sky Lodge Suites offer mountain and valley views and easy access to the major amenities, including the main restaurant, bar and infinity pool; Earth Suites are built into a hillside with views of Alexander Canyon and connecting options available, ideal for families; and Creek Houses are for adults only, positioned along Alexander Creek with one bedroom and an open concept.
Tampa residents Marcy and Jim Baker spent three nights in an Earth Suite in June 2021 with their adult daughter, Sammy. It was in the 70s and sunny with no humidity. They enjoyed hiking, touring the farm and horse rescue ranch, axe throwing, relaxing in the infinity pool and stargazing by their private fire pit.
“It’s a wonderful escape,” Marcy says. “It’s really isolated and unique. The grounds and rooms are beautiful and have the most gorgeous views.”
Summer activities include fly-fishing for trout on the Provo River, mountain biking and hiking. St. John suggests hiking Alta Mountain to Cecret Lake Trail and Mirror Lake Trail. In winter, heliskiing is a hit, as well as snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding and horse-drawn sleigh rides; the Sundance Film Festival is another must. Lake City’s catchphrase, “Winter’s Favorite Town,” makes no secret of the most popular season.
For travel arrangements from Tampa, fly nonstop to Salt Lake City and take a 35-minute drive to the resort. Stay at least three to five nights to take it all in. It’s the perfect trip for families or couples who love nature and exploring the outdoors.
Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Welcome to the World of Bareboat Chartering.
