The U.S. Virgin Islands have their first built-from-the-ground-up new resort in more than 30 years, and the place has a pristine cay almost entirely to itself.
Reached via a 10-minute ride on a private ferry from St. Thomas or St. John, Lovango Resort and Beach Club currently offers accommodations in a luxe hilltop villa, with cottages and glamping sites soon to follow.
The oceanside beach club, which can be visited with day passes if you're not staying on the island overnight, has an infinity pool and waterfront restaurant as well as shops selling local artisans' wares and outfitters renting gear for diving and snorkeling in the surrounding Caribbean. Hiking trails show off views of tropical forest, the ocean, and nearby Virgin Islands National Park on St. John.
(Lovango Beach Club/Image courtesy of Lovango Resort & Beach Club)
The three-bedroom villa, which can accommodate up to six adults and three children, has its own kitchen and dining room as well as private bathrooms, an outdoor shower, and spacious patios surrounding a swimming pool and large fire pit.
Architectural Digest reports that the design aesthetic is characterized by "rich woods and bright colors."
(Image courtesy of Lovango Resort & Beach Club)
Guests will pretty much have the island to themselves—Lovango has only three permanent residents, according to the Boston Globe.
The new retreat is the latest addition to Little Gem Resorts, the Massachusetts-based company behind the popular Nantucket Hotel and Resort and the Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha's Vineyard.
As at those island getaways, the Lovango Resort is committed to minimizing its impact on the landscape, relying on wind and solar power and using a desalination system to make seawater usable for drinking, bathing, and cooking.
Villa rates start at $1,000 per night. Construction of eight glamping tents, which will also have rates starting at $1,000 per night, will be ongoing through this year.
Beach club passes for those not spending the night start at $95 per person.
For more info or to make a reservation, visit LovangoVI.com.
U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands don't need passports, but there are Covid-19 requirements; consult our roundup of current Caribbean travel rules for details.