7 Best Hotels in Tortola, British Virgin Islands

The Fort Burt Hotel surrounds the ruins of an old Dutch fort, giving you a sense of history along with a night's sleep. The hotel attracts many business travelers who like its location on the fringes of Road Town. Vacationers will enjoy it as well, especially those who think of it as a jumping-off place rather than a place to put down roots. It's a bit of a hike to Road Town, but there are a couple of stores and restaurants in the neighborhood.

The gorgeous sea and mountain views are the stars at this small hotel perched on the edge of Windy Hill, offering modest but pleasant rooms with splashes of turquoise accenting a white background. The hotel draws convivial vacationers who enjoy socializing at the pool, bar, and the excellent Bananakeet restaurant.

Sitting near the water in busy Road Town, Maria's Hotel by the Sea is perfect for budget travelers who want to be near shops and restaurants but who don't need many frills. The least expensive rooms don't have ocean views, but all have bright tropical fabrics and rattan furniture to remind you that you're on an island.

Tucked away in a beachfront garden, this tiny treehouse-style hotel puts you right in the middle of Cane Garden Bay's hustle and bustle, and its adjacent restaurant is one of the area's hot spots. Rooms, renovated after Hurricane Irma, have a typical tropical decor with tile floors and rattan furniture, and high wood ceilings lend a spacious feel. Although you might be content to lounge at the beach and stroll around the bay and through town, you'll need a car to venture farther.

This quiet oasis is far enough from Road Town to give it a secluded feel but close enough to make shops and restaurants convenient. You're just steps from the hotel's restaurant and beach bar, boat charters, and the chance to stroll the busy boatyard to gawk at the yachts under repair, and the manmade beach and pool are welcoming. The cheerful rooms, which have tile floors, are enlivened by lots of bright Caribbean colors, and the on-site Peg Legs restaurant has nightly dinner specials.

If you want to be able to walk to restaurants and shops, you simply can't beat Village Cay's prime location in the heart of Road Town. Located at a full-service marina, it's perfect for yacht charterers who want a night or two in town before heading out to sea, but land-based vacationers like it equally well. Rooms and suites are done in tropical style, with tile floors, rattan furniture, and town or marina views. You'll need a car to get to the beach. Otherwise, a tiny pool will have to suffice for your morning swim.

Although this isolated location on the northeast coast puts you far from Road Town, Lambert Bay is one of the island's loveliest stretches of sand and the main reason to recommend this resort. Most rooms are poolside or tucked back in the foliage, but you're a few steps away from an afternoon of sunning and swimming. A handful of restaurants in and around nearby Fat Hogs Bay are within easy reach if you have to get off that gorgeous beach.