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Sugar Mill Hotel, Tortola
As soon as you turn into the drive of the Sugar Mill Hotel, Tortola, you know
that you’re arriving somewhere special. You see these picturesque little
buildings, laced by tropical greenery and trimmed with gingerbread decoration,
peeking out at you and you realize that this is the place for the most relaxing
break you could ever envision.
The Sugar Mill Hotel has only 23 guest rooms and takes its name from the former
sugar estate contained amongst its delightful gardens and old stone walls. To
wander around this tropical hideaway is to wander through Tortola’s history as
elements of the old estate have been artfully blended into the modern
environment.
Don’t let me give you the impression that the Sugar Mill is just an historical
relic, though – far from it.
The rooms, most of which were fully refurbished in 2004, have all the facilities
you would expect, such as air conditioning and direct dial telephones, and many
of them have cable television. They also have walls vibrantly splashed with
colorful Caribbean paintings and have wicker and cane furniture, shaded
balconies – yes, with hammocks – and manage to blend modern workmanship and
materials with traditional Caribbean style. There is an intimacy and
authenticity at the Sugar Mill which will warm your soul.
The Sugar Mill’s fame in the British Virgin Islands is due in no small part to
the quality of the food available there – having won rave reviews and various
prizes during recent years. The lively, stimulating menu in the atmospheric main
dining room, once a sugar boiling house, changes nightly to fully adapt to the
produce available. The chefs make full use of their own gardens and other
locally produced ingredients and if the prospect of Coconut Shrimps with a Lime
and Ginger salsa or Pork Tenderloin with Papaya and Tamarind Glaze appeals to
you, then this is the place to come.
In addition to the main restaurant, there is a further one, at the beach,
serving lighter and simpler food; also the Terrace for leisurely breakfasts and
the stunningly beautiful Gazebo Terrace Bar, where you can sip your
complimentary Planter’s Punch cocktail after you’ve checked in.
Most of your fellow guests at the Sugar Mill will be independent travelers –
especially foodies – although the hotel is also becoming popular with
honeymooners seeking out the tropical seclusion available here. For these
reasons, and coupled with the small number of guests here at any one time, you
won’t find too many on-site activities available, There is the pool, of
course, totally enveloped by greenery and away from the main public buildings of
the hotel. The main beach is across the road, opposite the entrance drive, and
is a quiet beach with shallow waters, making it ideal for snorkeling –
there’s equipment available. In addition, you’re only a couple of miles away
from Smugglers’ Cove in one direction and Cane Garden Bay in the other. The
staff at the Sugar Mill will be only too happy to arrange other activities for
you or give you advice on what is available nearby.
The Sugar Mill Hotel is, undoubtedly, the perfect place for that relaxed, get
away from it all vacation.
Bear in mind that the hotel is situated on steep slopes and therefore not always
easy for the physically challenged to maneuver. In addition, children under 11
are not permitted between 21st December and 14th April and the hotel is closed
during August and September.
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