If the British actress Kate Winslet makes regular trips to a villa on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands in the heart of the Caribbean, it is because her husband Edward Abel Smith is none other than the nephew of the wealthy British businessman Richard Branson, the owner of Necker Iceland, a private island paradise with villas of incredible luxury.
British billionaire Richard Branson took the liberty of purchasing a private island for himself and his loved ones, Necker Island, a place in the heart of a landscape worthy of the wildest dreams.
Photo provided by the British Virgin Islands
He regularly invites Hollywood stars and big personalities. In addition, the guest book of the main residence contains the signatures of Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, Robert Di Niro, Mel Gibson, but also Princess Diana, Princes William and Harry, Nelson Mandela and the former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle .
However, Kate Winslet, who became famous in the legendary film “Titanic”, has been a special guest for several years. The Oscar-winning actress for her film “The Reader” was invited with her children by the business tycoon and founder of the Virgin Group to stay there between filming. By a “happy coincidence,” his nephew, millionaire Edward Abel Smith, Virgin Galactic’s space experience marketing director, also known by the pseudonym Ned Rocknroll, was also on the island and the magic happened in this enchanting place. Kate had just divorced from her second marriage to director Sam Mendes. Their mutual love at first sight was as strong as Hurricane Irene, which hit the island at the same time.
Kate Winslet archive photo, AFP
After more than ten years of marriage, the couple appears to be completely happy, according to an interview with The New York Times, and even today Kate is full of praise for her lover, with whom she had a third child.
The 48-year-old actress, whose main home is a property in West Wittering on the coast of England that she bought for £3.25 million, is able to escape the gray of her Grande Brittany with her lover and go to Necker Island regularly.
Necker Island
Richard Branson used to be a place reserved for his loved ones, including his wife Joan Templeman and their three children and friends. He recently started offering anyone with a well-filled wallet the opportunity to rent one of his villas on Necker Island for their vacation.
One of Richard Branson’s mansions. Photo from Virgin Limited Edition website
The CEO of the Virgin empire, which includes around twenty subsidiaries, including the Virgin Hotels hotel chain and the airlines Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Virgin Galactic, whose aim is to develop space tourism, wanted to offer a home in the Caribbean.
The 73-year-old fell in love with Necker Island at first sight in 1978 when he flew over the place in the north of the archipelago of the British Virgin Islands, which he was able to purchase at a high price under certain conditions in order to protect the environment.
He fell in love with Indonesia and decided to reproduce the style of Bali for his island. All furnishings were purchased in Indonesia. In addition to the large 10-bedroom main villa with an infinity pool, there are five slightly recessed three-bedroom Balinese pavilions, all with swimming pool, jacuzzi, large terrace and private beach. Of course, therapeutic treatments and massages as well as a temple for meditation are also offered on site.
Crocodile flag. Photo from Virgin Limited Edition website
In total, around fifty employees work at Necker Island, which can accommodate up to 48 people to make the vacation experience unforgettable. The perfect place to celebrate a wedding. Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, also celebrated his wedding there.
Wealthy customers can rent the entire 30-acre island for $140,000 a night this winter. This price includes all meals and alcoholic beverages as well as all equipment for sailing, water skiing, paddleboarding and diving.
At certain times of the year you can also rent a suite there. The Bali Suite is $7,350 per night.
In addition to Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson also acquired another island of the archipelago, Moskito Island, his new Caribbean Eden, which extends over more than 50 hectares, for $15 million and for which he invested additional millions to build a mansion with 11 rooms, offering 360 degree views of the surrounding islands. It is available to rent for around $30,000 per night as of 2021. There are also several villas available for rent, priced at around $17,000 per night.
Mosquito Island photo from Virgin Limited Edition website
Real Virgin Islands
Near the US Virgin Islands in the east of the Dominican Republic, not far from Puerto Rico, there are paradisiacal beaches with crystal clear waters surrounded by green mountains.
In contrast to the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands are still true, untouched oases of peace, protected from mass tourism.
The archipelago, part of the United Kingdom, consists of a series of around fifty islands and islets, of which only 16 are inhabited. The four main islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. Tortola, the largest island in the archipelago, is home to the capital Road Town and Mount Sage National Park.
The destination has it all, with blue lagoons lapped by the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north.
The place is considered a sailing paradise as you can visit several islands in a single trip. You can sail between the islands or even stop on one of them to discover a paradisiacal beach in complete privacy.
For a day of island hopping, several excursions on sailboats or catamarans are available. Depending on your taste, we will take you to places where you can surf or swim with dolphins. You can also rent a boat with or without a crew.
The inevitable
The magnificent Baths National Park on the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda, less than 30 minutes by boat from Tortola, is one of the British Virgin Islands’ iconic ports of call. The place is unique with its imposing granite rocks that form mysterious caves in which natural pools of emerald green waters are hidden between coves of white sand. The place is reminiscent of the Seychelles.
Norman Island is another must-see. This former pirate hideout is a popular diving spot because of its caves, coral and beautiful seabed.
Making the dream accessible
Richard Branson photo from Virgin Limited Edition website
Even though Richard Branson’s villas are inaccessible to the vast majority of tourists, it is still possible to vacation in the British Virgin Islands, even if it is, after all, a luxury destination that is more expensive than elsewhere in the Caribbean. For example, you can go to Top of the Hill Blue Sunshine on Tortola Island. For a week-long stay this winter, we’ll pay around $1,175 CAD for a two-bedroom apartment with ocean views for two people.