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Branson’s Necker & Moskito Island retreats opened for business

-rates start @ 105K & 33K per night respectively for large bookings
The Branson Estate on Moskito Island. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
The private Necker Island was purchased after Branson fell in love with the piece of real estate in the late 1970s and purchased the then-deserted 74-acre island for a reported $180,000. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
The private Necker Island was purchased after Branson fell in love with the piece of real estate in the late 1970s and purchased the then-deserted 74-acre island for a reported $180,000. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
One of the Branson Estate’s master suites. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
One of the Branson Estate’s master suites. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
Standouts on Necker Islands include a brand-new Bali Hi villa complex, two additional guest rooms and the installation of three wind turbines, furthering the island’s commitment toward sustainability and renewable energy. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
Standouts on Necker Islands include a brand-new Bali Hi villa complex, two additional guest rooms and the installation of three wind turbines, furthering the island’s commitment toward sustainability and renewable energy. Photo: Virgin Limited Edition
NECKER ISLAND, VI - British Billionaire Richard C. Branson’s two private islands in the Virgin Islands, has seen fires, hurricanes and the global pandemic put a halt on business, however, driven by his personal passion, Necker & Moskito Islands have returned better than ever, and are now open for bookings in December 2020.

Following the December 1, 2020 re-opening of the Virgin Islands' tourism sector to international travel, and the interest in private islands stronger than ever, a clear picture has emerged of why Branson spent so much of his own time on these tropical havens according to Yahoo Lifestyle.

The private Necker Island was acquired after Branson fell in love with the piece of real estate in the late 1970s and purchased the then-deserted 74-acre island for a reported $180,000.  

Retreat serves as personal oasis for the Bransons 

“For years, it served as a Branson family private retreat—Richard and his wife, Joan, were married there—before the main house and a few nearby villas became available to book on a buy-out basis. The Bransons maintained private villas on the island, however, and were there when a fire tore through the place in 2011, and again when Hurricane Irma all but levelled it in 2017,” reports Yahoo Lifestyle.

The final of the post-Irma construction and renovation was nearing completion in April 2020 when COVID-19 shut down travel to the island marking another blow to local tourism and making the December 2020 re-opening the first time in years that Necker Island can be experienced in full.

Standouts include the brand-new Bali Hi villa complex, two additional guest rooms and the installation of three wind turbines, furthering the island’s commitment toward sustainability and renewable energy.

Moskito more of a private development 

Over on Moskito which was purchased in 2007, the 125-acre island was developed as a real estate community, with the individual lots sold to and developed by private owners, many of whom were invited by Branson himself.

With the VI’s relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions this month and tourism re-opened to masses willing to follow the territory’s strict policies, guests can now reserve exclusive use of the estates.

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to local tourism officials including Chairman of the BVITB, Mrs Kenisha A. Sprauve and Director of Tourism, Mr Clive McCoy for comments on what the re-opening means for the territory’s recovering tourism sector, however, no responses were received up to publication time.

Necker Island is currently available to buy-out for up to 40 guests, including all meals and drinks, water sports, kids’ activities, and more; rates start at $105,000 per night and during select “celebration weeks” throughout the year, rooms can be booked individually, at rates starting at $5,000 per night.

COVID-19 safety measures & 24/7 medical support available 

Villas on Moskito Island are currently available to book for rates starting at $33,000 per night (for 11 bedrooms) or $12,000 per night (for four bedrooms), and includes meals, activities and staff, with safety measures in place and access to 24/7 medical support.

21 Responses to “Branson’s Necker & Moskito Island retreats opened for business”

  • ann (26/12/2020, 10:53) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nice mom
  • Stupid curfew (26/12/2020, 12:29) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    i'm sure over there don't have any curfew.on my way for 4 nights
  • not so (26/12/2020, 13:26) Like (6) Dislike (18) Reply
    We dont want to hear about this rich man
    • @ not so (26/12/2020, 15:57) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply
      hear me good; in this territory one can not say anything about snow flakes some will rip you to Peaces however when it comes to the charcoal it is open hunting season

      once to white u right
      once you black stay back

      I guarantee you there will be different rules of entry for those landing on those two islands.....
    • @not so (26/12/2020, 20:02) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      WHO IS WE? SEEMS THAT YOU ARE ANGRY. LISTEN, RICH FOLKS HAVE JUST AS MUCH OR MORE PROBLEMS THAN THE NON RICH FOLKS HAVE.
  • WHAT!!! (26/12/2020, 14:11) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    “not so” Whats your problem with this man?? Do you know how many of us locals he employs??
    • wow (26/12/2020, 14:56) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
      Plus the man is a belonger, he has rights here.
      • @ SMH (26/12/2020, 18:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        when people from other west indian Islands obtain belonger status in the territory, having rights we developed the bridge called Indigenous a non-indigenous
        • WHAT!!!! (26/12/2020, 21:57) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
          “@ smh” educate yourself there are no indigenous people left alive here.
  • bvi (26/12/2020, 15:38) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    Have Two of our Islands and was fighting down a local to get a third one ...typical mzungu...SMH
    • Mrs Tiubman (26/12/2020, 17:33) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Branson is the type of expat White,Yellow or Black or any combination of these, with which you build your country and its economy and to whom you give status,belongership and accompanying privileges upon request..
      Those noted and demoted kind with their thieving hands out and their killer instincts at the forefront are unnecessary and a sure way for the VI to self destruct.They and their offsprings baby daddies and baby mommas, killers and murderers and expert cutlass wielding cannibals, noisy and breaking the traffic inconsiderate without manners thieving wastes of human protoplasm is unnecessary ,unwanted and cannot be appreciated in any place where living with a modicum of decency is required in building where a strong and solid foundation is needed.
      Kudos and much appreciatation
      to Branson and others like him be they Black Red Yellow White or any combination of these. They make me proud to be called Tolian with no threat to my life limb property,pocketbook, or quality of life.
    • @bvi (26/12/2020, 17:42) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Surely the local willingly and gladly parted with his property. Tell show/tell us how he successfully invested the proceeds. How many shares of Amazon or Apple were a portion of his investment. That is a much more interesting and positive discourse.
  • musa (26/12/2020, 18:21) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Stop the hate and learn to appreciate
  • Wahala (26/12/2020, 19:52) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Focus on breaking the spell of darkness open new dimensions in your mind where you can vibrate at a higher level and come up out of the bottomless pit.
  • Mr Cleo (26/12/2020, 22:14) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    This chap was born in Great Britain and his own home-land turn down his loan application.....we have political leadership that gets weak in the knees over a few pieces of silver and sell off the virgin island forgetting two basic fundamentals that our forefathers bleed/died and their is a Virgin Islands generation yet to come. You and me have to pay all of our taxes while the so-called rich investor walks into our territory and his given almost everything tax free & it is so shameful. Some of you happy to wait tables, cut the grass and mop the vomit for minimum wages while the top post are filled by documented works. Some of these investors have nothing were they come from so that God for BVI. Some of we excited with the crumbs off the table
  • Bull Bud (27/12/2020, 11:35) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    The name of the island is "Mosquito Island" not "Moskito Island". Don't let our settlers change our history.
    • wow (28/12/2020, 00:06) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      @bull bud it’s actually Moskio island name after the Indian tribe called the Moskio. Try googling and educate yourself!!
    • Denomination (29/12/2020, 08:34) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Wrong, its indeed Moskito Island named after the Miskito Settlers (yes MISkito) that came to the island !!
  • NezRez (27/12/2020, 16:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is so pretty and relaxing. Good luck for the new year.
  • Hatred (28/12/2020, 03:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What hatred can we harbor for our fellow human beings. I am sure this man has lived and contributed for overr forty years to the BVI.


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