You could visit all of Tortola’s major attractions in a day, but why would you want to? People don’t exhaust themselves with that kind of frenzied activity here, and you would be silly to buck the trend. The whole point of vacationing in a place like Tortola is to slow down.

Ten days is enough time to explore Tortola, figuring in a few do-nothing days spent on the beach and one or two day trips to surrounding islands. Look for accommodations outside of Road Town—the capital city offers little in the way of ambience. If your first priority is the beach and your second is the beach bar, you will be happiest at Cane Garden Bay, the island’s premier beach with the widest array of accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment choices. The only downside—and it can be significant depending on your disposition—is the throngs of cruise ship visitors that descend on the bay many days from October to March.

If you prefer to make a quieter beach your home base, look for places to stay near Apple Bay, Brewer’s Bay, or Josiah’s Bay—all nice beaches that lean on the quiet side. Remember that accommodations away from the beach can be a good value, and hillside rooms generally have better views and more breeze than those directly on the water. Nowhere on Tortola is more than 10 minutes from a beach.