Anyone with an enthusiasm for white sands, turquoise waters, and indulgent comfort has to be thrilled with the long-awaited reopening of iconic Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Ever attentive to quality, the resort had initially closed in 2016 to undergo a thorough renovation—only to have its progress cruelly halted when the 200-mile-per-hour winds of Hurricane Irma crashed through the Caribbean in 2017, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. But all of that is in the past, and what awaits island visitors now is a fresh new take on the sybaritic comforts and superlative service that have long been a hallmark of this winsome 500-acre beachfront property.
Little Dix and its sister property Caneel Bay (which, sadly, has yet to reopen) owe their existence to conservationist Laurence S. Rockefeller, grandson of Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller. He set out to develop resorts that embodied low-key luxury while also embracing conservation and a reverence for the environment. Its new incarnation keeps to those same tenets. It remains intimate, having just 80 one- and two-bedroom cottages, suites, and villas showcasing natural materials like stone and wood and set in manicured gardens behind a white-sand beach. And in keeping with the dedication to service, each room has an assigned butler, who serves as a kind of personal concierge to make restaurant and spa reservations and generally see to each guest’s comfort.
Secluded in its own north-facing bay, out of sight of development on the rest of the island, Little Dix feels remote. Yet “town,” as defined by Spanish Town is only a mile away and accessible by cabs available at the entrance. That feeling of having totally escaped aside, Little Dix’s principal asset is a sinuous, half-mile ribbon of soft sand protected by an offshore coral reef and bordered by very shallow, turquoise waters. Behind it all rise low hills covered with dryland foliage of trees and shrubs and now dotted with villas. Hiking trails lead up to low hills at either end.
Tennis players, meanwhile, can look forward to half a dozen tennis courts and two pickleball courts, a fully stocked pro shop, player matching services, and some sort of clinic or round robin on weekdays in season. Those round robins often draw local residents, who can provide first-hand advice about where to eat and what to do on the island (a snorkeling trip through Boulders and grottoes of the Baths of Virgin Gorda is not to be missed).
Jason Kesselmann presides over the complex. He played college tennis for Salisbury University in Delaware before going on to a 30-year career in teaching and coaching, most recently at the five-star Anantara Resort in the Maldives. At Little Dix, he runs a variety of programs, including specialty clinics and round robins, while also offering private lessons and player match-ups. With six hard and artificial grass courts for 80 rooms, Little Dix has one of the better court:room ratios in the Caribbean. The courts have all been recently resurfaced and abut a handsome pro shop and fitness center with stone pillars, stucco walls, and a metal roof.
Court Complex: There are two hard courts and four covered with artificial grass. They’re supplemented by two pickleball courts.
Court fees: None
Off Court
Beach: The beach at Little Dix extends for half a mile. Bohios, or thatched umbrellas, shade pairs of cushioned lounge chairs along the entire length of the beach and are free for guests to use. The waters along all of it are very shallow and remarkably warm. In addition, guests can request a free shuttle to any of nearly a dozen other beaches—The Baths of Virgin Gorda the most famous among them—located elsewhere along the west coast of Virgin Gorda or on such nearby islands as Great Dog and George Dog.
Spa & Fitness Center: The Spa sits atop a ridge at the western end of the beach. Before and after treatments you can lounge around a terraced pool with views across the water of other islands, the quiet of the secluded setting only broken by the sound of the sea washing the shore below and the birds in the trees overhead. Treatments take place not in rooms but in nine tiny huts scattered among lush tropical foliage and illuminated by the natural light that pours in through windows in doors that open onto a private outdoor patio. The spa also stages yoga classes. The Fitness Center shares a building with the tennis pro shop. Its dozen Cardio machines face outward through windows overlooking the courts while in between stand half a dozen exercise stations.
Watersports abound, including snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, waterskiing. Hiking trails lead up into the hills. And on various days there are guided garden tours, hands-on exhibits by a reef expert, local conch and coconut jewelry demonstrations, and more.
Children's programs: Kids have their own Children’s Grove, adjacent to the tennis courts, where 3-to-12-year-olds tackle a changing menu of activities, mostly indoors, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There’s also a room for older kids with board games and a computer.
Dining: Fruits and vegetables for the four restaurants come from a far m on property, seafood from the local fisherman. All four have views of the sea and cuisine that reflects the Caribbean and the chefs inspiration. For lighter fare, there is the Rum House, which has extensive library of rare and aged rums from around the world, as well as a limited bar menu of mezzehs, sandwiches, and salads.
Accommodations
Options range from ocean view cottage rooms with private terraces up through 3- and 4-bedroom villas.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round
Travel Instructions: From North America, most flights are likely to be routed through San Juan, Puerto Rico and then on to Terrence B. Lettsome Airport (EIS) on Tortola, where ferry service is available directly to Little Dix Bay. Alternatively, you can fly to St. Thomas and board a ferry there. Limited service is also available directly to the airport on Virgin Gorda. The BVI Tourist Board website (see below) can provide details, as well as information about access from other parts of the world.
Miguel Lopez was a phenomenal tennis instructor, just a great teacher. I am a seasoned player and found the Peter Burwash’s teaching techniques he employed were straightforward and visual. Easily put into immediate action by any level player. For example, I was finally able to execute the topspin 2nd serve. Also, rarely do you find a tennis pro who is enthusiastic about spending a minute over your scheduled lesson time. Miguel did; he was genuinely happy to share my enthusiasm for the game. I’d train with him all the time if I didn’t live in Boston, Massachusetts. Weaknesses: none jump out
IS
beautiful beaches, good food, very good services overall.
JT
I had played tennis for roughly 20 years when both my knees had to have surgery. I have now decided to resume playing, after a 15 year break. I began at Little Dix Bay, by taking private lessons with resident coach, Migual Lopez. It was great to play again and I had the best and most patient of coaches, I’m sure. I will be back later this year for more! Jacob
HC
The Legends tennis camp was amazing. We had instruction from very high level tournament professionals and club professionals. We will definitely go again next year.
MM
Had a great vacation there with 3 other couples. Roger, the pro, helped us put together a mixed doubles round robin that was simply spectacular and enjoyed by all. We had a variety of skill levels. The resort provided us with snacks and plenty of rum punch. Needless to say, it was a great social event that also served as a happy hour in the late afternoon. We found the facilities to be fantastic with variety of surfaces and equipment availability. Will return in future.
AG
It is a fantastic place for families to enjoy tennis, a great ambiance very friendly and pristine beaches. The staff is like family and but we really enjoy is the tennis!!!! it is just fanstastic.
FB
I love my life. That’s the feeling I’m floating on as I return to NYC after an all-day party aboard Viva, the 53ft Sundancer 14 friends and I chartered (yesterday!) while we Island hopped in paradise. These beaches are insane! This was my third visit to Little Dix Bay in the past 18 months and each time I book a tennis lesson with their PBI pro, Kristian Hunter. I’m a novice and in minutes his simple cues allowed me to take epic strides in my game. He’s also hilarious which made for the perfect balance of seriousness and playfulness. On the court after me Kristian was working with the #1 ranked Canadian teen…needless to say he knows how to coach at the highest skill level too. As an educator, I appreciate his positive style and each lesson is exactly what I need. He even gave me drills to come back to New York with! I highly recommend both Rosewood and Kristian!
ED
If you are looking for an incredible atmosphere to relax and play tennis, look no further then Rosewood Litte Dix Bay. I found the hotel staff to be wonderful and the accomodations and food to me amazing! PBI’s Director of Tennis, Kristian Hunter, was fantastic to work with! He’s an exceptional teaching pro and I highly recommend to anyone who is looking to improve their game and/or just looking to hit some balls with – Kristian is your guy! I’ll speak personally on the matter because I know the one tip he gave me in regards to my forehand, has helped my game immensely! So again, if your looking for a incredible tennis destination along with an amazing place to stay – I highly recommend Rosewood Little Dix Resort.
JP
Little Dix Bay was a fantastic place to stay. The Tennis Pro, Kristian Hunter, was one of the best tennis pro’s I have come accross. He is very knowlegable about the sport and techniques needed to help boost the level of a player. The resort itself was exquisite and I would love to go back and visit sometime soon!
CH
Little Dix is the perfect family spot. The tennis instruction was superb. Kristian is an incredibly dedicated pro, both on and off the court. He even folllowed up with us by email with the pointers of the week of lessons. we will save this for future reference.
JD
The tennis facilities were excellent although it was a quiet week, the pro managed to find us a number of very good matches and we were able to participate in the programs offered.
TJ
Rosewood has a beautiful tennis facility in a central location on the resort in the Caribbean. Kristian, the tennis pro, is as good as it gets! Being a coach and teacher myself, I know the value of quality instruction. He has the rare ability to improve the skills of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, all while having a blast. I was shocked at how much I learned in just two sessions with Kristian. I’m looking forward to playing again when I return!
BR
The facilities and staff were top notch. Kristian was a great teacher. He was able to break down the game into manageable elements for the student and tailored his lessons well to the abilities of the student.
JW
I went with 2 other couples who have varying levels of ability. One couple are competitive players who play all the time. I played in high school but only sporadically since as did my friend; our wives are beginners who did not play much before vacation. Kristian Hunter was the best teaching pro I have ever had. We all benefitted. My wife and I and her friend and her husband now want to play regularly. Kristian helped all of us and inspired the nonplayers to start playing regularly.
RS
excellent
PR
The pro is Kristian Hunter…he is outstanding. Very helpful in every way, and very friendly. My 2 young kids (ages 9 & 6) took their first lessons with him…and insisted on going back every day we stayed at Little Dix Bay.
PH
Although not an avid tennis player the resident pro, Kristian Hunter, managed to persuade me to play more than I would usually do. The seven courts are in tip-top condition (three artificial grass and four hard) and two with lights if you want to play after sunset, and the surroundings are a shere delight with its palm trees and overhanging blossoms. The air-conditioned club house is a cool refuge after an hour’s tennis in the heat and there’s a good variety of tennis clothing and rackets. The 5 star tennis facility matches the rest of resort’s service and facilities with the Sense Spa the most idyllic place on the island to unwind. Truly the perfect Caribbean escape whether a big tennis player or not!
SG
Whilst holidaying at the hotel for 7 days recently I managed to play tennis almost every day, largely encouraged by the resident pro, Kristian Hunter, during my session on the first day. He efficiently organizes round robins and clinics and I particularly enjoyed the mix-in sessions where local residents get drawn in, who with their wealth of information about the island’s activities, are able to advise you on what to do for the rest of the day. At half-time you’re served a beautiful array of fresh fruit and drinks. Kudos to the pro for running such a brilliant tennis program and making what was a great holiday the best.
RK
The tennis instructor at Little Dix (Kristian) is AMAZING! He encouraged our beginner boys (5 and 7 year olds), and they had such a great time. They really improved, and now they beg to play tennis.
SH
We visited LDB for 10 nights in March 2011 and were extremely pleased with the new tennis pro there, Kristian Hunter. We had our four children (ages, 11, 8, 8, and 6) take lessons with Kristian nearly every day. It was perfect, our children, all of them, had a great time AND they improved radically. Kristian Hunter is as good as it gets, just like the rest of LDB!!!
CS
Kristian Hunter is the new tennis pro at Little Dix Bay — and he brings a great energy and enthusiasm for the game. The facilities are amazing — and the place runs like a dream. Highly recommend Little Dix Bay for families, honeymooners, couples and retirees. Our kids loved playing every day!
BA
Little Dix Bay is a wonderful resort and one of the highlights of the resort is the tennis program. First, the fitness centre and tennis courts are kept in excellent condition. The tennis pro Kristian Hunter was great. We did semi-private lessons and he was great at making it worthwhile for two folks who had different skill levels. He provided lots of useful tips but did not “over teach”. We did 4 session with Kristian and we had a ball! We highly recommend the resort and the tennis program.
PK
Needless to say Little Dix Bay is one of the premier resorts in all of the Virgin Islands. This multi-sport deluxe island get away has lots going for it. The tennis could be a central focus when water sports are not beckoning as well. It is too hot most months to play in the middle of the day. The current pro, Kristian Hunter is terrific, a really vibrant, creative, upbeat young pro with much positive energy and patience for adults and for kids of all ages. He has lots of clear instruction, demonstration ideas, and practical tips to offer. He transormedo ur beginner young son from ambivalent to wanting tennis lessons upon return home! Kristian comes very highly recommended and we are really glad we opted to play tennis here.
GM
Although the resort is expensive, the resort is superb. In particular, the Peter Burwash International staff has been and is superb. I started with PBI in 2008 when Hayley Bakker was the PBI pro there. I know that Hayley moved on to follow her passion and thought that I would be disappointed by her departure. Instead, I found that Kristian Hunter, the new Tennis Professional at Little Dix Bay is, without dispute, the best tennis pro with whom I have ever worked (including other PBI pros). This is noteworthy since I have been interested in the game for over 30 years and have taken serious lessons all over the globe continuously since 1999. I encourage anyone who wants to learn the game to enjoy the magnificent talents of Kristian Hunter and the facilities at Little Dix Bay.
AW
The tennis instructor, Krisitan, was fantastic! Both likable and extremely knowledgeable of the game, he gave me a great lesson with some practical tips to apply to my game. The newly re-surfaced synthetic grass court was great to play on!
JZ
The tennis program at Rosewood Little Dix Bay is exceptional and I would recommend it without reservations. The facility includes 7 well-maintained courts (3 artificial grass, 4 hard) 2 of which are lit. The tennis program is currently run by Kristian Hunter who made our stay both enjoyable and rewarding. Kristian was able to rework my friends game (he’s a 3.5) in a short lesson and greatly improve mine (I’m a 4.5). Kristian also scheduled matches for us with local tennis players; I can’t say enough about his positive energy, responsiveness, and affability–a great example of a teaching pro.
NP
We spent a week at Little Dix Bay with our two boys ages 9 and 13. They were given tennis lessons everyday with pro Kristian Hunter. He was a great teacher, fun, enthusiatic as well as rigorous. Both kids improved a lot.
IO
Kristian Hunter, the new tennis pro at Little Dix, went out of his way to be available. He was positive and encouraging, and his advice was extremely helpful. I’m just a beginner, and well over 55, but he made me realize that it’s not too late to learn tennis…..looking forward to more instruction from him next year.
RB
Tennis staff was absolutely fantastic. We had Sam give private lessons to the entire family and we all fell in love with the sport and with her. She made our vacation!
NC
Although we did not go for the tennis the pro, his lessons and demeanour made tennis the highlight of the week. A pro is more than a teacher he should be an inspiration and Kristain certainly inspired our group.
AC
My husband and I just returned from Little Dix. The beach descriptions are accurate and the resort is incredibly relaxing. The tennis center is clean and a great place to play or watch others play. They have 4 hard courts and 3 synth grass courts, comfortable seating areas, and lights for night play. The new pro, Kristian (started a few wks ago), is terrific. He has a good coach’s eye and has a wonderful disposition. He will be a great director of the program because his affection for the game makes you want to play more. We had 2 lessons and both were rather beneficial for us. The resort has a number of opportunities to play, with your party and with others through clinics, round robins, and player matching. There seems to be a good tennis community interested in playing. We took advantage of the ball machine that guests can use and had a great time practicing what we’d learned. Singular drawback – some of the hard courts could use some tlc. That is fixed with re-surfacing planned in the next few weeks; so, a non-issue. We loved the resort and the tennis facilities are very nice, as is the gym. Loved the fact that there are no tennis fees for use of the courts or ball machine. Kristian was most terrific and we’ll be back.
MW
Really enjoyed working with Hayley. She gave me great tips and used training tools that really improved my backhand. Not to mention I had a lot of fun!
CW
Great tennis at Little Dix. Head pro was great.
JR
I thoroughly enjoyed the tennis experience at Little Dix Bay. There were plenty of courts to use with no added charge for use. If you needed a partner, the staff did a nice job of selecting partners for you. The round-robin play was fun and well-organized.
CH
We truly loved our vacation at Little Dix Bay. Everything was perfect: service, accomodations, food, facilities, etc. My children learned alot from their tennis clinics and i enjoyed using the ball machine alot.
SH
I love to play tennis, but live in NYC and it’s quite difficult to play at the time that you want and often quite expensive. I therefore treasure the opportunity to play on vacation. Hayley, the tennis instructor at Little Dix Bay, had a very good approach – much better than many instructors at other comparable level resorts. She really helped me focus on my overall game and seemed to very intuitively pick on the issues that needed to be addressed in order for me to get more consistency with my game, which was my goal. She also asked me at the end of each lesson what I learned, which no other instructor has done, but is very useful to make sure I know what it is I have to work on.
MS
Little Dix Bay is a wonderful resort and the tennis courts and pro are great.
MB
The tennis program is outstanding, with excellent lessons, free balls and use of ball machine, lighted courts pleasant to play any time of day, and a choice of surfaces to play on. You can play with the pro, with other guests, or with the locals in mixed doubles. Highly recommended!
CH
Great facility, excellent instructor, overall I was completely satisfied.
JS
I was looking for a quiet and small four-star beach resort with a top-notch tennis program that would support solo players. At Little Dix Bay I found just that. The many courts are perfectly cared for, and private lessons from Hayley, Little Dix’s resident pro, were well organized with effective methods that Hayley clearly communicated. I grew up playing a lot of tennis but had been out of practice for several years. I’d been playing a lot leading up to his trip but the rust was still thick. With Hayley’s help, I saw a quick improvement to my technique, consistency and accuracy. And even though I didn’t arrive at the resort with my own playing partner, Hayley lined up people for me to hit with each time I asked and the complimentary ball machine use allowed unlimited practice and repetition. I consider myself a pretty tough critic food and accomodations-wise and aside from the solid tennis, Little Dix Bay lived up to its 4 star reputation. The picturesque private beach (complete with a reef and unafraid sea turtles) runs the length of the bay with no nearby hotels to be seen and the service staff was friendly and attentive. The food was decent, if a bit overpriced (my only semi-complaint) but pretty much par for the course for a resort like this. Complimentary sailboats and kayaks provided great breaks, especially the saillng since the BVIs are known for it, and the resort boat takes guests to nearby beaches nearly hourly, also free of charge. All in all, Little Dix was perfect.
CA
Hayley Bakker is an outstanding tennis pro. She is very knowledgeable, and does a great job communicating and demonstrating techniques in all aspects of the game. She is a great ambassador for Rosewood LDB and PBI.
CG
If you need a tennis workout or lesson, make sure to ask for Haley. She knows what she’s doing and makes yo work.
BE
The resort is beautiful and the tennis facilities are excellent. The tennis Pro is young, and needs some experience, but is very accomdationg. The young lady needs to work on her salesmanship, she is still a little shy. All in all, a solid program, but not a “A” program yet—maybe within time.
TL
Hayley is truly awesome. Energetic and a joy to be around.
MV
great tennisprogram whilst enjoying this slice of paradise with great beach, clear water, friendly staff and excellent food. Very relaxing ambiance in a most remarkable setting
JB
Excellent instruction. The pro Hayley is great. In addtion to clinics and lessons there are one to two round-robin doubles tournaments each week with locals that are great fun and very good tennis.
GC
We were absolutely delighted with our stay at Little Dix Bay this year. While all the facilities are of the highest quality, we particularly were impressed with the tennis program. The instructor, Hayley, is excellent! We took quite a few lessons from her, and, having both taken lessons in the past at other places from other instructors, we found her lessons to be some of the best we’ve ever had. She is able to both see what needs to be improved and communicate how to do it — not always the forte of all instructors. The beach is simply lovely — so long and uncrowded — and we enjoyed both the excellent onsite snorkeling, and snorkeling trips to other spots the staff recommended. We also want to commend the staff for their almost universal excellence and willingness to accommodate special requests whenever we asked.
LC
I really enjoyed Rosewood Little Dix Bay and its tennis program because of the whole package it offered: Beautiful quiet lush surroundings, good healthy food, a calm sandy breach just steps away from the courts, meeting new people at the weekly guests and locals tournaments and above all one of the finest tennis pro’s my husband and I have had the pleasure to play with. (Hayley Bakker from PBI) We can not say enough wonderful things about her. She was great with our 4 kids (ages 13-17) and gave us some really good pointers as well. It was a great place to work out and relax all at the same time.
RG
Great Instructor and lots of programs ande people to play with. They did a great job.
CM
Great tennis instruction. Hayley is a delight. Low-key, but very effective. Has straightened out a lot of things in my game.
We want to see your racquet sports vacations! When you’re documenting your trip, tag @TennisResortsOnline on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and use #TROAdventures for a chance to be featured on our page.
83 Reviews on “Rosewood Little Dix Bay”
Miguel Lopez was a phenomenal tennis instructor, just a great teacher. I am a seasoned player and found the Peter Burwash’s teaching techniques he employed were straightforward and visual. Easily put into immediate action by any level player. For example, I was finally able to execute the topspin 2nd serve. Also, rarely do you find a tennis pro who is enthusiastic about spending a minute over your scheduled lesson time. Miguel did; he was genuinely happy to share my enthusiasm for the game. I’d train with him all the time if I didn’t live in Boston, Massachusetts.
Weaknesses: none jump out
beautiful beaches, good food, very good services overall.
I had played tennis for roughly 20 years when both my knees had to have surgery. I have now decided to resume playing, after a 15 year break. I began at Little Dix Bay, by taking private lessons with resident coach, Migual Lopez. It was great to play again and I had the best and most patient of coaches, I’m sure. I will be back later this year for more! Jacob
The Legends tennis camp was amazing. We had instruction from very high level tournament professionals and club professionals. We will definitely go again next year.
Had a great vacation there with 3 other couples. Roger, the pro, helped us put together a mixed doubles round robin that was simply spectacular and enjoyed by all. We had a variety of skill levels. The resort provided us with snacks and plenty of rum punch. Needless to say, it was a great social event that also served as a happy hour in the late afternoon. We found the facilities to be fantastic with variety of surfaces and equipment availability. Will return in future.
It is a fantastic place for families to enjoy tennis, a great ambiance very friendly and pristine beaches. The staff is like family and but we really enjoy is the tennis!!!! it is just fanstastic.
I love my life. That’s the feeling I’m floating on as I return to NYC after an all-day party aboard Viva, the 53ft Sundancer 14 friends and I chartered (yesterday!) while we Island hopped in paradise. These beaches are insane! This was my third visit to Little Dix Bay in the past 18 months and each time I book a tennis lesson with their PBI pro, Kristian Hunter. I’m a novice and in minutes his simple cues allowed me to take epic strides in my game. He’s also hilarious which made for the perfect balance of seriousness and playfulness. On the court after me Kristian was working with the #1 ranked Canadian teen…needless to say he knows how to coach at the highest skill level too. As an educator, I appreciate his positive style and each lesson is exactly what I need. He even gave me drills to come back to New York with! I highly recommend both Rosewood and Kristian!
If you are looking for an incredible atmosphere to relax and play tennis, look no further then Rosewood Litte Dix Bay. I found the hotel staff to be wonderful and the accomodations and food to me amazing! PBI’s Director of Tennis, Kristian Hunter, was fantastic to work with! He’s an exceptional teaching pro and I highly recommend to anyone who is looking to improve their game and/or just looking to hit some balls with – Kristian is your guy! I’ll speak personally on the matter because I know the one tip he gave me in regards to my forehand, has helped my game immensely! So again, if your looking for a incredible tennis destination along with an amazing place to stay – I highly recommend Rosewood Little Dix Resort.
Little Dix Bay was a fantastic place to stay. The Tennis Pro, Kristian Hunter, was one of the best tennis pro’s I have come accross. He is very knowlegable about the sport and techniques needed to help boost the level of a player. The resort itself was exquisite and I would love to go back and visit sometime soon!
Little Dix is the perfect family spot. The tennis instruction was superb. Kristian is an incredibly dedicated pro, both on and off the court. He even folllowed up with us by email with the pointers of the week of lessons. we will save this for future reference.
The tennis facilities were excellent although it was a quiet week, the pro managed to find us a number of very good matches and we were able to participate in the programs offered.
Rosewood has a beautiful tennis facility in a central location on the resort in the Caribbean. Kristian, the tennis pro, is as good as it gets! Being a coach and teacher myself, I know the value of quality instruction. He has the rare ability to improve the skills of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, all while having a blast. I was shocked at how much I learned in just two sessions with Kristian. I’m looking forward to playing again when I return!
The facilities and staff were top notch. Kristian was a great teacher. He was able to break down the game into manageable elements for the student and tailored his lessons well to the abilities of the student.
I went with 2 other couples who have varying levels of ability. One couple are competitive players who play all the time. I played in high school but only sporadically since as did my friend; our wives are beginners who did not play much before vacation. Kristian Hunter was the best teaching pro I have ever had. We all benefitted. My wife and I and her friend and her husband now want to play regularly. Kristian helped all of us and inspired the nonplayers to start playing regularly.
excellent
The pro is Kristian Hunter…he is outstanding. Very helpful in every way, and very friendly. My 2 young kids (ages 9 & 6) took their first lessons with him…and insisted on going back every day we stayed at Little Dix Bay.
Although not an avid tennis player the resident pro, Kristian Hunter, managed to persuade me to play more than I would usually do. The seven courts are in tip-top condition (three artificial grass and four hard) and two with lights if you want to play after sunset, and the surroundings are a shere delight with its palm trees and overhanging blossoms. The air-conditioned club house is a cool refuge after an hour’s tennis in the heat and there’s a good variety of tennis clothing and rackets.
The 5 star tennis facility matches the rest of resort’s service and facilities with the Sense Spa the most idyllic place on the island to unwind. Truly the perfect Caribbean escape whether a big tennis player or not!
Whilst holidaying at the hotel for 7 days recently I managed to play tennis almost every day, largely encouraged by the resident pro, Kristian Hunter, during my session on the first day. He efficiently organizes round robins and clinics and I particularly enjoyed the mix-in sessions where local residents get drawn in, who with their wealth of information about the island’s activities, are able to advise you on what to do for the rest of the day. At half-time you’re served a beautiful array of fresh fruit and drinks. Kudos to the pro for running such a brilliant tennis program and making what was a great holiday the best.
The tennis instructor at Little Dix (Kristian) is AMAZING! He encouraged our beginner boys (5 and 7 year olds), and they had such a great time. They really improved, and now they beg to play tennis.
We visited LDB for 10 nights in March 2011 and were extremely pleased with the new tennis pro there, Kristian Hunter. We had our four children (ages, 11, 8, 8, and 6) take lessons with Kristian nearly every day. It was perfect, our children, all of them, had a great time AND they improved radically.
Kristian Hunter is as good as it gets, just like the rest of LDB!!!
Kristian Hunter is the new tennis pro at Little Dix Bay — and he brings a great energy and enthusiasm for the game. The facilities are amazing — and the place runs like a dream. Highly recommend Little Dix Bay for families, honeymooners, couples and retirees. Our kids loved playing every day!
Little Dix Bay is a wonderful resort and one of the highlights of the resort is the tennis program. First, the fitness centre and tennis courts are kept in excellent condition. The tennis pro Kristian Hunter was great. We did semi-private lessons and he was great at making it worthwhile for two folks who had different skill levels. He provided lots of useful tips but did not “over teach”. We did 4 session with Kristian and we had a ball! We highly recommend the resort and the tennis program.
Needless to say Little Dix Bay is one of the premier resorts in all of the Virgin Islands. This multi-sport deluxe island get away has lots going for it. The tennis could be a central focus when water sports are not beckoning as well. It is too hot most months to play in the middle of the day.
The current pro, Kristian Hunter is terrific, a really vibrant, creative, upbeat young pro with much positive energy and patience for adults and for kids of all ages. He has lots of clear instruction, demonstration ideas, and practical tips to offer. He transormedo ur beginner young son from ambivalent to wanting tennis lessons upon return home! Kristian comes very highly recommended and we are really glad we opted to play tennis here.
Although the resort is expensive, the resort is superb. In particular, the Peter Burwash International staff has been and is superb. I started with PBI in 2008 when Hayley Bakker was the PBI pro there. I know that Hayley moved on to follow her passion and thought that I would be disappointed by her departure. Instead, I found that Kristian Hunter, the new Tennis Professional at Little Dix Bay is, without dispute, the best tennis pro with whom I have ever worked (including other PBI pros).
This is noteworthy since I have been interested in the game for over 30 years and have taken serious lessons all over the globe continuously since 1999. I encourage anyone who wants to learn the game to enjoy the magnificent talents of Kristian Hunter and the facilities at Little Dix Bay.
The tennis instructor, Krisitan, was fantastic! Both likable and extremely knowledgeable of the game, he gave me a great lesson with some practical tips to apply to my game. The newly re-surfaced synthetic grass court was great to play on!
The tennis program at Rosewood Little Dix Bay is exceptional and I would recommend it without reservations. The facility includes 7 well-maintained courts (3 artificial grass, 4 hard) 2 of which are lit. The tennis program is currently run by Kristian Hunter who made our stay both enjoyable and rewarding. Kristian was able to rework my friends game (he’s a 3.5) in a short lesson and greatly improve mine (I’m a 4.5). Kristian also scheduled matches for us with local tennis players; I can’t say enough about his positive energy, responsiveness, and affability–a great example of a teaching pro.
We spent a week at Little Dix Bay with our two boys ages 9 and 13. They were given tennis lessons everyday with pro Kristian Hunter. He was a great teacher, fun, enthusiatic as well as rigorous. Both kids improved a lot.
Kristian Hunter, the new tennis pro at Little Dix, went out of his way to be available. He was positive and encouraging, and his advice was extremely helpful. I’m just a beginner, and well over 55, but he made me realize that it’s not too late to learn tennis…..looking forward to more instruction from him next year.
Tennis staff was absolutely fantastic. We had Sam give private lessons to the entire family and we all fell in love with the sport and with her. She made our vacation!
Although we did not go for the tennis the pro, his lessons and demeanour made tennis the highlight of the week. A pro is more than a teacher he should be an inspiration and Kristain certainly inspired our group.
My husband and I just returned from Little Dix. The beach descriptions are accurate and the resort is incredibly relaxing. The tennis center is clean and a great place to play or watch others play. They have 4 hard courts and 3 synth grass courts, comfortable seating areas, and lights for night play.
The new pro, Kristian (started a few wks ago), is terrific. He has a good coach’s eye and has a wonderful disposition. He will be a great director of the program because his affection for the game makes you want to play more. We had 2 lessons and both were rather beneficial for us.
The resort has a number of opportunities to play, with your party and with others through clinics, round robins, and player matching. There seems to be a good tennis community interested in playing. We took advantage of the ball machine that guests can use and had a great time practicing what we’d learned.
Singular drawback – some of the hard courts could use some tlc. That is fixed with re-surfacing planned in the next few weeks; so, a non-issue.
We loved the resort and the tennis facilities are very nice, as is the gym. Loved the fact that there are no tennis fees for use of the courts or ball machine. Kristian was most terrific and we’ll be back.
Really enjoyed working with Hayley. She gave me great tips and used training tools that really improved my backhand. Not to mention I had a lot of fun!
Great tennis at Little Dix. Head pro was great.
I thoroughly enjoyed the tennis experience at Little Dix Bay. There were plenty of courts to use with no added charge for use. If you needed a partner, the staff did a nice job of selecting partners for you. The round-robin play was fun and well-organized.
We truly loved our vacation at Little Dix Bay. Everything was perfect: service, accomodations, food, facilities, etc. My children learned alot from their tennis clinics and i enjoyed using the ball machine alot.
I love to play tennis, but live in NYC and it’s quite difficult to play at the time that you want and often quite expensive. I therefore treasure the opportunity to play on vacation. Hayley, the tennis instructor at Little Dix Bay, had a very good approach – much better than many instructors at other comparable level resorts. She really helped me focus on my overall game and seemed to very intuitively pick on the issues that needed to be addressed in order for me to get more consistency with my game, which was my goal. She also asked me at the end of each lesson what I learned, which no other instructor has done, but is very useful to make sure I know what it is I have to work on.
Little Dix Bay is a wonderful resort and the tennis courts and pro are great.
The tennis program is outstanding, with excellent lessons, free balls and use of ball machine, lighted courts pleasant to play any time of day, and a choice of surfaces to play on. You can play with the pro, with other guests, or with the locals in mixed doubles. Highly recommended!
Great facility, excellent instructor, overall I was completely satisfied.
I was looking for a quiet and small four-star beach resort with a top-notch tennis program that would support solo players. At Little Dix Bay I found just that. The many courts are perfectly cared for, and private lessons from Hayley, Little Dix’s resident pro, were well organized with effective methods that Hayley clearly communicated.
I grew up playing a lot of tennis but had been out of practice for several years. I’d been playing a lot leading up to his trip but the rust was still thick. With Hayley’s help, I saw a quick improvement to my technique, consistency and accuracy. And even though I didn’t arrive at the resort with my own playing partner, Hayley lined up people for me to hit with each time I asked and the complimentary ball machine use allowed unlimited practice and repetition.
I consider myself a pretty tough critic food and accomodations-wise and aside from the solid tennis, Little Dix Bay lived up to its 4 star reputation. The picturesque private beach (complete with a reef and unafraid sea turtles) runs the length of the bay with no nearby hotels to be seen and the service staff was friendly and attentive. The food was decent, if a bit overpriced (my only semi-complaint) but pretty much par for the course for a resort like this.
Complimentary sailboats and kayaks provided great breaks, especially the saillng since the BVIs are known for it, and the resort boat takes guests to nearby beaches nearly hourly, also free of charge. All in all, Little Dix was perfect.
Hayley Bakker is an outstanding tennis pro. She is very knowledgeable, and does a great job communicating and demonstrating techniques in all aspects of the game. She is a great ambassador for Rosewood LDB and PBI.
If you need a tennis workout or lesson, make sure to ask for Haley. She knows what she’s doing and makes yo work.
The resort is beautiful and the tennis facilities are excellent. The tennis Pro is young, and needs some experience, but is very accomdationg. The young lady needs to work on her salesmanship, she is still a little shy. All in all, a solid program, but not a “A” program yet—maybe within time.
Hayley is truly awesome. Energetic and a joy to be around.
great tennisprogram whilst enjoying this slice of paradise with great beach, clear water, friendly staff and excellent food. Very relaxing ambiance in a most remarkable setting
Excellent instruction. The pro Hayley is great. In addtion to clinics and lessons there are one to two round-robin doubles tournaments each week with locals that are great fun and very good tennis.
We were absolutely delighted with our stay at Little Dix Bay this year. While all the facilities are of the highest quality, we particularly were impressed with the tennis program. The instructor, Hayley, is excellent! We took quite a few lessons from her, and, having both taken lessons in the past at other places from other instructors, we found her lessons to be some of the best we’ve ever had. She is able to both see what needs to be improved and communicate how to do it — not always the forte of all instructors.
The beach is simply lovely — so long and uncrowded — and we enjoyed both the excellent onsite snorkeling, and snorkeling trips to other spots the staff recommended.
We also want to commend the staff for their almost universal excellence and willingness to accommodate special requests whenever we asked.
I really enjoyed Rosewood Little Dix Bay and its tennis program because of the whole package it offered: Beautiful quiet lush surroundings, good healthy food, a calm sandy breach just steps away from the courts, meeting new people at the weekly guests and locals tournaments and above all one of the finest tennis pro’s my husband and I have had the pleasure to play with. (Hayley Bakker from PBI) We can not say enough wonderful things about her. She was great with our 4 kids (ages 13-17) and gave us some really good pointers as well. It was a great place to work out and relax all at the same time.
Great Instructor and lots of programs ande people to play with. They did a great job.
Great tennis instruction. Hayley is a delight. Low-key, but very effective. Has straightened out a lot of things in my game.