Your luxurious wellness retreat in the BVI

There’s a moment when you first arrive at St Bernard’s Hill House that feels almost magical.

I felt it first hand after I left a cold and grey UK. Work pressures and illness in the family had been weighing heavily on my shoulders.

But when the plane landed in the BVI, something immediately started to shift. As we made our way up the mountain road through Tortola’s lush landscape, the weight continued to lift. Then, finally at St Bernard’s Hill House, there was a complete wash of calm.

We had arrived in paradise.

This transformation isn’t accidental. Every element of St Bernard’s Hill House has been carefully curated through the lens of both luxury hospitality and psychological wellness, thanks to St Bernard’s Hill House’s owner, Dr Juleen Christopher.

With more than three decades in healthcare as a cognitive behavioural research scientist, Juleen now consults with and invests in startups in the healthcare industry.

Her wealth of expertise and extensive international travel has profoundly shaped how she approaches hospitality.

Drawing inspiration from the legendary service traditions of luxury hotels in India and the Middle East, Juleen has created something uniquely therapeutic.

“Mental health and physical health are so interlinked – for me they are equally as important.

We need to look after our minds and bodies – and understand what that means on a personal level. How we get rest and enjoy relaxation is different for each of us.”

This holistic understanding permeates every aspect of the St Bernard’s experience; from the moment you wake up to panoramic ocean views to the carefully chosen Mission Fig reed diffusers that provide the warm fragrance (sourced from the same artisan who creates signature scents for Ireland’s exclusive Adare Manor).

Walk through any room at St Bernard’s Hill House and you’ll notice the complete absence of red.

“Specifically, I do not use reds in St Bernard’s Hill House’s interior design. They are very intense, in-your-face, stressful shades. After all, when you’re angry ‘you see red.’

“Instead, the colors, textures and shading that we use for fabric and furniture were intentional in terms of trying to elicit that relaxation response.”

The villa is accented in carefully selected blues and greens – colors that research shows activate our parasympathetic nervous system and promote genuine relaxation. From the ocean views framed by every window to the botanical artwork adorning the walls, guests are constantly surrounded by nature’s most calming palette.

Now, if ever I’m feeling stressed, my mind wanders back to the calm and serenity of St Bernard’s Hill House, and it instantly grounds me.

The gardens at St Bernard’s Hill House tell a story of thoughtful collaboration between Juleen and St Bernard’s masterful groundskeeper, Radesh Karran, who has spent over a year co-creating this therapeutic landscape. Every plant has been chosen with both beauty and purpose in mind.

Juleen explains “There are plants throughout the grounds to elicit a relaxation response. Ornamental grasses, agave, cactus. We planted more lemongrass, citronella, and classic fragrant plants. They look and smell great and are a natural mosquito deterrent.”

The result is gardens that mindfully engage all the senses.

I’ll never forget walking through the pathways while long grass swayed beside me in the evening breeze. Boats were sailing into the distance while the sun was starting to set. It was a moment so serene that it felt like regular life was a million miles away.

The property now grows its own citrus – lime, lemon, and orange trees that not only provide fresh ingredients for private chefs to create wellness-focused cuisine but also fill the air with natural aromatherapy.

The culinary program at St Bernard’s represents another layer of the villa’s holistic wellness approach: Food as medicine for rejuvenation.

Chef Jacob Dearie was one of the private chefs during my stay.

Jacob has worked at Michelin starred restaurants, Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, and exclusive ski resorts in Europe. We were treated to delicious, carefully curated menus at every meal. It’s easy to see why he is one of Juleen’s favorites.

“Jacob is exceptionally good at creating very flavorful, but also gastronomically stimulating salads and smoothies,” Juleen explains. “He’s intentional about adding fresh herbs and spices that are rich in nutrients, like turmeric, ginger, fresh basil, nutmeg.”

During our stay, every meal felt like a celebration of both flavor and nourishment. From the carefully crafted breakfast smoothies to the fresh ceviche, made with the day’s catch and citrus picked from the garden that morning, they epitomized what wellness cuisine should be: Vibrant, satisfying, and utterly fresh.

Perhaps the most therapeutic element of St Bernard’s Hill House is the setting itself. The British Virgin Islands offer what Juleen calls “moment to moment living.”

“In the Caribbean, we have island time. You have to remove any expectations around time frames. It’s a different way of life to when I’m home in Minnesota. The island’s natural rhythm forces a different pace, one that’s inherently more mindful and present.”

For Juleen, being on the water represents the ultimate Zen state. “Sailing in the BVI – there is nothing like it. Being in the channel, seeing all these different islands, they all feel different, they all have different terrain. There’s something so comforting in the familiarity.

I could be on the water 24/7.”

During our day’s sailing excursion to Virgin Gorda, I experienced this myself – speeding along the waves, sitting with a drink after a delicious lunch at Nova Restaurant in Oil Nut Bay, the salt air on my skin, watching the sunlight sparkle on the water while knowing that back home, the weather was grim. Life could not have been better.

Unlike some wellness retreats which impose strict schedules or overwhelming programs, the beauty of St Bernard’s Hill House is that you set the agenda.

You could enjoy a total digital detox, journaling on your private balcony, experiencing traditional spa treatments or practicing yoga on a terrace.

You might prefer to dance to energizing Afrobeats on the sunset deck (there’s Wi-Fi throughout and Sonos speakers in each individual villa) and spend all day in your bathrobe or bathing suit.

Or you might feel your best after a 5-minute meditation app, spending hours on one of the super-comfortable loungers with a good book and then cooling off with a dip in the infinity pool instead.

However you like to recharge your batteries, the team at St Bernard’s Hill House is there to curate an experience suited to your needs.

As I sit here writing this back in the UK, with the looming threat of rainy days and the buzz of daily life, I can still feel the peace of that mountain sanctuary. The memory of morning coffee on the terrace, watching boats drift across Sir Francis Drake Channel. The sound of wind through those ornamental grasses. The complete absence of urgency.

In our hyperconnected, digitally focused world, St Bernard’s Hill House represents more than luxury accommodation. Juleen has created a place designed to restore us.

It’s a much-needed escape where you can find serenity, enjoyment. A place to reconnect with what matters most.

Charlotte Davies, TEDx speaker and Copywriter, stayed at St Bernard’s Hill House in March 2024.

If you need rest and relaxation in luxurious surroundings, St Bernard’s Hill House is waiting for you.