Another BVI or rather Caribbean in general question.

[Zen Zero]

I live and cruise in the Med and I love it. I love the weather, summer and winter, the scenery, don't like the wind that much (there's always either too much or none at all, usually none at all in summer) above all I LOVE the food.

I'd like to go over and charter a boat in the BVIs or Southern Caribbean next winter, but will I be disappointed by the food?

(reason for asking - I was marooned on Fiji for a week during a cyclone a couple of years ago and the food was boring!

 

[photodog]

Yes. The food to provision with is not up to European standards... Kraft features large.

Restuarants can be ok..... But frankly a bit samey, and things Like a decent bottle of wine are hard to come by.

Guadeloupe was better than Antigua and the BVI's... I think the French islands are better.

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

In the BVI definitely not if you don't go to the cheapest places. We've been twice, we really like decent quality food after a day's sailing and we wouldn't have gone back if we'd been disappointed the first time. In fact we encouraged a couple of like minded friends to come with us and they too throughly enjoyed what's on offer. Certainly seafood, especially the lobster , which was much cheaper than most other places we've been, steaks etc were well up to standard. As a comparison, we've just had a week in Portugal eating in marina resteraunts which were considerably dearer than BVI prices. You'll probably get some replies saying it's all burgers etc, but it isn't if you go to the right places which are obvious when you're there.
Mind you, last time we went, Jan/Feb 2012, there was plenty of wind, unusually so according to the locals. In 2 weeks it was art least F6 on all but 2 days, when it was down to around F4. Only problem was one night on mooring buoy when direction changed in the night and flipped the tender, flooding the outboard.
Have a good time if you decide to go, we did.

 

[Zen Zero]

flipped the tender, flooding the outboard.
.

I hate it when that happens!

Thanks for the advice.

Guadeloupe - that is a good idea! I can fly straight there from Paris too and save some Euros!

 

[photodog]

Mind you, last time we went, Jan/Feb 2012, there was plenty of wind, unusually so according to the locals. In 2 weeks it was art least F6 on all but 2 days, when it was down to around force 4.

Every time we have been at that time of year it's been as windy as a very windy thing.... And the locals ALWAYS say its unusual. No biggy cause it's pretty sheltered.... But can be a misery at night.... We saw 55knots on the mooring at Sopers hole.... Not comfy.

But we did see Kate moss the next day....

 

[photodog]

I hate it when that happens!

Thanks for the advice.

Guadeloupe - that is a good idea! I can fly straight there from Paris too and save some Euros!

And you don't have to deal with customs... But it's ain't the best cruising destination.

 

[Cruiser2B]

But we did see Kate moss the next day....

You said that like it was a good thing. She looks like a strung-out addict.... oh wait a minute

 

[Zen Zero]

And you don't have to deal with customs... But it's ain't the best cruising destination.

Oh really? Where is (in your view)?

 

[alan_d]

AS a wild generalisation, anywhere like BVIs with lots of US visitors will have food that is disappointing and expensive. The French islands are better in this regard, although can still be expensive. If you anchor in the bay at Grand Case, St Martin, you will have a choice of 40 or so local restaurants ranging from Caribbean street food to international gourmet and everything in between.

 

[tcm]

BVI yes the food will be worse than med. Likewise Grenada, meh so-so. Same applies to all the non-french islands that import (mainly) from mainland US or similar sources.

French islands will generally be much better eg Martinique the food will be LOTS better than the med IF you go to the right places eg Paradisio near le Marin and "beg borrow or steal a car" (say the guide books ) to get there. St Barts the food will be a lot better, but not cheap. Les saintes same sorta thing, eg go to Ti'kezla, run by ex-comis for Pierre Koffman. St Martin Grande Case as per another post above OR Tropicana in Marigot is also good. But the depth of nice restaurants in med is still better, really - the french caribean can compete at the higher end, not so good at mid/lower end restaurants.

The sailing in carib is almost always loads better than the med, though.

 

[Gargleblaster]

You may be disappointed by the food but some of the locations are breathtaking. The BVIs have some wonderful bays to moor for the night and you might even want to cook your own food - but you will pay more for a pineapple in the Caribbean generally than you will in the UK.

We thought Dominica was wonderful and largely deserted. Scenery was breathtaking. Down near Deux Pitons on St Lucia the scenery is also breathtaking but we were driven off by the boat boys.

We have never met friendlier people than on Anguilla, the food was well priced and delightful but we were driven off by the mosquitoes in the end. There are some wonderful tourist hotels on Anguilla that specialise in gourmet food but we didn't try any.

The best value food we had was the Nanny Quay Marina on Tortola [BVIs]. But the best food, but expensive was 'The Wall' on St Barts. The best restaurant ambiance was a beachside seafood place in a bay opposite Fort de France on Martinique, but can't remember the name.

The most disappointing meal we had was on Jost van Dyke. We had waited for a Thursday night for their seafood buffet. But were presented with an individual mixed meat platter including some seafood. I was expecting a Homer Simpson style all you can eat seafood buffet.

Would have loved to have spent some time on Guadalope were we had to spend the night with a fishing net around our rudder. The next morning the local baker came out in his rib and sold us warm croissants and a baguette.

 

[Bobc]

We saw 55knots on the mooring at Sopers hole....

I wouldn't take Soper next time if I were you.

 

[ChattingLil]

we've just returned from BVI and agree with all the above that the food is below par and expensive for what it is. It was all tasty and edible and mostly well cooked, but just not that interesting. If you are a foodie, then you will definitely be disappointed but you won't go hungry. And it's certainly not bad enough to put me off going again - the sailing and location was worth it.

 

[Neil_Y]

Last time I was there ( a few years ago now ) there were many good places to eat and great local supplies from Antigua down to Trinidad, maybe different local food but still good. We found good restaurants all the way through the caribbean, ask the locals or ask the other cruisers. Sometimes the best places to eat weren't obvious. I'd go for Southern Carib if you have a couple of weeks or more the Grenadines are very nice, and you will enjoy the wind after the Med experience.

 

[TQA]

If you get to Trinidad take the 'Taste of Trini' tour with Jesse James. We had 33 different foods to sample in the all day tour of the island.

I tried everything except the chicken feet.

One really strange thing about Trini is if you ask a local for a good place to eat he will probably direct you to a KFC . There are about 7 between Chag and POS.

I like my food and wander up and down the Island chain between trini and St Maarten. Here in no particular order are some of my favourites.

Gingerbread in Bequia.
The roti from the local shack behind the book shop on the waterfront in Bequia.
Sunday all you can eat buffet at Ti Sable Grand Anse d'Arlet Martinique. BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL!
The Little Dipper in Clarkes Court Bay Grenada. Book and let her know in advance if you would like something out of the ordinary.
Le Phare Bleu Grenada [the lightship for something special. ]
The Slipway Tyrell bay Cariacou.
Coco Paille St Annes Martinique. The salads are good.
Palm Island opposite Union Island in the Grenadines has an upmarket restaurant enquire if you can make a booking. N.B. DRESS CODE !
Jumby Bay Antiqua.
The Inn English Harbour Antigua. Give the restaurant at Shirley a miss if the cruise ships are in.
The Seven Stitches Rasta shack in Gros Islet St Lucia for some Ital food.
Jambe du Bois Pidgeon Island St Lucia for some atmoshere at sunset plus good fish dishes.
Pointe Milou L'Orient, Saint Barts noisy, expensive, good people watching at night.

 

[Zen Zero]

Martinique and Guadeloupe seem very easy and cheap to get to .... A plan is forming in my feeble mnind!

 

[TQA]

Martinique and Guadeloupe seem very easy and cheap to get to .... A plan is forming in my feeble mnind!

Guadeloupe is the better destination if you like gunkholing. The area called Cul du Sac du Marin has umpteen anchorages and the ecology is interesting with multiple types of rainforest on the windward side of the high island.

 

[lenseman]

I live and cruise in the Med and I love it. I love the weather, summer and winter, the scenery, don't like the wind that much (there's always either too much or none at all, usually none at all in summer) . . . . .

There is a well-known maxim that you use solar panels in the Med and wind turbines in the Caribbean. Whiskey Bravo got it dead right when he pointed this out to you:

there was plenty of wind, unusually so according to the locals. In 2 weeks it was at least F6 on all but 2 days, when it was down to around F4.

Nuff said! :O



.

 

[RichardS]

We saw 55knots on the mooring at Sopers hole.... Not comfy.

But we did see Kate moss the next day....

And she's probably not very comfy either ....... too boney!

Richard

 

[photodog]

She didn't look to comfy.... We had repaired to the bar early on to sit out the bad weather... And as a consequence got the best table in the place.... A couple of hours into some painkillers her and her mates came in and started eyeing up our table....which was good for a half dozen but just had the two of us on it... So I grabbed a local and his sister (as it turned out...) and got them to sit with us so we wouldn't get shuffled...

.she was wearing a ashmack sort of thing... And it was like 32 degrees... Silly cow. They scowled a bit and then shuffled out...

I didn't recognise her... The misus did. (considering my work I am pretty **** at celeb spotting..)

Turns out the bloke we got to sit with us owned one of the best places in Cane Garden bay, and is some local celeb... So the next week we had a great night There on our anniversary.



Anyways... When we flew back into London... the sun had the exclusive about her and the heroin bloke from tht pop band on the front page... So another opportunity to turn a profit on a holiday missed.