PeppaPig
Well-Known Member
Off to the British Virgin Isles for a couple of weeks, just wondered if folks had any "must see/do" for the area or any other tips etc.? Ta muchly..
BVIs - Top Tips/Places to see etc.?
- Thread starter PeppaPig
- Start date
Halcyon Yachts
Well-Known Member
Ivans stress free bar is worth a visit - iconic BVI destination! You'll have a great time...
Pete
bobupanddown
Well-Known Member
If you like snorkelling "The Baths" is a must and the famous Michael Beans "happy Arrgh show" used to be on marina cay but now in Leverick Bay
http://www.beansmusic.com/
http://www.beansmusic.com/
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Muxey
Well-Known Member
The Baths at virgin gorda +1
Its all under water scenery
Its all under water scenery
Moonshining
Well-Known Member
It depends on what you like, but I'd say definitely try to get to Anegada for a couple of days at least and spend some time chilling at Cow Wreck or Loblolly Bay beaches.
The entrance to the anchorage is a bit tricky, but www.bvipirate.com has good directions and waypoints.
johnphilip
Well-Known Member
Best holiday.
A few years since we went but you will probably go to Virgin Gorda Sound. If so steer clear of the Bitter End Yacht Club, the only unhelpful place in the BVI. Go instead to the Sand Box on Prickly Pear Island. Uninspiring to look at but the best evening ever. Great staff and delicious food.
A few years since we went but you will probably go to Virgin Gorda Sound. If so steer clear of the Bitter End Yacht Club, the only unhelpful place in the BVI. Go instead to the Sand Box on Prickly Pear Island. Uninspiring to look at but the best evening ever. Great staff and delicious food.
PoRL9
Active Member
Soggy Dollar Bar (to say you've been)
Anagada is an absolute must (Say hi to the barracuda in Loblolly bay for me!)
Snorkal over the wreck of the Rhone
The Baths also shouldn't be missed.
Willy T's for a peaceful night's relaxing (er..... sort of)!
Have a fantastic time, and can I crew for you!!!
Anagada is an absolute must (Say hi to the barracuda in Loblolly bay for me!)
Snorkal over the wreck of the Rhone
The Baths also shouldn't be missed.
Willy T's for a peaceful night's relaxing (er..... sort of)!
Have a fantastic time, and can I crew for you!!!
Whiskey Bravo
Well-Known Member
So are we, for the second time, on the 22nd
Snorkelling at the caves just outside The Bight & at the Indians well worth while. Also, as mentioned, The Baths. If you're into climbing there's some great bouldering there as well.
What boat are you in? We're in ''Doctor's Orders'', come and say hello if we coincide.
PeppaPig
Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone for the really quick feedback - I am busy making a list of all the suggestions. AuldSot - thanks for the bvipirate link that is useful; Whiskey Bravo - unknown until we pick up the Sunsail boat (yes, I know....) but will keep an eye out for you and let you know the name of ours when we have it. Looking forward to the odd cool Carib, a spot of rum, oh, and a bit of t shirt and shorts sailing. Only just beginning to feel we can justify the cost when there are so many jobs that need doing on our own boat....but I am sure the sunshine will sort that out! Thanks again folks.
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
First night should be off the beach at coopers Island... good snorkeling to the south of the beach on a reef.....
Good sunset from there...
Get to the baths early.... It can be very crowded if there are any cruise ships in....
As said Anegada is a must....
Sopers hole is a good spot to shelter if the weather gets a bit ****... laundry there... decent grub...
There is a great little bay with two or three moorings near the Indians on Norman Island, just inside Water Point.... one of our favorite spots... not affected by the winds at night that come through the Bight....
Its a lot busier now with the cruise ships.... Avoid the salad at Foxies.... (Food poisoning...)
You can get quite high winds at this time of year... be prepared to reef down and watch for squalls..... make sure you have a light rain coat. If anchoring in Great Harbour in JVD make sure your well dug in.... most yanks cant anchor and if the wind picks up its a bit of chaos...
Sandy spit and Green cay are lovely but very difficult to approach at this time of year with the ground swell...
We prefer to stay in the Marina at Spanish town and visit the baths that way.... getting a bouy and then trying to arse about with the dingy is a PITA... there is also a nice restuarant with pool and view at the top of the baths..
Good sunset from there...
Get to the baths early.... It can be very crowded if there are any cruise ships in....
As said Anegada is a must....
Sopers hole is a good spot to shelter if the weather gets a bit ****... laundry there... decent grub...
There is a great little bay with two or three moorings near the Indians on Norman Island, just inside Water Point.... one of our favorite spots... not affected by the winds at night that come through the Bight....
Its a lot busier now with the cruise ships.... Avoid the salad at Foxies.... (Food poisoning...)
You can get quite high winds at this time of year... be prepared to reef down and watch for squalls..... make sure you have a light rain coat. If anchoring in Great Harbour in JVD make sure your well dug in.... most yanks cant anchor and if the wind picks up its a bit of chaos...
Sandy spit and Green cay are lovely but very difficult to approach at this time of year with the ground swell...
We prefer to stay in the Marina at Spanish town and visit the baths that way.... getting a bouy and then trying to arse about with the dingy is a PITA... there is also a nice restuarant with pool and view at the top of the baths..
Moonshining
Well-Known Member
I forgot to mention - the Arundel distillery at Cane Garden Bay is worth the stroll from the beach. It's the most ramshackle collection of tumbledown stone buildings you've ever seen. You can buy the rum from there (some of the supermarkets stock it too)and it's damned good.
Jeannius
Well-Known Member
In addition to the aforementioned
For snorkelling... Best spots are Monkey Point at the south end of Guana Island. Great Dog and - as long as it isn't too windy - The Indians over near Norman Island.
Marina... You probably won't want to stop in many marinas but, if you only stop at one, then Leverick Bay in North Sound, Virgin Gorda. There is a way to get a marina slip for the same price as a mooring ball $30 if you know the right thing to say when you book. PM or email me and I'll let you in on the secret.
Value for money restaurants... Fat Virgin Cafe in Biras Creek, North Sound VG.
On a friday or Sunday got to The Elm in Cane Garden Bay. Excellent value BBQ $15 and very good live band.
Best food regardless of price, The Dove in Road Town. The place to go at the end of your charter. Really only known to locals. Definitely need to book.
Bobc
Well-Known Member
Agree about the snorkelling at Monkey point & The Dogs.
Anegada for lobster dinner.
Leverick bay in North Gorda Sound has a swimming pool, which can make a pleasant change to swimming in the sea.
Cooper Island Resort does some viscious Long Island Iced Teas (nice location too).
Foxy's on Saturday night (goes on quite late).
Sandcastles (Soggy Dollar), very cool place to chillout for a day. Have lunch there.
Cane Garden Bay is a nice place to spend an evening.
If you go to the Baths, you need to get there pretty early to get a mooring.
Have fun, it's a fab place (kept my boat there for 5 years).
Anegada for lobster dinner.
Leverick bay in North Gorda Sound has a swimming pool, which can make a pleasant change to swimming in the sea.
Cooper Island Resort does some viscious Long Island Iced Teas (nice location too).
Foxy's on Saturday night (goes on quite late).
Sandcastles (Soggy Dollar), very cool place to chillout for a day. Have lunch there.
Cane Garden Bay is a nice place to spend an evening.
If you go to the Baths, you need to get there pretty early to get a mooring.
Have fun, it's a fab place (kept my boat there for 5 years).
neil1967
Well-Known Member
Agree with all the foregoing. One thing not to try is going to the US VI - unless you have a proper US Visa! We tried it this time last year and got turned away by US Immigration at St Johns/Cruz Bay - it seems the US Visa Waiver scheme only applies if you travel on recognised transport such as a ferry or plane. Had to beat a hasty retreat to Sopers Hole!
Neil
Neil
AndrewB
Well-Known Member
It's a pity because USVI is much less crowded, much lower prices, and St Johns in particular has lots of good anchorages, beaches, snorkling, places to see. Also to the west is Culebra, a getaway dream of an island.
But unless you are a Canadian/US citizen, an absolute nono without a visa - and they are troublesome and expensive to get.
Miken
Well-Known Member
Hi
I would be interested in how you are getting there, we are going in April and are flying BA to Antigua then LIAT to BVI. LIAT have just changed their flight schedules so we only have 2 Hours to transfer in Antigua and we are hearing horror story's that will be cutting it fine. It will be our first time to BVI so would be interested in any views
Rgds
Miken
I would be interested in how you are getting there, we are going in April and are flying BA to Antigua then LIAT to BVI. LIAT have just changed their flight schedules so we only have 2 Hours to transfer in Antigua and we are hearing horror story's that will be cutting it fine. It will be our first time to BVI so would be interested in any views
Rgds
Miken
Bobc
Well-Known Member
You've no worries about cutting it fine. Antigua airport is pretty small and it won't take you more tha 30 minutes to get though.
And LIAT are always late anyway...
And LIAT are always late anyway...
PeppaPig
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the extra info everyone. Miken - we are flying on Virgin Atlantic tomorrow and have about a 3 hour lay over in Antgua before the LIAT flight - allegedly... I'll be happy to post up some feedback on the trip when I get back if that may be of interest. it looks like 2 weeks is nowhere near enough, so I suppose we'll have to take our own across...at some stage.....well, that's another story.
Jeannius
Well-Known Member
Have to disagree with BobC I'm afraid. Antigua airport is very small but it is also difficult to negotiate. If two big flights come in close together it can take a long time to get out and back in again to get the LIAT flight.
Once we nearly missed our LIAT connection because it left EARLY! There was bad weather forecast to arrive shortly and the captain didn't want to get stuck so he moved the departure time forward by about 30 mins. They were calling us over the tannoy while we were still queueing to get back in through security.
That was a very rare LIAT experience.... Late flights, cancelled flights, Luggage In Another Town (get it?) is far more common.
Once we nearly missed our LIAT connection because it left EARLY! There was bad weather forecast to arrive shortly and the captain didn't want to get stuck so he moved the departure time forward by about 30 mins. They were calling us over the tannoy while we were still queueing to get back in through security.
That was a very rare LIAT experience.... Late flights, cancelled flights, Luggage In Another Town (get it?) is far more common.
Wandering Star
Well-Known Member
Re Anegada, lovely place and wonderful seafood but on both occasions we've visited it's been spoiled by the elephant sized mosquitoes that appear to smear araldite on their paws. They're a b*gger to remove but maybe we've been unlucky or maybe our poor levels of personal hygiene attracted the blighters but the mossies we became acquainted with were the Devils own. Hiking inland (not far or too strenuous) to see the Flamingos was a good day.
Cheers, Brian.
Cheers, Brian.