Here are some notes for our recent trip...10 college kids and 7 adults on 2 boats for my 3rd annual college kids BVI tour
First and foremost thanks to all TTOLers who provide great advice and ideas and make these trips so much better
Flights - DCA to SJU Jet Blue Direct. Island Birds Private Charter for 9 of us from SJU to EIS. Great service- met us at gate and we were able to get to EIS and to boat early, provision and get out Sunday night instead of the planned Monday AM. Cost was 25% more than 9 tickets until i realized private charters dont include BVI taxes which going out have been raised to $50 per person. Others in our party took IC with no issues and ferries from STT.
Boat- Took a 514 power cat out bareboating and some friends took same type of boat out with a captain
Base- Moorings was great...they upgraded us to boat < 1 year old and loaded it with goodies and let us get out at 330 Sunday
Trip
Bight, Norman Island - great anchorage with lots of balls and room. Ate at Pirates which has great food albeit pricey. Also note they add "service charge" already so adjust your tips accordingly
White Bay, JVD - better than pre Irma. Hendos really has great food especially a lobster 3 cheese sandwich and is giving Soggy a run for the clients. Gertrudes is also great. Much less activity at One Love and Ivans still has a long way to go
Diamond Cay, JVD - really nice anchorage spot and plenty of balls. Hadn't been there since pre Irma but definitely a nice place as alternate to Great harbour
Leverick Bay, VG - Really a great place and back to pre Irma. Friendly people to help you there and provision. The balls filled up before noon. We used to be Saba/BEYC people but can see continuing to stay at Leverick
Gumptions Necker Island Land Tour - I had my reservations about this one but it really turned out to be a great tour. Spend the extra $25 pp to have him take you from Leverick. Gumption is quite engaging and the kids really enjoyed the lemurs and the flamingo feeding
Baths - we took a taxi down and the Baths are back to pre Irma. Usually we moor but the taxi from Leverick is the way to go. Next time we will work in our our favorite Coco Maya afterwards.
Anegada - Lots of turnover 10-11...boaty ball goes quickly
Kellys Tours - Took 2 boats out for my 5th tour. Great time and beautiful weather and a tour of the reef should be on your list. Flamingoes wernt out for us
Potters - with college kids chose this over Wonky...did not disappoint with a party that went well into the night
next day...
Flash of Beauty - thanks to many of you we went here for the first time. This is a must see snorkel experience. I had everyone use noodles and that extended the experience...chicken Roti is great there and very friendly people
Big Bamboo - we walked there from Flash. very nice place as usual. We decide next time those that want to snorkel would go to Flash and those that didn't would go here and we would catch up.
Cow Wreck - best beach bar in the BVI IMHO. Ann and Andrew are such gracious hosts. They are building some 2 bedroom houses next... Also met 2 TTOLers here.
Cooper Island - I actually got my first boaty ball of my life for the 2nd boat which seemed to lag us and then didnt use it. We ate on the boat while the other boat ate at Coopers. They weren't impressed with food or service. Given that and the boaty ball hassle at Cooper we are actually cutting Cooper next time. Ironically the mooring field looked like a donut as the boatyballs weren't all taken.
Indians - my son said the best snorkeling for marine life that whole week. I took them over by dinghy and circled the Indians watching them snorkel as the currents can be strong
Willie T - a lot of fun for an afternoon stop. I pulled the plug in about 3 hours
Sopers Hole - hadn't been there since pre Irma but we stopped to get water. They are doing a great job and asked us to get the word out that they are coming back
Cane Garden Bay - They have made tremendous progress since October 18 and everyone thought this was a must add stop. Bobby's provisions is one of the best. Quitos was fun and the beach party and music went well after sundown. Plenty of mooring balls. If the dinghy dock was fixed it would be really helpful.
all in all great weather, "trip of a lifetime" according to my collegians and no issues with mooring as we are coming off season. Unfortunately there has been a drought so the islands were actually browner then Feb.
