TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Pros and Cons

I was debating with a friend the Pros and Cons of BVI chartering this spring and wanted some first hand opinions. We all know the Pros, that’s why this website exists, I just wanted some feeedback on his two cons...

1. Crime: He claims crime is up and even cited newly published murder rates. I find this a non issue, and slightly insulting, but having not been there recently, who knows? I would assume that even if true, it is obviously a human nature aspect given what the islands have been through, affecting locals only for the most part.

2. Payment options: According to “some” accounts, lines are still down and many places can’t run credit cards. This allegedly means one has to carry cash for incidentals, which we all know could run into the thousands for a crew of 4 to 8. It was said that traveling with that much cash can be uncomfortable, especially when you don’t know how much to bring.

Any thoughts?

This December will be our 7th BVI charter, we’ve never locked our boat while ashore and never locked our dinghy either, never had a problem.
I was told by a recent diver that the Rhône hull collapsed and you can’t swim through it anymore, can this be true?

1) I was there in February. Murder rate is up. Our taxi driver said that it's typically fights among young guys over a girl.

While it's sad, should not impact a charter.

2) we had no issues with credit cards

3) I understand that the part of the Rhone that collapsed was the area around the Jaqueline Bisset hatch.

We always lock the dinghy as dinghy theft has been high for years. Especially at trellis and cane garden.

I have heard nothing but positive experiences from our clients! Yes, it is not the same as it was this time last year, but we have all made great strides forward with businesses re-opening, and the sea is as beautiful as ever! Local business looks forward to your support, and I personally believe you will have the same experience you have had in the past to keep you coming to our beautiful Country!

We returned our charter boat this morning and loved our trip.

We never felt uncomfortable or unsafe with regards to the question about murders.

As far as cash, there were 6 of us. One couple took $1200, another took $2200 and we took $800 (because we forgot to get more cash at the airport). We were fine. There were a couple of times we paid on a card and the friends paid us cash and we still left with cash in our pocket.

Leverick marina wasn't taking cards, but the restaurant did take cards. So did the store at Leverick. Other places on VG took cards: Top of the Baths, Coco Maya, grocery stores

On Jost everywhere took cards except Gertrude's. Foxys, Soggy, Hendos

Cooper took cards.

It was a fantastic trip and we even surprised ourselves by spending 4 nights in the North sound.

It's sad to go home as the people were all so welcoming.

Regarding credit cards, just returned and used credit cards at the following for dining & drinking: Capriccio Di Mare, The Club at Norman Island, Leverick Bay Restaurant, Potter's by the Sea, Big Bamboo, Scrub Island Resort, Foxy's and Hendo's.

Just back from six weeks of fixing CRC in Little Apple Bay. I think Rhymers on CGB was the only place not taking credit cards. The ATM at Myett's never worked but the banks in RT had $$ in their ATM's. As for crime..the murders all seem to be somewhat related and did not involve tourists..or even ( I believe BVI Islanders). The police commissioner seemed to jump on this fast too from what I heard. That said..police presence on Tortola was minimal with the scooter boys being the biggest danger to themselves..and anyone who got in their way! Instead of fining tourists for not wearing seat belts its time to go after these guys for no helmets, texting on the move ( really!) , no insurance and no licenses.

Thanks everyone for the info, much appreciated.

Regarding dinghy theft, I always assumed most were just cases of mistaken identity. In reality, most charter dinghies have the company’s name stenciled on in big letters, what’s a serial dinghy thief to do with the bounty? Anyone heard of dinghies being stolen and then spotted days or weeks later on the island? Especially when one reports their dinghy was taken from one of the “problem areas”, you’d think it would be easy to track down the culprits. I’ve been hearing the same warnings about CGB since we started coming in 2005, is there some crime ring that pays off the police and charter companies to look the other way on an underground dinghy market? Or is it more about the outboard engines, and there’s a pile of deflated dinghies rotting somewhere on Tortola? This is in jest to be sure, but it still makes me wonder...

Read the local bvi news. Police catch the culprit. Judge sends them to jail for a short time and after release, they are back at it.

Dinghies are taken for the most part by kids joy riding or by someone who wants transportation from A to B and abandons the dinghy on arrival. Now and then they get some dinghy theft for profit and it’s about the outboard motors. They are removed for sale and the dinghy is discarded.