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Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht #277016
03/03/2022 09:49 AM
03/03/2022 09:49 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc Offline OP
Traveler
ndfaninnc  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
Happy Birthday Jason. For the last two years you have been extremely helpful with your local knowledge in helping all of us reach our vacation goals. You have answered all of questions (sometimes multiple times) without hesitation. I personally thank you and hope you have a great birthday. I look forward to buying you drinks at Tipsy's in the near future.


Go Irish!!

Bill

[Linked Image]
BVI Sponsors
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277017
03/03/2022 10:18 AM
03/03/2022 10:18 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline
Traveler
Manpot  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Indeed..happy birthday my friend..One Love.

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277019
03/03/2022 11:15 AM
03/03/2022 11:15 AM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 155
Southeast of Disorder
Time Will Tell Offline
Traveler
Time Will Tell  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 155
Southeast of Disorder
Happy Birthday Jason! Enjoy it in good health and with friends!


Peter
s/y Time Will Tell (2019 Lagoon 42)
peter@syTimeWillTell.com

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277020
03/03/2022 11:45 AM
03/03/2022 11:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 304
California
Sunnykm Offline
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Sunnykm  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 304
California
Jason is the best ambassador for the BVI! My guess is his local knowledge and willingness to answer questions has sent far more people back the BVI than any ad campaign from the islands.

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277022
03/03/2022 11:57 AM
03/03/2022 11:57 AM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
CottageGirl Offline
Traveler
CottageGirl  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
Happy Birthday Jason!

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277024
03/03/2022 12:08 PM
03/03/2022 12:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
R
RatmansWife Offline
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RatmansWife  Offline
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R
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
Happy Birthday! Hope you are gifted with a full cistern.

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277028
03/03/2022 12:26 PM
03/03/2022 12:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
LauraTheTshirtGal Offline
Traveler
LauraTheTshirtGal  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
agree 100% with SunnyKM, Jason is a great Ambassador! Thanks again for all of your help last year, hope to see you both sooner than later this year! Happy birthday to you!!

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277038
03/03/2022 01:36 PM
03/03/2022 01:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,130
M
MIDiver Offline
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MIDiver  Offline
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M
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,130
Happy Birthday Jason!! Your wisdom (and patience!) has been invaluable. Hope to meet you in person one of these trips.

Last edited by MIDiver; 03/03/2022 01:37 PM.
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277054
03/03/2022 07:26 PM
03/03/2022 07:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 23
J
Jon Resnick Offline
Traveler
Jon Resnick  Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 23
Happy Birthday Jason! You've been a great resource as I've planned my 'big trip'. We'll be down March 7-30 (10-30) on the boat. Hope I'll be able to buy you a beer.

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277061
03/03/2022 08:52 PM
03/03/2022 08:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 933
Georgia & South Carolina
D
Deepcut Offline
Traveler
Deepcut  Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 933
Georgia & South Carolina
Happy Birthday, Jason!


Wes
s/v Sea Tiger (2022 Lagoon 46)
www.BareBoatBVI.com

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277066
03/03/2022 10:02 PM
03/03/2022 10:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 583
Oak Park, IL
T
TomGarvey Offline
Traveler
TomGarvey  Offline
Traveler
T
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 583
Oak Park, IL
Happy birthday, Jason! You are indeed a valuable and tireless source of no-nonsense information. Thanks for all you do.


Tom Garvey
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277090
03/04/2022 09:33 AM
03/04/2022 09:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Thanks all! Was an interesting birthday to say the least.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #277097
03/04/2022 10:34 AM
03/04/2022 10:34 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc Offline OP
Traveler
ndfaninnc  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Thanks all! Was an interesting birthday to say the least.


Care to expand on that? Haha! Just hoping it was the good day you deserved.


Go Irish!!

Bill

[Linked Image]
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277102
03/04/2022 11:18 AM
03/04/2022 11:18 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Care to expand on that? Haha! Just hoping it was the good day you deserved. [/quote]
Sure. Was going to post a cautionary note sometime soon anyway.

We purchased Agape Cottages in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola and relocated from the US in January 2017 (over a 3 year process to get approved by the BVI government). As everyone knows, Hurricane Irma visited 8 months later and destroyed the property and shut us down; cautionary tale - consider business interruption coverage. Spent more money to rebuild than to purchase and stayed closed for 18 months. Then along came Irma's bitchy sister, COVID. All rebuilt but the country is now closed for 18 more months; cautionary tale - probably nothing to learn here. 2022 is shaping up pretty well, property is full of guests and CGB is alive again. 9 February I don't feel right great and have weakness on my left side. Feel like the worst possible scenario; health issue on Tortola. Off to Peebles Hospital as it looks like a stroke is possibly going on. They determine (pretty efficiently) that no stroke is happening but there is a brain issue of some sort that needs addressed. Also, they quickly identify that the BVI cannot treat Neuro issues or deal with the likely potential of cancer. Must leave island; cautionary tale - medical evacuation coverage is critical if you want to live/travel somewhere like the BVI with limited resources. No wifi or cell service at the hospital to contact family/friends or organize evacuation efficiently. Saturday, 12 February the cavalry from MEDJET.COM arrives and off we go. Peebles->EIS->SJU (for immigration/fuel) ->FL (more fuel) -> OH (for the Ohio State University Medical Center). Not exactly the 1st private jet experience I was hoping for. 17 February, Neurosurgery to remove a 5-inch brain tumor. Strength and coordination slowly returning. Heading home for a quick break and some sun next week then back to Ohio for a while. 3 March I'm well enough to drive and have a great steak dinner with a great bottle of red wine in a real restaurant (although I would have traded it for Brandywine Estate any day).

Lessons learned:
- get the business insurance
- get the travel insurance; I'm told it was a $50k flight to get to OH; insurance policy is $1k/year.
- get the evacuation insurance that takes you all the way to hospital of choice instead of closest facility; the BVI doctors wanted to send me to Miami where we know nobody
- pick a good hospital.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #277106
03/04/2022 11:44 AM
03/04/2022 11:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
LauraTheTshirtGal Offline
Traveler
LauraTheTshirtGal  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,035
Buffalo, NY
OH wow Jason, so sorry to hear all of that but geez so glad you are "OK" !! Thanks for sharing, sending huge healing vibes and love!!!

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277108
03/04/2022 11:48 AM
03/04/2022 11:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
R
RatmansWife Offline
Traveler
RatmansWife  Offline
Traveler
R
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
Wow! So glad to hear you survived all that and are on the mend. Also happy for the positive feedback on MedJet.

On the business insurance, our neighbors paid that for years. After Irma, they didn't collect a penny. Had to refund $$$$ to booked renters because we had no dock and no electricity. Insurance company said they had water in their cistern and renters could run a generator.

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #277112
03/04/2022 11:58 AM
03/04/2022 11:58 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Wow, wow, wow. Best wishes!!


Carol Hill
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: RatmansWife] #277113
03/04/2022 11:58 AM
03/04/2022 11:58 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by RatmansWife


On the business insurance, our neighbors paid that for years. After Irma, they didn't collect a penny. Had to refund $$$$ to booked renters because we had no dock and no electricity. Insurance company said they had water in their cistern and renters could run a generator.

That's pretty discouraging. Any idea who their carrier was?


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277122
03/04/2022 12:31 PM
03/04/2022 12:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc Offline OP
Traveler
ndfaninnc  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
Holy crap Jason! That is the very least I was expecting to hear from you. Thank you for letting us know. Sounds like you are now on the road to recovery. Prayers to you my friend.


Go Irish!!

Bill

[Linked Image]
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #277126
03/04/2022 01:01 PM
03/04/2022 01:01 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
R
RatmansWife Offline
Traveler
RatmansWife  Offline
Traveler
R
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
CIL was the agent; I can ask who underwrote it.

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277131
03/04/2022 02:10 PM
03/04/2022 02:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 365
New Paltz, NY, Narragansett, R...
skipdastraw Offline
Traveler
skipdastraw  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 365
New Paltz, NY, Narragansett, R...
Happy Birthday and thank you for always helping confused travelers. Prayers for your continued recovery!

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277137
03/04/2022 02:56 PM
03/04/2022 02:56 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline
Traveler
Manpot  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
When you get back I'm buying your birthday dinner!

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277139
03/04/2022 03:15 PM
03/04/2022 03:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,423
Miramichi NB Canada
Sandsailsun Offline
Traveler
Sandsailsun  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,423
Miramichi NB Canada
Happy Birthday and agreed your input , resources and time are so so appreciated !

We will be in CGB April 8-10 . Hope to see you if you are around . Staying at the Elm


Kim

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277251
03/06/2022 10:06 AM
03/06/2022 10:06 AM
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 520
Bay Area
H
Husker Offline
Traveler
Husker  Offline
Traveler
H
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 520
Bay Area
Wow, what a sobering tale, Jason. Glad it was a happy ending. Best wishes for continued recovery and a happy birthday. And many, many thanks for all your invaluable contributions to this forum.

Chris

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277288
03/06/2022 05:32 PM
03/06/2022 05:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 663
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13 Offline
Traveler
caribbeangirl13  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 663
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
Jason: so sorry to hear all of this! Your ability to go with the flow (whether you have a choice or not) and stay positive is inspiring! Thank you for sharing so that we can all send good thoughts your way. We will be at our place on St. Thomas for all of May with a 10 day stint over to the BVI for some sailing. Please let me know if there is anything we can do for you or bring from The States.


Sue
s/v Ripple
Leopard 40

[Linked Image]
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277489
03/09/2022 10:30 AM
03/09/2022 10:30 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc Offline OP
Traveler
ndfaninnc  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
Jason, I know it hasn't quite been a week. But how are you doing my friend? Still in Ohio?


Go Irish!!

Bill

[Linked Image]
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277490
03/09/2022 10:38 AM
03/09/2022 10:38 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by ndfaninnc
Jason, I know it hasn't quite been a week. But how are you doing my friend? Still in Ohio?

Had a nightmare trip back to the BVI thanks to United Airlines. I always fly Delta but booking last minute and really needing 1st class seats, United was my only option (NEVER again). 30 hours after leaving Columbus, we made it back to Tortola. Had my first full nights sleep in 4 weeks in our own bed!

Happy to be home even for a quick break! Thanks for asking.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277492
03/09/2022 11:10 AM
03/09/2022 11:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 7
Forest, Virginia
J
Jodyt Offline
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Jodyt  Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 7
Forest, Virginia
Prayers for a full recovery and an uneventful year ahead! Take care and enjoy the sunshine!

Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #277504
03/09/2022 01:01 PM
03/09/2022 01:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
ndfaninnc Offline OP
Traveler
ndfaninnc  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
Kannapolis, NC
Originally Posted by JasonHelmbrecht
Originally Posted by ndfaninnc
Jason, I know it hasn't quite been a week. But how are you doing my friend? Still in Ohio?

Had a nightmare trip back to the BVI thanks to United Airlines. I always fly Delta but booking last minute and really needing 1st class seats, United was my only option (NEVER again). 30 hours after leaving Columbus, we made it back to Tortola. Had my first full nights sleep in 4 weeks in our own bed!

Happy to be home even for a quick break! Thanks for asking.


Wow. 30 hours from Columbus to Tortola is absolutely ridiculous. Glad you are home. Hope your recovery goes smoother.


Go Irish!!

Bill

[Linked Image]
Re: Happy Birthday Jason Helmbrecht [Re: ndfaninnc] #277506
03/09/2022 01:09 PM
03/09/2022 01:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by ndfaninnc
Wow. 30 hours from Columbus to Tortola is absolutely ridiculous. Glad you are home. Hope your recovery goes smoother.

Yep. Would have been even longer if not for Air Bode Caribbean. It was 29 hour to get to them and then they had us in Tortola and thru Health, Immigration, and Customs in another hour. I know air charters seem very expensive but if you can fill a plane it's worth considering. $420pp one way for SJU-EIS but I see that fare on Cape Air quite frequently. Was a great flight on a nice clean King Air with someone on the EIS end to walk you thru the whole process. We never even spoke to an immigration officer.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com

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