TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands The limits of price elasticity

This is not the kind of thing I would ever put on FB, because of the inevitable commentary, but a few days ago we thought we'd dinghy over to Saba Rock from BEYC and have a light lunch.

Saba used to be one of our favorite stops and we remember the $2.50 happy hour painkillers. The food was never a bargain, but our boys enjoyed the burgers and the ambiance was always a big part of it. The painkiller is now $17. For a pre-mix "standard" with rum and a couple of simple ingredients.

Looking at the bar food menu, we would have both chosen a salad, but the "appetizer" salad was $21 plus $10 to $12 to add a protein, making this a $33 appetizer salad at informal bar seating.

Eventually, we decided we just couldn't enjoy that and left without ordering and ate aboard.
Not sure what the point is, but somehow it made me sad. Looking over at Saba from BEYC, it almost always looks empty these days. Maybe that's different in the busiest times.

They are, of course, free to set their prices however they like, but for this couple who were once frequent visitors Saba is now just a spot that's pretty to look at and paddle around.

i thought that same thing when we went to Saba 2 months ago ...

Even more in June '21 I took a 514 power cat out for 2 WEEKS and the cost was X. I am going out this Jun with a newer 534 for 8 DAYS and the cost was within a few hundred dollars...

Our beach house rent per week is up 35% over the same time period...

I am lucky and blessed to be able to afford go to the islands but the value and ease of "economic subsititutes" is making it less and less attractive. Ironically at this point I think I would miss the great people we all know more than the islands themselves

I miss the old Saba days as well. And I also agree that the times we have stopped by (last time was literally to buy a dry bag and left) it's been pretty quiet. The food is inconsistent and mediocre at best, drinks expensive and watered down and most of the time the staff is disinterested.
We much prefer BEYC. Their Happy Hour drinks are reasonable and, especially if Saturn is pouring, quite strong!

We had drinks & ate dinner at Saba in March of this year. While we will probably go back for a drink - mostly because the upper deck bar area is a fun place to hang out - I don't think we will dine there. Our waiter at dinner was completely disinterested in serving us. Additionally, at the beginning of the meal we asked if we could get separate checks (4 couples) and he said yes. At the end of the meal he brought one check - when asked if we could just split it 4 ways evenly (trying to make it a little easier than having him redo the check) he instead had each couple come to the register, pick out what they had, and then charged each card. It wasn't the way you'd like to end a pricey dinner.

Sorry to hear about all these bad experiences. We went there for the first time a few months ago and were pleasantly surprised. It was lunch time and the place was packed. We're not big drinkers and one of our party is a recovering alcoholic, so we ordered cucumber tea, which was delicious. I think we shared an appetizer and each had tacos or something. We thought the prices were very fair - at least in comparison to BVI restaurants!

A 6 oz. burger at Cooper Island is $34; at the time I think Marina Cay was charging $28 for a burger. We have tried many of the restaurants. Without alcohol, lunch is seldom less than $30. And that's not lobster!

We called our BVI insurance agent last week to raise our coverage in light of increased building costs. They told us there would also be a 10% price increase, so 25% increase in one year! Our gardener/handyman now costs $265/day. As Bailau says, we're fortunate to be able to enjoy the BVI, but costs are extremely high.

After our third winter land based trip in BVI post Covid on Tortola and Virgin Gorda , we thought same thing, pricing getting very high. Eating out is not a no brained anymore and have to pick our meals at home to help keep it in line. Never used to have that mind set down here. But like others said, it is like that most places though nowadays.
Just the cost of paradise…….

We started land basing on Anegada in 2011. For a week with flights, accommodations, vehicle, food and drink the cost was around $5k for the two of us. Now it is over $8k. Instead of going twice a year we now only go once. But we still go. It is our happy place and our island friends are like family.

Ahoy Captains,

Same prices as 2019 at The Captains Compass.
And Fully Refundable Insurance.

I Need More Quality Cats for Chartering !
Fair Winds, Brent
thecaptainscompass.com Yacht Charters and Management
heatseekerinternational.com 5% Comm and Sales-Tax-Free Yacht Brokerage

Yeah - we are eating on the boat 8 of 10 nights this trip. The increased prices, 18-20% added “service charge” and additional expected gratuity is a bit much.

There can be an odd habit in the BVI: if business is down, increase prices to make up the revenue.

Except they increase the prices to make more in the first place - business is good, so why not take advantage? - then business goes down, then they increase the prices some more to get back to the good times....! Its a mindset! lol

One silver lining(s) to combat the restaurant prices are the "modern galley changes" on the boat. 'I remember the old days" when the fridge/freezer (ice box) was just a ball of ice forming around piece of metal in the freezer/ice box. Turned it on for an hour at a time > keep your frozen items down deep in the freezer (didn't work) and your "keep refrigerated food" toward the top of the freezer (didn't work). Oh yeah, and your meat thawed > blood everywhere in the bottom of the ice box.

These days > AC temp controlled galley, microwave, real propane stove, real fridge-freezer and a modern grocery store at which to shop.

One of the crew brought a blender and Daiquiri mix > threw the finished produce in a small ice chest > went to the beach and made friends everywhere.