1st BVI trip ??

We will be making our 1st BVI trip the 1st week of May. The Capt. has done previous trips but not recently. Our initial plans are: Nanny Cay to White Bay, Sandy Cay, CGB, Scrub, Saba, Bitter end/baths, Manchionel bay, great harbor, the Indians & Bight. I have read about the dining prices of eg. $60.00 for a pizza etc. NUTZ (I think) With that said, I am looking for recommendations for beach side bars for lunch, bar food and drink at reasonable prices. You go out for dinner, you expect to pay the island rate for the dinner and ambiance of the establishment. However, an occasional quickie sandwich and beer are always nice. Thanks, for any and all recommendations. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

I can tell you that many of the places you are choosing are among the more expensive stops. Scrub, Saba, Bitter, Cooper, Peter. Not to dissuade you from going any of those places, just pointing that out.

I'm sure others will chime in with some favorite places to eat. We tend to not worry too much and just eat wherever we happen to be when we are hungry. We also tend to nibble more and split a sandwich and fries at times or just split an appetizer at the next spot. We find there is so much to do and that the weather and activity have us less hungry than usual. So, we just kind of eat in smaller amounts throughout the day rather than sticking to the three meals a day deal.

I second the above comments -- and will add that it's a good idea to plan for breakfasts and lunch and/or happy hour nosh on board and provision accordingly if you're interested in saving cash. That way, you can do as suggested above and just grab a bite here and there wherever you are. You DO have some of the pricier spots on your list.

Was there a cheap place to eat somewheres in the BVI?

If so, I never found it.

Buffet at peter island. That's not expensive if your friend is treating

Nito's Chicken Bus....
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to TTOL TampaBob! I'm sure you can pay $60 for a pizza somewhere in the BVI. However, that's not been our experience. You can find nice lunch entrees at many of the places you mentioned for $20 or less. We typically eat out for lunch and have dinner on the boat. I've attached a link to the bar menu at Leverick, I notice Leverick is not on your list, I would recommended it. Its a fun place with awesome hosts!

http://www.leverickrestaurant.com/cove-and-bar-menu.html

Enjoy your trip planning!

Tony

Thanks all for the insights. Mardi Gras/Tony thnx fer da link, that's what I am looking for. As well as different ports of call to consider. I was not looking for CHEAP eats and grog but reasonable which Leverick seems to be. Hey, it's the Islands & Vacation. We are going for sun, fun and clear water to swim/snorkel in. Prior to posting, I had researched posts through page 30 looking for trip reports and suggestions on shore activities etc. I mentioned $60.00 pizza as I found that in one trip report IIRC, it was somewhere at Jost. I may be wrong, but my experience at other islands like SXM, the beaches tended to be lined with beach bars and I am trying to narrow down some of the searching prior to arrival. At Orient beach, SXM you can walk a couple of miles checking out beach establishments as well as 7 mile beach in Jamaica. Just looking for time saving suggestions from those that have been there before. We only have 10 days and there are probably 60 Islands in the BVI. Can't do them all on the 1st trip but experienced suggestions are always useful.

Thanks all,
Bob

Struggling Mans Place/Tortola

Probably the closest you'll find to that is White Bay on Jost, and Cane Garden Bay. You can't go wrong with either!

BTW, are you the same "TampaBob" from the old Negril forum? Even if not, welcome to TTOL from this Tampa BVI lover! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We do happy hours at the bar and dinner on the boat. Saves a lot of money that way, especially with kids.

You will not have a ton of choices but usually a few good ones.

I'm just about to post my restaurant reviews from our trip last week. I included our tab costs just for folks like you (and others) who might be looking for a general idea of costs. Hope it helps!
Julie

LOL Debbie, No I was not on the Negril forum, CN or Couples Negril yes. That must have been an imposter! White bay/Jost & CGB are our first few stops and I have done most of my research on those thus far. That is probably why I had gotten that impression. Very odd and I can't really explain why we have never been to the BVI but every thing around it.

Bob <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Best deal on virgin Gorda....Island Pot.....ribs and 2 sides $10 but BYOB

Cottagegirl/Julie

Fantastic, Thanks I look forward to reading it. We being the retired couple of the group have been (by default) assigned the research portion of the vacation. We want to/ need to provision prior to cruising. Just making some tentative shore bar crawl and eating estimates and possibilities. The one thing I have found through experience is you don't want to over provision which can be easily done. I can pretty much figure on breakfast aboard but from then on, who knows. After a day of fun, sun and swimming/snorkeling I for one find it difficult to get down to the business of preparing meals and that beach bar over there will become very enticing for ease in a sandwich, burger, fish & chips whatever and while consuming that...a few beers or other libation. Not to mention, with breakfast, a possible late lunch for me the only thing needed the rest of the day would be cheese n crackers with Vino. All that said, if a lunch is going to run $35-$40 each we would probably prefer a sandwich on the boat and do dinner with entertainment ashore.

Bob

Looking forward to CottageGirl's report. We usually eat a light breakfast on board something for lunch just to hold us off enough until dinner. We like dinner ashore it makes for a nice evening after a day on the boat. The prices I don't think are that bad I go out a lot in Cape May NJ and the prices there are the same if not higher than the restaurants in the BVI. I have a Chez Bono menu in my phone I can attach if someone is interested.

Cheers tampabob,

Don't forget to pick up a TTOL flag to run up your party halyard so fellow TTOLers will recognize you.
Or just use the special handshake... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
[color:"red"]Warning: This could result in a drain on your beer and rum supply ![/color] <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />