Virgin Virgin Islander Seeking Knowledge and Wisdom

Greetings! I am new to this forum, have never traveled to the Virgin Islands, and have a solo trip planned for December 28, 2018, through January 2, 2019. I will be staying in St. Thomas in the East End / Red Hook area, and I am looking to meet new friends and gain knowledge and wisdom from those of you that are willing to share it with a newbie like me. A little background. Like a lot of people, my trip to the islands was prompted by the song "Somewhere In The Sun" by Kenny Chesney, specifically the lyrics:

Oh I wish I was there tonight on Jost Van Dyke
Sipping on some Foxy's Firewater rum
Or kickin' back with Ivan
With all my friends down in the islands
Wouldn't take much for me to up and run
To another life somewhere in the sun

You get the picture. So I decided, what better way to close out a particularly challenging year than to be at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke on New Year's Eve, sipping on some Foxy's Firewater Rum with 2000 of my closest friends? :^) I will also be doing some excursions from St. Thomas to the BVI and plan to take the ferry over to St. John. I will have some time to tour St. Thomas as well, and would like to get "the inside scoop" about places to go, people to meet, things to do, etc.. Your guidance would be most appreciated!

From a totally biased point of view..I would suggest an overnight or two on St Thomas and then base yourself on Tortola where you can ferry hop to JVD, Virgin Gorda and even Anegada.

Thank you! I am looking at this first trip as a "scouting trip" of sorts so I will be looking for ways to plan my next trip. This is a very helpful suggestion - I will take the ferry to Tortola and check it out!

You can also take a direct ferry on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from St thomas to Virgin Gorda and return the same day - rent a car or taxi to the baths and north sound.

Thank you! I can see already how this thread is going to be a great travel guide on my trip!

I agree with Malcolm (Manpot) - get yourself a place to stay on Tortola if it’s the BVI’s you want to explore! You are not there for very long so best to make the most of it! Would be much easier to get to/from the Old Year’s Eve celebration. Have fun! A word of warning....it’s addictive.....

As Mal said base yourself on Tortola. Easy access to the other islands. Besides JVD and Virgin Gorda, a day on Anegada is worthwhile. Have a great trip. You will love it and you will go back.

Thank you Bridget and NDFAN! I have planned my trip around staying in St. Thomas, but I am beginning to get the impression that I need to change my plans to stay on Tortola instead. I will likely be using Airbnb as I did for St. Thomas. Any suggestions on what part of Tortola would be best to stay in? Someplace with some decent night life nearby? I'm kind of laughing at myself as I ask these questions because I am quite sure that you all have ready for answers for me!

I forgot to add - I am also going to need to over to JVD and back for the NYE party. Any suggestions on who to go with? Currently scheduled with Dolphin Water Taxi out of St. Thomas.

If you're going to stay on Tortola instead of St. Thomas, you can just take the ferry. $25 round trip from West End.

Simple. cheap, clean and right on the beach.." Rhymer's" in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola

The only place I have stayed on Tortola is Cane Garden Bay. Jason can tell you more of what is available there now post hurricanes. But I always thought it was a good central point.

Does Foxy still run his NYE shuttle to CGB?

Jason's place, Agape, would be perfect if he is back in business when you want to go..otherwise Rhymer's is a good choice.

In Cane Garden Bay, there are a few places open. Rhymers is right on the beach and has a restaurant and bar. Cane Garden Bay Cottages are also open and directly across the street from the cemetery. Grand K Suites has some rooms and is right next to the grocery store at the base of our driveway. Lighthouse Villas are open and next to Quito's. Seven Peaks villas is available.

A little farther up the hill, Carrie's Island Comfort Inn is open and Stanley's may have a few guest rooms but most have converted to long term rentals.

The hotel at Myett's is scheduled to be open next month.

Other's that look ready but I don't know about for sure are: Columbus Sunset Apartments and Mongoose Apartments.

Thank you all. I checked out each and every one of the suggestions above and the only one that I could not contact was Rhymers. For some reasons my calls aren't going through and I can't find an e-mail address for them or a web site. They appear to be open, but I can't check rates and availability for 12/28 through 1/2. The others looked great though most appear to be out of my price range for this trip. I may do a combination of a couple of nights on St. Thomas and the rest on Tortola if I can get in touch with Rhymers which appears to be the best option. Jason, do you know the folks at Rhymers? Any way I can find out how to get in touch with them? Looks like a great location!!

Phone call is by far he best way to get Rhymer's..Google them and lots of info shows up including their phone #.Price wise they are hard to beat for being in a spectacular location

Thank you! May just be an issue with their phone service right now. I will keep trying!

For Rhymers call 284-547-4639.

Thank you Jason. Not long after I posted the message above I got an email from Patsy at Rhymers. What a nice lady! I am pleased to report that I am booked! I very much appreciate all of the suggestions, I would have never known to stay on tour Tortola instead of Saint Thomas. Thanks to all of you, and to Susan Zaluski at Foxy’s for suggesting I join this group in the first place!

By the way, I failed to mention, I was right, they are having problems with their phones at Rhymers. Looks like email is the best way to contact them right now short of showing up at their front door!

I was sitting there with Patsy Rhymer tonight having dinner telling her your woes when you finally got through. She was trying to register on TTOL when you popped up..someone owes me a cold one for all of this!

That’s so awesome! I had no idea I had a direct line through you! Drinks on me when I get there! :^)

Just the first one! Patsy is a terrific lady who, like the rest of us, was hit hard by Irma..but she is one of the first to get her place back running and even better than ever. We stayed there every time til we bought our home in Apple Bay. It is hard to beat the price as the place is right on the sand..Looking forward to meeting you.

We love staying at Rhymers, directly on the beach with a large upper patio to soak it all in. The rooms are outdated, but kept very clean. Everyone there will be family by time you leave. Have a great time.

It’s a deal But be forewarned, after the first one I have a habit of losing count. :^) Looking forward to meeting you as well my new friend, and Patsy, and everyone else. This is shaping up to be precisely the kind of adventure I had hoped it would be.

That is exactly the experience I am looking for! The only thing I have to compare it to would be Key West, where I have been going for over 20 years. It has always been a place for me that I knew I could find friends the moment my feet touched the ground. As much as I love Key West, it’s time to broaden my horizons. So looking forward to becoming a part of the Island family.

We will be at Agape Cottages while you are on Tortola and will be finishing up our renovations and preparing the cottages for guests. Take a walk up the hill and say hello. Our driveway is just past the grocery store on the left if you are walking on the road from Rhymers to Myetts. The views from our property are great!!

Looking forward to seeing you.

Sunny regards,
Jason

Thank you Jason! You can count on it! I checked out your property, it is BEAUTIFUL! Definitely a place to stay on a future visit when I am not traveling alone. So looking forward to meeting you and making new friends I can share with others on my return trip!

~Dan

View from the upstairs patio

[img]http://IMG_1821_zps69byj4sq[/img]

I can't seem to post the picture, not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Nor sure Colleen, I have only been a member for 5 days so my technical expertise is about as vast as my knowledge of the USVI/BVI! :^)

I've been a member for 17 years, but I still can't figure it out! It doesn't seem to be working how it use to.

Hello,
Could I please get the email address for Rhymers? I've tried calling but it doesn't go through.

Last month this one worked for me.

rhymers@surfbvi.com

This is the correct e-mail address. I have been communicating with Patsy Rhymer using that e-mail address for the past couple of days. I think they are having some difficulty with their phone system so be patient - she is very nice and will get back to you.

Look forward to seeing the pictures when you get it figured out! :^)

Great advice. Otherwise the BVI experience is very limited.

Foxy's Charters (http://www.foxyscharters.com/) just got back to me and said they are offering r/t service from Pusser's in West End Tortola to Jost Van Dyke departing at 6:00 p.m. and returning at 1:00 a.m.. The cost is $150 per person. You can e-mail them at info@foxyscharters.com.

Just an FYI, the regular ferry also leaves from Sopers and will run past 1am. $25/person.