Posted By: bailau
Trip Report - Land Based JVD Scrub 12/11-12/20 - 12/24/2021 03:25 PM
Some travel notes...1st BVI land based in many years
Many of the small businesses are really hurting so we tried to get around JVD and support the economy...also masks for visitors are nearly non existent on JVD unfortunately. The people are very grateful for you all coming down especially the boaters as they are needed to support JVD.
Trip-
We did our usual DCA-SJU (Jet Blue)-EIS (Island Birds private Charter) and return...Nadia @ Island Birds is world class. No portal at PR and private customs on return.
We used proctored virtual Emed tests within 2 days down and 1 day (note it is days and not hours) to get back. One test was inclusive so bring more tests than you need. I recommend at least 2x tests. You can pay them forward or even sell them down there.
Place-
Visually the islands are on par with pre Irma in terms of vegetation and overall rebuilding...Saba came online and we heard good things from people that went there. Loose Mongoose really looks nice. I hear Bitter End is on this week
Stayed at my longtime friend's Pink House in White Bay for 1 week and Scrub for 2 days so we wouldn't fly out on a Saturday. Pink House is a great locale and base and would go again if not taking a boat.
Also got to enjoy Ratmans wife's Caminoe place one afternoon which was the highlight of the trip...
JVD-
White bay- Hit all 6 places. Tish & Jerry were at Soggy. In one week there were 4 cruise ships but they seemed to stay at their base on the West side of White Bay. Thanks to TTOLer MIDIvr for the drinks on the board. Olga and Gertrude at Gertrude's were delightful and they had the best bushwhacker we tasted. Met Uncle Wendell at Coco Locos who we recognized by his voice on Soggy Dollar Radio. On Wednesday Ivans has a nice buffet BBQ and they have done a nice job rebuilding. For those that moor in the East end of White Bay it is a great option
Best of White Bay-Hendos. If you can only go to one place this is it. Ghe there is an excellent host and the food is great. They are building some housing as are other groups in White Bay.
Great Harbour -Vinny said Corsairs will be open in a week. He was waiting on some staff. Foxy's is always Foxy's. We avoided the crowds there. If you get a chance Christine's bakery (her daughter) makes some great items and displays by the dock.
Provisioning (Rudy's) - His son Randolph runs the store now. They do have lots of beverages and in general good food items (not much selection) but the supply chain is still an issue. They were especially thankful as apparently the boats are provisioning more at base so his business is down
Floating massage barge-Now in Great Harbour. Dale the owner moved from white bay to reduce the overhead of mooring. Him and Gail to a great job and recommend them highly. He built the barge out of wood recovered from Irma...
Best of Great Harbour-Tipsy Shark and Renee-we were introduced to her by TTOLers in June and went back a few days this trip. The food is excellent and she is an incredible lady.
Little Harbour-went to Abe's. Met Strawberry at Sidneys Peace and Love. Food there is good and they have done a nice job of rebuilding
Best of Little Harbour-Cynthia at Harris's is the personality of the island. We hadn't seen her since pre Irma but she continues to be one of the funniest unfiltered people on the island and the food was great. She may add more back to Harris's as she continues to run Harris's which her dad started in 1981.
Diamond Cay-Foxy's taboo is rebuilt and looks good. There was a north swell so we went to see the bubbly pool which was good as well. This has become one of our preferred harbors to moor to avoid the crowds of Great Harbour
Best of Diamond-Angie at BLine had a great lunch spread.
Hope this helps you on your trips and thanks to all you TTOLers who have made out trips so much better.
Happy Holidays
Many of the small businesses are really hurting so we tried to get around JVD and support the economy...also masks for visitors are nearly non existent on JVD unfortunately. The people are very grateful for you all coming down especially the boaters as they are needed to support JVD.
Trip-
We did our usual DCA-SJU (Jet Blue)-EIS (Island Birds private Charter) and return...Nadia @ Island Birds is world class. No portal at PR and private customs on return.
We used proctored virtual Emed tests within 2 days down and 1 day (note it is days and not hours) to get back. One test was inclusive so bring more tests than you need. I recommend at least 2x tests. You can pay them forward or even sell them down there.
Place-
Visually the islands are on par with pre Irma in terms of vegetation and overall rebuilding...Saba came online and we heard good things from people that went there. Loose Mongoose really looks nice. I hear Bitter End is on this week
Stayed at my longtime friend's Pink House in White Bay for 1 week and Scrub for 2 days so we wouldn't fly out on a Saturday. Pink House is a great locale and base and would go again if not taking a boat.
Also got to enjoy Ratmans wife's Caminoe place one afternoon which was the highlight of the trip...
JVD-
White bay- Hit all 6 places. Tish & Jerry were at Soggy. In one week there were 4 cruise ships but they seemed to stay at their base on the West side of White Bay. Thanks to TTOLer MIDIvr for the drinks on the board. Olga and Gertrude at Gertrude's were delightful and they had the best bushwhacker we tasted. Met Uncle Wendell at Coco Locos who we recognized by his voice on Soggy Dollar Radio. On Wednesday Ivans has a nice buffet BBQ and they have done a nice job rebuilding. For those that moor in the East end of White Bay it is a great option
Best of White Bay-Hendos. If you can only go to one place this is it. Ghe there is an excellent host and the food is great. They are building some housing as are other groups in White Bay.
Great Harbour -Vinny said Corsairs will be open in a week. He was waiting on some staff. Foxy's is always Foxy's. We avoided the crowds there. If you get a chance Christine's bakery (her daughter) makes some great items and displays by the dock.
Provisioning (Rudy's) - His son Randolph runs the store now. They do have lots of beverages and in general good food items (not much selection) but the supply chain is still an issue. They were especially thankful as apparently the boats are provisioning more at base so his business is down
Floating massage barge-Now in Great Harbour. Dale the owner moved from white bay to reduce the overhead of mooring. Him and Gail to a great job and recommend them highly. He built the barge out of wood recovered from Irma...
Best of Great Harbour-Tipsy Shark and Renee-we were introduced to her by TTOLers in June and went back a few days this trip. The food is excellent and she is an incredible lady.
Little Harbour-went to Abe's. Met Strawberry at Sidneys Peace and Love. Food there is good and they have done a nice job of rebuilding
Best of Little Harbour-Cynthia at Harris's is the personality of the island. We hadn't seen her since pre Irma but she continues to be one of the funniest unfiltered people on the island and the food was great. She may add more back to Harris's as she continues to run Harris's which her dad started in 1981.
Diamond Cay-Foxy's taboo is rebuilt and looks good. There was a north swell so we went to see the bubbly pool which was good as well. This has become one of our preferred harbors to moor to avoid the crowds of Great Harbour
Best of Diamond-Angie at BLine had a great lunch spread.
Hope this helps you on your trips and thanks to all you TTOLers who have made out trips so much better.
Happy Holidays