TravelTalkOnline Forums Trip Reports (Read Only) BVI Trip Reports and Photos Trip Report - Days 1-2 Tortola

This was our second trip to the BVI. Last year we spent most of our time on Jost Van Dyke and loved it but returned with DIF and had to make another trip to calm the symptoms. <br><br>Day One - Flights to EIS<br>Our day started with a very early morning flight to Detroit for a connection to San Juan. We found the new NWA terminal at Detroit to be a huge improvement but it’s very long. About halfway through our walk from gate 70-something to gate 30-somethings we realized we could have taken the new train but decided was nice to stretch our legs before boarding for a long flight. We boarded on time and all looked well but had a little delay due to a missing cover for an escape slide and a woman traveling alone that needed emergency medical help. We’ve wondered about this lone traveler periodically and hope she was able to continue her travels. We left Detroit about 30 minutes late but made up some time in the air and arrived in San Juan about 5 minutes late. We had booked 3 hours for our connection in San Juan based on advice from this board. Even though we had plenty of time we went straight to the American Eagle gates hoping to catch an earlier flight to EIS. There was no line and we checked in, listed standby for the earlier flight and about 40 minutes later we were taking off. I’m not sure that would have been possible if we would have checked bags. Despite it being very overcast, we enjoyed looking down at all the islands and anticipating being part of what was below.<br><br>Soon we arrived at the new airport. The old building was almost all the way down but still resembled a building. We breezed through customs and immigration and were outside to catch a cab. While waiting to leave we looked around for a payphone to make dinner reservations. Since there aren’t payphones at the airport a cabdriver let us use his mobile phone. After the rest of the passengers made it outside we were put in a van to share a ride to Frenchman’s Cay (FC) on the West End. Our first stop was to pick up our driver’s beautiful little girl. She was about 4 years old and all smiles the whole way. We stopped at Prospect Reef and then to Frenchman’s. We checked in and walked around the property and then were off to the Jolly Roger for great drinks and food for hungry a hungry couple of travelers. We hung out until the band was just starting to play but after such a long day we were ready for some rest and walked back to FC. I forgot how dark night is outside a city. We enjoyed a nice breeze until a couple little storms came through in the middle of the night and we had to race around and close down the windows and then open them after the storm passed and then close them when another came through. We repeated this scenario many more nights. <br><br>Day 2 – Tour around Tortola<br>We had made prior arrangements with Denzel Clyne for an 8:00 AM pick up. At 8:00 we received a call and at 8:10 they were outside to give us a ride to get the Suzuki. We had a two door soft-top but were told not to take the top off which was fine because of several showers throughout the day. As soon as the car was ours we were off to Carrot Bay to the North Shore Shell Museum for breakfast. While waiting for our breakfast we enjoyed chatting with a couple from Dallas. We all had wonderful banana pancakes with guava syrup. We walked around a bit and looked at the signs and shells. When we left it was starting to rain so we spent time exploring Tortola’s roads. We didn’t think they were that bad…the switch backs are fun but not bad. We made it to Roadtown and did a bit of shopping and picked up a few groceries and Champagne for our upcoming anniversary at Bobby’s. By that time it was early afternoon and the sun was starting to peak out so we went all the way back to FC to put up the groceries and grab the snorkeling gear. While driving we decided that we wanted to try snorkeling at Brewer’s Bay. When we arrived the clouds were back and it didn’t look like the sun was going to shine for a while. We had a couple Caribs at the bar and then decided to try snorkeling sun or no sun. Brrrrrr! I assured my husband he’d get used to the water temperature but he didn’t by it. While in the water it started pouring so we got out and headed for cover to wait it out. It didn’t let up so we toweled off and decided to head back to FC to hang out and clean up for dinner at C&F. Our dinner at C&F was wonderful! We had ribs and dolphin. The ribs were fantastic!! On the way back we stopped at the taxi stand at the WE ferry dock and found the stand closed but found a taxi that said they could give us an early ride to the airport. We didn’t have a name or number and wondered if we’d have trouble but didn’t worry because -no worries while on vacation. <br><br>To be continued - Anegada for three nights and then to VG for four....