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Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS #262383
08/12/2021 07:22 PM
08/12/2021 07:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 72
Vancouver, BC
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bernk Offline OP
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bernk  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 72
Vancouver, BC
Hi everyone. I'm clutching on to the hope that this November we might make it to the BVI for the first time, but only just. This trip has started to feel like trying to force a square peg through a round hole.

We had flights booked into STT but United has cancelled some of the legs. I have the option of rebooking or getting a refund. As such I'm back to looking at flights. At this point all of the flights from Vancouver (YVR) are quite brutal, with 2-3 stops just to get to STT. I've started considering flying "directly" to EIS on Beef Island. Does this have any advantages or disadvantages concerning the entry or exit requirements? Is my intuition to maybe avoid the ferry sound? The flights to EIS are a bit more expensive, but this would allow us to forgo the ferry and an Airbnb night. In the end the cost might be about the same. We definitely won't have any checked luggage, if that makes a difference.

Thanks all!

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Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262389
08/12/2021 08:16 PM
08/12/2021 08:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 74
NY
Thistle Offline
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Thistle  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 74
NY
With such a long trip with connections, you might want to simplify it a bit and shorten the traveling by chartering out of St. Thomas and sailing into the BVI. I've had a great experience with CYOA. You'll spend less time traveling to and from the boat and more time actually enjoying your vacation.

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262392
08/12/2021 09:13 PM
08/12/2021 09:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
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RatmansWife Offline
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RatmansWife  Offline
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Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
We almost always fly through San Juan. I see that American has cheap flights from Vancouver to San Juan with one stop in Dallas, arriving at 11pm. Stay in the airport hotel and catch a morning flight to Beef Island.

How many people in your group?

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262411
08/13/2021 07:28 AM
08/13/2021 07:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
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JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Especially for West coast trips (I used to commute to Seattle weekly), I highly recommend flying to EIS. The ferry gets you into an island mode a little faster but after traveling so long I really just want to get there. Flying thru SJU to EIS is now my preferred route. I prefer to staying in the more efficient airport system instead of transferring to the ferries, there are multiple carrier options in case something goes wrong, no dealing with the crappy airport in STT, much better/reliable TSA Pre-check and Global Entry options, multiple food/drink options for the layover, etc... By the time I factor in taxis, tips, ferry cost, and baggage fees I find EIS to be the same cost.

From Seattle, I would break the trip into 2 days because I needed to work on Thursdays at least part of the day. Thursday was Seattle to Atlanta; stay overnight at one of the airport hotels connected to the Sky Train. Friday morning, first flight to SJU, then a connection to EIS. Was usually on the beach for lunch.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262420
08/13/2021 09:24 AM
08/13/2021 09:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 168
The Beautiful BVI
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Brent Offline
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Brent  Offline
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The Beautiful BVI
Ahoy Captain,

You may want to consider a Red Eye through Toronto, a morning flight to SXM, and then hack an afternoon flight on Winair to the BVI (EIS)
You may want to consider a short overnight at FLL.
FLL has many hotels close to the airport under $100 Night with a free airport shuttle.
FLL has discount Airlines that now fly to SJU and STT.
FLL has several early flights to SJU with connecting midday flights to EIS.

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262448
08/13/2021 01:10 PM
08/13/2021 01:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,557
Toronto, Ontario
gordaguy2 Offline
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gordaguy2  Offline
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Toronto, Ontario
Most of our relatives are on the west coast and they have flown the YVR to SJU route then on to EIS - it's a bit pricier than STT but it gets you there faster and with less stress.


GordaGuy2
Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: Thistle] #262451
08/13/2021 01:27 PM
08/13/2021 01:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 72
Vancouver, BC
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bernk Offline OP
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bernk  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2019
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Vancouver, BC
Thanks for the replies!

Changing where we charter is not an option at this point. Our charter and dates are fixed, which limits our flight options considerably.

It's just my girlfriend and I flying. Our charter group is four total, but our arrivals and departures are staggered.

Jason, thank you for your detailed insight. If we fly to EIS will we only have to clear customs once? My understanding is that flying to STT we would have to clear customs there, and again in the BVI. I'm not too worried about the entry as we have plenty of time. Our first night is a sleep aboard on the boat. I am worried about the exit with the testing requirements. I'd like to simplify that as much as possible.

Right now the itinerary I'm liking the most looks like this:

Outbound:
17:48 Vancouver > 18:50 Seattle
2h 55m wait
19:45 Seattle > 06:00 1Newark (next day)
2h 20m wait
08:20 Newark > 13:23 San Juan
2h 52m wait
16:15 San Juan > 17:00 Beef Island

Return:
12:00 Beef Island > 12:45 San Juan
3h 15m wait
16:00 San Juan > 19:50 Toronto
2h 30m wait
22:20 Toronto > 00:38 Vancouver


Scratch that. I made the mistake of leaving the number of travers set to one. It appears that itinerary is not available for two.

When looking at flights for 2 it appears there is a much better option into STT… How much more horrible is it, really, to come in through STT and have to deal with the ferries. We will only have one small backpack each. Are there any gotchas I might not be aware of?

Last edited by bernk; 08/13/2021 01:43 PM.
Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262459
08/13/2021 02:48 PM
08/13/2021 02:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
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JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
It's not horrible at all. I just prefer SJU but even I will take STT for a better itinerary/price. I'm assuming you'll clear into the US in Seattle or somewhere before STT. If so, there's no immigration requirement there. On the ferry route, you'll just clear when the ferry docks in Tortola.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262463
08/13/2021 03:28 PM
08/13/2021 03:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343
Washington DC
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bailau Offline
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Washington DC
I prefer SJU as well...if you leave from STT to go back and it is on a weekend make sure you get there in plenty of time and use your global entry if you have it and get and tip a porter to guide you through it

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262468
08/13/2021 03:51 PM
08/13/2021 03:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 72
Vancouver, BC
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bernk Offline OP
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bernk  Offline OP
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Vancouver, BC
Roger. Thank you guys.

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bailau] #262650
08/16/2021 02:00 PM
08/16/2021 02:00 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 663
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13 Offline
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caribbeangirl13  Offline
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Posts: 663
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
Originally Posted by bailau
I prefer SJU as well...if you leave from STT to go back and it is on a weekend make sure you get there in plenty of time and use your global entry if you have it and get and tip a porter to guide you through it


You actually don't need the porter if you have global entry...they use the same line now.


Sue
s/v Ripple
Leopard 40

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Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: bernk] #262778
08/18/2021 10:31 AM
08/18/2021 10:31 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
UncleLuff Offline
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UncleLuff  Offline
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Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
Coming in from Canada (Ottawa) and will be flying to San Juan and then direct to EIS. I have done the flight to STT and then taxi ferry, customs, etc 2 times once with the whole family and I can say - never again if I can avoid it. Just feels like a non-funny version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Also with the ferry service and flights and requirements to be at the STT airport so early - staying over on St Thomas, the night before seems to be a must - which means one less day in BVIs.

This time flying into EIS - walkover to Trellis and take the ferry to Scrub island and get onboard our DYC yacht. Plus, on the way back staying over one night at Scrub and using there facilities for the day (yes I know $$$$$!) and then flying out at noon the next morning is a no brainer!

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: UncleLuff] #262780
08/18/2021 11:36 AM
08/18/2021 11:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 962
Middleburg, VA
cwoody Offline
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cwoody  Offline
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Posts: 962
Middleburg, VA
We booked a charter in the BVI for June 2020. Finally getting there in January 2022.
We are flying into EIS. Early on (in this covid mess) , this was the only way to get into the BVI.

When possible we prefer the "hybrid" approach.
Charter out of STT and sail over to BVI. Lots of benefits to this itinerary.
With the $$ we save on the ferries/taxis and/or direct flights into EIS, we add a couple of days onto the charter.
Add a day on the front and back to do St John anchorages and 7 days in BVI.

Guess someday, when the borders open back up for sailing back and forth, we will revisit this option.


Chuck W.

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: UncleLuff] #262786
08/18/2021 01:56 PM
08/18/2021 01:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
CottageGirl Offline
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CottageGirl  Offline
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Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
We love staying at Scrub Island. Have done it on charter in the marina and land based for a few days.

Re: Flying from YVR to STT vs EIS [Re: CottageGirl] #262832
08/19/2021 09:05 AM
08/19/2021 09:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
UncleLuff Offline
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UncleLuff  Offline
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Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
Originally Posted by CottageGirl
We love staying at Scrub Island. Have done it on charter in the marina and land based for a few days.


Nice - Never been myself and can't wait I am sure the better-halves will enjoy the facilities on day 1 and the night in luxury after 7 days on the yacht. (not that 7 nights on a brand new Elba 45 is slumming it!)


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