TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands BVI 1st trip - Tortola - Sugar Mill Hotel

Hello Island friends - We are planning a 7-day trip to the BVI's, our first trip after many other stops around the Caribbean.

Considering a seven-night stay at the Sugar Mill Hotel. Also considering their all-inclusive package which includes a day sail, a day trip around the island with picnic lunch, all meals and drinks (breakfast included with room) - $2450 total cost for the all inclusive plan above room cost. Just curious about any experiences staying at the property, especially for an extended stay. Also curious about the value of the all-inclusive.

Welcome any thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your input.

I am biased as I live down the road and the owners and managers are really good friends.That said the place is top notch, amazing food and ambiance.If you use the whole total package I think its a good deal..if you plan some meals away etc maybe not so much.The daysail and island tour are great fun ( I have done the island tour just for the amazing picnic lunch)..Dinner upstairs in the old Mill is a rare treat, and I live in Sonoma Ca when I am not here.I promise you whatever you choose you will not be disappointed. My advice? Book direct and you will deal with either Rupert or Andrea who will make it seamless.Hope to see you there ..

To ME, I would never do a/i. Especially visiting an island for the first time, I would not want to basically force myself to eat there all the time, in order to not 'waste' money. That is not a knock on Sugar Mill at all, just my ingrained prejudice against a/i.

Carol I agree 100% As Malcom’s said Sugar Mill is top notch. BUT I will never do an AI as you would not explore the local cuisine like Patricia’s, Omar’s, Upstairs at Leverick Bay, cBannakeet and many others. We like to explore and not feel captive to a property because you paid for everything up front.

With one week..you have on day tour of the whole island..and one day tour of offshore islands so you are not "stuck" therefor seven days. It would not be my choice but for a first time visitor it is impossible to sample everything...

Let me clarify again I was referring to dining. Most are not going to pay for AI dining then go off property to pay for a lunch/dinner. Each to their own.

Its Wed and my favourite soup night at The Sugar Mill.They make a fish chowder,loaded with lobster, shrimp and white fish in a cream sauce, served in a bread bowl made on the premises.It is a whole meal believe me..maybe a little room left for their fresh key lime pie!

Rick--yes, I was referring to dining there all the time. It skews your view of the island in general.

Very nice place. Is that 2450 + the cost of the room? and for each person? I am not an A/I person either but unless you have a car you would not be able to get around to all the other restaurants anyway. I wonder if your picnic lunch is at Smuggler's Cove? For your first time at least you will experience getting out on the water with the day trip. Bet when you come back the 2nd time you will want to visit the other islands. I know it is hard to do in 7 days. I recommend taking the ferry over to JVD for a day you are close to West End ferry very easy to do a day trip there and if your picnic lunch is not at Smuggler's Cove then you are very close to that as well nice beach day.

We will be coming for a land trip this time for 10 days and will be staying on Anegada, JVD and CGB whew. But I think it is going to be our last trip for a while and this is what we did our very 1st trip back in I think 2008 and after visiting all over the caribbean we always come back to BVI. Have fun!

The Sugar Mill has a good website explaining it all for those interested.The picnic lunch,BTW,is usually at Brewer's Bay and for me was worth the price of the tour alone. Great food, bubbles and vino