TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Itinerary Suggestions April 4-11

Hi,

We are traveling with our two teenagers to the BVI's for spring break. Bare boating. We have sailed the BVI's many times, but our last trip there was in 2015, without kids.

It seems much has changed in way of cruise ships, buoy reservations, and dinner reservations. We would rather not get sucked into cruise crowds or miss out on dinners because we didn't know to plan ahead and make reservations.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

I'm just back from an 8-night crewed charter. I can report that business is good in the BVI and it is BUSY. North Sound is very popular this time of year. Lots more all-inclusive crewed charters these days too. After 20-years of bareboating in the BVI, Bahamas, Windwards, and in the Med, we're enjoying the first class experience - as we're not getting any younger. And the crewed boats and crews are really nice, with great food, fun, drinks, etc. Saw many power charters too, one flotilla of 12 passed us by. Not my cuppa!

Yes, boatyball is everywhere, some places exclusively. But you can still find FCFS. $15 difference. Lots of folks up early sailing to their next stop to get a ball before NOON! That I found to be crazy. But also saw a crewed 50' Mooring 5000 cat captain try and anchor in the middle of Privateer Bay mooring field close to the shore. We kindly advised HER that it wasn't cool anchoring next to us in a mooring field. She ignored us, tried and failed, and eventually moved down to a day-ball by the caves. She left there about 5pm, presumably to find a ball in the Bight.

Anegada restaurants weren't that busy. We ate at the Lobster Trap, just call your order in early. Potters and others will come by with menus and offer to bring ice and pickup trash. You'll see the cruise ships, but if you stay away from Road Town and the Baths you're probably OK. We spent one night off Diamond Key and Little JVD, but didn't go to JVD, preferring to stay away from the crowds. It's been very windy last week and this week. My son and family are down there now, and decided not to go to Anegada yesterday or today due to the winds and seas. They were in a private water taxi on Sunday from West End. First to Soapers for customs, to Nanny Cay (for fuel-St. Thomas was reported as dry) then to Spanish Town. He said the seas were very rough, they were soaked and one kid got sick. He's coming back in May with 8 adults, non-stop NYC-STT. But they will likely charter an Island Birds plane r/t STT - Virgin Gorda instead.

We flew into EIS on AA and will do the same in April. It's a little more $, but beats STT or SJU as we used to. Our Captain met us at the airport doors, we walked 200 yards to Trellis, and took a quick dingy ride to out\r 56' Lagoon sailcat. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres within minutes of leaving the airport! So cool. Same on the return, and I can highly recommend that route. The EIS ground staff are silly about marching the passengers to and from the AA plane in a mass march. So you wait to deplane, stand outside until all pax are out and on the ground, then walk and all stand and wait in immigration/customs lines. Also march in mass to board on the return. Wouldn't want to do that in a rainstorm! On the return we arrived at EIS three hours in advance. Won't do that next month. AA counter staff said that two hours is plenty based on the AA schedules for our 12noonish flight.

Fill out the BVI Card before you arrive! Ihttps://bviedcard.gov.vg/en I forgot about registering for the BVI entry process in advance. No more paper forms!! Do it in advance or you'll have to still do it on your phone standing by the luggage after you've cleared immigration.

The FaceBook BVI sites are full of stuff, but as others said, lots of the same stupid questions. The BVI water is still great, if your kids like the water and the boat has enough water toys you'll have a blast.
Enjoy!

The good news is you won’t need to stand on the ramp using the MIA-EIS route. They can’t operate if the runway is wet. We lost two days out of our 7 day charter after the flight diverted for a wet runway and the dumped us in SJU and said good luck! What a nightmare it turned out to be.

Once again..why I ferry from STT still.....

Wow! George, AA dumped you in SJU and did nothing? No compensation or help?
What did you do? How did your group get to the charter?
Lots of questions, maybe we can learn from the answers. Thanks.