Hi all. We are headed back down after a long respite, to the BVI in June with 3 other couples. What is the going per drink rate for Painkillers, wine and beer ashore at the beach bars? We have an accountant in the group and they want to plan expenses
Thanks!

I would say range $3.50 to $15, centered around $8

Pirates Bight and Hendo's Hideout were our most expensive in March at $15-$18 for fancy cocktails. $4 Heinekens are pretty standard. We've found cheapest beers during happy hour on Cane Garden Bay. Cooper Island has happy hour specials and $5 housebrewed beer.

Cheers, RickG

But if you make the most of happy hour were there are often two for 1 specials you could save some money. Had a great time in Cane Garden bay due to the happy hour special which seemed to last all night. The next day not so much!

Oh Brother!!! Not the trip you want to have your penny pinching friends aboard on! I mean this sincerely! There are soooo many variables like taxis to the ferry... bump in rates that are not published... drinks... mooring fees departure taxes, etc etc etc...

After accepting all this, I don't want someone with me trying to dodge a random bar to save a twenty... or even trying to make sense of my spending!!!

Half as many clothes; twice as much money.

Not a lot of "cheap" in the BVI.

Before I make some popcorn and settle in for what should be an ....interesting thread, may I suggest what has been done on a couple of charter boats I saw on the boards?

Each couple puts say $100 in the kitty for things like ice, moorings, water, etc and replenish the fund as needed. If the kitty has anything left at the end of your trip, split it up evenly.

The mooring collection guys will appreciate not having to sit and wait bumping alongside while you discuss who-paid-what-and-when.

Its a VACATION and while I agree frugality is sometimes needed, there should never be a math test as part of the trip.
The other option is for each couple to buy their own drinks ashore and worry about their own 'ship'.
706 jim has sage advice above, cheap is in scarce supply in the BVI.

Also be aware many places will add a 15% service charge whether or not service has been evident, especially with larger groups. We've challenged this charge in several places *cough* Pirates Bight *cough* as the level of service experienced was...well lacking in a large way.
Your results may vary, dealer may sell for less, etc etc.

Oh and enjoy the trip, you've worked really hard to get there!

Leave it to a dorky [censored] accountant! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Riverfrontbrewer, CPA

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I love this guy! He just volunteered for the task and duty of quartermaster. Every good ship must have one even the pirates kept one. Hand the newly elevated crew member $500 in tens and order the other crew to do the same. The quartermaster is fully tasked to handle any all expenses associated with the voyage going forward and run a tally of accounts for such voyage. Now you just need one competent helmsman and one responsible and always alert crew to serve as dinghy captain. All three should be trained to recognize admirals and always yield to said admirals. All other tasks, you think of it, you bring it up, you do it.... Yes, we are on vacation.

Accountant vacationing in the BVI - and thinking about a formal "budget"
Yup - macpete... what toppings ya got for the popcorn ?

I'm getting ready to write our trip report from last week and it'll have costs for taxis, ferries, departure taxes, etc. We keep taking newbies down and I keep track of it so we can give them a rough estimate of what the whole vacation costs.
But I'd add my two cents to the above:
1. Have each couple put $200 into the kitty. It goes faster than you'd think. At 7 nights on the water that's $210 in mooring fees alone.
2. Cooper has a nice happy hour from 4-6. 2 for 1 drinks but only on 3 selected drinks. I think they were painkillers, margaritas and I can't remember the 3rd. Didn't see the beer list, but I wasn't looking either.

Offer these ranges directly as variables to a math problem that will never be solved...

http://willy-t.com/menu-willy-t-bvi/

http://peterisland.com/uploads/dining/Deadmans_Dinner_Menu_-_2015.pdf


Mid Week Admirmal Adjustment Custom
http://peterisland.com/spa#spa-packages

http://www.sabarock.com/App_Content/Documents/SR_Menu_Lounge.pdf

http://foxysbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Foxy's%20Happy%20Hour%20Snacks%202%20review.pdf

For the Boat $100 Cash per day for dock tips, moorings, Ice, water and miscellaneous Beer/Wine/Rum recharge. Most will have some of this cash remaining in the boat needs kitty.

Try to hit the happy hours and get the drinking mans guide. It pays for itself in just a few stops!

I think StormJib's idea of making the accountant Quartermaster is brilliant. He wants to know what everything costs, let him keep track! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We had lunch at Hendo's today:
BBQ sandwich w/sweet potato fries & slaw: $18
Fish n chips w/fries & slaw $20
3 beers & 1 cocktail: $26

Gorgeous building not overrun with people, on a lovely beach: priceless.

(The chicken quesadilla is on the app menu but it's certainly big enough to be a meal. It's $14.)

Soggy Dollar painkillers are $7.

Here’s a little breakdown of our trip last week. I keep track of this kind of thing so that when we invite newbies to go with us, we can give them a ballpark number of what the trip is going to cost (aside from the charter cost).

Taxi from STT to Ferry dock: $40 with kevin (incl tip)
Ferry St. Thomas to Roadtown: Fast Ferry $99 for 2 ($70 ticket + $20 port tax + $9 bags). Tipped bag guy $5
Ferry from Roadtown to St. Thomas: Native Son $79 for 2 ($70 ticket + $9 bags). Paid $40 departure tax separately ($20 pp). Tipped bag guy $5.
Rental Car on Anegada: $75
Fuel: last 2 trips on a cat we averaged between $68-$84 in fuel for the week. This trip on a 48’ power yacht we used $498 in fuel.
Alcoholic drinks ashore: Averaged out to $10/drink (includes 20% tip). We had cocktails pretty much at every island - $40 per island (no beer, all mixed drinks)
Meals out: Cow Wreck lunch for 2 w/6 drinks + tip = $90 Wonky Dog: dinner for 2 w/4 drinks + tip = $133 Saba Rock: dinner for 2 w/4 drinks + tip = $112
Groceries: Provisioning with Riteway + cooler of meats from home = $500 total This fed 6 people for 7 days (excepting the meals out mentioned above)
Liquor: That’s easy to figure out from the list at Caribbean Cellars or Bobby’s. Everyone on our boat paid for their specific alcohol except we shared the cost of the margarita fixings. You can pick up more booze almost everywhere you go – I wouldn’t over provision this. One couple literally donated a case of beer at the end of the trip to the charter company.

Figure $500 per day per couple and enjoy yourselves.

Hey Iowa Sailor - If you have an Apple product, iPad for example, download "Cost Split" from the app store (I think it is free). The icon is a gold bag with a green triangle in the corner. Play with it before you go. It will make your life much easier. You will also find that establishments in BVI do NOT like to provide individual checks. Whoever pays also brings a copy of the itemized check to you which you can post the individual expenses to your app.

I can never plan for drinks wine and beer...just depends on how thirsty I get. Then at night I swear I am not going to drink the next day and oddly, I repeat that pattern for about 7-10 days. I literally don't think I could plan that far in advance but I am glad the accountant is taking a break because we are 2 days away from IRS day. He/She will deserve a break!

Thanks for the great advice, all!

Unfortunately we have until Monday 4/18 due to Emancipation Day but if you're in Mass or Maine you get until 4/19 due to Patriots Day. Then I still have to wait until mid June to get to the BVI! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />