BVI's ...True Caribbean Hospitality
Written: Jul 16 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: very good restaurants, beaches, and people. good ferry service to other islands
Cons: a bit expensive, driving is not for the meek
|
|
|
| robertG's Full Review: British Virgin Islands |
Over the years, we've been the the BVI's a total of five times. My wife and i have had extended have had extended stays on Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada. While all three islands are very much different in pyhsical charateristics, they all have one thing in common, and that it's people. Throughout the islands, the locals have always been very nice to us in all our visits. Crime, is almost non-exsistant. Tortola, is the largest, most populated of the chain. It's very hilly, almost mountainous at times. Personally, i love driving on Tortola. The roads feature hairpin turns, and you often have the feeling your on a roller-couster. When you travel towards the west end, stunning, at times breathtaking vistas of Jost Van Dyke, St. Thomas, an Peter Island can be seen at almost every turn!Although it is mountainous, Tortola does ot have a rainforest. There is a small park at Sage Mountain which sort of resembles a rainforest, butreally is just a nice walk, and offers a few photo ops.Virgin Gorda is far different in appearance than Tortola. It is very flat, almost arid. The landscape is covered with cactus. This is not where you come looking for nightlife. Virgin Gorda, or VG as the locals call it, is ultra quiet. I believe the population of VG is about 2000+. Once again, there is no crime. We rented a car during our stay. We were told to leave the keys in the ignition at all times! We were assured, nothing will be stolen.We rented an apartment right bt the town dock, about 200 yard from the marina. The owner was a lady named Nora Potter. She is the head postmistress on VG. Everyone knows here, and just mentioning her name, opened many doors for us. She and her husband were wonderful hosts, and i would highly recommend their apartment. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath apartment. It also had a full kitchen, living room, dining room, and cable tv. All this, and for $600 per week!We visited Anegada for 10 days a few years back. What a unique place. Anegada is the only coral atoll in the BVI chain. If my memory is correct, i believe it is 14 feet above sea-level at it's highest point.There are only about 300 year-round residents on Anegada. The roads (what there are of them) are all sand. The only place we encountered blacktop was a 1 mile streach leading into "The Settlement." Anegada is not a very pretty island. There are miles and miles of scrub, rock, sand, and countless goats. However, as all over the BVI's, the beaches are the best. We were often the only people on a beach for an entire day! The marine life is incredible. While swimming, we saw sea turtles of all sizes. Often, schools of tarpon would cruise right in the surf. Once again, the only foot prints on the endless beaches were ours. We never saw another person.In Anegada, we stayed at the Anegada Reef Hotel. It's the islands only all-inclusive. The accomodations ere rather spartan in nature, but they were clean and comfortable. The meals were simple GREAT! Breakfast was the standard fare of bacon, and eggs. Pancakes, cereal, and a wide array of juices were available.Lunch ranges from blt's, to fried chicken, burgers, and their native lobster salad. However dinner, is special. Each night they fire up 10 55 gallon drums for a beach bbq. The menu here ranges from grilled fillet mignon, to lamb, chicen, baby-back ribs(a fav here), native fish, and the house specialty,....grilled spiny lobster. These meals were memorable Sailboats would come from as far awa as VG, and Tortola just for dinner.As a side note. Anegada has very good bonefishing, that's why we went there. The local guides ame is Garfield Faulkner. He's guided me many times. He's a great guide, and a real gentleman. Not to mention, a real hoot to be with. He and i watched my New England Patriots lose the Super Bowl to Green Bay, in a place called the Banana Bar. I was the only "non local" in the place, and had to explain American football the the others all night. After the game, since no taxis were running, a total stranger offered me a ride the 5 miles back to the hotel. Once again, in fine Caribbean style, he refused my offer of gas money.I should mention, the beaches a stunning all over the BVI's. Tortola's, can get a bit crowded, espeacially when a cruise ship is in Roadtown. However, don't let that deter you, they are still wondeful.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
robertG
|
|
Location: bourne, ma
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 2 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.