TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands This crazy planner can't stop the questions spinning....

We are 8 friends traveling from Anegada via Island Birds and arriving to Virgin Gorda on a Saturday at 4. (not for a while but I obsess) Our villa rental check-in is at 4 and I am fairly anxious to get there and have our guests be able to enjoy the sunset relaxing with cocktails. I have toyed with having Buck's provision the villa prior to arrival. Supa Valu was another name given to me but they don't have a web site so I don't understand how you place your order. I am not a sailor so I have never done that before. That's one possibility. But- all we really need is drinks, happy hour snacks, dinner and breakfast the next morning. Then we could do our big shopping for the week on Sunday (rather than having Buck's stock the villa). Are stores open on Sunday?

So my question is- if we do the jiffy run on the first arrival day - which grocery store is recommended? Do grocery stores sell beer and liquor too? Do any have the prepared foods similar to a Whole Foods-y where we could buy dinner already "done"? (Realizing that they won't actually be like Whole foods ) I feel like that first night it would be nice to just chill at the house rather than all of us piling back in the truck and head to dinner somewhere. I realize I am micromanaging. It's a personality flaw. But I just like to have a plan.

We've simply asked the property manager of the villa we stay at on VG to stock for our 1st night from a short list I e-mail. Next day I pay her for the groceries/alcohol and add a tip. THEN I go to a market for some real shopping.

Another option might be hiring a personal chef. At least pre-Irma, you could have someone come to the villa and prepare your meal. You arrange the menu in advance. That way you could arrive, relax and enjoy a delicious meal.

We have also done this. In addition, we provided the chef with a list of other food we wanted for the rest of the week and she shopped for us and brought all the food to the villa. We typically have the chef make snacks and dinner the first night. Get them a room somewhere and have them prepare breakfast the next day. The money saved on having someone shop for us on Tortola typically covers the cost of their fees.

Thank you everyone!!! We actually had arranged for a chef for the following night. On the just in case we are held up somehow. But perhaps I will move it. Thank you for your replies. Is it time to go yet??????

Just ask chef if he/she will do provisioning, either regular or light. Chef lives on VG?