TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Beach updates

Looking forward to returning and would love to have this one thread where we can see the current condition (and any updates) of the beaches on Tortola, VG and Jost, what beach bars/restaurants and hotels are open (or are still working toward that), and the off-the beach snorkel conditions at beaches like Brewers, Smuggler’s and on VG?
Thanks!

There's a thread at the top that people use to post when various restaurants and bars open back up.

Beaches are all in great shape.

Yes of course, and that was very helpful as businesses re-opened. But that thread is a bit convoluted with so much info. Just thought we could all appreciate having one thread like this that is specific to beaches and snorkeling conditions, and even beach bar/hotel establishment changes/updates.
Just a forum for folks to use who have useful updates on this topic (and not everything under the warm, Caribbean sun...

Cane Garden Bay is in good shape. There have been several in water clean up activities with help from the military that removed 5 full size dumpsters of hurricane debris. The beach itself is back to normal.

Snorkeling out on the reef is good but not many people bother for some reason.

From south to north, here is the bar/restaurant updates: The Wedding Bar is gone, no sign of returning. Henley's beach bar is open with food, drinks, and chairs. The bar adjacent to the cruise ship bathrooms is gone. Myett's is open with food, drink, and chairs; renovation is still ongoing and they are transitioning to be a Pussers. Tony's (Stanley's) is gone, no sign of construction. The Elm is rebuilt and will be open very shortly. Rhymers is rebuilt and open with rooms, food, drinks, and chairs. Quito's is working to open in December.

Edit: I should also mention that Rhymers has room available and Myett's rooms should open any time.

It's also worth mentioning the options off the beach in CGB: Columbus Sunset has the bar and provision shop open; rooms to follow soon. Bananas is a new restaurant and has opened across the street from the cruise ship bathrooms. There is frequently a food truck in the car park by the Elm. Bobby's grocery store has reopened since Irma and is better stocked then ever. The food truck across from Rhymers is open on Saturdays and has great food. I am uncertain about the bakery. The gas station is open with gas, diesel, propane, ice, and water.

Brewers update. The beach in decent shape. Still more stones than their used to be but the winter swells should finish clearing that up. The large palm grove that supplied shade was severely damaged so I'd suggest bringing an umbrella if you want shade. I have not been snorkeling but no reason to think it has changed much.

Nicole's is the only option for establishments. Last month he was still working on rebuilding the kitchen but did have drinks and chairs available.

It's still one of my favorite beaches!

I've only been to Smuggler's a couple of times since Irma but it has also been cleaned. There is less shade than before but still some available. Have not been snorkeling there but no reason to think it's changed other than a LOT of fans were ashore immediately after Irma.

Nigel's bar is open with food and drinks. It's bigger than before and closer to the car park.

To add to Jason's post..Little Apple Bay is back after an invasion of Sargassum weed! The beach bar/restaurant at The Sugar Mill is open and their beach is clean and there for all to use ( although they'd like you to mabe buy a cold one at least!). Sebastian's is open..

Great updates - thank you both!!!
Look forward to more updates and reports!

Manpot, thanks for your recommendation to Tramonti. Had a nice dinner with very good service!

Thanks for the CGB update, Jason. I will be back in February. I am anxious to see my friends again.

CGB Update: The Elm is definitely open and music will return in December.

I forgot to mention Paradise Club in my last post. They are open with food, drink, and beach chairs. The often have events with music at night. Also, their "sister" bar, Irma Shack is open on the road side of Paradise Club.

I’m reading Quito’s gazebo will be open in December? Is he playing anywhere there now? Just remember pre-Irma he played Thurs solo and with the band Friday...

Also reading that cruise lines are now offering excursions to Long Bay (Beef Island)? If so is there now a restroom facility there?

I was only commenting on the bar/restaurant part of your post.

Back from Tortola a few days ago and its hard to believe Quito's will be open in December..unless they put a full court press on it which they definitely were not doing when we were there.

I was just there 2 weeks ago and was at Long Bay (Beef Island) I cannot comment on if the cruise lines are taking people there but the beach was beautiful and there are now local food vendors with permanent tents set up selling food. If memory serves me correct there were maybe 5 of them. I do not recall a rest room there but I could be wrong. My thought is there maybe is one if the vendors are there all day.

Does anyone have an update on the Mongoose Apartments in CGB? We've stayed there numerous times and hope to come back soon. Their website has not been updated.

Jason would know more but I believe the Mongoose Apartments are history..the beachfront cottage is gone.

I was only commenting on the bar/restaurant part of your post.[/quote]

Yes and thanks. But again that thread is just so broad I wanted to have a thread focused more on beaches and beach bars that we and others could have to reference.

Thanks. I was going by the October 13 post on Quito’s Facebook page...sorry I forgot to include that...
https://m.facebook.com/QuitosGazebo/

Thanks bagsarepacked. I did look at the NCL excursions and I see they do offer an excursion to LB, Beef -
https://www.ncl.com/shore-excursion...hWeight&sortOrder=asc&perPage=12

What a shame....I hope Smuggler’s isn’t next...
Some years ago there was a thread here discussing a tram (like at Paradise Point in Havensight, STT) dropping day visitors into SC. I thought that was a joke...?

The cottage the Sandra lived on the beach is gone and the apartments themselves were damaged but they have been working to repair them. From the outside they look ready to go but I have not heard if they opened or not.

Does anyone know what shape Josiah’s Bay beach is in and if there are any facilites there for food,drinks, restrooms, chair rentals, etc? I havent been abke to find anything at all online.

Thanks!

Is that the same cottage on the west end of the beach that Val & Kareem lived in years ago? That is gone?

I'm not sure about which house Val & Kareem lived in but there were 2 houses next to each other. Sandra lived in a fairly small house that was on a piece of fenced property that gave Mongoose guests private access to the beach. The 2nd house was 2 stories and has most recently been rented by Val as the "Indigo House". I suspect this is where Val & Kareem lived.

The small cottage is gone and the Indigo house was heavily damaged and repair has not started yet.

Thanks. It was ‘05 when Val showed us the house, the same year she was looking into adding WiFi at the bar. I thought it was the only house on the beach but it’s been a few years since we’ve been back. Lounges for Mongoose guests were close by...

I’m also curious, the latest I’ve read is surfing lessons are available, and I believe the Tamarind Club restaurant/bar is open, at least on some days. Is that accurate? Any vendors or bars on the beach?

Val and Kareem own "Indigo House" , or what remains of it now. They bought the place from Ed and Barbara Pascoe who then built a huge place off Ridge Road that Kim Rymer then bought and now lives in with Quito. Ed and Barbara moved back to Sonoma County, California and built " Barbed Oak Winery" which they have since sold. Val and Kareem's son is now "living" in the remains of the artist's studio behind "Indigo House" with a blue tarp over the roof. Val is talking of selling the remains of "Indigo House" as is..

The surf school is open again and I think they sell beer and some food, but I'm not sure. Everything else on the beach was destroyed and has not been rebuilt.

Tamarind was open for a while but is now closed.

Thanks. I couldn’t remember if they were moving into or out of the beach house when we walked there with Val in ‘05. But I’m thinking they were moving out then to rent it and that was why she showed it to us. Doesn’t matter, just trying to recollect...

Malcolm we haven’t yet met properly, probably because we’re usually there low season. We’re friends of Dave (Kapeye) and he first turned us on to Tortola in 2005. But we had gone by your place a couple times just to see where it was in case we wanted to rent it in the future. I haven’t heard anything about it, is that OK?

We are slowly getting our ground floor unit back to rentable condition..doors, shutters, ceiling are all done..needs some plumbing, new kitchen and paint. We are definitely over the hard stuff and hope to have it ready in a month or so. When we do we will be offering very reasonable rates and an extra discount to TTOL friends..

Thank you!

I did not know they had cruise ship bathrooms. I remember when there were very few cruise ships coming to the BVI. We will be chartering in Feb.

Some of us remember the halcyon days when no cruise ships came to Tortola and the local refrain was" We dont want to become St Thomas"..how times have changed.

Hopefully Smuggler’s isn’t sacrificed to day visitors as LB Beef has been...That is one of the reasons we love to return to Tortola...

That would really be a disaster. I would hate to see that happen to one of the most beautiful beaches in the BVI>

My feeling is that no beaches are sacred..I know some Safari buses are already heading to Smuggler's but, thank God whoever she is, the rough road and lack of toilets and other facilities is not making it too attractive..lets pray that lasts. Pre Irma they were taking cruisers to the east end of Long Bay..they have taken some to Brewer's..

Wasn't there one time the beach by Brandywine was used for the herd of cruisers? Do they still go there?

The gov spent $$$$ importing sand etc to Brandywine Bay to make it a haven for the cruise ship crowd..they never came thanks to the cab drivers who just continued to drop them at CGB and the gov did nothing to encourage the drivers to change their ways ( they influence the BVI vote big time and no politician wants to confront them)