TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Visit the BVI's soon!

We are on our way home to NY after eleven days in the BVI's, and I have a very simple bit of advice: Visit there soon!

I have not seen they islands this empty since the early 1990's. From that, you can draw two conclusions? (1) as a visitor, you will be able to enjoy peace and solitude, in harbors, beaches and restaurants (2) the local businesses need our support.

If you are reading this forum, you probably already know that the BVI's are among the most beautiful places in the world, with the friendliest and most welcome people you can fine.

It's also now one of the safest places to visit. They are a Level One COVID risk, according to the US Department of State. To put that into perspective, NYS protocols (as of yesterday) require quarantine for anyone entering the state from a non-contiguous state or from countries that are Level Two or higher. In other words, NY considers it safer to return from the BVI’s than from 44 US states.

I'll add that most of us have been stressed for the past year by COVID.

So, add these together: We all need a break; the BVI's need our support; and they are at their most beautiful right now without the crowds. I'm really gad we made the trip, and I recommend that others do the same.

We are going in March...just finished all of our reservations. I live in NY...so you are saying , returning home from BVI’s, I do not have to quarantine...only get a test 3 days before leaving? We both will have our vaccine 2nd dose before we leave here.
Thanks for any info to help our trip go without issue. We will take Jet Blue down to SJ and then RT on cape Air to Eis....then a Villa rental on VG...
Looking forward to our trip....had to cancel this same time last year.

Agreed, we had a wonderful time in December and are hoping to go back next month.

Yes you will have your solitude while being quarantined wearing a bracelet and asking permission to move from one place to another.
Don’t for get to tip them triple.

We are super excited for our trip in June! Getting more anxiety as the date approaches but appreciate hearing from people with successful trips. We are planning a seaport entry for the first time (via STT). We normally fly in but the pricing and flight options were not good this time around.

sail445, why do you always have to put a damper on things? Don’t follow this board if you don’t like the fact that people are willing to jump through the hoops to come. The bracelet is nothing. I don’t even remember that I have it on. If it was annoying I would just remind myself of the fact that it is there not to “track” my every movement as a big brother but as a precaution for others if I do test positive. And you do not need permission to move from one place to another. The only place you need permission to travel is in between West End and Great Thatch in order to ensure USVI boats are not coming over illegally. So far it has been an amazing trip and rivals the sailing I did here 45 years ago.

If you don’t consider being forced to wear a bracelet is not a damper that’s fine.
That’s your personal opinion.
To say it rivals the islands 45 years ago shows that your memory is slightly off.

Yes 45 years ago was quite different - the boats out sailing were almost all unique, a few white plastic rental Piersons, CSY"s or Morgans but mostly really pretty vessels.Sometimes famous old wooden vessels were right next to you at anchor or passing underway. The professional Captains were a real sailing breed and even the rental boats were operated by mostly longtime experienced boat owners.
We didn't have to avoid a bunch of mooring balls everywhere - we found a good sandy spot, checked the surroundings, and conditions and dropped the anchor.
Often we rowed ashore to check out a little shack with beer and rum and a boom box music player. At night the stars were glorious in the total darkness and quiet because no generators or A/C running. If there were any other boats anchored, we might hear some guitar music, and the warm glow of oil lanterns added real peaceful ambiance.
Maybe the simple and quiet sailing and anchorages are what @caribbeangirl13 was comparing - rightfully so. And her bracelet probably looks real pretty!

We live in NY too. I filled out the NYS Health form and received a green check mark back, i.e. no quarantine.

However..... And this is important. You do need a COVID test before you leave Tortola if you are flying through St. Thomas (and I think the same is true for PR). Make sure you check. We neglected to realize this until 2 days before we left. The folks at Peebles hospital were great. We got tested on Sunday and they had the results back to us 10:30 Monday morning, just in time for our flight home. They charge $70 for the test (which is less than the going rate of $125 in NY, although in NY it is normally covered by insurance).

Enjoy!!

Thanks LocalSailor, that is exactly what I was referring to.

Of course other things are different...for one I’m not 9 years old anymore. Oh and although this 2020 boat is plastic and cookie cutter compared to Traumerei, the beautiful and unique sloop I grew up on, it has a shower and a refrigerator so there’s that! 😜I’m choosing to look at the good rather than dwell on the not so good. But yes, to each his own.

I’ll bet they gave you a hook bracelet.

I'm with you, Caribbeangirl13! The regular negativity of some posting here (445) is a bummer to see and is best ignored. We had a great trip in December and will be back in June and November without hesitation. We were going again in Feb, but one of us tested positive. Yeah, there are hoops to jump through this season. If you can swing it, it's well worth the effort.
Husker, out.

The real issue is if someone tests positive down there on Day 1 or Day 4 or the testing required for the trip back to US now, so not only is it the "hoops you need to jump through" but the chance that a test triggers positive for just one of your party regardless of whether the test is accurate or a false positive. The Day 1 or Day 4 tests kill the trip for everyone while the test before you leave and leaving only impact the individual party

I have a credit I need to use this year and really need to go for 14 days to make this happen and "hope" every test works. So with 4 tests x 9 crew that is 36 tests to count on being right....

That is a high bar that I wouldn't even consider at this time if I weren't out 15k if I don't go in 2021...and I only see this as a plausible venture for a 10-14 day trip

I have no issue with what BVI is requiring. They need to be safe and I respect that.

Another consideration will be if the businesses/restaurants/bars are even open in June or they just close for the season and start in Fall 2021

"Another consideration will be if the businesses/restaurants/bars are even open in June or they just close for the season and start in Fall 2021"

Quito's posted earlier today they are closing for the season January 31.

January 31???

On their facebook page, yep. Due to no business, they did not say when they will re open. Dependent on when things change, shame for them and all the other people struggling to try to make it.

Closed for the season means they are planning to be closed 1/31/21 - 11/1/21 (maybe later) and will only open if the situation changes.

J..how is the Indigo House bar? Hoping they might consider bringing Kapeye back to play there..

We would return for Kapeye. Listened to "set my soul free last night"

Bummer about Quitos...soggy has a nice cat right out front now...jealous

It's great. Very quaint, nicely decorated, and best bartender in CGB! Actually, there are 2 great bartenders there but one has been out from behind the bar for a long time! I'll let you guess who but to find out, you'll have to travel!

On a good note, Quito's announced today that they were going to keep the Gazebo open for limited hours.

So we're heading back to our boat in a few days. We got our BVI travel authorization 16 hours after taking the COVID test (thanks Henrietta!) - so far so good!

good...look forward to a trip report. We are going back out Jun 14th for 2 weeks on apparently the last 514PC powercat Moorings had...so hoping not overly crowded then especially if we still have 4 day quarantine

The Moorings is pretty heavily booked in June. I suspect many will cancel if the current restrictions are not lifted.

that's why I lined up 2 weeks going Monday to Monday with goal to hit Anegada the 1st weekend

Hopefully the quarantine bays have expanded by then...

Wouldnt think of going but have to use credit for boat and charter in '21

We have a postponed from 2020 trip planned for early July. Even though it is a 10 day trip I'm not too thrilled at spending 4 of those days in quarantine. I doubt seriously Moorings will entertain another 1 year postponement but given we paid in full last year, who knows.

Let me know how that works out, Louis.

Louis, The 4-day Q is really not a big deal. We did it in December and we are looking forward to going back the first two weeks in July. Hope to see you then. :-)

Husker
s/v ABBY NORMAL TO
Leopard 50 (M5000)

It isn't the quarantine per se that bothers me, it is just that after 13 previous trips, we have an itinerary we like to follow and the quarantine cuts 4 days out of our 10.

For example, we like to head up to Leverick, spend at least 2 nights, and visit the Baths from there on the full day. We then head to Anegada for at least 2 nights. Cane Garden is at least a 1 night stop. We enjoy Little Harbour JVD for a night. We'd thought about a visit to Oil Nut Bay this trip. There's always a night at The Bight (or Peter) for the night before we turn the boat in. Cooper, if a ball is available, is a good stop. There's no Marina Cay but we had thought about a stop there and a visit to Scrub.

It's almost like we'd need to extend our trip from 10 to 14 days in order to do what we like to do on these trips.

that is why i am extending to 14 days...

Plus you have to include the risk 1 person of your crew or me fails either of the 2 (18 tests in my case) essential tests....

I am not on owners time

Louis - I see your point. In our case, we knew we were not going to have the freedom enjoyed on prior trips. On the other hand, there is hardly anyone there, so you have your pick of the best spots. For example, we had The Baths completely to ourselves one day. Only two other boats for the two nights we spent at Anegada. Our trip was two weeks. Yeah, 10 days might have felt a little cramped, but doable. 7 days is not practical under the current protocols, IMO.

Just FYI, I don't believe Oil Nut Bay is open to the outside world (only the villa owners). Also, Cooper Island Beach Club is not open (although I heard a rumor they might be opening soon).

Cooper Island publicly announced their opening for Feb 11.

I just posted our trip report from our January trip to the BVI. Quarantine anchorages were lovely and we had a great time, even in quarantine!