TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands NEWB - BVI Honeymoon - Jan 2022

First, thank you all for the extremely helpful information I’ve read thru for the past week. Forums like these are an amazing thing. My new bride and I are excited to explore the BVIs for the first time!

Wanted to get some feedback on Itinerary and all about some helpful restaurants, day charters, etc.

1/2 - fly into EIS - (My understanding is come with a negative test and be prepared to be tested again - both vax’d)

1/2-1/4 - The Sugar Mill

1/4-1/6 - Saba Rock

1/6 - 1/12 - Scrub

1/12 - Scrub to EIS back home. (Do you need to test out to get back to STT?)

I anticipate first day will be maxing and relaxing and wondering the general Sugar Mill area.

Are there any must see items on this side of Tortola?

Is water taxi the best form of transfer from Sugar Mill to our stay at Saba Rock? (I assume chill out or dolphin)

I anticipate a whole day charter on 1/5 (our full day based at Saba) and either hitting baths or Anegada. Any other suggestions? Any suggestions on smaller day charter providers? Any update on BEYC?

We may do another day charter once we are based at Scrub as well if there’s other must see.

Once at Scrub, are there any other accessible restaurants besides the resort ones? If not, suggestions on other restaurants from here would be great?

Definitely trying to get to foxy’s for a day.

What have I missed? TIA!

I'll stick my neck out. Are you paying to stay at Scrub or using points? If you're paying, I'd extend your time at Sugar Mill and cut back the days at Scrub. Or look into spending time on Virgin Gorda, maybe Guavaberry Spring Bay. On VG you'll want to go to the Baths, Hog Heaven, Coco Maya and some of the wonderful beaches.

Waiting to hear other suggestions.

Much appreciated! I’m paying and I’ve struggled with this length here vs other places.

You don't have much time on Tortola but I'd recommend stopping to see Egbert at the North Shore Shell museum, do a beach day at Smugglers or Cane Garden Bay (better for swimming). For meals, the food is great right at Sugar Mill, lunch or dinner at Indigo Beach House in Cane Garden Bay, Da' Coal Pot is nearby for dinner, the tuna at Quito's in Cane Garden Bay is also great! I like the atmosphere and food at Long Bay Beach Resort which is also very close to you.

No need for a water taxi to Scrub. You can't be picked up at Sugar Mill anyway so by the time you get in a taxi to go to a dock you might as well just taxi to the Scrub Island dock near the airport and save huge $.

Sounds like a great trip with lots of options! Here are a few thoughts...

While staying at the Sugar Mill, definitely spend some time at Cane Garden (just avoid day if/when cruise ships bring folks). Also, hit Smugglers Cove.

From Saba Rock, consider having them drop you at Leverick Bay Resort and rent a car for the day. You can easily do the Baths, see Savanah Bay, eat at Coco Maya (although, I don't think they are open for lunch now, so maybe SugarCane in Nail Bay), and have an afternoon drink at Hog Heaven for spectacular view (must do), then make it back to Saba Rock for sunset and dinner.

Definitely go to Cow Wreck if you do Anegada, then check out the new bar next door, Tipsy's. You can also hit the other side of the island and do Big Bamboo and Flash of Beauty. Decent snorkeling there is calm conditions. If you want to do both, rent a car or Moke (at Anegada Beach Hotel), otherwise, just taxi.

From Scrub, plan a day trip to Jost - I would spend most of the day at White Bay (Soggy Dollar, Hendo's, etc.), and then a little time in Great Harbour to see Foxy's, etc. Also, maybe a day trip to Cooper Island and Norman (Willy T, snorkel Indians and Caves, eat at Pirates Bight).

Scrub Island has an hourly complementary ferry, so you can easily get to Trellis Bay (~5 min ride) and there are a few restaurants to choose from there.

I am not familiar with day charters, so no specific recommendations there. But part of the beauty and uniqueness of the BVI is to see all of the different Islands, so I think you are smart to get a couple of day trips (which won't be cheap).

Dennis and Mary own The Sugar Mill and Rupert and Andrea are the amazing, charming mangers. They will take amazing care of you. I am with others on their suggestions. I would highly recommend a happy hour cocktail at Long Bay Beach Club...from Rosie the lovely bartender. Let them know at the Mill that its your honeymoon..

If you are using cabs from The Mill they will almost certainly get Murlise for you..and she is a gem and will be fair and reliable..

I am moored in from of Bitter End right now. Dove with Sunchaser today (on site) and they informed us that BEYC hopes to have the restaurant and bar open by mid-December. Time will tell.

We had dinner at Saba last night - it was great. Not certain I would want to spend several days here though (in the hotel). Their shuttle does run frequently Friday from Leverick however.

Scrub is not worth it, IMHO, if you are. It using points. It is a charter base and lots of activity in and out (and a rather generic Marriott property). Everyone has their own options but I personally would split my time at White Bay Villas on Jost and the Anegada Beach Club doing a day trip to the Baths with Jost Van Dyke Scuba.

Enjoy the planning!

You mention a full day excursion from Saba to the baths or Anegada on 1/5. Why would you take a full day charter to the Baths? Just take the water taxi back to Gun Creek and taxi over.

I'm another who is not a big fan of Scrub. Anegada is lovely and different. Dinner at The Wonky Dog is a special treat IMHO.

I will chime in as a former guest at Scrub...skip it and do as others have suggested and stay on Anegada instead. Scrub is beautiful but it is as MIDiver says above it is a generic Marriott property--high end for sure but Anegada is so much more the BVI experience. Just stay off the scooters! Also from my experience!

This is what I would consider: fly into Beef, catch the next Speedy's to VG, rent a car, stay a week at GSB, do a day trip from Gun Creek to Saba and a couple of day trips by boat, including Anegada.

Then ferry back to Tortola and spend the rest of your honeymoon at Sugar Mill. Visit the spots recommended up thread. Easy taxi to the airport for the trip home.

IMO, that's the best balance of relaxation, sight-seeing and budget.

Here's an alternate opinion, focusing not on the locations you're staying, but on all the overhead of staying at multiple places during your trip. In my mind your itinerary looks like this:

1/2 - fly CLT-???-EIS gets you onto Tortola late afternoon, then cab across the island to Sugar Mill, check in, unpack, then have dinner
1/3 - open day
1/4 - breakfast at Sugar Mill, pack, check out, taxi to ferry, catch ferry to VG, then water taxi to Saba Rock, check in, unpack
1/5 - open day
1/6 - breakfast, pack, check out of Saba rock, water taxi to VG, then catch ferry to Tortola (Beef Island?) then ferry to Scrub, check in, unpack
1/7 through 1/11 - FINALLY some time to settle in and RELAX.
1/12 - spend a day getting back home, ferry back to Tortola, cab across island to ferry dock, catch ferry to STT, clear customs, cab to airport and get there three hours before departure per requirements.

Not trying to poke holes in your plan, but for a honeymoon I'd suggest picking one (no more than two) place to stay and take day trips as others above have noted. Don't underestimate the sheer amount of time you'll spend switching between locations to stay.

If I mix it up on scrub part, is the spot to stay Anegada Beach Club or are there other spots on Anegada?

Lots of other places to stay, but for a honeymoon Anegada Beach Club Palapa rentals are pretty magical!

ABC is pretty cool and would make a nice honeymoon location.

If you want seclusion, one of Dean Wheatley's cottages West of Pomato Point would be nice. You would have to drive to any restaurants but I think Dean includes a car with his rental.

http://dhsunshinevillas.com/

Or Leverick. We have spent weeks there on the hill. We love Cinnamon house. Scrub has always been a bit boring but it has been about 5 years since we have stayed. May have changed.

We are hanging out at ABC now. This place really is magical as long as you can get by with no AC, although with the constant north breeze there really is not any need for i

Diver--That's kind of what I was thinking--those Palapas look really lovely, but I personally need my a/c to sleep at night!! The hotel rooms apparently have a/c, but they are not nearly so attractive.

We stayed there in April of 2018. I recall being chilly at night and having to zip up the canvas over the screens.