We'll be coming down to the islands March 2024 for our 11th charter trip. Last trip was Feb 2022. Looking to see if there's anything new, different, open, closed etc. for our proposed itinerary
Day 1 TMM sleepaboard - Gene's for dinner maybe? Never been but heard they will pick up from TMM? Day 2 Cooper Island - i know this is a first stop for many and can be crowded but we start charter on a Monday so I'm hoping it's not too bad Day 3 Saba - daytime activity suggestions? Too far to dinghy to Nova for lunch? Day 4 Leverick - taxi to baths, stop at Hog Heaven on the way back, Beans show at Leverick that night Day 5 Anegada - boat trip with Sherwin, Tipsy's at Cow Wreck afterward Day 6 Great Harbor on Jost - with a stop at Monkey Point for snorkeling on the way. Taxi to Soggy Dollar for drinks & Hendo's for lunch Day 7 Cane Garden Bay - with a stop at Little Jost for a hike to the bubbly pool on the way. Taxi to Bananakeet for sunset cocktail, then taxi to Tramonte (Sugar Mill) for dinner Day 8 Norman Island - snorkel the Indians and Willy T
Questions:
What time does the fuel dock open near TMM? We really don't want to spend the last night at TMM but our water taxi is suggesting a 9:00 am pick up time from TMM due to flights. Chances of getting fueld up & off the boat (assuming we do most prep the night before) by 9:00 am?
Taxi recommendation for trip to Baths or just ask at Leverick for them to call one? When Nick & Monica were there they'd just call a taxi for us.
Taxi recommendation from Great Harbor to Soggy Dollar and back. Readily available on shore in Great Harbor?
Taxi recommendation for Bananakeet/Tramonte dinner from Cane Garden Bay? (we have a few on this trip who wouldn't been keen on swimming into the baths and White Bay can be a sh&# show sometimes with lots of boats mooring & anchoring)
Are you intending to come back to base on a Monday? I think the Fot Burt hours are 8-4:30. (Fuel dock closed on Sundays). It may be a push as TMM will want to do a thorough check-in. We always come back to base the night before if we have an early departure.
We have done the early departure at TMM several times, but not that early. As MIDiver indicates, even if you are able to get fuel when the fuel dock opens at 8:00, getting into your slip at TMM, getting everything off the boat, and allowing time for the check-in, I don't see how you could be out of there by 9:00 am. On our last trip, we arrived at the fuel dock at 7:45 am, only to find that we were third in line. That meant that we weren't done with re-fuel until about 8:45. While that may be unusual, it is always a possibility. I would not want to be under that kind of stress while trying to make return flights to the US.
For a taxi recommendation anywhere on Tortola, I always recommend AC's Taxi. You can reach him at (284) 340-0550. He has taken great care of us for many years now.
The office staff at Leverick will still call you a taxi. Often, there are taxis waiting outside the office already. That said, you might consider renting a car for the day, as it will likely be cheaper. Leverick's office can help with that too.
Hi Julie , For your day on VG consider giving Patsy a call . She is a friend who runs a taxi and cleaning business on VG . Awesome gal - used to clean Reef Song for us .
Rentals cars on Virgin Gorda - we use Mahogany. They even meet us at Gun Creek when we moor at BEYC (we don’t like Leverick). We had a full size SUV on Jan. 1 - $105 for the day (we had kids and car seats and needed the space - smaller vehicles were more affordable). Last taxi we took to CocoMaya was $160 for 4 plus tip so we felt this was a deal and gave us lots of flexibility.
We use L&S now but have used Mahogany in the past. Both are great and both will meet you anywhere you want. Like MIDiver said, for the price it just makes sense to have your own car rather than rely on taxis.
Thanks for all the quick replies! Looks like we'll have no choice but to spend our last night at TMM base. It's just usually hot and buggy, but it is what it is. Its the water taxi that is pushing the 9am pick up. But I can see their logic. I think we've used AC taxi before on Tortola. Kim, thanks for the taxi rec on Virgin Gorda. While I rental might be cheaper, Andy's not interested in driving those manual transmission trucks over and around the hills of Virgin Gorda. Looking for the easy button this trip. :-)
Definitely don't have to get a manual transmission. Both companies have great options, from smaller SUV's all the way up to 7-8-9 seaters- all automatic. But I also understand wanting to just show up and not deal with anything except paying the cab.
Going from Anegada to Monkey Point for snorkeling and then heading to White Bay for lunch is pretty ambitious unless you are on a Powercat and leave early.
We're going to tweak things a bit I think. Swap Jost and Cane Garden Bay days - it'll give us more time on Jost (thanks George for the advice). Also now considering two nights at Bitter End instead of 1 at Saba and 1 at Leverick. Bitter End looks beautiful and I think our crew would enjoy the property.
I have solved the last night problem. TMM confirmed that the fuel dock near them opens at 8:30 am. If we have TMM fill the fuel for us, we can be on their dock by 8:00 and checked out by 9:00 am. Just got confirmation from TMM that this will work. It's $100 to have them fuel up; that's $25/per couple and well worth it to spend the last night in a mooring field under the stars. :-)
You can definitely dinghy to Nova from the North Sound, but it can also definitely be a wet ride. Especially as it sounds like you have 8 people (4 couples on board), so that's an extra full and long dinghy ride.
If I were you I would just bring the big boat around (well marked channel), or call us and have us pick you up with our regularly scheduled ferry from either BEYC or Saba Rock.
As for other things to do during the day in the North Sound - BEYC has reopened their Guy's Trail hike, and it is great! A loop trail over the ridge behind BEYC with beautiful views of the sound. They are also offering local reef snorkel trips amongst the plethora of great snorkeling spots here in the North Sound led by the legend Kinto himself!
Gorda Peak has also recently rebuilt their viewing tower. If you do end up renting a car and exploring Virgin Gorda, this is a relatively easy 25 minute hike from the road to the top with gorgeous 360 degree views of the BVI
We had a taxi 9am pickup. Came into TMM early, before 8, paid the fueling fee and made it work. It was rushed but we checked into ferry and crossed the road for iced coffee and breakfast.
We had a taxi 9am pickup. Came into TMM early, before 8, paid the fueling fee and made it work. It was rushed but we checked into ferry and crossed the road for iced coffee and breakfast.
