TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Cheapest way to get from San Juan to Virgin Gorda?

We are working with a tight budget, and are trying to find the most cost-effective way to get to Virgin Gorda in late September or early October.

We have Southwest miles that will get us to San Juan. It seems that to then fly directly to Virgin Gorda will cost us around $800.

Anyone have any ideas on how we can get to Virgin Gorda from San Juan without spending more that $500 or so in travel for the 2 of us? We'll ferry if it's even a possibly that time of year. It seems so complicated, but I'm hoping there is a way to swing it.
Thanks all!

No ferry service from San Juan (or any other place in Puerto Rico) to Virgin Gorda. The only way is to fly. Air Sunshine has one-way flights for $175/person and R/T flights for $325/person.

I was thinking a series of ferries, but that may just be way too complicated.

no series of ferries either, I'm guessing it's over 75 miles into the wind and sea, not fun

The cheapest is Air Sunshine but that is $325 per person. Too expensive for sure, but still the best available option.

It will add to the hassle but if times work out you can get flights from 65 to 85 $ each way to/from ST. Thomas on Jet Blue and then either Speedys ferry if right day or combination of two ferrys to get to VG. It would keep you under the 500$ budget if times work out..check SWA flights amd Jet Blues and the ferry schedule on BVI people talk here and see if works.

Another option is use your mileage to Ft.Lauderdale and take Spirit to STT for about $100. I've heard some complaints on this board about Spirit, but we have never been cancelled and mostly on time

It doesn't look like Speedy's runs it's direct to Virgin Gorda ferry in Sept or Oct, so we'd have to go another route. And maybe it's too early to search for flight bargains on Spirit, since any flight that would work for our timeframe was over $250.

Has anyone used Seaborne? Looks like they go San Juan to Beef Island...

Thanks for the options! It's looking pretty complicated.

We feel your pain....United changed their schedule and stopped running the Newark/St. Thomas flights during the weekdays (nice of them to tell us too - I only discovered it because someone else here raised the alarm) and the only way to make our flights work with our trip was to fly into SJU - so we had to pay for Seaborne to Beef island for the way down and Cape Air from Virgin Gorda on the way home.

I hate to say it, but I would just bite the bullet and buy the flights...it's really the only option. Even if you could make the St. Thomas flights work with the ferry schedule, by the time all is said and done, you won't save enough to make it worth all the hassle.....

Try Seaborne to Tortola then take the ferry to Virgin gorda - adds time but seems like you want to do it the least expensive way.

I would call Speedy's to verify your information about the VIG-STT ferry. They only run Tues/Thurs/Sat VIG_STT. Could be if you are not arriving/departing on those days you are not seeing the schedule. I do not recall them ever reducing that run off season but it could be that one of them is dropped Sept/Oct.

Agree Rita, when we had our boat at VGYH, we planned our trip around the non stop from STT-VIG, great way to start the trip with a cold Carib and Callaloo soup at the Pump Room