TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Need trip advice with a twist

Let me begin by saying that I don't post often but read often and value the wealth of information each of you have. This is our 6th trip to the BVIs. This trip will be a little different than our others. We have done strictly land based and crewed charters. This time we are blending land and charter. We are staying on VG for four nights at Adagio (Thanks Brian) and 5 nights aboard a captain only from July 6-15.

This time we are going with our two boys (ages 8 and 11) for the first time and my parents. I need some guidance with traveling with my dad who is partially paralyzed (right side stroke).

My first question is getting from STT to VG. We are trying to avoid the ferries at all costs. We contacted island birds and fly BVI for a quote on chartering a plane which is a little more than we wanted to spend, but not ruled out yet. If we go by private air, where do we clear customs? I am also confused about the departure tax. One charter company says $15 pp departure tax and the other $40 pp. Do we pay the departure tax on arrival even though we are leaving by boat? I vaguely remember on our last charter that we have checked in and out at the same time. Is this the case with arriving by air charter?

We also spoke with someone at VI connection water taxi and got a decent quote. Has anyone ever heard of them? We got a quote from Dolphin water taxi and it was the same as a private air charter (no brainer which we would pick).

On to my next question: our itinerary. We only have five nights. I am not concerned with cramming a lot in as we have done this before. I am concerned with where we can go with my dad. We think he should be able to get into the dingy and would like to take him to B-line bar, Cooper island, Prickly Pear. We are not interested in going to White Bay anymore, but maybe out to Anegada. Is there a dock in Anegada that we can be dropped off at? Where else can we go with someone with mobility issues?

I know this is a lot to take in, but my dad had his stroke 15 years ago and although he is paralyzed, we don't want him to stop adventuring. He travels regularly and was lucky to do a week on a monohull nearly thirty years ago.

I appreciate any feedback or precautionary wisdom anyone would care to give.

Pirates Bight at Norman has a good dock and should be accessible.
Leverick would be another spot with a good dingy dock. Bitter end and Saba both have good docks.
We beached the dinghy at B-line
It might be easier to beach the dinghy and have him swing over and wade in.
Last trip we saw a young man in a wheel chair that was having a blast. His crew has a bosun chair set up to get him into the dinghy and they had the 4 arm ladder carry down pat. In and out of the dinghy no problem!!
I hope you have a wonderful trip

On Anegada, I frequently see charter boats dock at the Anegada Reef Hotel dock. They are usually catamarans. I think depth would be an issue for a monohull. If you are chartering a cat, I would ask your captain to call and speak to Lawrence at Anegada Reef Hotel to ask docking permission. I'm sure he will help you out.

If not, it's possible to pull up to the ferry dock temporarily.

I can offer that we have used Island Birds 5x (sju/VG) and continue to be very pleased with their service.

You will enjoy adagio, we stayed there for 10 nights in Feb. your parents will waant to use the rooms by the pool, no stairs.

I would strongly recommend you charter a South African style cat where the dingy can be brought up between the hulls rather then a French style boat with steep sugar scoop access only to the dinghy.
G

Personally, with only 5 nights, I wouldn't include Anegada. Depending on the sea state, it can be a tough day getting there and back for those who aren't used to doing it. It's just an excuse to come back longer next time. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We have used Fly BVI multiple times and they have been very accommodating and I continue to recommend them. Talk to Steve there if you can. (If you want to send me your name by PM I can put in a good word for you to Steve regarding your situation). Sometimes he will offer a discount in the slower months. I also checked with Dolphin and found them to be the same price as air charter. Air is so much nicer if you can afford it. Land in STT, they take you right over after getting your bags and you fly right over to Tortola Beef. We are always the only ones in line for customs and fly right through which is the biggest benefit other than timing.

I am pretty sure the departure tax is $20 per person regardless of where you leave from. Airport tax for leaving is an additional $20. If one charter is charging you less then they must be eating that cost into their price somehow from what I know of that process.

There are good docks at Cooper and Anegada if you want to go with those spots. Anegada is a long way for 5 days but if you like sailing a couple of hours a day, like me, then I would go assuming good weather. Sounds like you already know your limitations for days and places you like and I love that you are taking your Dad despite his disabilities. My Dad is 76 and had a blast when we took him last year. We had some minor difficulties but made it work.

I have not heard of VI connection but would definitely check into that further if cheaper and private. They had changed the rules the last I checked regarding where water taxis could drop you off. If they are allowed to drop you off at your charter company's dock after clearing customs like they used to, then that is a definite time saver and worth the money as well in my mind. At Dolphin's price, you are better off flying.

The departure tax is 40.00 from the airport. They collect 20.00 in the ticket price and 20.00 when you go through security. They hope by splitting it no one realizes how high the tax is. When the new runway is done it will probably be a 100.00.
G

I am still pretty confused by the departure tax. As much as I disagree with it, I pay without complaining. My confusion is that we are probably entering the BVIs by private charter plane from STT but leaving by private catamaran. So we pay the departure tax on arrival? Last time we flew out of EIS we paid when we left. Has this changed?

Leaving by boat, you'll pay $20 a person (when you leave).

I left via sopers whole last month. I paid around $12 for a crew of 4.

We travel with my 85 year old mother every year and have found that beaching the dinghy is much easier in getting her out than going up to a dock. With a dock she usually has to step up but with the beach she can just swing her legs over to stand up.