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22 members (IWIWSE, markis, nevar37, duckfat, Whale Tail, SteveH, turqwater, Wingman, pburke40, Manpot, deliveryskipper, jazzgal, michaelj, GeorgeC1, BillR, timnboston, xrayman67, JeanneB, 4 invisible),
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Joined: May 2002
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Normally much of the BVI's start to shut down after Festival in August and open up again towards the end of October. This is the time folks head to their various homes on other islands, back in the States etc. I am wondering how that will change this year if tourists are allowed back in Sept..will the "season' start in September as the workers will need $$ as well as hotels and restaurants or will it be dead til the end of Oct? Will folks be so anxious to get back to the BVI's they wont care that its hotter and the height of hurricane season? LOve to hear what TTOLers think about it..
Last edited by Manpot; 05/02/2020 12:00 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 144
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If most places are open? We'll go sail.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
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If feasible, we will try to go down to use our boat, probably in October. I think a lot of people will be hesitant to travel at that time though. It will really depend on how things progress over the next few months. This isn't going away anytime soon.
Matt
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From what I am seeing in the BVI, the government is unsure what they should do. I do not expect much improvement by Sept so maybe they will let folks come in but with a 14 day quarantine. So essentially no tourism. So far they are not allowing folks to take their boats from the BVI to USVI.
tpcook
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Hoping for Halloween to replace my July 4th charter, which so far has not been cancelled or postponed. I even referred them to the BVI press conference from Mid April and their response was that the delay of tourism is still up in the air?..............
I do not have air booked yet as I just don't see it happening., so I am really counting on Halloween if not.
Happy to see Quito's happy hour Saturdays for now though.....helping me until I can get back.
Toast.......to Life; White Bay...heaven on earth.
Diane
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Joined: Oct 2009
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Not optimistic, although the financial pressure will begin to outweigh the fear of Covid at some point. However, as Thorsten said, they are still saying two-week quarantine - not at home - for anyone returning. And they are still saying entry solely through Beef Island, where they believe they have better ability to screen people.
I feel bad for homeowners who left in February, expecting to come back in April or May to prepare for hurricane season. I am also seeing a lot of houses available for longer-term rent. That suggests either higher-income expats are leaving, or homeowners expect short-term rentals will be dead for the foreseeable future.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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As a home owner we are not expecting any rentals until after September - I don't even know if we could come down and stay in our own house - happy to quarantine at Adagio like we've been doing for 47 days at our house in Toronto.
GordaGuy2
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Joined: Oct 2009
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That's the issue: they are saying you won't be able to quarantine at your house. Damned if I'm paying to stay somewhere, while our house sits empty - and in a WAAY more remote situation than any quarantine guest house.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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The airlines will largely dictate the schedule. After Irma the available flights were full largely with FEMA personnel and insurance adjusters. That demand will be absent this fall unless there is another storm. With everything the airlines are facing right now I don't see resuming STT or any island flights will be a priority. I hope I'm wrong!
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Joined: Oct 2000
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AA is providing STT to Miami flights so no problem with air transport and I am sure they will ramp if there is a demand.
tpcook
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Joined: Oct 2009
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Thorsten, fine if you want to vacation on St. Thomas! Right now there are no ferries to/from the USVI. Various signs make me wonder if the BVI is freaked out about their finances (not without reason). The airport was in poor financial shape before, so perhaps it is a monopoly thing. Are they collecting cruising fees from the boats they won't allow to leave? They won't let Western Union re-open yet, to keep cash from leaving.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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There has been some movement in availability of flights into the USVI announced: https://viconsortium.com/vi-travel/...e-to-usvi-this-month-port-authority-saysThis is surprising here because hotels etc. are still not allowed to register new arriving tourists -- until June 1 -- but in the USVI there has never been a total shutdown for residents and homeowners to travel
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850
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Not a BVI resident, never will be, but since 1981 my wife and I have spent a bit more than 4 years total in the BVI. Usually twice yearly. Only time missed was the end of the Irma year. We have been every month except December. The rain and wind of the winter. The rain and heat of the summer. The heat and humidity of hurricane season. Sailed during 37 of our trips and most sailing done August/September. My favorite wind is during that period. Only moved once for an approaching hurricane-David- and he went north. So from a tourist point of view. The BVI is spectacular any time of year. So when they reopen the water, land, and people will still be EPIC no matter what time of year. For me “ off season” only means I have more room to roam.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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You must have been coming before 1981, David was in 79.
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Joined: May 2004
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Damn. You are right. Now you are going to cost me hours of research to find the real name of that hurricane and the year. The name David was retired after his devastation in 1979. My clues for research are: We were sailing the Patouche catamaran CJ with young boatman and skipper Jason. We left a mooring at Saba Rock at 5 PM when told we would have to drop off if wind exceeded 40 kts.During the night. We were sitting at BEYC watchIng it’s approach on TV. We sailed back to Wickhams Cay 1 and docked at Spaghetti Junction. SJ had already moved to the Cay. The storm then passed 25 miles north dropping only rain. My research begins. Jason is married with children in England ( to a Dr he met at Peebles doing her internship from UK) Joe Standish is still the owner at Patouche. Spaghetti Junction has since closed. Terry and my minds have severe malfunctions in memory. Sail444 thanks for the challenge. God knows I have the time. LMAO.
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It’s amazing how the memories of the years change over time.
Saba Rock was just a rock at that time and a few years later Kilbride the diver turned it into a bar with Burgers/Mahi sandwiches.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Damn. You are right. Now you are going to cost me hours of research to find the real name of that hurricane and the year. The name David was retired after his devastation in 1979. My clues for research are: We were sailing the Patouche catamaran CJ with young boatman and skipper Jason. We left a mooring at Saba Rock at 5 PM when told we would have to drop off if wind exceeded 40 kts.During the night. We were sitting at BEYC watchIng it’s approach on TV. We sailed back to Wickhams Cay 1 and docked at Spaghetti Junction. SJ had already moved to the Cay. The storm then passed 25 miles north dropping only rain. My research begins. Jason is married with children in England ( to a Dr he met at Peebles doing her internship from UK) Joe Standish is still the owner at Patouche. Spaghetti Junction has since closed. Terry and my minds have severe malfunctions in memory. Sail444 thanks for the challenge. God knows I have the time. LMAO. You may be thinking of Omar in October 2008. We were down for that one. Missed the Virgins for the most part.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Back when life was normal in past Septembers ~ I know most places close up and open up in October. I have friends who just booked a trip to St John and are planning a day visit to the BVI ~ goals are Nigels and Soggy. Are these normally closed at that time of year? I know this year may be different since places have been closed for so long....may opt to open if weather is ok?
Thanks...I just want to update them while they have time to make changes.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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They booked a trip for Sept?
I would tell them not to plan on anything. I think it is still very much unknown what may or may not happen. And so much will depend on what happens in the rest of the world. The good thing is there's a lot of time between now and Sept. Lots can happen. Good or bad.. hopefully its all good.
Matt
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Hi all...
So we are booked in October for 1 week CGB and 1 week cow wreck---we currently have reservations on AA (calif to san juan), silver (seabourne) to beef island and vi airlink to anegada--with all of the local airline and guesthouse arrangements in question if just one entity cancels all of the others may start to unravel...
Hopefully all will be well-- but if not...
We have encountered the usual island travel surprises (cancelled ferry times, delayed flights, missed connections, changing accommodation dates) and have always been able to work it out with the wonderful laid back folks of the bvi....so we know all the pieces of the puzzle don't always fit together like the picture shows...
Just hoping this will be a stress-free relaxing time to reconnect with friends (our 12th time down) and enjoy the bvi--and wishing the same for all of our fellow ttolers...
Thanks
Margie
once in a lifetime you live and die
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Yes... though their trip is really based on St John for 10 nights with the plan of a day trip to the BVI.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Just stay on top of Silver - they can change and cancel flights at the drop of a hat.
We used to have to travel down from California all the time and it can be such a cluster if just one thing goes wrong — like you, we have always managed to make it! Hoping all goes well. They don’t have a great rep but maybe the merge with Seabourne will help!
We head down (hopefully) in November for a week on a cat from 4/4-4/11 and then another 10 nights on a mono by ourselves. We have Jet Blue booked to SJU and we are holding off booking our one-way to Tortola from there until we see how things are panning out. Our JB return is from STT back to FL via SJU - we just couldn’t rebook the flight down there to get us into STT in time for a ferry.
Fingers crossed!!
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