TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Soggy Dollar Bar

I don't see how they can enforce that policy.

So, for the record, here is what is on the new reservation confirmation:

Please be advised that:
• Effective October 15, 2015 NO alcoholic beverages purchased off property will be permitted in the guest rooms/cottages. If you’re interested in purchasing beer/liquor from Sandcastle Hotel to be kept in your room please contact us prior to your arrival.

• We will no longer be serving dinner on Friday nights. The island has many wonderful restaurants take this opportunity to visit them.

• Your reservation will be honored as stated on this confirmation. Making changes to your reservation without previous notification may result in the cancellation of your reservation or loss of the deposit.

• We have a 90 day cancellation policy, which means that to refund the deposit you must cancel at least 90 days prior to your arrival date noted above

• All rooms/cottages are double occupancy only and a minimum age of 16 years is required.

• If you have a friend or family member staying at another villa/hotel and traveling with children, please keep in mind we welcome children 12yrs of age and older in the dining room for breakfast and dinner.

• Gratuity is NOT included in the quoted rates. You’ll have the opportunity to show your appreciation for our staff at check out.

Think it will be an interesting season. Wondering if the new manager plans to spend the day chasing day trippers who bring their own booze off the chairs.

From some back channel chatter I have been privy to, I would not be the least bit surprised to see the entire staff walk out on a very busy day in high season.

Looks like Jerry and Tish need to rethink their new manager very quickly.

That said, I am still left wondering what pushed him over the edge. Mic really made the stay!

Tell me we can't bring our own alcohol into our ROOM?? I don't think so! Frankly,if I received an e-mail like that I believe I'd be looking at other options prior to the ridiculous 90 day cancellation policy. All this smacks of crappy management which could make a stay there very unpleasant. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/smashpc.gif" alt="" />

The new manager took away all of the barstools because she thought that people sitting at the bar interfered with the drink line.
This is a textbook example of trying to fix something that wasn't broken.

I am confused as to whether they would be trying to enforce the new liquor policy, AND the cancellation policy, when they changed the rules? Regardless, it doesn't seem like a smart set of moves here.

Makes sense. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/smashpc.gif" alt="" />

How do they actually stop you from bringing in your own bottle? Doubt they will even try. That would be the opposite of every BVI experience I've had when it comes to drinking.

Do they clean the rooms?? If so, I guess they could seize any non approved alcohol..

They do clean the rooms once a day. We have always taken in a couple bottles of rum or something into our room there. But I'd be more than a little ticked off if they confiscated anything that belonged to me, particularly if it meant they were going through my stuff!

Interesting indeed. Having spent time on both sides of the bar (tender and drinker) as well as a server in a couple of very hopping places, I have seen a bartender make or break the booze side of the business.

The no booze in the room is interesting as well. I shouldn't be wearing my American-thinking hat but I wonder is that even legal to restrict what someone does in the room? (not that privacy/rights of use laws would matter a lot on Jost, just saying....)

I have heard of some resorts prohibiting outside liquor in their rooms and the ones I am familiar with, are in the US.

maybe they will hire security like the cruise ships and check your bags when checking in. This rule would be a deal breaker for us. They are shooting themselves in the foot

Yep .. if they change the rules after previously confirming the reservation, that would be grounds to terminate the contract after the 90 day period.

Sounds like their new manager is moving in the wrong direction especially with the new place going in next door. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

I would be disputing the charge with my credit card company.

The great thing about the BVI is it's lack of rules. I agree with sail2wind. They are shooting themselves in the foot. Mind you I stopped going to the Soggy Dollar when they reduced their painkiller cup size. Another greedy and stupid mistake.

These new rules would be a deal breaker for me..take Mic out of the equation too and I walk away..plenty of other places with smiling, greeting staff to spend my $$..

When did Mic start working at SDB?

Sometime around 2002 or so. KC Chinnery was the bartender before Mic. When he left, there was a similar feeling among our group as we really enjoyed spending our days with him. But things were much less busy at SDB then when compared to what it's like today.

Watch out for another new addition to the hotel bill there...there is now a $10 per day housekeeping charge when you checkout. I always left something in the room for the ladies that take care of us, but now management has made that mandatory.

KC now runs the ferry from Tortola to JVD..Mic was previously at "Peg Leg's" in Nanny Cay..

Wow, mandatory tipping!!! That kind of crap turns my stomach. Just charge more and give it to the staff...

Times sure do change. I would not stay there with those policies, pretty soon they'll have mandatory food and drink minimums like a country club.

What a way to f&%k up really nice place..shame on them..

Seriously?? is this a beach hotel or a cruise ship?? What's next? Security scanners?? Fear not! Those of who cruise can teach you a way around it <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

That said...just reading those policies would make me high-tail it to White Bay Villas ASAP....

I wonder how much of the housekeepers tip will be skimmed by the management? Oh, did I say that?

They were already doing it at the bar. Why stop there. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />

I'm sure it is justified to cover the new minimum wage (and NHI)being kicked around in the BVI. I'm sure all these folks are just rolling in the dough with all the raises they get.

Thanks everyone for affirming that I wasn't off my rocker about feeling a wee bit miffed about the new policies that were emailed! Being sent a list of new rules before arrival was unexpected.

We're staying put with our reservation and will hope for the best. (Besides, almost everything else on the island booked! Haha!) I know we'll still have an amazing time. We will definitely miss getting to know Mic better but I'm sure we'll get along just fine with the rest of the Soggy crew. We plan on exploring the island too. Another reason why we chose Jost was to experience places we missed during our brief visit in March like The Bubbly Pool, Corsairs, Foxy's, Ivan's, One Love, etc...

I will happily report back on the forum when we return in a few weeks.

15 days until "wheels up" as you say here on TTOL!

Are they really in search of the odd bottle in a room maybe in a bag? Or trying to avoid the massive open bar parties some can host 24/7 for days disrupting everyone else?

massive open bar parties, 24/7 What the hell are you talking about?

Aquamusic,

If you enjoy mixed drinks, just buy some coke, drink half, fill the rest of the bottle with your favourite rum and nobody is the wiser. You could also use these clever little things if you are beer drinkers.

This sort of thing will do irreparable harm to their business. Losing Mickey sure doesn't help, but dictating what people can and can't bring into their own room (provided it is legal) is pushing things to the limit.

I wonder if the camp counselors will have little red whistles hung on nifty hand made gimp lanyards around their necks. Anyone caught sneaking any booze into the bunkhouse will get three demerit points and a phone call to your parents.

Jeesh! Big mistake.

Liane--great post!!!

This

I'm curious to know why Mic has left? Personally I would FLIP OUT if my belongings were searched in my room to be sure I did not have any contraband, i.e., "outside" alcohol!! I wonder if Mic realized that it was better to leave before all of these new rules ruined the place! "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is so true!

If anyone knows where Mic is going to land, please let me know as that place will move to the top of my bar list. The SDB was ok but the people made it great.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" />

Yes....those are so common at Sandcastle.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />