Penny

Which island is best for a family budget type vacation? We have two teenage daughters (14 & 17)and want to enjoy beaches, snorkeling, sightseeing. We'd like to feel secure in letting them go on their own some without having to worry about drugs, come-ons, etc. St. Thomas is out because it sounds way too touristy and crowded. We'd like to enjoy music/entertainment at night that teens could also enjoy. Prefer no casinos or rowdy nightlife. Any suggestions for budget accommodations would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

floyd

floyd

Hi Penny;
we wen to all the island and We love St. thomas and st martin lots to do and things to see when are you taking your trip?

floyd

Hi Penny;
we wen to all the island and We love St. thomas and st martin lots to do and things to see when are you taking your trip?

Don / Boston

Hi; Your problem is you don't want touristy or congested but you want nightlife unfortunately they usually go some what hand in hand. The BVI Islands are beautifull and are not congested at all but they are spread out and not known at all for nightlife. St John in the US virgin Islands is beautifull but again nightlife may be disappointing. In the Carribean in general it is hard to find and Island that has nightlife of any great variety but does not have some of the problems of the city. Honestly if nightlife, safety and Island atmosphere is important to you you might want to consider Cancun, Mexico which while it is certainly touristy it is reasonably priced, pretty darn safe and has something for everybody (night clubs, retaurants, malls etc). Email me if you have any more questions.

Carol

Although my children are much younger than yours (and, thus, I'm not an expert on teenagers!), you might want to consider Leverick Bay Resort/Villa Rentals on Virgin Gorda. It is reasonably priced, is in a beautiful location, and has a Pusser's bar/restaurant on the premises which is fun. Nightlife is minimal on Virgin Gorda but you can take a night time launch over to Biras Creek Resort and, I believe, Bitter End Resort from nearby Leverick Bay. The only real downside to Leverick Bay is that the beach is almost non-existent. We got around that by renting a jeep for a few days and exploring the other gorgeous beaches on the island and by renting a small motor boat from the hotel service and going off to find our own beaches. Good luck!

Penny

Hi,
We're wanting to take a week in July preferably but August would be okay too. I'm having trouble locating budget airfare. There seem to be no deals once school is out. The travel agent recommended Grand Cayman as maybe a cheaper alternative. Have you ever been there?

Deb

Penny- we are taking our two daughters (10 & 12) to Tortola, BVI this summer. Although we loved the USVI many years ago, we were much put off by reports of muggings, theft, drugs, and other dangers. We chose Tortola because we found through research that it was safe, and had enough low-key nightlife (fungi bands, steel bands, regge, "full moon parties", etc.) to keep both the kids and us entertained. However, we did not make this decision quickly. What sold us was reading postings on a BVI bulletin board. If you have trouble finding it, E-mail me and I will share the web address. Part of the fun of a vacation is researching it- have the kids come up with any ideas of their own? Good luck

Joel

Penny, my wife and I have spent considerable time in St. Johns, St. Thomas, and the BVI. My advice (and what we do) is to take advantage of all 3 through use of the very convenient ferry service that connects them. For us, rule #1 is don't take your lodging in St. Thomas. We were burglarized there while in our bed. Also, there are some very tough looking locals around. However, St. Thomas has, hands-down, the best shopping and Charlotte Amalie where the shopping is is very convenient to the ferry (the ferry drops you of right in the shopping district). St. Johns has nice beaches and nice hotels and features a US National Park that is a must-see. You can get a tour if the park in what amounts to a pick-up truck with comfortable open-air seating, and there are a number of nice beaches. Having a rental vehicle at your disposal would be nice if you decided to stay there--but I thing that, really, the BVI is by a wide margin your best place for lodging and general bumming around from beach to beach and into the hills for great views, etc. We stay on Tortola every year (main island of the BVI) which is reminiscent of the US in the 50's when you could leave your door unlocked and everyone you met was extremely courteous. The citizens of the BVI are very British and proper while being relaxed and full of smiles. They combine the lifestyle of living on "island time" with British propriety. Only place I've ever been where the taxi driver kissed me and my wife when she dropped us off at the airport on our departure. Tortola has little traffic and decent (for an island) roads. Most resorts (there are about a dozen you might consider) furnish a car or 4wd with your package. I strongly recommend Frenchman's Cay Resort which is essentially a group of 9 condos (each a separate villa) that are in a resort setting with a fine restaurant, tennis, boating, pools, and a beach. It is at the very end of Tortola and about 2 miles from the ferry that can take you in about 30-45 minutes to St. John or St. Thomas. Tortola is uncrowded, but with your car you will soon discover what can be found at the various beaches. Each is different. At Secret Cove, for example, there is an eccentric old man who runs the little pop stand (on the honor system, would you believe) and has his very own Lincoln Continental parked inside the stand with photos of Queen Elizabeth riding in it back in the 60's. Very charming guy. You can choose relatively populated beaches or beaches where there is no one to be seen for hundreds of yards. During one of my visits I was writing a travel article and so visited a number of the resorts. The ones that I would recommend in the order I would recommend them are: Frenchman's Cay (unassuming, quiet, incredible view of many islands, great breezes, excellent restaurant), Long Bay Resort (for those wanting marble in the bathroom, best beach, largest resort, no breezes, good views, very good restaurants), Ft. Recovery (an eclectic place right at the water's edge, more of a compound sort of appearance with moderate access to breezes, very friendly staff, good food, don't know prices), Sugar Mill (plush facilities, gourmet food in an unusual setting, minimal beach, on a shady hill). Remember that you can use any beach on the island and half the fun is driving around. Also, a must-do on Tortola is to take a day cruise on the Patouche II, a catamaran that takes you snorkling to a number of the tiny islands that dot the area. We normally buy our food in Road Town, the only real town on the island, and use the kitchen in the villa to cook most of our meals that aren't covered by the package. Really saves $$. Then when we want to eat out, there's a very nice local bar/restaurant on a porch overlooking the Soper's Hole yacht basin calle the Jolly Roger. Very friendly and good for kids. There's a lot to do by ferry and a lot to be seen just driving around. Whether you swim or not, you've gotta do it! If you want to know more, just e-mail me direct.
JD

Joel

Opps! I forgot you were looking for budget accomodations. Here are a few names on Tortola: Fort Burt and the Ol' Works Inn. I would suggest you write to both. I estimate that both are in the $80-100 per night range. I have seen a number of positive reports on the Ol' Works Inn and it is in a nice location, but at that price range you get a hotel not a resort so there is access to beaches, but fewer amenities.

Kathleen

Penny, look into the message board at www.traveltalk.com - it focuses on the BVI's. A lot of good information and you will get a lot of help with your questions. Good luck!

Kate Geskos

I just got back from Tortola. My husband and I stayed at Long Bay. By far the best place to stay on the island. We stayed in a hillside room which had wonderful breezes throughout the day. The beach is the best, especially, Smugglers Cove with its honor bar. Some good restaurants, C&Fs in Roadtown, The Sugar Mill, Myetts...