If you stayed at rhymers did you like it? If not where else? At reasonable price.

Hi...we didn't stay at Rhymers, but we saw it. We were in the BVIs two weeks ago and Cane Garden Bay (where Rhymers is) is a great place to stay. Rhymers has been suggested on other boards I visited for our trip, and most people seem to like it. They say the accommodations are pretty simple, so if you're looking for luxury you may want to shop around. One good Board for BVI info is www.traveltalkonline.com<BR><BR>We did eat at Rhymers on several occasions and it was our favorite restaurant in CGB. Their prices were very reasonable compared to others on the Bay, and the food was good too. They were the only ones with Garden Burgers in stock. Also had hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, soups, etc for lunch. Great breakfasts - we usually got the Rhymers Breakfast (eggs, bacon or sausage, melon, toast, coffee, and juice for $6). Dinners were nicer with grilled fish, chicken rotis, ribs, etc. Rhymers also has a very expensive little grocery store by their restaurant. <BR><BR>We stayed at the Lighthouse Villas, which were more expensive but well worth it in our opinion! We loved it there and had a marvelous view from our balcony. Other people we talked to stayed in private villas on CGB and had good experiences, and someone was at Mongoose Apartments and liked it there too. <BR><BR>One tip I'd give is that if you are staying on Tortola for more than 4 days or so, I would stay in a different part of the island for awhile. We got kind of bored with the food choices in CGB (we rented a Jeep but didn't feel comfortable driving at night too far since it is so steep there, driving is on the left - not what we're used to, and there weren't many street lights). <BR><BR>In addition, make sure to eat at Palms Delight on Carrot Bay. Get the ginger wine chicken - just wonderful!<BR><BR>You'll have a great time no matter where you stay. It was one of our favorite vacations so far.

Yes- stayed there for five days about three years ago. Good beach within steps of hotel(Cane Garden Bay). Lousy rooms with bugs and crowing rooster every am at 4 in morning. Absolutely need a car-poor local transportation. Many sickly dogs on beach. People not particularly friendly. Despite all this, I had a good time because of the beach. Think we only paid about $50/nt. in Dec. So considering the price it was a great place.

Well, the dogs were still on the beach, but they looked pretty happy to us a few weeks ago. They were well-fed (probably by tourists) and seemed to really enjoy hanging out on the beach. We tried to play with a few of them, but they were just as happy to just sit by your feet and look at the water. The animals that surprised us the most were the chickens on some of the beaches!<BR><BR>And, the local transportation is not that great so I would suggest a car too (you reall need a Jeep for the steep roads). There are taxis constantly at a stand in Cane Garden Bay, but they are very expensive. The car rental place at Cane Garden Bay (Del's) does not have good prices and our car was old (we worried several times that it wouldn't make it up a hill). I'd try to get a car at one of the car rental places near where you get off the ferry in West End.<BR><BR>

I was just going to read these posts and not jump in, but on this subject I have a strong opinion. We have been to Tortola several times, and only ONCE did we make the bad mistake of booking at Rhymers. We are not too picky, and without going into too much detail, I have to say the room was just disgusting. It looked and smelled like your worst hotel nightmare with a tiny shuttered window and a brown-stained sink falling off the wall! It was so poor, in fact, that we actually let them keep most of our deposit and checked in at the Ole Works Inn across the street (owned by Quito Rhymer). Good luck (and try the Lighthouse Villas or Coconut Point for a better experience).

and you might want to check the e coli status with all the boats moored in CGB. Sure wouldn't catch me swimming there!

BVIslander is talking nonsense. CGB is one of the more popular beaches on Tortola and I have never heard of anyone falling ill from swimming there. Just another sad person(probably another complaining American in the guise of a local) with a bad opinion! Don't pay him/her any attention.

Unfortunately, the e. coli issue isn't nonsense. I looked into this several months ago and found links to articles in the Tortola newspaper discussing the problem with pollution at Cane Garden Bay. Apparently the local bars/restaurants/hotels are as much to blame as the visiting boats.<BR><BR>A new wastewater treatment plant was installed a few years ago but hasn't been working properly, and local businesses were not required to hook up to it - so some did, and some didn't.<BR><BR>The whole issue of pollution from sailboats is pretty interesting. There are some extensive discussions of this at traveltalkonline. Sewage from boats is usually discharged, untreated, into the ocean. When I went on a daysail in the BVI last Dec. the captain told me that "responsible" skippers discharge the stuff when they're "out in the current" - i.e., not in a bay or cove.<BR><BR>My recommendation would be to stay in a hotel at Cane Garden Bay and swim at Smuggler's Cove and Brewer's Bay.<BR><BR>