My travel buddy and I are using our miles to get toSan Juan from BWI.We can then fly to Tortola,also using miles.Anyone have any other ideas for getting there??Fodorites have written unfavorably about Sunshine Air,and since we can use miles to Tortola,why bother,or should we??Please advise.

From Tortola you can take a ferry to Virgin Gorda. I haven't taken it but I think it's only about 30 minutes. I spent a day in Tortola and it's beautiful.

You can also choose to fly from PR to VG (not for the nervous flier - unless heavily medicated!)...that will save you some major travel time. Guavaberry is great. Have a BLT lunch at the nearby Mad Dog cafe and enjoy the spectacular views.

Since you're using miles, I'd recommend using them to get you as far as you can go (i.e. Beef Island) and then take the North Sound ferry over to Virgin Gorda. You can walk from the airport over to Trellis Bay where the North Sound Express comes in. You just need to let them know ahead of time that you want to be dropped off in Spanish Town rather than North Sound. They make an extra stop for that.

Thanks,all of you for your most helpful responses!!We are doing just as ejcrowe suggests,and using our miles to the max.I will toast all you great Fodorites as we enjoy or first sunset!!!!

We flew into Tortola last year and then took a private boat to Virgin Gorda which was just as cheap as the commercial ferry. I can't remember the name Captain ? Try some searches and ask through some of the villa rental websites. That is how I found this service.

Done the ferry to Virgin Gorda...no problem...think Tortola is more picturesque, particularly the west end near Little Apple Bay, Long Bay, Smugglers Cove (probably one of the prettiest beaches ever), Cane Garden a bit touristy. Also did a day ferry to Jost and had a blast doing that....we rented through purplepineapple.com (Sugar Apple unit)...awesome view.