I was looking for some help in picking which room type is the best at Long Bay Resort. We are looking at staying there for our honeymoon in June and wanted to get some feedback from people who have stayed there. Is the Beachfront Deluxe the nicest and most private type of room, or is the cabanas or the hillside deluxe or junior jacuzzi suites better? Any help would be greatly appreciated. We want something as private as possible. Thanks.

John, I think I can help you on at least part of your question. I'm familiar with the cabanas (my preference) and the hillside suites, but I'm not aware of the jacuzi version, nor hillside deluxe version, and don't remember which were the beachfront deluxe units or if they even existed when I was last there. <BR>What I like about the hillside units is that they are more breezy and open than the cabanas. Lots of view out to the sea and up and down island. The cabanas, on the other hand, are more secluded due to being located among the sea grapes. Much less view unless you have a second floor unit, but I preferred the first floor since I enjoyed the screening provided by the sea grape trees and I liked being on the slight bluff just off the beach. Also, the location enables you to make the trip down to be beach almost without being seen and you're quite a ways from the pool (depending on which unit you have) and away from people. If you were to ask for one of the more westerly cabanas on the first floor I think you'd be as private as you can get and wouldn't be surprised if you could sneak in a few "nekked" swims and you would be totally alone on the beach at night. You both can probably figure out how something to do on the beach at night. Have fun. <BR>

?? We stayed in the cabanas & they are just 1 story, right off the beach & in duplexes. Smaller the beachfront, which are 2 stories, but we preferred them. The wall between is thin though. <BR>Lots of people have trouble with this resort but we enjoyed ourselves (we always do!, though not what I consider upscale, just a nice place to stay on a nice island.

To Peggy: <BR>Gosh, I hate to see my memory go! So what were the 2 story units at the beach? I thought they called them cabanas? <BR>To your comment on people having trouble with LB, we did. From my standpoint it was the indifferent help. A couple we were with for part of the time, disliked the restaurant as well. As for us, we seldom ate there because we like to try out other restaurants.

Ann, I beleieve you stayed in the beachfront deluxe. They were 2 story with the top story having the best views. There were only about 5 cabana duplexes between a newer row of beachfront west & an older row east (though my directions may be turned around!) that they were renovating (May 98). I agree they were not the most accomodating staff but we had a great deal & for the money it was acceptable, also ate at many places around the island, though the breakfasts were very good at Long Bay. Not sure I'd recommend it for a honeymoon, though it all depends on your basis for comparison. I'll still take the South Pacific any day!

Peggy, Yes; for a honeymoon I'd want a smaller, more intimate resort and more personal. We have always preferred Frenchman's Cay for a mid-priced resort and we liked Biras Creek. Now there was a resort full of newlyweds; maybe a third of the guests had that newlywed look <BR>We've enjoyed Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, but haven't been to the South Pacific. Maybe someday.

I would suggest the beachfront deluxe - the view is great and you avoid the big walk up the hill, but yes, the walls are pretty thin. The beach is great, and the breakfasts are good, but I agree that the service is questionable and the accomodations are ok (not great). But all in all, its a pretty good deal and a fun island location to get away from the typical tourist traps. Don't forget Bomba's Full Moon Party -- worth it just for the people watching, alone.

I went Dec 1999 and at that time the beachfront deluxe rooms were the nicest and just renovated. The hillside deluxe is a hike to the beach if you stay in the rooms up there. The beachfront cabanas were defintely most private but also the most run down (they looked it then)and the people who I met who were staying in them did not like them, and they were also the most expensive. I would recommend the deluxe rooms nearest the beach. They were very nice. When I went last year was alot of erosion on the beach and you couldn't get in the water without beach shoes. A really pretty place and island but at that time the beach was a drag. I would still go back, but would want really reliable info on the beach status. Good luck.

Don't think that was beach erosion. That's the beach at Long Bay. Rocky and not a swimming beach because you can't get into the water. Sometimes way down at the end it is calm enough to swim.

John, <BR>If you're still following this string you started, you must be very confused. Seems like everyone that has replied to your question has actually stayed at LB, but no two people remember the place in the same way. I think that if you really want and are concerned about privacy, you'll need to rent a private villa. Some of these are listed at bviwelcome.com and there are a lot of them on the island. June is certainly a good month to find them as it is low season and the front edge of hurricane season.

The Beach Cabanas are duplexes on stilts each side pointed away from center. They are VERY private with immediate beach access, constant light surf sounds and nice views. Basic but nicely appointed, newly remodeled in last few years. Never greet a staff member with a problem, save that for after you have properly greeted them with "Good morning/afternoon/evening". LBBR folks are the same as all BVI locals. Friendly overtures will open them up...they're really very nice folks. LBBR is not a resort that has everything you'll want for your visit. Consider Tortola your resort. Rent a car and get around to experience all of the best this wonderful island has to offer you. <BR> <BR>Happy Honeymooning - No Worries

In December my boyfriend and I stayed for a week in a beach cabana at LBBR. It was nice being so close to the beach. We could go to sleep to the sound of the surf. At least for our first 2 nights there. Then Miss Hot Pants and her lover moved into the unit next to ours. We couldn't get to sleep until very late for the duration of our vacation because of having to hear them thru the paper thin walls as they indulged in wild hot loud sex nearly all night long. I'm not against having sex. Indeed, I love it, but we didn't enjoy listening to them having hot loud sex every night. My boyfriend complained to the manager who did absolutely nothing about it other than laugh!

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I still haven't made up my mind yet, because having the room be private is very important to me, and I don't want to have an experience in the cabanas with loud neighbors and thin walls. I have looked at Frenchmen's Cay and Fort Recovery Villas but it doesn't appear that either of them have single villas that are all by themselves (i.e. very private), they appeared to be part of a smaller complex with common walls. If anyone has any other suggestions either about these two places or of other private rooms, I would appreciate it. We still want some of the amenties of staying in a hotel or resort, so just renting a private villa might not be a great idea either. Thanks for the help.

<BR>Hi John, <BR> <BR>My wife and I have stayed at Long Bay in the past and were very unhappy with the service and our accommodations there. But that has been a few years ago so maybe things have changed for the better. We now always stay at the Villas of Fort Recovery Estate. They are nice, clean, spacious, and well furnished. We have never had a problem there with noise from the road or from adjoining suites. They do have a 3/4 bedroom villa that stands alone on the beach and it's much nicer than the smaller 1 or 2 bedroom units. Of course, it costs more. You may want to check out their website at http://www.fortrecovery.com. You can also read about our vacation in the BVI last summer in my trip report which is posted at http://virginislandsnow.homestead.co...0vacation.html. Hope you enjoy your honeymoon in the BVI no matter where you stay. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR>Ray

John, regarding your last comment about Frenchman's, ALL the villas there are stand-alone. No shared walls and a good 15-20 feet between villas. <BR>Been there either 4 or 5 times and I consider it the best value in the Caribbean. <BR>Frankly, I can't think of a resort, and I've been to a bunch of them, that offer more privacy. All the resorts I know are at least duplex. <BR>One time that we were there, a German woman alone with an infant was in the next villa. When the kid was on the porch we heard him very, very well, but I recall my wife mentioning that we never heard him once when he was inside. <BR>Also, FC has just 7 villas for rent; of the other 2, one is owned by an elderly lady and the other by the managers. Tremendous privacy.

My husband and I spent the second half of our honeymoon at Long Bay, May 2000. What a mistake! We had to wait 2 hrs. for our room to later find out they had plenty available. Hillside is definately not the way to go. Although, those rooms are very attractive, but a heck of a steep walk to the pool, let alone the beach. Beachfront Deluxe is the best way considering. Cabana's to me for a honeymoon were close to a Martha's Vineyard vacation nightmare. Service without a smile was first and foremost. At breakfast, I got up and refilled my own coffe cup. We tried to get any one bartender to smile, but forget it. Go to Soper's Hole. Also, we were plagued with the generator nightmare. Between the hrs. of 9:30 and 5:00 a.m. we had the luck of listening to a disel powered generator due to the lasting effects of hurricane somebody. Twice we had to re-request maid service as she forgot to make the bed! Speaking to a manager was like fighting traffic in Boston during rush hour! We had spent the prior week at the Sonesta in Anguilla and looked back at living in Paradise and now facing another life. The only person who was pleasant and would say hello with a smile was the landscaper! <BR> <BR>

John, <BR>We recently stayed at the Sunset House which is on a bluff overlooking the Long Bay Resort. I'm sorry I can't help much with the accommodation but I can say that an early morning walk the entire length of the beach is fantastic. One word of advice would be to pack a pair of water/surf shoes as the bottom is rocky in places but very enjoyable for swimming. Best meal of the trip was at Jolly Roger in Soper's Hole if you plan to leave the resort for dinner-Jerk Swordfish with Mango Chutney did it for me. Road Town doesn't have a lot to offer so don't allocate too much time there. A day sail with snorkeling on the Patouche II was our first time and was a safe and pleasant activity. Enjoy yourselves it was quite a relaxing place.

We statyed in the Cabanas in Nov a few years ago for just 3 days after a bareboat charter. We had not trouble with the staff, the food in the resturant was very good and we had a great time. We did have a rental jeep to run around and see stuff though. One thing that surprised us was how much the Cabanas shook at night when the wind blows. ( I know it was wind and not the neighbors) Have a great time. We will be honeymooning in Dec at Light House Villas.

I have heard quite a few bad things about Long Bay. I usually stay at Fort Recovery while in Tortola. It is very nice, the staff is very friendly, & grounds well-maintained. You would not regret a stay there. I could go on & on about this place, I highly recommend it.