Peter Island or not...
 

I have been posting here for several days with wedding questions (thanks for the info!) and it looks like we are narrowing our choices. A friend has graciously offered to use his miles to fly us to St Thomas. Where we go from there is up to us, but he suggested St John. We can't afford Caneel Bay, Little Dix is full, but we MIGHT be able to swing Peter Island if we eat PBJs for the next month. Is it worth it or should we look at something less opulent?

If you cant afford Caneel, I am thinking you might need to look somewhere else.Last time I looked,PI was around $600 pe rnight for 2 including meals(B/L/D) and taxes/svc.PI is great,its all about privacy.Perfect h/m spot.

What is your overall price range for food, room, excursions? It could be that PI with its FAP prices may be less expensive than staying at Caneel Bay and paying for each meal individually...

There are, of course, other places to stay that would offer you a good honeymoon experience. The Carambola hotel on St. Croix, while not luxe, always has good deals, as does Long Bay on Tortola. Chances are, you'll want to get a car and explore your island and/or take a ferry and explore the other BVI/USVI anyway.

Another money saving option is getting a private villa--you can even hire a local cook to come in and prepare the occasional meal if you don't want to eat out, and you don't want to prepare your own meals.

Leverick Bay and Nail Bay on Virgin Gorda are also less expensive than PI, Biras or LD--they might appeal to you.

You can also check out the luxurylink website to see if there are any package deals being offered in the US/BVI for the times you want to visit.

eating PBJ for the next month is worth Peter Island. However if it really will make it too tight to enjoy the it, you might check out Biras Creek. It is delightful. Check with Peter Island to see if they still pick up guests from St. Thomas several days a week and if that fits your schedule. PIR is wonderful and spring for the beachfront rooms if you can do it!

Agree with KaribIslander, PI is worth eating PBJ's for the whole month. Are you planning to get married there? It's a beautiful spot. I don't know if you know about the luxurylink auctions or if that's even an option given your dates, but the recent packages have been closing around $2600-2700 (vs. $3929 on the PI site) for 7 nights in an ocean view room for the Island Romance package.

Have you checked air availability using miles into St. Thomas yet?

P.S. - If you time your arrival and departure to coincide with their weekly St. Thomas trip, you can get a direct transfer to/from Charlotte Amalie & PI on one of their yachts.

Thanks for all of the advice! We have booked our flight and our room at Peter Island. We also decided to take a small plane from St Thomas to Tortola and then take the ferry to Peter Island. We are getting married there July 21.

Did you price the helicopter which will take you directly to PIR? Probably a whole lot more than the way you are doing it but might want to check it out and think of the time it will save

Without a doubt, Peter Island is worth the money! We honeymooned there three years ago and it was fantastic! The first day on the beach (11 am) we were literally the only ones on the entire beach. Very relaxing, service is impeccable, and the food is great!

To any of you who have been to Peter Island: What do we actually have to pay for at Peter Island? I know meals are included, but what about drinks? And who do we need to tip? I'm trying to figure out if I can afford to buy bread for the PBJs we'll be eating for the next month.

Alcoholic beverages are extra. I believe beverages such as tea, coffee, iced tea are included. Did you purchase a package or are you paying the daily rate? Spa treatments, day trips to St. Thomas or Virgin Gorda, the once a week vintner's dinner are all extra but are included in certain packages. Service charges are included but if the service is extraordinary, I usually leave something extra. Hope this helps.

Thanks-it does help. We got the Paradise Now package which says does not include any beverages, tax, or service charge. I just wondered if you have to pay for water, iced tea, juice, etc. We are thinking about buying a bottle of rum and mixing our own.

If it says tax and service not included, then they will add 17% to your package rate so be sure to budget for that also.

Ice tea, juice, coffee are included in rates. Our daughter purchased a bottle of Rum and cokes and kept them in the room.

Have fun! Please give us a report when you return.

I appreciate all of the advice and look forward to giving a report on our return! In the meantime, if anyone has specific tips regarding Peter Island and the surrounding area they would be greatly appreciated.

Reviews about Peter Island can be found at www.scubatreks.com and www.scubamom.com - should give you lots of ideas about the resort and activties.

Have fun!

Hi Suzyn,
I think we are going to PI the week you are getting married there.
I just telephoned their rep here in the states and he said that absolutely no
beverages of any kind are included.
That includes water, icetea, liquer, soda beer, wine and anything else you can think of.
I visited PI ten years ago while I was staying on Tortola.
I was impressed by it's beauty and it's
service.
It is very easy to run up a large tab for alchol while you are there. Don't
be afraid to bring in a bottle to mix for yourselves in the room.
As far as water, tea, coffee, etc. It's
your honeymoon and you only do that with this person once.
So stop worrying about the P&B sandwiches and really enjoy yourself.
I hope to catch a glimpse of you while I'm staying there. Congratulations & have fun!!!

That's what our agent told us also: that no beverages were included. I'm not going to fret about it. We're just excited and really looking forward to going. We get married July 21!

I would DEFINITELY pick Peter Island over Caneel or Little Dix! Not any cheaper though. What about Biras Creek?

I think that we are going with Peter Island...especially since we are booked and leave next week! We are very excited.