Patty

HI,
We are planning our August 2001 honeymoon and are seriously considering Prospect Reef on Tortola, due to the all inclusive package they have. Any other spots on BVI for all inclusive? Any recommendation on how Prospect Reef is?
Thanks! Patty

anonymous

You do realize that there is no beach at Prospect Reef and that it is a timeshare property now?

Patty

Anon,
I didn't know that! It sounds like it has a beach.

Mo

Just to clarify, yes Prospect Reef does have a Vacation Club that offers timeshares. Not all the units are timeshares though. As for the beach, there is no beach, but a sandy "seapool" area where you can lounge and snorkel. It's still a pleasant place to read and relax. I think the best thing about Prospect Reef is its location in relation to all the other beautiful places to see. It's not a fancy resort, by any means.

Hope this helps you.

Joel

Prospect Reef has a wide variety of accommodations packed into some level ground at the edge of Road Town. It's one of the few resorts in the BVI I haven't visited because it looks so compressed and it has a mass market appeal with its advertising. I might be wrong, but my impression from talking to people headed to PR in the van that runs to the resorts from the airport, is that the PR crowd know nothing at all about it and got a week for half price or have a coupon they tore out of the newspaper (a bit of an exaggeration but you get the point).
It appears well kept up, has good tennis facilities, no beach, is intertwined with some commercial areas, and as I've said, seems quite crowded.
Frankly, I would never give it any consideration simply because there are so many small, beautiful resorts that are not in town and are midrange in their pricing.
None of my comments should be taken as meaning that you will not enjoy your stay there nor that PR is not well-managed and dedicated to helping you have a great vacation experience. I have never seen a bad report here by anyone that has stayed there, but there have been very few reports at all on PR which once again suggests that it is not frequented by the discerning Caribbean vacationer.
If it is the BVI that attracts you and not just the AI package of PR, then you might go to bviwelcome.com and look at these resorts on Tortola: Frenchman's Cay, Ft. Recovery, and Sugar Mill. Their packages are competitiive and the resorts themselves are better. I'm most familiar with Frenchman's. Their packages offer considerable saving over the a la carte rate.
Whatever choice you make, enjoy your honeymoon and your life together!

Barbara

Patty-

Above all listen to Joel's advice!! We just came back from Tortola, our first trip to the Caribbean. Tortola is very unspoiled by commercialism unlike St. Thomas and St. Croix. However, be prepared that unspoiled in the islands also means RUSTIC. We Americans are very spoiled by a HIGH standard of living. Even a cheap chain motel in the US is always clean, with good beds etc. Tortola is nothing like the US. Spend the money to stay in what appears to be an "upscale" place. Upscale overseas is what we expect as basic. Road Town is dumpy, I would not stay anywhere near there if I had a choice. All the BVI caters to the boating/yachting crowd so the action is at the marinas. The land based facilities are not well developed. We rented a private home and were very lucky to have a beautiful spot and nice home built by an American who understands American expectations. Our primary goal was privacy and were very pleased to be secluded.
We did travel ALL over the Island checking out other places. The only place to consider is Frenchmans Cay. It is in a nice location with good facilities. I did not see in the rooms. I am sure Joel could tell you more about them since he stays there. Long Bay is the only other nice resort. BUT it is very near a dumpy village and the beach is unswimmable because of the riptide. Also be advised that we hear the summer can be buggy on any of the islands.
Another option would be renting a home or villa on St. John or Tortola. Both islands are very quiet and unspoiled.
FYI there is NO night life on Tortola and the food is very expensive and mediocre because it is all shipped in. I think this is true on all the islands. Email me if you want more info.

Karen

If you go to Tortola and most Caribb islands, you are going to be surprised that they are not "American." If you want that, please head to Aruba or Cancun. There are very "upscale" developed resorts offering every luxury (except maybe internet connections); however, the majority of them are not on Tortola. Tortola for years was the place that one went to to sail out of! The increased popularity in more recent years has been answered by some new "resorts" and expansion of others. And those of us who love the BVI do see it becoming more spoiled by more commercializm, cruise ship stops and those wishing to do the BVI's on a shoestring budget! There is "nitelife," BVI style and some wonderful little bars that have music and "partying." No, there's no casinos, no nite clubs, thankfully! Tortola is a great little island to "jeep about" and explore the several nice beaches and don't be surprised that the Islanders live a little differently than those of us who are lucky enuf to live in a American suburb and have the money to visit the islands, lift a few cool ones while we listen to Quinto's tunes, or sail over to Foxy's and ferry to another island to find that perfect beach and snorkling! BTW, very few islands are self-sufficent as far as food stuffs especially those familiar to Americans that Americans want! The BVI's are not for everyone (and personally I would never stay on Tortola again - but if I did again, it would be at Frenchman's Cay) Just as self-catering is not for everyone (no way would I cook and clean on vacation!) but part of picking a vacation spot is lots of homework so your expectations are more in line with reality! Limin' is a lifestyle!! And a wonderful one!!

Frederic Moeller

You could also try the Peter Island Resort nearby, or a luxury villa with cook such as Shannon House (http://www.shannonhouse-bvi.com) where we have stayed (secluded luxury).

Jen

Gosh, after reading Barbara's message I wonder why anyone would ever go to Tortola. Call me crazy, but I loved Tortola. True, you don't get plush rooms and posh resorts. What you do get is a place with beautiful scenery, a great base to explore other islands, a relatively high standard of living for all, little crime, little pretentions and lots of relaxation. "Dumpy towns"? Maybe they are dumpy because you can't buy designer items. No night life? That's a matter of opinion.
I can't wait to go back.

Lynn

Hi Patty,
We stayed at Prospect Reef last October. Although there is not a "real" beach, the sea pool was lovely. There are also 2 little spa huts adjacent where you can get a massage right at the edge of the water. There is a Dutch door on the water side ( no one can see in ) and listening to the waves break on the rocks while getting a massage is more wonderful than I can describe. The pool is only so-so but there is a jacuzzi next to it under a tent and that is pleasant. We stayed in an Admiral Suite which is a duplex with a sitting area with sliders looking out over the water and a bedroom in the loft. It was very nice. You do have to be careful about a/c because several rooms had broken a/c units and it was unbearably hot without it. In spite of what people say about the ocean breezes, it is hot and humid.
The food in the restaurant was excellent and the staff was very helpful and pleasant, especially Chris at the Front Desk.
We have been to more upscale resorts at greater cost but PR was worth the price they charge. As several other people have indicated, BVI is not like resorts that cater to American standards. However, Tortola was very beautiful. Rent a Jeep and tour the island. Drive around the coast and you will want to stop every few minutes to take a picture that could be a postcard. Struggle down the dirt road to Smugglers Cove where there is a pristine beach that is often empty. Drive up to Skyview ( higest point on the island) for spectacular views. Take a trip to the Baths and experience the most magical place ever! As you can tell there are both pluses and minuses for an American on Tortola. If you accept it for what it is, you can have a wonderful time. Best wishes on your wedding and honeymoon. Lynn

Paula

My husband and I are thinking of staying at Fort Recovery for our 15th wedding anniversary. Has anyone stayed there? Or have any information other then the PR material we have read?

Andrea

After reading all the responses to your question Patti none of them mentioned that Frenchmans Cay does not have A/C. In August you will probably need it regardless of the tradewinds. Also make sure you check on the weather that month. We were planning our honeymoon for Frenchmans Cay back in October & there was a hurricane 1800 miles away. Frenchmans Cay called 1 1/2 days prior to our arrival & cancelled our reservation!! Needless to say we didnt go to the BVI's & went to Curacao instead. We will probably go to the BVI's but we will never stay at Frenchmans Cay because of the way we were treated.

anonymous

You are serious? You wouldn't go to Frenchman's Cay because they cancelled your trip because a hurricane was barreling down on the island? I guess if you managed to get on a flight that wasn't cancelled and got to Tortola, you would have cheerfully helped out with the hurricane preps - the boarding up, the dry docking and the thousands of chores that need to be done! And, of course, if that hurricane had been a direct hit, you wouldn't have minded hanging out in the shelter nor dealing with no power for days after, no phones for days, no flights in or out, no refrigeration, no water other than bottled. And that woulda been their fault too!! Of course, the hurricane didn't hit but I guess Pam's crystal ball didn't let her know in time. They still had all the prep work to do especially boarding up everything. Sorry that you booked a carib vacation during the height of hurricane season. Somebody should have told you that is the chance you take!! Get a grip, folks. Hurricanes can life threatening and property destroying. Selfishly she did not want you in the way of harm!! Geeeze!

Barbara

Have to respond, because some folks think I sounded too down about Tortola. I just wanted to give Patty a sense of what Tortola feels like when comparing it to American standards of living. If you are not prepared it can be a shock. The postcards do not depict the roaming goats and cows, and the chickens all over the streets of Roadtown. Once we adjusted to the rustic lifestyle, we loved our stay. The scenery is fantastic and it is a very relaxing place to be, but if you are a newcomer to the Islands it is better to be prepared than to be disapointed. By the way we were told to make reservations for all restaurants visits, but that was a joke! The restaurants, Brandywine Bay, Pussers, Ft. Burt, Jolly Roger were all nearly empty. The Bomba Shack was nearly deserted on the Sunday night we went. If there is night life, it alluded us. If you go expect quiet and very little in the way of entertainments. The natural splendor and boating activities are great!

Eva

Barbara, just so you know about reservations -- they are not necessarily requested so you can secure your table at a crowded restaurant. A lot of establishments request that you make them so they know how much staff and food to have on hand (some really small places even ask for your food order when you reserve). In a place with limited resources, they don't want to waste food and time if no one is coming.

Patty

HI everyone,
Thank you for your honest input about Prospect Reef. I do know that we are now thinking of Little Dix Bay or Grotto Bay in Bermuda. So, thank you for letting me know the good and bad of Tortola, but I think we have found a better deal elsewhere.
Patty
PS Thank you for all the well wishes...

Karen

Patti,
If you are seriously considering LDB, check out www.scubamom.com for her other resorts. LDB has a fabulous beach and you might want to think about the "stilt rooms" for a unique experience. Never stayed in one as I prefer beachfront but I have great memories of LDB! Just request a room at the far end away from the Beach House - that's where they have the Kids' Club located!! Happy Honeymoon!

Joel

Wow! So Patty decides to go to another island because of one person's depiction of Tortola as a slum. This is sad. I think that if a person gets out of their suite once in awhile they'll notice that the BVI islanders are about the friendliest people you'll meet anywhere. Sure, there are goats and chickens in the street. There are also little girls in the street in crisp white dresses being led hand-in-hand by their mothers to church on Sunday.
With regard to the small resorts, imo they have staffs that brim with true island friendliness versus some of the larger, "upscale" places that have staffs trained to be like Americans.
Pity. Another tourist who will just be a tourist.

Karen

I believe Patty explained that she got a BETTER deal somewhere else. I doubt that she changed her mind because there were chickens and goats on Tortola!!! My intrepretation was that she was looking for a beach resort which Prospect Reef is not that also offered a/i which is generally not found in the BVI's but can be found at Grotto Bay. BTW, there are many guests who stay at LDB and some of the "upscale" resorts who are not "tourists" but who can afford it and enjoy the warm friendly Belongers and islanders there too! Just because you stay somewhere, doesn't mean you hibernate there either! Me thinks you might be a wee bit jealous -

Joel

Karen, my dismay is not with the choice that Patty made or with LDB. LDB is great and she'll have a great time. And she may or may not have been influenced by any of the postings here. My comment isn't about Patty. You and I have both been posting on this board for years now and we're generally in agreement (except on the subject of bicycles and the distance to the beach at Biras Creek). The thing that is kind of disconcerting is that one person, maybe innocently, has simply wrapped the BVI up into one neat little package as Third World and blown it off because it's not for its lack of... what?... Elegance? Nice china? Poorly baked baguettes? She expected Road Town to not be dumpy. Maybe she was looking for Disneyworld? She was "very lucky" to not have to mingle and be around tawdry real people. So it sounds. I've never gotten irritated on these boards before, Karen. How about granting me this one. Take another look at this string and see if we don't agree.