Thinking of a 4 day trip to virgin gorda. WhT are the pros and cons of the two reorts?
Are the meals included in both resorts ? How is the food ?
Never been to the Caribbean so any guidance appreciated.

Little Dix Bay - upscale full service resort with luxury rooms, located on fantastic beach. Very good to excellent food. Within walking distance of Spanish Town and there is easy access by car or taxi to all other major points of interest on Virgin Gorda. Certain Package deals include meals other wise Meal Plans available for a fee.

Bitter End Yacht Club - mid-range resort that caters to the yachting crowd, modest rooms, small beach. Resort somewhat isolated and accessible only by boat. No easy access to main parts of island (Virgin Gorda). Food just OK. Rates include meals.

Visit the respective resort websites for more details and info..

FYI - Virgin Gorda is difficult/time consuming to get to. Depending on where you live it may take you the better part of a day to get there and another full day to get back home. thus may not be the best island to visit on a 4 day trip.

Kinda comparing apples to oranges there. I agree with all of what the above poster said. Especially the bit about only staying there for 4 nights. Unless you're traveling there from the USVI or one of the other BVI, it's not worth the time it takes to get there from elsewhere for only 4 nights.

Any reason why you're not also considering Biras Creek?

Thanks, I will also look into Biras Creek
Don't like how difficult/long it is to get there. We will be coming from the NY area but flying back to Denver at end of trip.
Thoughts on other islands? St.Johns??
thanks

FYI - St. John's is not an island, it's the capital of Antigua. I believe you really mean St. John (no "s") which is a US Virgin island located between St. Thomas and Tortola. St. John is a bit easier to get to than Virgin Gorda. You fly into St. Thomas than take a combination taxi and ferry to the island. From NY you could probably get there by mid-afternoon. Look at Caneel Bay, a sister resort to Little Dix Bay.

To reduce your travel time you may want to look at islands you can reach non-stop from New York (you don't say where in NY so finding Non-stops may be an issue if you don't live near a major international gateway airport) and also try to stay in the northern part of the Caribbean, otherwise you run the risk of wasting a complete day getting to your destination.

Look at Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, St. Martin, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and, perhaps, St. Kitts (with only 4 days I wouldn't go much further south). All can be reached non-stop from NYC area airports and a few can be reached non-stop from larger cities like Rochester.

Also, if you are going in late spring, summer or early fall consider Bermuda as it's a very short flight from NY. If going in winter avoid Bermuda and the Bahamas as they can be cool if a weather front is moving over the islands.

Getting back to Denver may be a bit of a challenge no matter where you end up going. You'll probably have to take at least 2 flights if you go to one of the major islands and more flights and/or ferry rides if you choose to visit some of the smaller islands.

By the way, in your original post you mentioned two dissimilar resorts. It would help if you gave us some idea of what style resort you are seeking. Also give us some indication of your budget for accommodations. Try to give a specific dollar range rather that nebulous terms like "affordable". tell us too, if that budget includes food, activities and/or airfare. It will help us steer you in the right direction.

Good luck, finding a suitable island and resort.

Thanks so much for your reply. We are going right after Thanksgiving from the NY city area. While budget is always a consideration this is a special treat for us so are willing to spend from 300 to 500 a night depending on food/ location amenities etc. Hoping to get a better deal due to timing.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Caneel Bay is probably going to be out of your price range, even if you go "right after" Thanksgiving. They have both a minimum stay policy and "Thanksgiving Rates" until December 1st. Even after December 1 their daily rate for 2 is going to be higher than $500/night. Little Dix Bay and Biras Creek 9on Virgin Gorda) are also going to be out of your price range.

If you still want to go to St. John look at either the Westin or Gallows Point. They may fit your needs and budget.

FYI - St. John is generally considered an expensive island, likewise Grand Cayman. With a budget of only $300 to $500/night you might want to set your sights a bit lower. Look at resorts on St. Thomas - you can stay there and easily visit St. John for a day trip.

Also check the Dominican Republic, it is traditionally a more budget friendly island and you'll get a bigger bang for your buck. Lots of resorts in your price range there. Also, there's always good airfares and since it is one of the major islands getting there from NY is very easy and it shouldn't be very difficult to get to Denver at the end of your trip.

If nonstop flights out of NYC to Grenada still exist, take a look at the Great Escape package at LaLuna. Just add a 4th night to the package and you'll be all set. It's a lovely, romantic, and "rustically luxurious" resort. Sounds like an oxymoron, but it works. We stayed there for part of our first Grenadian vacation. here's the link:

http://www.laluna.com/packages.php#.UIMH8r9pfoA

There is a pretty good del at little Dix bay. Does anyone know if you can take a ferry from isn't Thomas to virgin gorda and how long a rid it is?

St. Thomas to VG: http://www.bestofbvi.com/info/bvifer...vg_speedys.htm

VG to St. Thomas: http://www.bestofbvi.com/info/bvifer...tt_speedys.htm

Just took that ferry last week. It's about a 90 minute ride from St Thomas to Virgin Gorda. It leaves at 5:00 pm and arrives on VG after dark. We didn't book the return on that ferry because it leaves VG so very early.

It seems to run only a few dys a week. How I'd you get back ?
Is it feasible to take the ferry from st.thomas to Tortola as that seems to run daily and then arrange hotel transfer or take another ferry to virgin gorda?

As I mentioned in my first response - getting to Virgin Gorda is not always easy and can be time consuming. Ferry Schedules don't always mesh with specific travel day (which by the way you haven't mentioned other than to say you are planning 4 days "right after Thanksgiving").

Use the "Select Ferry Schedule" drop down menu on either of the websites I gave you in my earlier post to see times and day the ferries go from STT to Tortola and from Tortola to Virgin Gorda to see if they will match your travel time/days BUT THEY MAY NOT. If that doesn't work you can have the resort arrange a private water taxi but expect to pay dearly for that service. It's a fairly long way between Tortola and VG and you have to also pay for the boat to make the deadhead trip leg of the trip.

If that doesn't work for your travel dates considering flying from STT to VG on Air Sunshine - $250 per person round trip - go to their website for more info: http://www.airsunshine.com/STT-VIJ.htm)