My husband and I are planning a trip to the caribbean next year. We are considering Tortola, but are reading mixed things about the beaches. We went to St. John in May and were amazed at all the beautiful beaches (crystal clear and calm). Are the beaches comparable on Tortola? How is the snorkeling? Any help would be appreciated! <BR>Paula

GO TO CANE GARDEN BAY//GREAT BEACH/BARS FOOD/CLEAN BEEN THEIR BY BOAT 5 TIMES EACH TIME I STAY LONGER THEN THE LAST. <BR>HORSESHOE COVE PALM TREES WHITE SAND AND BLUE SEAS

IMO, the beaches on Tortola do not hold a candle to those on St. John. Tortola beaches are rockier, in general, can have very rough surf and heavy undertow depending on the beach. There are a couple of very nice beaches (Smugglers Cove is one) but they are more difficult to get to - a hike or a drive is necessary as you did on St. John. But then I much prefer STJ than I do Tortola and the other BVI's over St. John for pristine beautiful natural beaches and overall ambience!

Each beach in Tortola has a different personality, and each is lovely in its way (haven't been to St. John, so I can't make a direct comparison, but I am a Caribbean beach connisseur, so I know whereof I speak). All of my observations apply to NON-cruise-ship days -- when the daytrippers crowd the beach, all bets are off. That said: Cane Garden Bay is a classically pretty beach (half-moon shape, gently sloping bottom, palm trees) but busy and social, with beach bars, restaurants, and lots of yachties in and out of the water. Smuggler's Cove is perhaps the loveliest of Tortola beaches, and largely deserted; the only sign of life is an honor bar. Brewer's Bay is a soft white strand with few signs of life as well; OK snorkeling and a few campsites hidden in the seagrapes. Long Bay is a long, white, strand with lively surf and is best for long walks (you can swim at the western end; I loved body-surfing there). Don't forget Beef Island's Long Bay (connected to Tortola by bridge) -- a seemingly forgotten beauty; if you go, will likely be alone, and its worth the effort. Unless you are staying on one of these beaches, you will need transportation. And while you're at it, don't forget that the rest of the British Virgins are within reach -- the beaches in the Jost Van Dyke area are especially noteworthy (White Bay, Sandy Cay, Sandy Spit -- which has graced many a sailing magazine cover and is featured in Moorings brochures).

Hi Paula: <BR> <BR>There are some very nice beaches in Tortola -- the trouble is that you have to do some work to find them (either drive or sail to them). But we found that we enjoyed finding our favourite beach (Smuggler's Cove). Snorkelling is good but the best snorkelling is found near some of the other islands (i.e. Norman Island) so you would need to take a day sail to get to these spots. <BR>I've never been to St. John but I found that the other aspects of Tortola (friendly people -- both tourists and locals, relatively safe surroundings, gorgeous scenery)to make it a great holiday.

The problem with rating or comparing beaches is that everyone has a different idea of what constitutes a great beach. Is it the size of the surf? The view? The color of the sand? Its length? Its seclusion? I'm familiar with the beaches of all the islands mentioned. I prefer Tortola's because they tend to be on small bays and are therefore secluded and deserted and are surrounded by high bluffs and hills that plummet into the sea. Smugglers is a great beach in a secluded area, but it draws quite a few people because it is "in". Brewer's Bay is very nice. Cane Garden ditto. Sometimes there is surf, sometimes not. The bottom is often rocky, but that enhances the opportunity for snorkeling and seeing fish. <BR>Virgin Gorda has the low surf, long beaches, white sands, generally off comparatively flat land except around Nail Bay and that coastline. Nice wading, but for me... boooooring. <BR>St. John has great beaches, but you can't see them on account of all the obnoxious tourists taking every available inch (I exagerrate), but they are generally well occupied. Hawksbill Bay is my favorite, was featured in the Alan Alda movie "Four Seasons" and made some magazine's Top Ten beaches in the world list. <BR>Over on St. Thomas, Magen's Bay is, of course, world famous, but I get sick of listening to reggae on ghetto blasters all day. <BR>So take your pick.

Actually, there are plenty of uncrowded beaches on St. John - you have to know where to look and on some of them it is likely that you will be only one of a very few people. Hawksnest is where Alan Alda filmed Four Seasons and part of it is accessable and there are "facilities" there - picnic table, etc. But many of the beaches have only parking spots for two, three cars so that limits the numbers! And the further you go away from Trunk and Cinnamon, the better off you are! Haulover, Waterlemon, etc. And you can always head to Secret Harbour instead of Megan's on STT or even just go down a bit to Little Megan's and you won't have the crowds which happen on "cruise ship days" and weekends!

St. John probably has more beautiful beaches than does Tortola, but Tortola has fewer tourists and feels more remote which I like. The 2 best beaches by far are Smugglers Cove and Brewers Bay. They both feature calm, clear, warm water and are great snorkeling spots. Except during peak season, Smugglers Cove has relatively few people on it even during "busy" times. Brewers has fewer people yet. Both are somewhat hard to get to which insures they stay less crowded and adds to their charm. Cane Garden Bay Beach is the most popular beach on Tortola, but it is no where near as good a beach as Smugglers or Brewers. I would not go in the water there if you paid me, because there are always numerous sailboats in the harbor there some of which empty their holding tanks right there in the bay. Not my idea of a safe place to swim or snorkel. Both St. John & Tortola are wonderful tropical paradises. They are just different. I love them both, can not choose one over the other, and always visit both when I go to the Virgins. If you have never been to Tortola, I'd suggest going at least once to see how you like it. And if you are searching for a tropical island with numerous terrific beaches for snorkeling and swimming, nearby Virgin Gorda can not be beat. It is a little isolated but its laid back quaint charm coupled with scores of fantastic beaches makes it a true Caribbean jewel.

I totally recommend Tortola but most of the beaches are very rocky & rough. Brewers Bay is calm & nice. I will be going back next summer even though the water is a little rough. It is great for a boogie board though. The beaches do not compare to St. Martin's beaches (crystal clear, waveless, smooth sand)but look at the difference. Tortola is very tropical & less crowded. St. Martin is very bare & overrun by tourist. Tortola is upscale & expensive, St. Martin is trashy & cheap. You get what you pay for!

Get a life already Amber - the fact is St. Martin has many of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Orient Bay is nicknamed the 'Riviera of the Caribbean.

Jane, Did you even intend to post a reply to answer this question from Paula or were you just trolling for a negative comment regarding St. Martin? You need to get a life if all you do all day is post about St. Martin! Isn't this message board to guide people in their questions? Or is it for making negative comments to others experiences? Answer that!

Jane, Did you even intend to post a reply to answer this question from Paula or were you just trolling for a negative comment regarding St. Martin? You need to get a life if all you do all day is post about St. Martin! Isn't this message board to guide people in their questions? Or is it for making negative comments to others experiences? Answer that!

Amber, the point is - the question asked by Paula did not include any reference to SXM - but you just had to take the opportunity to throw in your negativism. So, look whos calling the kettle black.

As tourist islands go, I much prefer Tortola to St. John, in general, due to the crowds on St. John. Seems like every time we go there more resorts have been built with more and more glitz. Used to be much less commercial. In the Eighties a dog could sleep in the middle of the intersection in the center of Cruz Bay. Not now. <BR>With regard to the beaches, as the above postings are saying Tortola's have a lot of character, are smaller, more private, and have very small resorts on them (as there are only two big-ish resorts on the island), or more likely NO resort. <BR>St. John beaches seem to me to have a better bottom making wading nicer. I'd characterize them as nice swimming beaches, but if my husband and I want to make love on a beach... it's Tortola!

Seems we've gone off the Tortola beaches and visited others on other islands!!! No problem, but hopefully if we ignore Amber and her trolling, we can get back to the "real" discussion and not get sidetracked! She does get boring, doesn't she with all her slam dunks of SXM? But as far as the "resorts" on St. John - more and "glitzier" ... well, there is Caneel and there is the "new" Westin ... which was the Hyatt and before that the Virgin Grande built some 15 years or more ago! Those are the only two resorts on St. John and have been the only two for years. Yes, they are building more villas/condos, most not beachfront, and there certainly are more crowds than in the 80's - but have to say the same for Tortola! My goodness, they had to built a new "highway" on Tortola to accomodate all the traffic ... You should have seem 'em in the 60's when they both were still very untouched! ... and even the big cruise ships now stop on Tortola! Lots of lonely little beaches on St. J ... most of 'em are Nat'l Park and can't be built on or near them!

It's been 5 years since my wife, daughter, and I ventured to Tortola. We rented a jeep, and the skyline vistas of all the beaches were spectacular. I love to feel I've escaped the "rat race" when I vacation, and day-tripping to Smuggler's Cove filled that fantasy of mine. Beautiful poinsetta trees along the rough road to get to the beach. We were the only ones there, upon arrival; it just suddenly appeared out of the thick vegetation. A cigar box full of coins and dollars lay on a picnic table, by a white limousine that the Queen OF England toured Tortola in on a visit long ago. The owner wasn't around, but a note read, "Pop and snacks in back room, through door. Help yourself and put the money in this box." I walked through the door and had to squeeze past a hanging shark, still dripping of water. It was about 6 feet long. We snorkeled for 4 hours in Smuggler's Cove, and saw reef structures, and rocks, chocked full of Angel Fish, Southern Stingrays, Caribbean Squid, Damsel Fish, Baracuda, Filefish, Sargeant Majors and many varieties of Grunts. The beach was palm-tree lined, and shade was plentiful. I thought I was Robinson Crusoe. My fantasy was satisfied. Robert

Amber; Pay no attention to Jane's "get a life" post. St. Martin's crime rate has risen recently. There are signs on the "beautiful" beaches that it is unwise to leave cameras and valuables in the car, while at the beaches. Not advised to go to remote beaches on St. Martin, either. There are more incidents of people being robbed, at gunpoint, and a shooting has occurred as well there. Also, unlike Tortola, it isn't advised, according to the U.S. State Dept. advisories, to walk after dark, alone in unlighted sections. Tortola is still a dream paradise, and you stroll down any street or alley way in the capitol, at night. I have plenty of times. Robert

Robert: <BR> <BR>Just an observation: The destinations in question are Tortola and St. John - Not St. Marteen. The subject matter is beaches - not crime. <BR> <BR>Your are a bigger idiot than Amber. <BR> <BR>Sam

My Gad! Road Rage on the internet, too. For the benefit of the readers on this board who want to learn from other travelors, and who don't tell people to "get a life" or that they're idiots, please peruse my two comments above, which do tell of nice experiences my family had on Tortola's beaches, particularly Smuggler's Cove, and also, by comparison to St. Martin(not St. Marteen) as far as tourist safety and the lack of crime. Let's just ignore the two "internet rage" commentors, who like to tell inquisitive travelors to "get a life" and calling them "idiots." Ignore, ignore, ignore..then pray you don't meet them on the highway in their SUV's. Robert

.... and apparently as long winded and repetitive as Amber as well.