The wife and I (39 year olds)are heading to Tortola Dec.27 through January 2, staying at Long Bay Hillside (will give you my opinion when we get back). Please advise on things to do and to avoid. Only thing planned is surfing. What to do New Years? Thanks

Walk over the hill to Bomba it's the most "island" beach bar we have ever visited!! Rent a jeep and explore.

1. enjoy at least one dinner at the Sugar Mill<BR>2. enjoy another at Mrs. Scatcliff's (local cuisine - good conch)<BR>3. sail and sail some more or be sure to ferry if you don't <BR>4. sail to Jost<BR>5. a daytrip to Anegada<BR>6. check out the Baths on Virgin Gorda early in the morn before the cruise crowds and daytrips arrive and Top of the Baths, enjoy Virgin Gorda<BR>7. dive trips or if you don't at least snorkle some of the better places - Sandy Spit off Jost, Monkey Point, etc<BR>8. lunch at Cooper Island or Peter Island's Deadman's Beach Bar<BR>9. check to see who would take you to Jost for New Years Eve at Foxy's!

I'm not sure how good the surfing is on Tortola, but there are good beaches for snorkeling. Smuggler's cove is hard to get to but nice. There's a funky little garage-style bar, whose owner will entertain yoy with stories. The best snorkeling we found, though, was a Brewers Bay. There is a bar there with a limited menu and lots of beer. Avoid Cane Garden Bay. It's pretty but polluted. The restaurants are ok. Road Town is nothing special. Take a day trip to Virgin Gorda to see the Baths. If you can get to it, there is a tiny island/restaurant in the North sound that is fun and hosts one of the best "full moon" parties. Back on Tortola, Bomba's Surfside Shack also has a wild "full moon" party.

thanks for your help

Don't miss C&F restaurant near Road Town!! I have never seen any Tortola fans recommend it on these boards so it may be a little known place but when I was on Tortola a few years ago staying at Long Bay a guest we met recommended it and we went and it was amazing!! For something like $30 you get enough ribs and sides to stuff a horse and it is the best BBQ I have ever had.It's a local kind of place but when we went it was packed with locals and tourists..If you like BBQ you will love this place...

Ditto on Kate's accurate review of C&F Restaurant.<BR>We think the key to enjoying Tortola is to understand that Tortola lies in the middle with Virgin Gorda just to the east and St. Thomas/St. John just to the west, with a good ferry connecting the three. We make it a point to use all these locations, particularly to satisfy my wife's shopping itch over on St. Thomas. If you like to bargain you can get 40% off their already low prices in the smaller stores.

Was in Tortola last year and was treated to dinner at an excellent restaurant, Brandywine, with wonderful service and continental cuisine. As a former NYer, I can say I was very pleasantly surprised and delighted with this restaurant. Don't remember exactly where, up in hills near Road Town.

My experience at Brandywine was less than stellar! Unfortunately it started off on a bad note with the waiter proudly proclaiming that all fish was "fresh from the Fulton Fish market in NYC." Now I know that it might be the case in most restaurants but to travel all that way and know that fish probably arrived with me on the same plane and came from the Market not too far from me was disappointing! Ignorance would have been bliss! My entree - two scallops does not an entree make - had to go back twice until the chef got it right. I don't like raw or rare fish and always make a point to ensure that it doesn't get prepared that way! The wait staff was indifferent and the owner/hostess could have cared less about the guests while she chatted gaily on the phone. We finally gave up and left without dessert and got tired of waiting for the coffee which after 30 minutes hadn't arrived! A fluke? maybe. But way overrated, overpriced.

Most of the seafood in the westernized northern Caribb is flown in daily. The best local seafood we've had was in Barbados and Grenada. The fresh kingfish in Grenada is incredible, and they grow all their produce there on the Spice Island. But I would never recommend the southern Caribbean to the average American tourist who wants the westernized type of vacation.

We were in Tortola in December of 2000. If you like to surf, I am assuming that you would also like to body surf. If so, Lambert Beach on the Northeast side of the island is great. <BR>The day we spent there the surf was about 3-4 feet and gave you great consistant break and long rides. We body surfed all day. I did not see any board surfers there, but the waves looked like they would be good for boards too. Perhaps there was some restriction on boards, but I did not see any signs. You might call the Lambert Beach Resort to inquire. If you go on Sunday, there is an excellent buffet at Jasmine's Restaurant on the beach. It is expensive, but worth it. Enjoy Tortola it is great!!

Grab a Limin Times upon arrival. This will lay-out all of the places with bands from Thurs to Thurs.<BR><BR>Go to Bombas on Sun or Wed, Quito's Gazebo when Quito & The Edge play, find and go see Lover Boys.<BR><BR>Eat at Palm's Delight for the Ginger Chicken (Carrot Bay), Shell Museum (Carrot Bay) for breakfast ($6) or lunch ($10), Chop House (Windy Hill) for sunset cocktails, La Dolce Vita for Italian Ice Cream (Road Town by Pussers), C&F (Road Town) for great BBQ & local fare, Elm's (Cane Garden Bay) for $10 BBQ on Fri or Sun<BR><BR>Have fun<BR>Dave