blue_water

https://sunshinepowerboats.com/ Joe at https://patouche.com/ https://foxyscharters.com/

For those interested in a transportation option between Tortola and White Bay, JVD, other than the cruise line excursion or West End ferry - This outfit did provide a water taxi option between Cane Garden Bay and White Bay, JVD. The last price I had (pre-pandemic) was $120/pp and a 4-person mimimum…or $480 minimum. The price is probably higher today. Contact info - David Dietrich Foxy's Charters & Water Taxi Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke British Virgin Islands 284-441-1905 Email: info@foxyscharters.com website: www.foxyscharters.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/foxyscharters

Vendors and taxi drivers - in the tourist areas and cruise ports at least - LOVE, ❤️, LOVE your $USD! They make a nicer profit from $USD and $CAD because they set their own, lower exchange rate than they receive when they exchange them for $pesos. So very few vendors or taxi drivers in tourist areas will decline your currency… “(or anywhere in Mexico)” - You will definitely need to use the local currency in non-tourist areas if you decide to travel to the interior of Mexico, or even a small town away from the tourist regions…Just like foreigners coming to your home town. And even in the tourist areas, when it comes to paying our utility bills, plumber, electrician, gardner and handy man, we would just be laughed at if we tried to pay them in $USD! 😄

No worries! 😉

Really Road Town is made up of a busy financial district and not like some of the other ports such as St Kitts, St Thomas, or San Juan… There is a marina area there as well… An island tour in a shared safari taxi would be a nice option, I believe drivers offer 2 - 4 hour tours that are inexpensive… Sorry if not much help!

Driving the North Shore is also very scenic with the nearby islands. Nigel and other vendors should be there, hopefully. And I hope that Miss Patricia is back there with her delicious daiquiris and cheeseburgers!

Lindqvist Beach (Smith Bay Park) is on the east end of St Thomas…

That would just depend on the amount of risk of any delays YOU are willing to take. We would be ok with that, but we’re used to using the ferry and taxi services here… There will be taxis stationed at the WE ferry terminal… Be sure to carry your ORIGINAL passports so that you can get off the island if you do miss the boat! 🙊

The drive to SC is not bad. You will definitely want a 4x4, not for traction, but for ground clearance as the “road” between the Long Bay Resort and SC is unpaved. The best route is the North Shore road (Sir Francis Drake Highway) to Zion Hill Road. Then a left on the South Shore road (Rte 1) to Belmont. You will pass Sebastian’s restaurant and hotel, go over a small hill into Long Bay, and continue on to Smuggler’s. You don’t have to deal with the steepest roads that way and you will find it very similar to driving STT… A very nice day! 👍 https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tortola+Cruise+Ship+Pier,+De+Castro+Street,+Road+Town,+British+Virgin+Islands/Smuggler's+Cove,+British+Virgin+Islands/@18.3942168,-64.7027263,14.95z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x8c0576acfe77f291:0x115ffa1119c98d05!2m2!1d-64.6139924!2d18.4229083!3m4!1m2!1d-64.6816006!2d18.395356!3s0x8c05731ac0880a45:0xe5752623501ec641!1m5!1m1!1s0x8c057325c1b1fd99:0xd40509ac03d8b138!2m2!1d-64.7006379!2d18.3954232!3e0?entry=ttu

Not sure what you are asking…? 🤷🏼 The New Horizon ferry is the primary ferry service between Soper’s Hole (West End) and Great Harbor, JVD, and has a regular and reliable schedule. Both locals and visitors alike rely on this ferry service. There are other options of course, including charters through New Horizon and other outfits. We’ve never used the Sebastian Transport service (ground transportation) so cannot comment. A.C.’s Taxi service is a highly recommended private ground transport or tour option for Tortola… The taxi to West End, ferry, and taxi to White Bay is sometimes the best option, just depends on your cruise line options and your time in port…

Sorry can’t help with that question! 😟 There should be someone who can though with so many going there everyday…

Our favorite spot is Woody’s, Benito Juarez & Ave 5 Nte…(straight back from the Ultramar ferry terminal

You can also stop by the Tropical Fusion in Long Bay for hydration, they open at 11 (closed on Sunday). Long Bay is a “picture postcard” beach, rockier on the west end, we’ve never snorkeled there but you can ask while there. We’ll sit there admiring the view and watching the pelicans dive after leaving Smuggler’s…

Gotchya! Yes you can usually find good surf there… We haven’t stayed at Sebastian’s but we love the restaurant there. We’ve always stayed in CGB or at Heritage Inn up the hill… I can’t say about the taxi picking you up at Smuggler’s as we’ve always driven there. But I think taxis can be relied on there, I’d ask the drivers when you get off the ship. Or a driver may commit to returning to Smuggler’s. A return from Sebastian’s would be assured…

Sure, it’s ~3km from Sugar Mill to Smuggler’s. There is a hill between Cappoon’s Bay and Long Bay, and the road from Long Bay to Smuggler’s is rougher… I can’t comment on the snorkeling there, but ask that question on the Tortola forum on TripAdvisor, or the BVI forum on TTOL (www.traveltalkonline.com) Why from Apple Bay, may I ask?

She can go back up the path and take the other path down and meet you in Devil’s Bay…

For a shared safari taxi (3 or more people) from the Tortola cruise pier - Brewers Bay $12/pp each way Cane Garden Bay $12/pp each way Long Bay, Beef Island $12/pp each way Long Bay, West End $12/pp each way Nanny Cay $10/pp each way Smuggler’s Cove $15/pp each way West End ferry terminal (Horizons JVD ferry) $16/pp each way 15 - 25 minutes each way Taxi fares for Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada are in the link below…

Oops - Nanny Cay is $10/pp each way

For a shared safari taxi (3 or more people) - Brewers Bay $12/pp each way Cane Garden Bay $12/pp each way Long Bay, Beef Island $12/pp each way Long Bay, West End $12/pp each way Nanny Cay $12/pp each way Smuggler’s Cove $15/pp each way 15 - 25 minutes each way

Unfortunately even the beaches like Playa Palancar and Nachi Cocom that were once a longer taxi from the cruise ports and so devoid of day visitors, are no longer too far from the cruise ports… Not sure how it works at PP today, years (two decades+) ago there was no AI charge, there were just a few lounges, and the food was very good 👍

Chedraui is our favorite supermarket, but some are much better than others. One good thing about Chedraui and other named stores like OXXO, 7-11, and Soriano is their exchange rate is decent. You may get pesos in change, but they will give you $USD if you request that, and the clerk has that. Of course it’s always recommended to obtain pesos when spending cash on taxis or shopping… While living in Mexico, and before learning of the Los Cinco Soles gourmet vanilla, we bought the basic vanilla sold at Chedraui and Soriano. It’s as good as or better than the various versions you find in the tourist shops at 1/10 the price… But the Los Cinco Soles is in a class by itself…

$110 USD is quite high for a newer sedan rental here but I’m sure it happens… Regarding walking through town, Cozumel is very mild as compared to Playa Del Carmen. The barkers in San Miguel are similar to those in STT and SXM, Those in PDC are on steroids!

We’d go to Brewers Bay on our own. The distillery is in Cane Garden Bay, but the snorkeling is not good there. Shared safari taxis are waiting to whisk your fellow passengers to CBG, and Brewers is close by… Taxis will return to CGB, your driver will return for you at BB.

Hi Hal, It depends on the boat, AND on the number of boats already there. Most multihulls can get you ankle, or worst-case knee deep. Many powerboats will drop you chest deep. But we’ve seen it so crowded that you cannot navigate close to shore and have to dinghy in… Just depends! 😄

I meant to add you could contact all 4 outfits and inquire about a private snorkel day using a powerboat. That allows you to visit a few snorkel spots including the Caves and the Indians. They are all great outfits, and I know they can accommodate the itinerary you want, as long as sea conditions allow…