blue_water

Yes unfortunately Jost is on the north side of Tortola and there just are not many options from the cruise dock. When we’ve stayed in CGB we’ve been able to take a water “taxi” (just a motorboat from a vendor there) to White Bay, and get picked up in Great Harbor. You can inquire on the TTOL forum to see if the vendor who rents water toys in CGB is providing that service. You’d still have to taxi 20 minutes to and from CGB, but it’s a shorter trip than from West End on the ferry… http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/7/1/british-virgin-islands.html

Nope - that is what we would do.

There are several in Road Town, we’ve not used any there as we rent from Jerry when we ferry into West End. But you can google them and compare.

Yes typical prices have been $10/set but as mentioned prices are up everywhere. I’m told that the 2010 published taxi fares have not changed for land-based visitors, but new higher rates are in place for cruise ship passengers. Not yet sure if that is just for hourly tours, or for trips to the beaches too…The fare to CGB and Brewers Bay has been $8/pp in a shared taxi, folks will have to let us know if that has changed… CGB is actually a beautiful bay, with some of the best beach bars and restaurants, along with public restrooms. That’s why it is so popular… Our favorite beach is Smuggler’s Cove, but it’s a bit harder to get to (and from) by taxi, and it is getting busier as all beaches are. Long Bay, Beef Island has gone the way of the cruise line excursions as well and that was one of the last nice beaches we had as an escape when ships were in… But Brewers is also our preference, we can get by with more “rustic” amenities to enjoy that “old Caribbean beach” vibe, and avoid the biggest crowds…

Sure! Unless you have excursion credits from the cruise line that you need to use, you can easily take a shared safari taxi to CGB as several fellow passengers will be going there as well. CGB is a popular destination for day visitors… I’m not up to speed on local brewers, but you may also want to consider a nice daysail with one of the independent cats like Aristocat, Kuralu, or Patouche that include a stop at Cooper Island. Nice daysail, and there is an onsite craft beer microbrewery… Just a thought! 😄

Yes, Callwood is in the west end of the bay, maybe a 5 minute walk from Myett’s…

Some “light reading” for you! ☺️

You’d need to contact AC for a current quote… The shared taxi tour may be perfect for you since you are solo…Great way to enjoy a nice tour with your fellow passengers…

This tour departs at 12:30, perhaps they can accommodate you if you haven’t contacted them already? https://dapigbeach.com/

That is an old thread! A recent thread, some ideas for Tortola in posts 7 & 11

It’s possible the jet ski rental is closer to Baha Mar and not right at the public beach. We just saw the riders coming and going from that general area. Try posing this question on the New Providence Island forum on TripAdvisor for a more reliable answer. 😄

During our two-week stay near Baha Mar we saw tons of jet skis being rented from the public beach at Goodman’s Bay everyday. I didn’t look to see where the rental outfit was. We saw no sargassum in April/May but that is a problem throughout the Carib…

Margaritaville or Baha Bay would be a great choice for a family. For a couples beach day with lunch and drinks just head to Junkanoo, or perhaps Goodman’s Bay public beach…We’ve not made it over to Cabbage Beach so not sure about food and drink options there…

Yes we saw many wave runners being rented on the public beach at Goodman’s Bay while staying on Cable Beach. Just hop the #10 jitney/bus at the Bay St & Frederick St bus stop and tell the driver Goodman’s Bay beach. $1.25/pp, correct change. The buses run quite frequently and will stop there for your return…

We saw the $110/pp fee for Margaritaville and thought that was just nuts - no food or drinks! 🤷🏼 Check with Warwick and RIU for current day pass availability. Baha Bay is a water park attached to the mega-complex of Baha Mar. You get some beach access, as well as access to the nice casino and great restaurants if you want that. Breezes reviews are terrible and we’d pass on that. And Melia has been closed since pre-Covid, rumors abound including being imploded and rebuilt as part of Baha Mar… [EDIT] Also check with the Goldwynn Resort…

And you can just take a shared taxi to either Cane Garden Bay or Brewers Bay, CGB has many more amenities and beach bars/restaurants…

We toured Watling’s in May and they were not providing rum samples then. We were on a tour with BahTours that included a tour of Watling’s. Some of us went through on that tour, and others on the Watling’s free tour. None of us received free rum samples on either tour, they directed us all to the store where you can purchase the rum. They did give us a frozen rum slushie sample before the tour but that was it. Fortunately there is a bar there and we could buy a couple shots to sample the rums…

For an easy but amazing day, I’d suggest contacting AC’s Taxi to book a private island tour. Tortola is a gorgeous, lush island, with spectacular views of the beaches and other islands from high above. AC will also show you spots that other visitors never see, and will design your itinerary based on your wishes. His contact info is in post #7 above. If you don’t want a private tour there will be taxi drivers at the dock offering shared tours for ~$25/pp in the 20+ passenger, open-sided safari taxis. Check with the nice ladies at the information booth or with the taxi coordinator… Then stop at Pusser’s Pub near the dock for a pint and a bite! They also have a nice clothing line in their store there… Other more active excursions include - Taking the ferry to Virgin Gorda and a walk through the Baths. However that is a bit strenuous and not recommended for anyone with slight mobility issues. The ship excursion to Jost Van Dyke, primarily for beach time in White Bay. And of course the daysails mentioned above, or a private powerboat to visit the other islands. Anything sound good?

Yes Buccanos is not technically AI as I mentioned, but in reality the same thing…Any in your group not drinking alcohol (kids, for ex) would get out cheaper than at an AI of course… The $400 peso minimum spend/pp goes toward your bill, and you have access to the facilities and beach. Open 10 - 6 only… Bucanos is the first choice for many coming from PDC to spend the day on Coz.

Meant to add we took our great niece to the Akumal location since it seems to be less busy than the PA and Maroma locations, and she and another teen had the entire pool to themselves for the Royal Swim! Hopefully you have the same luck at the Coz location…

The manatee interaction is not a big deal but I see you were able to get what you wanted. Yes, contacting the vendor is always the best first step! Saves a lot of work!

We stay at the Ibero Tucan near PDC and have visited the Ibero Coz property. We wouldn’t go there for the beach, or for the food and drinks, actually. What are your port times? Have you looked at Buccanos? Not technically AI but the same nonetheless… https://www.buccanos.com/en/activities

Yes for a less busy beach vibe Brewers Bay is nice. There will be some fellow cruisers there, but it is more like that old Caribbean beach we remember than like CGB. Just one beach bar and restroom last I knew, but it’s a nice spot to relax for part of your day. Long Bay, Beef Island is another beach option. The road there is much flatter than going over the hill to CGB or Brewers Bay, if that matters. But the cruise lines are now promoting the beach through their excursions so I’m not sure if it would be the right choice for you. I’m sure someone who has been recently can comment. Another idea is taking a shared island tour in an open-sided safari taxi. You will see drivers offering 3 - 4 hour shared tours for ~$25/pp, some with a stop in CJB. There may be enclosed vehicles as well. Regarding CGB, I don’t know if I would call it rowdy, but it certainly is a very busy vibe. But there are nicer amenities there of course. Do anyone f these options sound good? Or are you looking for something else to do?

“Real” vanilla? I think you miss the point but thanks 😊

When contacting businesses (or friends) in the islands it is always best to call. You can email, but folks who call will get better results.