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John Brandi -Palm Tree Charters
John Brandi -Palm Tree Charters
Hi All,
We've been down alot but never taken BVI charter. Just booked with John Brandi for 11/26 (Sat after Thanksgiving). What would you do on a full day charter? Caves or other snorkle spot? Willy T's for lunch? And of course afternoon at White Bay!
Thanks
Pam
We've been down alot but never taken BVI charter. Just booked with John Brandi for 11/26 (Sat after Thanksgiving). What would you do on a full day charter? Caves or other snorkle spot? Willy T's for lunch? And of course afternoon at White Bay!
Thanks
Pam
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Check out Capt John's videos for lots more ideas! You can't go wrong no matter where you go!Palm Tree Charters
We did a charter just last week with John, and have gone out with him twice more in the past 5 years. Last week we had young teens aboard, so we did the Baths, hoped to snorkel the Caves but the surf was high, then stopped at Cooper Island Beach Club for lunch(yum, and reasonable) and a swim( they have a dock there so easy on/off). We would have loved for the kids to do a jump from the Willie T but fighting the surf was not worth it. We shot across to Soggy Dollar where the adults had their painkillers and kids played on the trampoline. I had to stay on the boat as I need a dock to exit. Normally I would have gotten off at Foxy's and taken a cab over to Soggy but we passed Foxy going out on his boat so I stayed on board and sunbathed. MY DH brought me a painkiller.
Our first trip with John was a Waterlemon snorkel in the AM, Pussers in Tortola for lunch, Sandy Cay and Smugglers for a swim and then White Bay. Two years ago we did Peter Island for a good part of the day, including lunch and swimming,then a Sany Cay and Smugglers Cove stop and float, then DH and I went to Foxy's and the rest went to the Soggy. John came back to Foxy's dock to pick us up.
We ALWAYS have a great day with John, but I must say that the Baths are a long trip so unless you have the time to waste and dont want to do much else, your time and money for gas are better spent at other spots.
Our first trip with John was a Waterlemon snorkel in the AM, Pussers in Tortola for lunch, Sandy Cay and Smugglers for a swim and then White Bay. Two years ago we did Peter Island for a good part of the day, including lunch and swimming,then a Sany Cay and Smugglers Cove stop and float, then DH and I went to Foxy's and the rest went to the Soggy. John came back to Foxy's dock to pick us up.
We ALWAYS have a great day with John, but I must say that the Baths are a long trip so unless you have the time to waste and dont want to do much else, your time and money for gas are better spent at other spots.
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EagleRayLover
- Posts: 1474
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- Location: St. John -WooHoo!!
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SOonthebeach
- Posts: 1707
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:01 am
- Location: Texas
All great suggestions- maybe try to plan a stop at Sandy Cay or Sandy Spit just because they are perfect! And no way you can end your day anywhere else but White Bay, IMHO. But other than that you are covered. John is the BEST- just tell him how you want to spend your day and he will take you to the perfect places- you will have a ball!!
With Capt. John, I'd just tell him what activities you are interested in and let him make the recommendations. He knows the ins and outs and what will be best given the weather.
Something to consider is that week is quite busy and there can be swells.
Cheers, RickG
Something to consider is that week is quite busy and there can be swells.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
The Caves were a huge let down for me. They don't go far in and there wasn't much to see. My favorite snorkel is Congo (the side across the channel from Lovango). I could do there and skip all of the others.
We went in May with Capt. John after about 5 previous trips through Ocean Runner with a captain and this was my favorite trip! Capt. John is AWESOME. Love him! Will always use him in the future.
We did do one other trip two summers ago with Bob at Tropic Power Boat Rentals where we went all around St. John because we wanted to see the whole island from the water. We did several snorkle spots along the way and that was awesome, but we did not hit White Bay or the BVIs. It was strictly a snorkel trip.
We went in May with Capt. John after about 5 previous trips through Ocean Runner with a captain and this was my favorite trip! Capt. John is AWESOME. Love him! Will always use him in the future.
We did do one other trip two summers ago with Bob at Tropic Power Boat Rentals where we went all around St. John because we wanted to see the whole island from the water. We did several snorkle spots along the way and that was awesome, but we did not hit White Bay or the BVIs. It was strictly a snorkel trip.
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" - Dave Matthews Band
First off, can't go wrong with Captain John. Totally concur with Rick's suggestion above and would go you one further by suggesting you answer these specific questions for John in regards to choosing activities...
1) Baths or no Baths...takes a while to get to Virgin Gorda and will limit the other activities available since you have to be back at customs on STJ by like 4:30pm. If geological wonders fascinate you, go for it. The Baths are neat, like a maze of boulders and you'll still have time on the way back to hit a good snorkel spot like The Indians and find a cool spot for lunch.
2) Snorkel to Boozing to Shopping ratio - Some people are all about the snorkeling and some people just want to booze. And though I can't understand it, some people actually want to tchotchke shop at places like Cooper Island or West End Tortola.
John knows all the great spots regardless. Personally, I'm lucky because I'm bilateral and have mastered pouring beer down my snorkel and booze the entire day. Yea, me. It's like patting your head and rubbing your liver at the same time, takes practice, but it's a great ice breaker and resume fodder.
Seriously, I prescribe the burn to earn strategy. Start the morning off with some good snorkel stops (Indians, Caves, Spyglass, etc.) to burn some calories so you can earn those calories drinking Painkillers and eating fried goodness the rest of the day.
As for shopping...do what you gotta do.
3) Rated R or PG-13...hey, it's the Caribbean, stuff happens. If the site of drunken debauchery offends you or you're concerned about prematurely jumpstarting puberty for a younger member of your travel party (or awakening some dormant feelings in an older one), there are definitely a few spots to avoid.
Example, I love the Willy T (a Junk boat anchored off Norman island that has a bar and grill) and jumping off the top deck (though technically against the rules) is a time honored tradition, but I probably wouldn't take my kids there. Actually, I probably would, but let's avoid giving CPS a reason to make a visit...anyway, the last time I was at the Willy T (a few months ago), my wife and I had lunch at the bar and no sooner had our conch fritters been served, then a woman next to us decided to disrobe, lay on the bar, and have the bartender put whip cream on her, um, parts and Bailey's in her belly button. Then her boyfriend I presume came over and um, helped her clean it all off...with his mouth.
Of course when I turned to my wife, before I could even say a word, she said, "no chance, you're on a diet."
Regardless, we thought it was funny and a great story. But based on reading this forum for the past few years, I know for certain there are more than a few readers that muttered "well, I never..." after reading that story and are probably calling their local congressman to get the Willy T sunk as we speak. Hey, I respect their wishes to avoid lascivious behavior, wish them well, and simply ask that they save me an aisle seat at Armageddon...to each his or her own.
If you're G rated and/or have kids in tow...I'd go with The Baths, Indians snorkel, lunch at Sopers Hole and maybe a quick stop at Smugglers Cove (it's like a more relaxed version of White Bay on Jost.
If you're looking to party, I'd take a case of beer or Bloody Mary mix and vodka to put in John's cooler...hit a few snorkel spots in the morning (the Indians for sure), eat at Willy T for lunch, stop by Sandy Spit to act like a castaway, and finish the afternoon on White Bay, JVD at Soggy's.
Hope this helps.
Have a blast, and again, you can't go wrong with Captain John.
1) Baths or no Baths...takes a while to get to Virgin Gorda and will limit the other activities available since you have to be back at customs on STJ by like 4:30pm. If geological wonders fascinate you, go for it. The Baths are neat, like a maze of boulders and you'll still have time on the way back to hit a good snorkel spot like The Indians and find a cool spot for lunch.
2) Snorkel to Boozing to Shopping ratio - Some people are all about the snorkeling and some people just want to booze. And though I can't understand it, some people actually want to tchotchke shop at places like Cooper Island or West End Tortola.
John knows all the great spots regardless. Personally, I'm lucky because I'm bilateral and have mastered pouring beer down my snorkel and booze the entire day. Yea, me. It's like patting your head and rubbing your liver at the same time, takes practice, but it's a great ice breaker and resume fodder.
Seriously, I prescribe the burn to earn strategy. Start the morning off with some good snorkel stops (Indians, Caves, Spyglass, etc.) to burn some calories so you can earn those calories drinking Painkillers and eating fried goodness the rest of the day.
As for shopping...do what you gotta do.
3) Rated R or PG-13...hey, it's the Caribbean, stuff happens. If the site of drunken debauchery offends you or you're concerned about prematurely jumpstarting puberty for a younger member of your travel party (or awakening some dormant feelings in an older one), there are definitely a few spots to avoid.
Example, I love the Willy T (a Junk boat anchored off Norman island that has a bar and grill) and jumping off the top deck (though technically against the rules) is a time honored tradition, but I probably wouldn't take my kids there. Actually, I probably would, but let's avoid giving CPS a reason to make a visit...anyway, the last time I was at the Willy T (a few months ago), my wife and I had lunch at the bar and no sooner had our conch fritters been served, then a woman next to us decided to disrobe, lay on the bar, and have the bartender put whip cream on her, um, parts and Bailey's in her belly button. Then her boyfriend I presume came over and um, helped her clean it all off...with his mouth.
Of course when I turned to my wife, before I could even say a word, she said, "no chance, you're on a diet."
Regardless, we thought it was funny and a great story. But based on reading this forum for the past few years, I know for certain there are more than a few readers that muttered "well, I never..." after reading that story and are probably calling their local congressman to get the Willy T sunk as we speak. Hey, I respect their wishes to avoid lascivious behavior, wish them well, and simply ask that they save me an aisle seat at Armageddon...to each his or her own.
If you're G rated and/or have kids in tow...I'd go with The Baths, Indians snorkel, lunch at Sopers Hole and maybe a quick stop at Smugglers Cove (it's like a more relaxed version of White Bay on Jost.
If you're looking to party, I'd take a case of beer or Bloody Mary mix and vodka to put in John's cooler...hit a few snorkel spots in the morning (the Indians for sure), eat at Willy T for lunch, stop by Sandy Spit to act like a castaway, and finish the afternoon on White Bay, JVD at Soggy's.
Hope this helps.
Have a blast, and again, you can't go wrong with Captain John.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
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California Girl
54b, you sound like a lot of fun!!
My only friends are pirates..that's just who I am...
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Thanks, Lawmom...I like to think I can put the "fun" in dysfunctional with the best of 'em.lawmom wrote:54b, you sound like a lot of fun!!
But truth be told, I'm a stress puppy like everyone else suffering through this joyous recession. So I try to laugh and make others laugh as much as possible as that seems like one of the few "healthy" ways to relieve stress these days.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
