BVIs and USVIs Trip Report - Days 2, 3 and 4
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:34 pm
Day 2
We woke up to a beautiful day. Being that breakfast was included with our rate we headed back to the Sugar Mill restaurant for breakfast.
Similar to Caneel, Little Dix had a buffet set with an egg station where eggs are cooked to order. You can also order eggs benedict, waffles and pancakes but would have to ask the server and then they would bring it out to you. We sat at a table right near the beach. We ate at the same restaurant the night before, but we didn’t realize how beautiful the setting was since it was dark.
After a satisfying breakfast we went to grab our snorkel gear at the water activities desk. There we were informed that Little Dix offers complimentary transportation (via boat) to any nearby beaches. We decided to make a reservation for the next day to take us to the Baths. We went to the Baths 6 years ago on a daysail and I never brought my camera with me so I thought it would be a good idea to go back and at our own pace.
Since it was our first full day at the resort we just decided to grab a couple of chairs on the beach and just relax.
the beautiful pool that we never used
I did some snorkeling while my husband read and saw a few stingrays, a turtle and a jellyfish. Several fish I saw as well, but not nearly as abundant as St. John. Even though the beach and water were beautiful, I thought the water was a little more cloudy. Unlike Caneel, Little Dix just has one main beach which is crescent shaped and a decent size. We saw a few guests that would walk the beach from time to time but the resort was overall very quiet. After a long day of doing nothing, we went to the activities desk to book a reservation for dinner. Our options were pretty limited being it was still low season but decided to give the restaurant the Rock Cafe a try. I had read about the cafe and to be sure to eat outside. We had a taxi pick us about 10 min. before our reservation. Basically the taxi driver was one guy, Andy. He was great. Every time we would need a taxi he would be there. It was like having our own private chauffeur.
The Rock Cafe didn’t look like much from the outside, but the back of the building had a beautiful setting of large boulders (like the Baths) and lit waterfalls. There was only one other table seated so eating outside was not a problem. The menu had a nice selection of food but we were informed that they did not have lobster. I was a little disappointed but figured that I would have it somewhere else. (Little did I know that the BVIs have seasons for lobster. And during October you cannot get lobster like in the USVIs). The food had an italian flare to it. To start, we had an app combo of fried conch fritters, shrimp and callamari. For the main course, I decided on the grouper and my husband had the homemade gnocchi. The food again we thought was good but not great. Nevertheless, we still have an enjoyable dinner. Andy picked us up and headed back to Little Dix. We enjoyed a couple of drinks from our patio that evening and then called it a night.
Day 3
We woke up to the sound of pouring rain (around 7am). I thought to myself ‘oh no not again’. So with that we went back to sleep for a couple of hours. When we got up aroun 9am the rain had stopped and the sun was out! After another good breakfast at the Sugar Mill, we went to grab our stuff for the boat that was taking us to the Baths. Our reservation was for 10am but the guy didn’t show up until 10:20 or so (island time). He had an umbrella in his hand that he carried to the boat. Now when I say boat, I should say a small motorboat. I think the boat could only accommodate maybe four people total. It was small. After a bumpy ride to the Baths, we arrived at Devils Bay. He gave us the umbrella for us to use while we were on the beach. We told him to pick us up around 1pm. He said no problem and then he left.
We left the umbrella on the beach and headed towards the Baths trail. There were already a few day trippers there but it wasn’t too crowded. It was really nice to explore the Baths just the two of us. We would occasionally run into a few people and one large tour group, but that was basically it. We walked to the end of the trail and saw that there was a little bar there. I just figured that we would go to the Top of the Baths restaurant for a drink. We walked back through the Baths and to Devils Bay. I saw a sign for the parking lot and thought that maybe the restaurant would be that way. We walked for about 1/2 mile at least and it the trail just kept going. We were getting tired and thirsty so we decided to turn around and head back to Devils Bay. Along the way my husband spotted a small snake. I guess Virgin Gorda doesn’t have any mongoose on it. We made it back and never did find the restaurant. I still do not know where it is.
By the time we got back to the resort, we noticed it was after 1pm. It was a Sunday and the Giants were playing. Well Little Dix, like Caneel, does not have any TVs in the room, but they do have an activities room with a TV. We walked up to the room and saw that there were a few people doing the same thing. Unfortunately we could only get the Pittsburgh game and nothing else. They did have a couple of computers where I was able to check the score online. When I checked it was 34 to 7 and I figure they were playing the Raiders that the score should be good enough to be comfortable. We then went to the activites desk to book another reservation. I heard that this place called the Mine Shaft was supposed to be pretty good so we made a reservation there. We headed back to our room and relaxed by the beach until it was time for dinner.
Again we hooked up with Andy and headed to the Mine Shaft Cafe. Another reason that we chose this place (besides the miniature golf) was for the view and to watch the sunset. Unfortunately some evening showers rolled in so there wasn’t much of a sunset. There was also a small wedding reception out on the deck so we had to sit inside. My husband had the the coconut curry shrimp and I had the grouper with creole sauce. The service was a bit off because of the wedding and the food wasn’t that good. We called for the cab when we were done and headed back to Little Dix.
We did notice that a lot of the restaurants and resorts (Bitter End, Biras Creek, etc.) were closed while we were there so it did limit our dining experience. We were told that the island is solely a resort island, so when resorts and restaurants are closed, there really isn’t much to do.
Day 4
Our last full day in Virgin Gorda and felt that we wanted to spend it enjoying the resort. During breakfast, we saw that they were having a manager’s cocktail reception and grand buffet that evening. We thought perfect for our last night there. We just spent our day relaxing and snorkeling.
The cocktail reception began at 6:30 and we headed over for a few drinks. They had a few guys playing steel drums so that gave it a nice ambience. I wish more places in the caribbean would play steel drums. I know it sounds so cliché but I love listening to it and now all you really hear when you go to bars, is the same old stuff you hear back in the states. All well, back to the report...
After the free drinks (or should I say cocktail reception) we headed to the Sugar Mill Restaurant for the grand buffet. This buffet cost $75 a person (vs. $45 the other night). The buffet was more elaborate then the previous night but again, felt for that price, the food should be better. After eating way too much (not quite $75 worth - well maybe my husband did) we headed back to our room.
Coming up Day 5 - Back to St. John!
We woke up to a beautiful day. Being that breakfast was included with our rate we headed back to the Sugar Mill restaurant for breakfast.
Similar to Caneel, Little Dix had a buffet set with an egg station where eggs are cooked to order. You can also order eggs benedict, waffles and pancakes but would have to ask the server and then they would bring it out to you. We sat at a table right near the beach. We ate at the same restaurant the night before, but we didn’t realize how beautiful the setting was since it was dark.
After a satisfying breakfast we went to grab our snorkel gear at the water activities desk. There we were informed that Little Dix offers complimentary transportation (via boat) to any nearby beaches. We decided to make a reservation for the next day to take us to the Baths. We went to the Baths 6 years ago on a daysail and I never brought my camera with me so I thought it would be a good idea to go back and at our own pace.
Since it was our first full day at the resort we just decided to grab a couple of chairs on the beach and just relax.
the beautiful pool that we never used
I did some snorkeling while my husband read and saw a few stingrays, a turtle and a jellyfish. Several fish I saw as well, but not nearly as abundant as St. John. Even though the beach and water were beautiful, I thought the water was a little more cloudy. Unlike Caneel, Little Dix just has one main beach which is crescent shaped and a decent size. We saw a few guests that would walk the beach from time to time but the resort was overall very quiet. After a long day of doing nothing, we went to the activities desk to book a reservation for dinner. Our options were pretty limited being it was still low season but decided to give the restaurant the Rock Cafe a try. I had read about the cafe and to be sure to eat outside. We had a taxi pick us about 10 min. before our reservation. Basically the taxi driver was one guy, Andy. He was great. Every time we would need a taxi he would be there. It was like having our own private chauffeur.
The Rock Cafe didn’t look like much from the outside, but the back of the building had a beautiful setting of large boulders (like the Baths) and lit waterfalls. There was only one other table seated so eating outside was not a problem. The menu had a nice selection of food but we were informed that they did not have lobster. I was a little disappointed but figured that I would have it somewhere else. (Little did I know that the BVIs have seasons for lobster. And during October you cannot get lobster like in the USVIs). The food had an italian flare to it. To start, we had an app combo of fried conch fritters, shrimp and callamari. For the main course, I decided on the grouper and my husband had the homemade gnocchi. The food again we thought was good but not great. Nevertheless, we still have an enjoyable dinner. Andy picked us up and headed back to Little Dix. We enjoyed a couple of drinks from our patio that evening and then called it a night.
Day 3
We woke up to the sound of pouring rain (around 7am). I thought to myself ‘oh no not again’. So with that we went back to sleep for a couple of hours. When we got up aroun 9am the rain had stopped and the sun was out! After another good breakfast at the Sugar Mill, we went to grab our stuff for the boat that was taking us to the Baths. Our reservation was for 10am but the guy didn’t show up until 10:20 or so (island time). He had an umbrella in his hand that he carried to the boat. Now when I say boat, I should say a small motorboat. I think the boat could only accommodate maybe four people total. It was small. After a bumpy ride to the Baths, we arrived at Devils Bay. He gave us the umbrella for us to use while we were on the beach. We told him to pick us up around 1pm. He said no problem and then he left.
We left the umbrella on the beach and headed towards the Baths trail. There were already a few day trippers there but it wasn’t too crowded. It was really nice to explore the Baths just the two of us. We would occasionally run into a few people and one large tour group, but that was basically it. We walked to the end of the trail and saw that there was a little bar there. I just figured that we would go to the Top of the Baths restaurant for a drink. We walked back through the Baths and to Devils Bay. I saw a sign for the parking lot and thought that maybe the restaurant would be that way. We walked for about 1/2 mile at least and it the trail just kept going. We were getting tired and thirsty so we decided to turn around and head back to Devils Bay. Along the way my husband spotted a small snake. I guess Virgin Gorda doesn’t have any mongoose on it. We made it back and never did find the restaurant. I still do not know where it is.
By the time we got back to the resort, we noticed it was after 1pm. It was a Sunday and the Giants were playing. Well Little Dix, like Caneel, does not have any TVs in the room, but they do have an activities room with a TV. We walked up to the room and saw that there were a few people doing the same thing. Unfortunately we could only get the Pittsburgh game and nothing else. They did have a couple of computers where I was able to check the score online. When I checked it was 34 to 7 and I figure they were playing the Raiders that the score should be good enough to be comfortable. We then went to the activites desk to book another reservation. I heard that this place called the Mine Shaft was supposed to be pretty good so we made a reservation there. We headed back to our room and relaxed by the beach until it was time for dinner.
Again we hooked up with Andy and headed to the Mine Shaft Cafe. Another reason that we chose this place (besides the miniature golf) was for the view and to watch the sunset. Unfortunately some evening showers rolled in so there wasn’t much of a sunset. There was also a small wedding reception out on the deck so we had to sit inside. My husband had the the coconut curry shrimp and I had the grouper with creole sauce. The service was a bit off because of the wedding and the food wasn’t that good. We called for the cab when we were done and headed back to Little Dix.
We did notice that a lot of the restaurants and resorts (Bitter End, Biras Creek, etc.) were closed while we were there so it did limit our dining experience. We were told that the island is solely a resort island, so when resorts and restaurants are closed, there really isn’t much to do.
Day 4
Our last full day in Virgin Gorda and felt that we wanted to spend it enjoying the resort. During breakfast, we saw that they were having a manager’s cocktail reception and grand buffet that evening. We thought perfect for our last night there. We just spent our day relaxing and snorkeling.
The cocktail reception began at 6:30 and we headed over for a few drinks. They had a few guys playing steel drums so that gave it a nice ambience. I wish more places in the caribbean would play steel drums. I know it sounds so cliché but I love listening to it and now all you really hear when you go to bars, is the same old stuff you hear back in the states. All well, back to the report...
After the free drinks (or should I say cocktail reception) we headed to the Sugar Mill Restaurant for the grand buffet. This buffet cost $75 a person (vs. $45 the other night). The buffet was more elaborate then the previous night but again, felt for that price, the food should be better. After eating way too much (not quite $75 worth - well maybe my husband did) we headed back to our room.
Coming up Day 5 - Back to St. John!
Thanks!