can you bring food to BVI in a cooler?

Iluvstjohn · Post by **Iluvstjohn** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:46 am

Out of curiousity.....can you bring a polar bear cooler full of frozen food/snacks (like I do to go to st. john)....to the BVI's? Wondering about clearing customs and stuff? Do they have *different * regulations? Still planning out end of June/July trip....lots of possibilities and dreams! LOL

thanks all!

SOonthebeach · Post by **SOonthebeach** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:13 am

Great question- I have no idea but will follow this for an answer. I have never tried to bring a cooler, but I know that my bags have never been searched upon entry- and I have never been asked what we were bringing.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:14 am

I don't think you can

I know part of their HM Customs Declaration Form asks.......

"I hereby declare that I am importing the following goods
i) Fruits, plants, meats,food, soil, live animals Yes No

and then you (obviously) check the box. For some reason I don't think you can take coolers with you but as far as I know if you have rented a sailboat in STT and have your boat stocked it is OK but if renting a boat in BVI (from the Moorings for example) you are not allowed.

Hope this helps and I'm sure someone will help more

Pia

Knolmom · Post by **Knolmom** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:21 pm

Recently there have been some posts on the BVI board about problems bringing meat to Tortola and Virgin Gorda. This enforcement is something that has come up recently, as we and many others were accustmed to briging meat,snacks,pasta and sauce when we rented villas on those islands. Now folks have been advised against this.
You can PM me for a source that will better explain the prohibitions.

Lex · Post by **Lex** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:27 pm

When we went to VG, this site is where we got most info:

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/ ... &Board=bvi

Knolmom · Post by **Knolmom** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:30 pm

Thanks Lex. Thery are up-to-the-minute about whats going on with the meat prohibitions.

tralei714 · Post by **tralei714** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:03 am

We brought a cooler with us to Jost while staying at Ivans. We were not able to bring the food back with us upon our return to customs on St. John.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:45 pm

Depending on your length of stay and how much you need Bobby's Marketplace will deliver to the Jost dock for you: http://www.bobbysmarketplace.com/

Sadly we had to cancel our trip due to mini Gromit acting up in utero but we were going to use this provisioning service on arrival.

For us it seemed like the least hassle. They seemed to have a great selection and reasonable prices as well.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:05 pm

Just chiming in to second the provisioning suggestion. I can't remember who we used but it was so easy and the delivery was free. (this was on VG) I made out a list, it was delivered with the cash register tape, showing the charge to my cc. For whatever reason, this is a common service in the BVIs.

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