USVI-On-Line

Lets say you have 10 nights to stay in the Virgin Islands. You have been to St John 3 times and visited the BVI once on a daytrip. Love St john, especially the snorkeling, Villas etc. Now would you split these 10 days 5 nights St John in a Villa , 5 nights Virgin Gorda in a Villa. Found nice places that rent 5 nights off season. Or would you go 7 nights St John, 3 nights VG . I really want to try VG but 5 nights in St John is not enough. Think a St John lover would be happy splitting her time .
Nancy

This is hear say only. But first hand hear say. I have friends that have gone to Virgin Gorda and they love it. It is even less populated than the Coral Bay area but with fantastic beaches and not too much else. If you like the Coral Bay-Salt Pond area, I would go 5 nights on each. If Cruz Bay is more to your liking, I think I would try fewer nights on Virgin Gorda and see how well you like it.
You know you are going to have fun whichever way you choose!

Nancy
In spring of 06, we did 8 nights in STJ and 4 nights VG and it was wonderful, so I can highly recommend that you do something similar. Different but some stunningly beautiful beaches.



More arid environment and way mellow and very friendly locals.



For me, one of the factors that went into the how many nights where question was built around the logistics of getting to/from VG.

The ferry runs direct from STJ to VG on Sundays and Thursdays (check that is still correct) so you can get there from STJ by about 10:30am using that service (vs. the Tortola route) giving you a pretty substantial chunk of that day. Likewise, leaving VG we saved time by flying Air Sunshine to San Juan in the afternoon giving you a full morning vs. ferry back to STT. Very cool flight down Drakes Passage in a 10 seat Cessna. I think Seaborne has started seaplane service on weekends to/from VG/SJU (with a stopover in STT I think) so that could be another travel option.

My trip report for parts 3 and 4 of that trip are in the weeks of May 12 and 16, 2006 in the old version of this forum. PM me if you have more questions/want more info.

We've been going to STJ since the 80s. It's the only place we've stayed in the Caribbean. Next week we're going to stay on VG for the first time. We've been there on day trips and have liked what we've seen. We may or may not include a trip to Anegada. May not---it wasn't until our third trip to STJ that we ever got to the BVI. We'd intended to take day trips sooner, but there was always so much we wanted to see and do on STJ that we never got off the island. We do still love STJ, but popularity and development have made it a less perfect fit for us than it once was. We're hoping that VG will still have much of what we fell in love with on STJ that's disappeared or been diluted over the years.

There's a lot to be said for returning to a beloved place year after year. We slip right into our STJ mode easily and quickly. We know where stuff is. But I also enjoy the thrill of new places where I don't know what's going on. I expect we'll get back to STJ again, but for now we're real excited about VG.

Lex - pls make sure to share your impressions of VG with us when you get back. I think you'll really like it. Safe trip.

I had always wanted to do a day trip to Virgin Gorda from St. John, but never quite made it; so we decided to split 12 days last November.

We loved Virgin Gorda; Don thinks it is his new favorite place. We stayed near Spring Bay (Guavaberry Springs) and didn't venture too far. The snorkeling was very good, but the restaurants didn't quite measure up.

This is what we woke up to every morning:



You won't be disappointed in Virgin Gorda.

janet

We'll also be staying at Guavaberry. Where did you find snorkeling best? By chance did you post a trip report that I could access?

Thanks.

Hi Lex,

We only snorkeled around Spring Bay/Devil's Bay. We didn't rent a car and do any exploring. The first few days, the current was really strong, so we didn't get much snorkeling in at all; but on calmer days it was very good. Lots of fish, not much coral, but the boulders add a different dimension.

I posted a trip report here (November, 2006), but it focuses on the STJ days and travel. I may have posted more detail on the VG days at www.traveltalkonline.com, but their search function isn't cooperating right now.

The folks at Guavaberry were very helpful (Tina and Val?); we were in Cedar House. We used on of their "drivers" to taxi us around as needed; he was always on time.

have a great trip,

Do any of Virgin Gorda beaches have the kind of off beach snorkeling that St John offers ? Examples Haulover, Waterlemon.
Nancy

Nancy,

Yes there is a lot of snorkeling right off the beaches. As a matter of fact, there is a some very recent post on www.traveltalkonline.com that list the many places to snorkel on VG. At Guavaberry, there was good snorkeling off the beach and we could snorkel over to the Baths (we didn't we walked the rode).

Lex - I tried to retrieve my trip report on TTOL, but messages aren's saved "forever" and I never posted it to the Trip Report forums. If you have questions, feel free to PM me. We didn't explore much on VG, but we did do a day trip to Anegada.

We are doing 7 nights on St. John and 5 nights on Virgin Gorda in June. I can't stand it. Hurry June!!!

shhhhhhh .... please keep the BVI's - especially Virgin Gorda - nature's little secret. I would hate to see it change in the ways that St. John has changed. It is still pristine with wonderful resorts (in all price ranges) and villas right on great beaches. Good snorkeling at Devil's Bay and Spring Bay (the Crawl), Mahoe and Oil Nut Bay just to name a few. They are building a few MacMansions and because of the difficulty getting there and expense, it is not as easily traveled. Let's hope it stays that way! (and I said that about St. John years ago and hardly recognize the island anymore!). There is no "town" to speak of - a small shopping area in SpanishTown so you don't have the jam that you find in Cruz Bay and the main road from SpanishTown to the east end is an easy drive - well paved, wide. If you do go, look for the M&M "bakery" in SpanishTown that's a off the main road - no sign but across from the auto parts place - where you can get the best breakfast and other goodies. But get there early - he used to be the chef at Drake's Passage on Moskito Island which was well known for its wonderful dinners. He used to open at nite and stay open until he sold out but ask the locals.
I've long ago stopped going to St. John (we used to spit it half and half) but Virgin Gorda does remain right at the top of my favorites. I hope it stays that way!

I think I’d do a 5 in STJ and 5 in BVI. I like finding new places and things to do.

Don't bother with VG...you'll hate it.

If you ignore this advice, for the love if the islands, DON'T TELL!!!