pam

Through these boards I think we'll be headed for Tortola, but need help with hotel. We want 5 star type, great pool area, nice beach,bars and restaurants. also love to golf but not a necessity. Thanks.

Anne

Hi Pam-Are you sure you want Tortola? This island has OK hotels-no 5 5tar. We stayed at Long Bay-great pool,it gets mixed reviews on this forum. I do not think Tortola has a golf course! <BR>What are you looking for-there are alot other wonderful islands with outstanding hotels also what does a 5 star hotel mean to you? <BR>Tortola gets you to the BVI-5 star hotels would be Little Dix Bay,Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda. <BR>So Tortola and BVI might be what you are inquiring about. <BR>I hope I haven't confused you-hope this helps.

pam

Thanks Anne, was thinking about BVI because it sounded good from these boards. We have been to many of the islands and want to try somewhere else, haven't been to BVI, Turqs, Antiqua, Aruba, Tobago, hear St BArts and Lucia are expensive. We like beautiful beach, great pool, enough development that we can go to a different great restaurant every night and some shopping. What island would you think? We loved Caymans, St Croix and Cozumel but have a blast wherever we go. Thanks, Pam

anne

Hi Pam-We have been to ST. John,Barbados,St. Lucia.Tortola,Virgin Gorda,St. Thomas and Anguilla. Our favoites are ST. John and Anguilla. <BR>Anguilla has beautiful beaches,excellent restaurants and small beach bars. It can be very expensive at the best hotels,some of the best in the caribbean. Since you are planning <BR>way ahead go to www.news.ai It is a fun web site with lots and lots of photos and links,make sure you explore restaurants ai and hotels ai,all linked to this newsletter. Search the archives,old forums etc. <BR>We stay at Cap Juluca-but Frangipani on Meads Bay is not as pricey,but truly special,they just opened a new pool. <BR>What we enjoy are all different restaurants,the people,the beach bars and exploring the beaches. <BR>You can go over to Marigot (15 min ferry ride) to shop. <BR>Anguilla does not have a golf course-but golfers go over to ST.Martin. <BR>Anguilla can be very expensive but there are plenty of choices in hotels and places to eat. <BR>Barbados is fun too! It has lots and lots of restarants,this was our first beach bar experience(such fun). I believe there are 2 golf courses on the island. It is fun to explore and is a very diverse island . <BR>We love ST. John-Caneel Bay has 7 beaches and again different price range of rooms. The island is mostly National Park,great snorkeling and hiking. Cruz Bay has a good selection of restaurants. <BR>I learned about www.scubamom.com website <BR> from this forum,she has alot of reports on BVI and makes you wnat to get on a plane and go! Virgin Gorda was fun too-so many choices. <BR>Again I hope this helped.

waggie

I have to agree with Anne. We were in Tortola this past June and while there are some nice places there, I wouldn't consider anywhere there to be 5-star quality. We've been to Grand Cayman, Virgin Gorda, St. John, and Tortola. GC and SJ were our two favorites (hard to say which we liked better -- different, but both great!). We will return to both. Based on what information you've provided, I highly suggest checking out SJ. How about a villa? There are many, many lovely ones to choose from. One with a pool would be great! The restaurants are terrific. If you liked the restaurants on GC, then you'll like the ones on SJ. Anne also mentioned Anguilla. We haven't been yet, but it's on our list of places to go. Do check out Anguilla and SJ. My guess is you can't go wrong with either one. Best of luck!

john

Can anyone provide further input here on staying in the villas on Tortola for her? (Okay it's kind of for me too). Planning my honeymoon and just want to make sure you get everything it's supposed to be. How's the beach at Cane Garden Bay??

jbrooks

John, <BR>Cane Garden Bay is often rated one of the best in the caribbean. To me its my ideal beach, several beach bars/grills nestled in the palms trees and a cresent of white sand, with calm blue waters. There are several villas located all over the island. You may want to check out light house villas but I am sure there are many others. We are staying at the ole works inn in the delux suite, which has two floors to it, so we should have ample room for only 175 per night.

rick

I stayed on Tortola at Frenchmans Cay in May 2000. We really enjoyed the trip and the island and thought it had a very relaxed feel to it as well as safe. I would have to agree though and state that there really isnt any 5 star resorts; for that matter there is really only 1 resort and that is Long Bay. The rest are villas and nothing on the island is taller than 2 stories so it keeps alot of the Hyatts, Marriotts, Holiday Inns, etc out. I would go back to Tortola which is my ultimate guage of a vacation spot; but I also would like to see many others before I do return. I would categorize Tortola as a explorers island; because you really drive to find different beaches, bars, restaurants, etc; that is not to say that I am sure you could stay somewhere and not move for the week and be very happy. Tortola just lends itself to be explored. There are not alot of places that have the beach activities and such just places that you may be the only ones on a pretty beach. Hope this helps somewhat.

Ray Snow

Hi Pam, <BR>I agree with Rick, waggie, and Anne that there are no 5-star resorts on Tortola. In my opinion, Long Bay Beach Resort is a poor excuse for a resort. I'd give it 1 star at best, but most guide books and triple A give it 3. We stayed there once but wouldn't go back if it were free. I love the BVI and Tortola but based on what you've said in both of your posts here, I would join some of the others in recommending St. John, USVI. It has everything you said you desired except golf and that is available at Mahogany Run Golf Course in nearby St. Thomas. It's a beautiful but challenging course. The ferry from Cruz Bay to Red Hook takes just 20 minutes and then it's about 10-15 minutes taxi ride to the course. I also recommend Caneel Bay highly. It has tastefully decorated rooms and suites, 7 fantastic beaches, a nice pool, tennis courts, beautiful grounds, excellent restaurants, and a friendly and helpful staff. If you want night life, several different restaurants to choose from, and several nice shops, nearby Cruz Bay is the place. There are numerous pristine national park beaches on the North Shore within a few miles of Caneel Bay, which is definitely a 5-star resort. Despite incursions by cruise ship passengers, St. John remains a wonderful tropical paradise where we can go to relax and enjoy life, at least until we have to return home. <BR>Regards, <BR>Ray

Joel

I think history is being made on this string. First time I've seen this many responses with everyone in agreement. I agree with all of the above, also. I would add that, yes, there is no golf course, and, yes, it is totally laid back and that means no high-rises, no liveried wait staffs, no marble floors, no luxury whatsoever, just a Jimmy Buffet kind of relaxed, palms-blowing-in-the-breeze easy living. Maybe that's why he wrote a song about "gettin' back to Cane Garden Bay". Even the owners/managers tend to be an eclectic group of individualists rather than reps of some holding company or consortium in NYC. Especially eclectic and eccentric is Ol' Bob with his little honor bar over at Smugglers Cove. Hope he's still alive.

waggie

You are right, Joel, lots of agreement on this string! Wow! To answer the question about villas on Tortola (and Joel will agree with me here, I think!), do check out Frenchman's Cay, as recommended on a post after my previous one. We stayed there in June and after visiting other resorts while on the island, decided we had made an excellent choice. And yes, I agree with whoever it was that said Tortola is an "explorers island." The only way to go, in my opinion, is if you are open to taking day trips to other islands -- Virgin Gorda, caves at Norman Island, Peter Island, Jost Van Dyke, etc. I don't think we would have enjoyed simply hanging on Tortola all week. The most fun thing we did was to splurge a bit and rent a cigarette boat and captain for the day.

AMBER

Pam, <BR>Try either Lambert Villas or Fort Recovery on Tortola. These are very nice places. They are not 5 star like you would see on St. Thomas but the atmosphere is so much better than St. Thomas. It's a quiet island with stunning scenery, deserted beaches, very few tourists,little crime & poverty. It is extremely clean as well. <BR>I have been several times & will go back again this summer. It is also in a great spot for island hopping for day trips. You can take a day trip to St. Thomas for the duty free shopping & then take a day trip to Virgin Gorda to visit the Baths. Bring your snorkle gear!!Go to www.bviwelcome.com

Julie

Has anyone checked into Peter Island Resort? This is off the coast, a private all-inclusive off the coast. 50 rooms only. I'm going on Friday.. I'll post when I return on the 27th.

jbrooks

John, <BR>One really nice villa on Tortola is Arundel. It sits up on the hill overlooking Cane Garden Bay and is suppose to be a very romantic and secluded spot, although you are close to the "Action" of CGB. I think it has its own swimming pool...that would be heavenly? E-mail me for more info. I will be going in November and happy to check out the CGB villa situation for you.