Lighten up..advice to heed for new visitors to the Caribbean. My wife and I have made many stops at Jost Van Dyke since 1989. It has always been a sailor's welcome stopover in the BVI. We remember almost no electricity, no roads, and , obviously, no autos on the island. (Foxy's has been there forever). Any trip to Great Harbor called for lobster at Rudy's, and also a trip over the hill to Sydney's Peace and Love Bar in Little Harbor. We spent a recent vacation in a villa at White Bay and had a ball at Ivans on a Thursday night. While very different holiday than sailing in to the harbor, and taking into account all the recent changes and modernization of the island, still a very welcome respite in anyone's busy life. A short ferry ride from Tortola brings you back to what the Caribbean used to be (almost), and it is still great! We will be back. Thanks to Sue and Mike for use of their snorkeling gear, and their watchdogs!

There are several different villas to stay in at Sandy Ground. The bay is tiny and very quiet and you will need a boat if you stay here as there are no roads to the estate. They are all reasonably well kept and all very secluded and private, with brilliant views of the sea, and Tortola, with brilliant views of the sunrise and Sandy Cay - a tiny 'desert' island you can moor up at and swim in to and explore the perfect beach. Diamond Cay is just round the headland and does utterly gorgeous burgers. (The main Foxy's is just too touristy). There is also a little trail from Foxy's Diamond Cay to the bubbling pool which is great fun - only about 5 mins walk.
If you go to White Bay, please make sure your anchor is well sited. There can sometimes be a big swell and your boat may drift a bit - we had a RIB. The Soggy Dollar is great fun, and you really do have to swim into the beach - utterly utterly special during the day, slightly less alluring at night! We had dinner there for my birthday last year and I though I was sorted. The boat was well into shore, almost grounded on the annoying ridge about 20 feet from the beach. I rolled up my posh birhday trousers (15year old cut off denims - this is JVD we're talking about!) and threw myself overboard, pleased to land in only about 3 feet of water. Well, guess who forgot about the mini-tsunami effect? Waves get magnified enormously when they come in to shore if there is a sharp shelf.... They were very kind at the Sandcastle and opened up the shop so I could get a set of dry clothes, and I do't think they minded too much about the soggy chair cushion.... I sulked and then the lights went out. Suddenly the whole restaurant lit up to candles, a birthday cake and the sounds of Happy Birthday!! I don't know who told them, but they were sterling. I can't recommend this island highly enough in terms of utter friendliness. I hope it doesn't get 'discovered' by the screaming masses for a million years!

I believe the reason you won't hear alot about JVD, is because those of us who've been there want to keep this island all to ourselves. But I couldn't contain myself and am going to share my observations. First, JVD is not for everyone. If you're looking for a regimented on the go all the time vacation, or if you want luxury and pampering, there are plenty of other vacation spots. On the other hand, if you like the quiet beauty of nature (not always quiet...we woke up to the goats bleeting outside our window every morning...so cool), and meeting wonderful, down to earth people, both from the island and from all over the world, than this is the place for you. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty to do on the island, you just get to do it at your own pace. This being our first time on JVD it was a learning experience. This is what we learned...We will never fly TransAir again - late flights, missed connections etc. We will fly directly from Atlanta to St Thomas, missing Puerto Rico altogether. Our stay at White Bay Villas was perfect, the views spectacular, but you definitely need to rent a jeep for the week ($450) if you're not in great shape. Next year we'll be staying at the Pink House right on the beach and within walking distance of Ivans' and Soggy Dollar Bar. Being on the beach snorkeling will be much more accessible. We'll really stock up on supplies at Red Hook (make a list), saving on food bills and cocktails...I got the recipe for painkillers...that'll save us a fortune! Lastly, we'll arrive one day early and spend our first night in a cabin at Ivans'. We lost a day in paradise this year, arriving at the villa at 10PM. This was our vacation of a lifetime and it will be again and again and again...

I have to say that White Bay has to be the most exotic beach I have been to. It is so relaxed. There is something for everyone. The clear blue sea and white sand hence the name 'White Bay' make it a perfect paradise. A definate vacation for a romantic honeymoon. 11 out of 10. FANTASTIC!!!