Sandcastle, JVD, BVI

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » February 20, 2006 2:53 pm

Has anybody stayed at Sandcastle on Jost Van Dyke? I'm reading good things, but would like to get a direct opinion.

I've declared that I want to spend my 40th birthday at Foxy's, so now I'm starting to do the research. We have a couple of years, but I don't think I can start too soon.

TIA.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » February 20, 2006 4:21 pm

Oh man.........you're gonna LOVE it there !! I was on Tortola back in October, and lemme tell ya.......the BVI's ARE paradise. Never stayed at Sandcastle, but I've heard nothing but good things. Keep in mind that you are not going to a "touristy" island group. No fancy 5 star resorts...no all inclusive...no Mickey D's...no buildings higher than 2 stories. Just pure Caribbean charm at it's best, and the most beautiful beaches you've ever seen. If you're staying on Jost, make sure you get to Tortola and Virgin Gorda also. On Tortola you have got to go to Quito's. He plays several nights a week ( Buffett has played with him there before)- visit the Callwood Distillery (not really a lot to see, but pretty cool) - an absolute MUST, if you're there on a full moon night is the party at Bomba Shack. I can't even begin to describe the place, but trust me....you've never seen anything like it before. On the West End of the island is a small place called The Jolly Roger....very cool bar/rest...and Fingers has played there. A trip to The Bath's on Virgin Gorda is a MUST DO !! The Willy T is another must do. The ladys get a free t shirt by jumping off the deck (sans tops).

Damn....I'm gettin island fever thinking about how cool the BVI's are. Here's a pic of a crowded beach..........(can't remember the exact name)

Have fun...and if ya need any more info, I'll be glad to help out.

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » February 20, 2006 5:05 pm

I traveled to the BVIs 10 years ago. We were on the M/Y Nadine and anchored for the night in Great Harbour at JVD. I fell in love with Foxy's then. That's why I want to go back.

We anchored in St. Thomas, St. John, Jost Van Dyke, Sandy Spit, Norman Island, Peter Island, Virgin Gorda and Congo Lovango on that trip. A beautiful trip. I need to post up pictures sometime.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » February 20, 2006 5:08 pm

I'd love to see those pix. Are you going to be sailing again this trip, or will it be a land based journey? Not familiar with Congo Lavango.....where exactly is that?

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » February 20, 2006 5:22 pm

Congo Lovango is a pair of islands (Congo and Lovango Cays) which are best known for being the favored playground for Bill Clinton when he would vacation down there. They're in the USVI, just off of St. John.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/national ... nd_map.jpg

At this rate we'll be land-based. I'd love to bareboat, but I don't think the other 6 pholks will be up for that.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » February 20, 2006 5:36 pm

Don't know if you're familiar with this web site or not, but the people there are very up to date with all things BVI related.
www.traveltalkonline.com

spainjane · Post by **spainjane** » February 20, 2006 6:24 pm

Wow, a friend was just here a little while ago, telling me about his trip to JVD... stayed at Sandcastle!!
Loved it, said you literally go out the front door of your cottage and you are on the beach...
I'd love to check it out someday...

He said it's pretty rustic, and there's not a lot to do...but very peaceful and relaxing. He said the food was awesome...

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » February 20, 2006 8:44 pm

spainjane wrote: Wow, a friend was just here a little while ago, telling me about his trip to JVD... stayed at Sandcastle!!
Loved it, said you literally go out the front door of your cottage and you are on the beach...
I'd love to check it out someday...

He said it's pretty rustic, and there's not a lot to do...but very peaceful and relaxing. He said the food was awesome...

that pretty much sums it up.

one word of advice you need to make reservations for dinner just about anywhere because they tend to only have enough food on hand for the reservations and not a lot of extra. we lucked out and managed to get 3 dinners for the 4 of us. ended up eating on a bar table on the beach. and in all honesty it was one of the best meals i've had in any restaurant anywhere, and i've been lucky enough to dine in some of the best... the bar is the home of the painkiller...

if you look around foxy's you'll find my business card, and it turns out my friend salmonsue left her bra there

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » February 20, 2006 8:48 pm

here's my pics from the BVI's

http://www.nnc-inc.com/BVI/BVI.html

http://www.nnc-inc.com/BVI2/BVI2.html

mrmiata · Post by **mrmiata** » February 21, 2006 11:01 am

OK. The next couple of years are going to go by *really* slowly waiting for this trip. I need to pull my old pics out and go through them again.

I'm doing the research on Sandcastle and the other two locations to stay in JVD. It's looking like it will be expensive, but I'm not concerned about that. It's all worth it when it comes to life experiences.

bixxx · Post by **bixxx** » February 21, 2006 5:33 pm

mr m we have been to JVD a number of time, the last tiem we were on a windjammer, very very fun, and spent a few days at JVD. We had thought about sandcastle so went over and checked it out it is right behid the sogy dollar, and anothe rbeach bar, gwens maybe? We had the owner show us around told her we had an interest in staying there group of six or so she showed me her reservations board, pretty much filled for th eyear she told me her regulars always book their next stay while they are there it might be tough for you to get in high seasn, her lower season, summer, looked doable. we ended up on the windjammer as we had 19 of us, got a real great deal.
RD agree with bomba's, that mushroom punch

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » February 21, 2006 8:44 pm

Hey bixxx.................does this look familiar?

bixxx · Post by **bixxx** » February 21, 2006 10:14 pm

all too familiar it is impressive how strong that shack is given the look have you met bomba? dirtiest old man you'll ever see, gotta love him, he tried to get my 79 year old mother in law to lift her shirt for him

ATLparrothead · Post by **ATLparrothead** » February 24, 2006 9:10 am

Those are some great pics! We we be there in about 90 days. Doing the Windjammer Mandalay thru the BVIs. This will be our 1st time....can't wait

lilsalty · Post by **lilsalty** » March 8, 2006 9:14 pm

OOOOOHhhhh MA gooooodnessss.....I'm heading to St. John in 38 days......and we're definitely doing the JVD day trip. Those pics were AMAZING and I'm so DAMN psyched

Lundah · Post by **Lundah** » April 7, 2006 5:59 pm

Had to dig up this thread, I'm in St. Thomas for a couple months working, the more I think about it, I'd spend the rest of my life kicking myself if I didn't take a weekend off and head to the BVI for some R&R. Already emailed the folks at Ivan's about a cabin, any other ideas for a cheap place to sleep for the night on JVD? I'm not picky, just need a bed and a shower in the morning (or whenever I wake up).

Mon · Post by **Mon** » April 7, 2006 10:35 pm

I'm in St. Thomas for a couple months working

Somehow, I'm thinking work wouldn't be so bad if I were in St. Thomas.

Lundah · Post by **Lundah** » April 8, 2006 3:33 pm

Mon wrote:
I'm in St. Thomas for a couple months working
Somehow, I'm thinking work wouldn't be so bad if I were in St. Thomas.

It's still work, and frankly, there's some culture clash that I wasn't expecting, but the project I'm running here is staying on track. And yeah, it helps to wake up every morning and be able to take a walk on the beach.