British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands Travel Guide

Caribbean

Why Go to British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands, or BVI for short, are some of the most exclusive and least developed islands of the Caribbean, but this only adds to their appeal. The resorts, villas, restaurants and other tourist attractions in this paradise are known to emphasize spare luxury over sprawling expansion, and they attract travelers with deep pockets and a love for sailing and seclusion. Many travelers who visit come by ferry boat from another Caribbean isle, especially as some find opulent exile too hard to enjoy for longer than a day or two. And some say it's better to split your time between here, the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands and Anguilla to the east.(http://travel.usnews.com/British_Virgin_Islands/Pictures/)

How to Save Money in British Virgin Islands

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• Make it a daytrip Staying among the U.S. Virgin Islands is probably cheaper; staying on Puerto Rico most definitely is. The cost to take a small plane or ferry round-trip from one of those islands is significantly less than planning an entire itinerary in the British isles. 
• Avoid the duty-free Like much of the Caribbean, these islands boast duty-free deals on electronics, jewelry, liquor and perfume. But the selection is not as vast as shopping capitals like St. Thomas, USVI and St. Martin-St. Maarten. 
• Carpool Keep in mind that taxis will charge you per destination, not per person. Find some travel buddies at your hotel who are willing to take a few island tours and excursions with you and then split the cab bill.

• What to Eat

  Since the British Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean, it should come as no surprise that seafood is a big part of the cuisine scene. Expect to find Caribbean spiny lobster, conch and fresh fish like mahi mahi, grouper and yellowfin tuna on menus at various eateries throughout the islands. Traditional BVI fare includes okra, callaloo (a soup made with leafy vegetables, meats and spices) and roti (meat and veggies spiced with curry and wrapped in a thin flatbread). Heavily spiced dishes are standard throughout the BVI, with chefs using everything from sea salt and pepper to strong curry, nutmeg, garlic powder and jerk seasoning. You should also try a painkiller when you're looking to wet your whistle. This alcoholic drink originated in the British Virgin Islands and typically consists of pineapple juice, orange juice, cream of coconut and a hefty dose of rum, garnished with fresh nutmeg.
• On Tortola, you'll find some traditional Caribbean fare and tasty seafood at the Sugar Mill Restaurant and terrific sunsets and Caribbean fusion cuisine at the BananaKeet Café. For more upscale fare, visit the Dove Restaurant & Wine Bar in the BVI capital of Road Town. On Virgin Gorda, experts and visitors suggest meals at the beachfront, seafood-centric CocoMaya Restaurant or the decadent (but pricey) Pavilion at Little Dix Bay. Keep in mind, most of the restaurants run on "island time" so don't expect your food to be ready immediately – you're on vacation, so grab a drink, relax and enjoy your surroundings.

• Safety

  Crime is rare and hardly a concern for most BVI travelers. Your biggest safety hazard will be avoiding livestock as you try to navigate the many narrow dirt roads of the British Virgin Islands. But your best bet for avoiding the islands' goats, chickens and sheep is not renting a car at all: Between the animals, the left-side driving and the unpaved dirt paths masquerading as roads, it's not worth it.

• Getting Around British Virgin Islands

  The best way to get around the British Virgin Islands is on a boat. You might even need one to arrive at your destination first – there are no direct flights from the United States to this island chain and many people fly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and then ferry over. You could also take a regional carrier to the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island. Beef Island's airport is connected to Tortola by bridge, so you can taxi or rent a car in the terminal. Keep in mind there are also regional connections from Puerto Rico's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU). Once you're settled, you might end up on the water again – to ferry or to sail between the numerous islands that make up this archipelago. You should rent a car or take a taxi to move about larger islands like Virgin Gorda or Tortola.
• ( http://travel.usnews.com/British_Virgin_Islands/Pictures/ )