Search Results for Category: BVI

Discover a Caribbean treasure many know, but want to keep for themselves. . .

Blue skies, gentle trade winds, pristine beaches, dozens of little secrets, miles of diving, and some of the best sailing in the world makes Tortola and British Virgin Islands a popular destination for those seeking an alternative choice to bigger cities and attractions in the Caribbean.

Here you’ll find no high-rises, crowded beaches, or a hectic and fast-paced atmosphere. You will find top notch restaurants, quaint downtowns and villages, art galleries, yacht clubs, and other travelers who found the BVI years ago, who want to keep the secret to themselves.

Tortola is a destination where you can be as active as you wish, or as quiet and relaxed as you desire. Outdoor enthusiasts have a treasure chest of choices: world-class sailing, power boating, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, and bird watching to name a few. Looking for something a little quieter? Scattered in an aquamarine sea, the British Virgin Islands flank the broad Sir Francis Drake Channel, which has beguiled sailors for centuries — only accessible by water, miles of beach coastline, coves, calm, clean and un-crowded beaches await you. Visitors can explore the islands on foot and observe the extraordinary variety of exotic plants and birds.

And, did we mention the sunny skies and the mild temperatures? Daytime temperatures are averaging in the 70’s; lows are running from the mid to upper 60’s, what can get better than this?

Situated between the deep waters of the Atlantic and the glittering Caribbean Sea, just east of Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands are accessible by flights routed through San Juan, Puerto Rico – connecting service to the BVI offered by American Eagle, Cape Air, and Liat. Visitors flying into St. Thomas in the USVI have the option of either arranging a charter flight to the BVI or by taking the ferry between St. Thomas and Tortola. Ferry service can be accessed by taking a taxi from the St. Thomas airport to the ferry dock.

Tortola and the British Virgin Islands offer a wide array of lodging options and adventures for couples, families or groups. Accommodations range from quaint bed-and-breakfast inns, beachside cottages, deluxe boutique hotels, garden villas and apartments.

To plan your British Virgin Island getaway or to learn more about the BVI, visit Caribbean Travel & Leisure’s online guide at www.caribbeantl.com

There are many places to see when you decide to go on a Caribbean cruise vacation. After all, the area itself comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays. You just have to rent a boat or tell the skipper that this is where you want to go. By choosing to rent a bare boat or a chartering a crewed vessel, you will be able to practice your sailing skills.

The sailing capital of the Caribbean is the British Virgin Islands. With consistent trade winds blowing from the northeast at 10 to 25 knots, clear water and about 60 islands and cays to explore in an area that’s 32 miles long and 15 miles wide.

If you want to start your vacation here, go to Tortola that happens to be the largest island where many vendors are available to rent bareboat craft or crewed yachts, depending on your skills and interests.

But to get here, it is best to book with a private plane charter to avoid several connections in order to get there. One event you shouldn’t miss when you are here is the BVI Spring Regatta where 100 yachts compete as part of the events in the three-day festival.

There is also St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. Here, the wind comes from the northeast and blows at 10 to 25 knots. Most of the islands here are undeveloped so you can drop anchor and do some sunbathing while the rest can go and have a picnic. You can also do some shopping in town where spice market is known for its pervasive fragrances.

Another group of islands that is worth seeing is the Bahamas just 100 miles of the coast of Florida. Here, you are surrounded by turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. Abaco is the major centre here for yacht charters and from here, you can check out Andros Island, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Long Island, Mayaguana San Salvador Island or Nassau that are make up just a few of the 700 islands.

Don’t forget the islands of the French West Indies which includes Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barts. The winds here are between 10 to 20 knots and the best time to sail in these parts is between December and April which also happens to be the dry season.

Fort-de-France in Martinique is one of the Caribbean’s loveliest bays, and of the island’s several marinas, Le Marin’s Port de Plaisance is the island’s biggest and best-equipped.

If you think about it, any of these places is a good starting point to start your Caribbean sailing vacation given that millions of tourists visit this place every year.

This makes this island paradise is ideal for everyone as there are packages available for couples, honeymooners and adult only so you just have to mention which one you want to avail of. These are often posted in magazines and a lot of them are available online which means it won’t be long before you find a package that suits your budget.

But apart from the different places you can go, don’t forget to indulge yourself in some of the activities that you can do. These include snorkeling, board water sports, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking and scuba diving.

You will just have to borrow the equipment if you don’t happen to have any of these as part of your luggage.

If you don’t like large crowds, never plan your Caribbean cruise vacation during the peak months. This will also save you money as the rates will also go down.

So get planning and have a great time in the Caribbean!

Regional airline Winair recently announced its latest expansion by introducing flights to Dominica, St. Lucia and Tortola from St. Maarten.

The service will begin on Monday, June 28, 2010, with the airline’s newly acquired aircraft, the Jetstream 32, which is faster, pressurized and air-conditioned.

Winair will be the only carrier offering non-stop service to St. Lucia from St. Maarten, and daily direct flights between Dominica and St. Lucia.

In addition, Winair code shares with several leading airlines, including Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air Caraibes, Continental, US Airways, Delta, Insel Air and KLM.

Visit our guide to St. Luica and the British Virgin Islands!

Visit Winair on Facebook.