Caribbean Magazine - Caribbean Hotels : Caribbean Resorts : Caribbean Travel

British Virgin Islands Travel Facts & Tips

Caribbean Hotels, Resots, Vacations
Caribbean Hotels, Resorts, Vacations
Caribbean Hotels, Resots, Vacations
Caribbean Hotels, Resots, Vacations CaribbeanMag.com >> British Virgin Islands Island Travel Facts & Tips
Profile | Login | Register | Log Out       Caribbean Magazine: Caribbean Hotels, Caribbean Resorts, Caribbean Vacations Resources » Newsletter/Deals | Travel Directory | Forums | Hotels & Resorts | Hotel Reviews | Tips | Home    

Cayman Islands Scuba Diving Tucan in the Mayan Riviera Cancun Beach Moray Eel


 
Welcome Guest, Not Logged In     
Create Member Account | Log In | Member Tips | What's This?      

 
Caribbean Hotels, Resots, Vacations  
Caribbean Home » British Virgin Islands » Facts
Caribbean Hotels and Resorts  
Directory Search

Search for Caribbean travel and lodging information.

British Virgin Islands Island Facts & Tips


Island Finder
Tip/Reviews Finder
Caribbean All Inclusive  

CaribbeanMag.com
Home


 
British Virgin Islands Home


British Virgin Islands Links
  • Island Home
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Hotel Reviews
  • Maps
  • Weather
    Forums |
  • Island Facts
  • Attractions
  • Restaurants
  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Island Directory
  • Island Articles
  • Travel Tips
  • Hotel Reservations
  • Car Rentals
  • User Photo Galleries
  • Dive Resorts
  • Travel Deals


  • British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

    Address: P.O. Box 134, Roadtown, Tortola
    Ph: (284) 494-3134
    Fax: (284) 494-3866
    Email: Send Email
    Web site: Official Site


    BVI Chamber Of Commerce & Hotel

    Ph: (284) 494-3514
    Email: Send Email
    Web site: Official Site



    Looking for a Luxury Caribbean All Inclusive Resort? Check out Sandals.com to find some of the best Luxury all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean!


    Member Services
    CaribbeanMag.com Member Community Member Community
    Travel tips & reviews from users.
    CaribbeanMag.com Login Login
    Login to CaribbeanMag
    CaribbeanMag.com Register Register
    Create your account
    CaribbeanMag.com Profile Travel Profile
    Create your travel profile
    CaribbeanMag.com Profile Caribbean Newsletter
    Stay in touch and recieve special travel offers.
    Favorite Caribbean Hotels your favorite hotels
    View your saved hotel profiles.

    Site Offerings
    Caribbean Message Boards, Travel Reviews and Trip Reports Caribbean Message BoardsNew Feature
    Post questions, travel reviews and trip reports.
    Caribbean Travel Deals & Specials Travel Deals
    Caribbean travel deals & special offers directly from hotels.
    Find your Caribbean hotel, resort or villa Caribbean Hotels & ResortsNew Feature
    Find your Caribbean hotel, resort or villa.
    Featured All Inclusive Resorts Featured All Inclusive ResortsNew Feature
    Find your Caribbean All Inclusive Resort.
    Caribbean Travel Articles Travel ArticlesNew Feature
    Read articles and overviews about travel to the Caribbean.
    Caribbean Trip and Hotel Reviews Trip & Hotel ReviewsNew Feature
    Read or post Caribbean trip reviews and hotel reviews.
    Caribbean Restaurant Reviews Restaurant ReviewsNew Feature
    Read or post Caribbean restaurant reviews.
    Caribbean Photo Galleries Caribbean Photo GalleriesNew Feature
    User submitted travel and vacation photo galleries.
    Caribbean Restaurants Caribbean Restaurants
    Find Caribbean Resaurants & Dining Reviews
    Caribbean Villas Caribbean Villas
    Search for Caribbean Villas and Rentals.
    Caribbean Cruise Lines Caribbean Cruise Lines
    Search for Caribbean Cruises.
    Caribbean Maps Caribbean Maps
    Search for Caribbean Maps.
    Caribbean Photo Galleries Weather
    Island weather details.
    Caribbean Photo Galleries Currency
    Convert currency.
    Caribbean Photo Galleries Refer This Page
    Refer this page to a friend.
    Caribbean Magazine Home Page Caribbean
    Caribbean Search Caribbean Search Directory - Caribbean search directory.
    iPIX Photo Tours Virtual Hotel Tours -
    360º photo tours of hotels and resorts.

    Caribbean Magazine
    Home

    Link to CaribbeanMag.com


    Top British Virgin Islands Searches

    British Virgin Islands HotelsBritish Virgin Islands Hotels
    British Virgin Islands ResortsBritish Virgin Islands Resorts
    British Virgin Islands VillasBritish Virgin Islands Villas
    British Virgin Islands CondosBritish Virgin Islands Condos
    British Virgin Islands VacationsBritish Virgin Islands Vacations
    British Virgin Islands Scuba DivingBritish Virgin Islands Scuba Diving
    British Virgin Islands All InclusiveBritish Virgin Islands All Inclusive
    British Virgin Islands Vacation RentalsBritish Virgin Islands Vacation Rentals
    British Virgin Islands SnorkelingBritish Virgin Islands Snorkeling
    British Virgin Islands AccommodationsBritish Virgin Islands Accommodations


    Caribbean Hotel and Travel Deals
    We recommend CheapCaribbean.com




    Caribbean E-newsletter
    Receive updates of new hotels, travel specials and last minute deals.

     

    British Virgin Islands Facts

    • Local Transportation: top
      Taxis are best for infrequent trips. Rental cars are available but pricy in high-season. To rent a car you need a US$10 BVI license. Ferries to other islands, including the U.S.V.I.'s are frequent and plentiful, around $15 - $22 per person, one way.
    • Airport: top
      Beef Island Airport; No airport in the BVI's is large enough for big jets so International flights must come through St.Thomas, San Juan, or St. Martin.
    • The Seasons: top
      Winter Season – December through March
      While North America and most of Europe are locked in the icy grip of winter, the BVI enjoys airy trade winds and plentiful sunshine. During the winter, temperatures in the BVI will range between 72°F (22°C) and 82°F (28°C). Located at a latitude of 18 degrees north and a longitude of 65 degrees west, our islands are subject to easterly trade winds named for the direction from which they begin. These winds are called “trades” because originally they brought clipper ships filled with goods from Europe and Africa to the BVI and other areas of the Caribbean and North America.

      In the winter our stable weather pattern is broken when depressions move across the southern United States and exit on the Eastern Florida coast into the Northern Atlantic. These depressions do not normally enter the Caribbean directly, but have a trailing cold front that reaches as far east as the BVI and occasionally, well beyond. When strong high-pressure centres are located in the North Atlantic, they cause what sailors call the “Christmas Winds” and windy gusts can reach over 20 knots. Later, winter and spring winds will then ease back into trade winds with an ESE or SE direction and blow between 15 and 20 knots with seasonal gusts.


      Spring Season – April through June
      From the middle of April through the remainder of the year, the winter trade winds begin to moderate and we experience a slow increase in daytime temperatures. Daytime highs range from 90°F (32°C), with night time temperatures varying only ten degrees lower at approximately 80F (27°C) with a 20% chance of brief showers. At this time, the these islands take on a fresh green lushness that announces the arrival of a new season. Spring represents an excellent time for snorkelling and diving as the wave action is greatly reduced from the “Christmas Winds” occurring in winter.


      Summer Season – July through September
      During the summer, daytime temperatures usually range between 80°F (27°C) and 95°F (32°C). The nights are typically cooler with temperature ranging usually in the low 80s F (27°C). July to December is the wet season when the territory gets most of its average monthly rainfall of 4” (110 mm). Summer winds move in an ESE direction at approximately 10 -12 knots. It is from these gentle breezes during the non-winter seasons, that the Sir Francis Drake Channel gets its nickname of “The Bathtub” – meaning gentle winds for sailors.


      Autumn Season – September through November
      September is among the warmest of months when the day temperatures can average in the 90s F (32-38°C) dropping to 75 - 80°F (25-27°C) at night. As the warmest time of year, daytime highs can reach 95°F (35°C) and over but nights normally remain comfortable. Winds during this season will average 10 - 20 knots, from an easterly direction, providing excellent sailing conditions and cool night ventilation. Short localized rain showers may pass over but they rarely last for more than 30 minutes.
    • Temporary Fishing Permit: top
      This permit is available for those visitors who intend to fish while in the B.V.I., whether on charter boats or otherwise. They are valid for 10 days after the date of issue, and cost $10.

      A Temporary Fishing Permit can be obtained from the Department of Conservation and Fisheries, or H.M. Customs office.

      Commercial, Pleasure and Sport Licences can be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources and Labour.

      The Department of Natural Resources and Labour,
      First Floor, East Wing,
      Central Administration Complex,
      Road Town, Tortola,
      British Virgin Islands.
      Tele: (284) 468-3701, ext.2147
      Fax: (284) 494-4283
      E-mail: psnrl@bvigovernment.org

      Department of Conservation and Fisheries,
      The Quastisky Building,
      P.O. Box 3323,
      Road Town, Tortola. Tele: (284) 494-5681/3429 or (284) 468-3701, ext.5555/1
      Fax: (284) 494-2670
      E-mail: cfd@bvigovernment.org
    • Pleasure Fishing Licence: top
      This licence is suitable for day sailers and recreational charter boats, where guests wish to use hand lines. Licence is valid for one year, and costs $25.
    • Coastal Zone: top
      The coastal zone consists of many different sub-systems e.g beaches, mangroves, cliffs, coral reefs, sea grass beds, these are all interconnected such that impacts on one sub-system affects the entire system. Total length of beaches in the BVI is 49 miles.
    • Resident status: top
      Purchase of a property in the B.V.I. does not, in itself, establish resident status; however, an identification card is available to a person who holds a Non-Belonger's Land Holding Licence, which will allow the holder to be granted leave to stay in the B.V.I. for a period of up to six months in any year . A certificate of residence, entitling the holder to remain in the Territory for an indefinite period, may be granted to a person who intends to reside permanently in the B.V.I. Information regarding residency can be obtained from the Immigration Department.
    • Events: top
      The BVI Summer Fest is a two week riot of noise and color: calypso, fungi and steel bands shake it up, pageants crown festival queens and people flood the streets. The festival is the British Virgin Islands' own version of Carnival and celebrates the emancipation of the islands' African slaves. Most activity takes place in Road Town on Tortola.

      Public Holidays
      1 January - New Year's Day
      Early March - Commonwealth Day
      Late March or April - Easter
      30 April - Queen's Birthday
      Late May or early June - Whit Monday
      June - Sovereign's Birthday
      Early July - Territory Day
      October 21 - St Ursula's Day
      November 14 - Birthday of Heir to the Throne
      25 December - Christmas Day
      26 December - Boxing Day
    • Tides: top
      The BVI has two high tides and two low tides each day with a tidal range of 1 ft. (30cm) to 18” (45cm). The height of the tide partly depends on the atmospheric pressure. The higher the pressure - the lower the water level and conversely, the lower the pressure the higher the water level. It must be remembered that the British Virgin Islands are the dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean, on the northern side, and the Caribbean Sea on the southern. This gives our islands an exciting and stable weather pattern that is most favourable for vacationing as well as for agriculture and fishing.
    • Location: top
      Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico.
    • Currency: top
      The currency of the British Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar. Travellers cheques and credit cards are accepted in most places of business. There are cash point machines located throughout the islands.

      The British Virgin Islands are not a cheap getaway destination: food is pricey because most of it is imported, and accommodation is simply in short supply. The majority of visitors to the islands sleep on chartered yachts, and if that's the holiday you're looking for, expect to spend at least US$250 a day. Travelers willing to stay on land, yet enjoy fine dining and some nightlife, need about US$175 a day. Budget travelers can squeeze by on less than US$100 a day if they stay at cheaper guesthouses or camping grounds. Coming in the low season will reduce room prices and charter rental fees, sometimes by as much as half.
    • Currents: top
      The Trade Winds in this part of the world push North Atlantic water westward, forming the North Equatorial Current. From the equator (0°) to 30°N, the winds are influenced by the spin of the earth and are bent from the north to the south. This is called the Coriolis Effect. These winds affect the currents, which run through the BVI and other West Indies islands and then turn northwards. Warm waters from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico join this water and these currents to form the Gulf Stream, which moves along the western side of the Atlantic. These two conditions, the Easterly Trades and the Coriolis effect, produce the excellent wind conditions that make the BVI the sailing capital of the Western Hemisphere.
    • Religions: top
      Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
    • ATM Machines: top
      Road Town
      Banco Popular
      Barclays Bank
      Barclays Bank at the Moorings
      Chase Manhattan Bank

      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      West End
      Barclays ATM at Pusser's Landing

      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      East End
      H.L.Stoutt Community College, Paraquita Bay
      Barclays Bank, Triple A Complex
    • No. of islands: top
      About 60 islands & Cays (16 are inhabited); The four major are Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.
    • Telephone: top
      Local area code is 284 and all numbers have a 49 prefix.
    • Rainfall: top
      48.38 mm in (1999); the wettest months are from September to December; February to April are the driest.
    • Telephone: top
      From North America, dial 1 + 284 + the seven-digit local number. From elsewhere, dial your country's direct dialing prefix + 1 + 284 + the seven-digit local number.
    • When to Go: top
      The peak tourist season is December to May, but this has more to do with the weather in North America and Europe than it does with the reliably balmy Virgin Islands weather. It's therefore best to visit outside this period, when you can expect room rates to be about two-thirds of those charged during the busier months. An additional draw is that the calmer weather between April and August tends to keep the waters clearer for diving.
    • Government: top
      The Government of the British Virgin Islands is legally a constitutional democracy with the Executive Authority vested in Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, because of our colonial relationship with the United Kingdom. This democracy operates through parliamentary and ministerial systems. The Parliament or Legislative Council has thirteen representatives elected for a maximum of four years via a mixed system of nine districts and four country-wide.
      The government has three branches: the Executive Council, the Judiciary and the Legislative Council. The Governor, as the representative of Her Majesty, the Queen, has special responsibility for the Courts, the Public Service, the Police, and Foreign Affairs. The Civil Service is divided into six ministries and a quasi-ministry, consisting of the subject portfolios under the Governor. There are approximately forty-four departments spread across the full range of government services except electricity, banking, and port and marine services, which are now public enterprises, wholly owned by the Government of the British Virgin Islands.
      http://www.bvi.gov.vg
    • Dress Code: top
      Casual. No swimsuits in town and no topless or nude sunbathing.
    • Climate: top
      Subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds.
      January – June: 69.52 degrees F
      July - December: 85.39 degrees F

      Lying just over 1000 miles from the equator, the British Virgin Islands enjoy a balmy, sub-tropical climate, plied by variable trade winds. Temperatures rarely drop below 77ºF (25ºC) in the winter or rise above 90ºF (32ºC) in the summer, with the average temperature normalizing at around 83ºF (28ºC), with slight variations between seasons.

      Tropical weather found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is different from other patterns on the globe; therefore, our seasons do not have the sharp changes in climatic conditions as weather found in other areas. Seasons in the BVI fall into a harmonious balance with nature that has always led, in the past, to an agrarian lifestyle.

      There is a deviation of only two hours of daylight between the June, or summer half of the year, and December, the winter half. Sunrise from the autumn equinox through the spring equinox normally occurs at approximately 6:00 am, with sunset at approximately 5:50 pm.

      During the spring to autumn equinox, the daylight hours lengthen a bit bringing summer sunrises at approximately 5:00 am, with sunsets at around 7:00 pm. Rainfall in the BVI averages at 40 inches per year with 60% - 70% falling during the months of April through October.
    • Economy - overview: top
      The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
    • Marriage Licence: top
      Application must be made to the Attorney General's Chambers for a marriage licence. Processing the application and granting the licence takes three working days, and the licence is valid for three months. Documents required include:

      - passports;
      - if there has been a previous divorce, a certified copy of the divorce decree; and
      - $110 in postage stamps, purchased at the Post Office, which is the licensing fee.

      The Registrar General performs a civil marriage at the Registry office for a fee of $35, or at the locale of choice (within reason) for $100. For religious ceremonies contact the church of preference. There may well be additional requirements and fees in that case. A certified copy of the entry of marriage can be obtained from the Registry, on payment of a fee of $2.

      Attorney General's Chambers,
      Second floor, East Wing, Central Administration Complex,
      Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
      Tel: (284) 468-0242 or (284) 468-3701, ext. 2160
      Fax: (284) 494-6760
      E-mail: agc@mail.bvigovernment.org
      http://www.bvigovernment.org
    • People: top
      The 1980 Population census of the BVI recorded the population of the country as 10,985, of which 51.1% were males. Data from the 1991 population census shows that the population grew by 5,123 to 16,108. Such growth represented a natural increase (birth minus deaths) of 1,969 and a net migration inflow of 3,154 persons.

      The large inflow of immigrants, consisting of mainly workers, accompanied in some cases by their dependents during the 1980-1991 period, was a consequence of an increase in the demand for labour which the local labour force could not supply, due to inadequate numbers and the lack of the range of skills demanded.

      This accelerated increase in the demand of labour primarily stemmed from a sharp increase in economic activity in the tourism, construction, and financial services sectors from 1986.

      During the last decade, the population increased some 61% with more than 80% of this increase being classified as migration. In fact, population changes attributable to migration moved from net outward migration in 1980 to three times that figure in new migration inflows in 1991. The age and sex structure of the population is distinctly different from that of many countries in the Caribbean sub-region in that a rapid depletion of persons after the age of 20 because of the absence of migration. The unusual age structure is explained by the rapid economic transformation of the country from agricultural production to a service economy mainly oriented around tourism and financial services.
    • Terrain: top
      Volcanic islands: steep & hilly Coral islands: relatively flat.
    • Temporary Driver's Licence: top
      Visitors who wish to drive in the B.V.I. must obtain a temporary driver's licence, either from the Vehicle Licensing Department or from a car hire firm, with production of a valid driver's licence from another country and payment of $10. This licence is valid for three months. If a person cannot produce a valid driver's licence he/she must apply to take the driving tests, practical and written, which may take some weeks to be scheduled. (Car hire firms will not rent out their vehicles to any one under the age of 23.)
    • Time: top
      Standard Time Zone: UTC/GMT – 4 hrs.
    • Visas: top
      Citizens of the US and Canada do not require a visa or passport, but should carry a birth certificate or naturalization certificate with a picture ID to prove citizenship. British citizens need a passport but not a visa. Citizens of all other countries need a passport, and, in some cases, a visa. Visitors are permitted to stay up to six months but must have an onward ticket.

    Related British Virgin Islands Accommodations
    Featured Hotels | All Hotels | Hotels (18) | Resorts (5) | Condos (4) | Villas (22) | Vacation Rentals (22)
    Olde Yard Village: Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
    living room :: Olde Yard Village Beautiful newly built spacious 1,2 and 3 bedroom condominiums with resort amenities, such as large pool, tennis courts, fitness center, cable TV and wi-fi. Ten minute drive from the most secluded and ...
    Lavenda Breeze: Anegada
    LAVENDA BREEZE from the beach :: Lavenda Breeze A true beach-lover's getaway vacation dream! Centered like a gem on Anegada's spectacular Loblolly Bay, Lavenda Breeze is surrounded by tranquil views of nature, cooling ocean breezes, & magnificent ...
     


    Google
      Web www.caribbeanmag.com


    Caribbean Hotels and Resorts
    Add Bookmark
    CaribbeanMag.com

    Site Features


    British Virgin Islands Message Board Posts
    10 Most Recent

  • Wedding Anniversary in Tortola/Virgin Gorda?
  • aslantichouse.com?
  • Cheap Hotels in London UK
  • Share a Water taxi to Jost Van Dyke from St Thomas
  • Christmas in BVI
  • Peter Island Resort (The Good and the BAD)
  • CREDIT CARD PHONE CALL FROM TORTOLA/USA=$15.00USD FOR 1 MIN
  • Wedding Photographers Virgin Islands
  • sport fishing in Tortoal
  • BVI Weather in Middle to Late December
  • british-virgin-islands

    View All Messages


    British Virgin Islands Hotel Reviews
    10 most recent

  • Fabulous, can only keep returning year after year!
  • Just a Fantastic Time.
  • Abolutely stunning and breathtaking!
  • Blissful Holiday Experience.
  • Superb Beachfront Vacation
  • Wonderful Mango Bay
  • wedding guests
  • Hunter Homes is Home Away from Home
  • Family holiday
  • Unparalleled vacation!


  • View All Reviews


    British Virgin Islands Photos

    View British Virgin Islands Photo Gallery

    Recent Photos:





    All Caribbean Galleries

    Add/Submit your own photos


    Caribbean Travel Tips

    Water Safety
    Make certain that sports equipment, including scuba equipment, that you rent or buy meets international safety standards. If you use a beach without a lifeguard, exercise extreme caution. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for Americans in the Caribbean. Do not dive into unknown bodies of water because hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. In some places, you may need to wear sneakers in the water for protection against sea urchins.

    Bag it
    Bag it. Plastic bags -- for everything from toiletries to shoes to aerosol cans -- have prevented many a suitcase fiasco.

    View All Tips



    British Virgin Islands Links
  • Island Home
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Hotel Reviews
  • Maps
  • Weather
    Forums |
  • Island Facts
  • Attractions
  • Restaurants
  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Island Directory
  • Island Articles
  • Travel Tips
  • Hotel Reservations
  • Car Rentals
  • User Photo Galleries
  • Dive Resorts
  • Travel Deals
  •  

    Sandals Resorts    Beaches Resorts -- Jamaica & Turks and Caicos    Caribbean Hotel and Travel Deals

    Caribbean Travel Home Caribbean Travel   Refer This Page to a Friend Refer This Page to a Friend   Add to your Favorites Add to your Favorites   Caribbean Islands Caribbean Newsletter  
      Caribbean Message Boards Caribbean Message Boards   Caribbean Vacations & Cruises Caribbean Travel Articles   Caribbean Restaurnat Reviews Caribbean Restaurant Reviews   Caribbean Hotels Caribbean Accommodations  
    Caribbean Hotels Caribbean Hotels & Resorts   Caribbean Villas Caribbean Villas & Vacation Rentals   Caribbean Hotel Reviews Trip & Hotel Reviews   Caribbean Hotel Restaurants Restaurants  
    Caribbean Photo Galleries Caribbean Photo Galleries Caribbean Photo Galleries Caribbean Cruise Lines Create your own vacation ticker Vacation Countdown Ticker Caribbean Fourms & Message Search Caribbean Fourm & Message Search



    Carribbean Diving

    Copyright ©1998-2007 e-TravelMedia.com & CaribbeanMag.com | Terms and Conditions | About Us

    carribbean vacations

    Disclaimer: Although we've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel. This includes information on visa requirements, health and safety, customs, accommodations and transportation.