During our recent trip to Tortola, we had the chance to stop by to find out more about a charter company based in Soper’s Hole, Voyage Charters.
They had been recommended to us by some friends who had sailed with Voyage in the past, so we thought we’d stop by to find out more about their operation and what they offer for an upcoming sailing trip we’re planning.
Voyage Charters in Soper’s Hole, Tortola
Voyage Charters & Voyage Yachts were both started by Robin and Jo-Ann Downing, a couple from South Africa who first visited Tortola in 1995 and fell in love with the area. Voyage Yachts manufactures performance oriented, luxury cruising sail and power catamarans in Cape Town South Africa, sells pre-owned yachts, and offers yacht management. Voyage Charters offers all-inclusive charters, captain only charters and bareboat charters on a variety of beautiful sailing vessels.
A BVI Sailcation of a lifetime!
When we stopped by to visit, Sarah gave us a tour and told us not only about their operations, but the challenges they faced after the destruction of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Although much of Soper’s Hole is still being re-built, the Voyage Charters building, pier and boats are all in great shape.
Sarah then mentioned that everyone at VC was super excited as they had just received a new vessel the day before. The name of this new boat is Electrified and it is the first electric powered charter yacht in the BVI. Electrified is a Voyage 480 that is eco-friendly with renewable power generation and a high efficiency standby generator. Voyage sees this technology as the future for their charter industry, offering an enhanced boating experience and less impact on the BVI environment. Electrified will be one of the boats available for charter through Voyage!
Electified, Voyage Charters
Looking to book a sailing vacation in the BVI and want to find out more? Give Voyage Charters a call or send them an email to set up a vacation of a lifetime!
In 2012, we wrote an article called “Barhopping on Jost Van Dyke“. We were lucky enough to stay on “The Barefoot Island” for a week that year and wanted to share info on all of the amazing bars on the island. Apparently a lot of people love JVD or want to know more about it, as the article has been one of the most visited articles on our website! Fast forward to 2019. Ivan’s built a new bar in 2014, there was the addition of a new bar on White Bay called Hendo’s Hideout in 2016, and then there was Irma…and Maria. Lots of changes to this beautiful island in the last few years!
We visited the island 6 months after Irma, the strongest hurricane to ever strike the BVI and again in January 2019. Althought there are things that are forever changed on the island of Jost Van Dyke, it is still one of the best beach/beach bar destinations in the Caribbean.
View of Soggy Dollar from the water
Starting on the west side of White Bay, this is what we saw during our latest visit to Jost Van Dyke.
New Picnic/Bar Area for Cruise Ship Visitors
On the far west side of White Bay (next to One Love), a new picnic/bar area has been built to accommodate cruise ship traffic. Although we are told it is locally owned, the architecture is a more modern than the surrounding structures. I’m sure it’s a great place for cruise traffic, but looks a bit out of place.
Seddy’s One Love Bar & Grill
One Love Bar & Grill has rebuilt, is looking good and has retained it’s original character. We didn’t catch Seddy there this trip, but sure enjoyed a rum punch (or two!) Look for the Rum Therapy decal! They are known for their lobster quesadillas and Bushwackers, but we thought they had a pretty bomb rum punch too.
Coco Loco
Next, Coco Loco Beach Bar. Looks like a great place to relax and escape the crowds that tend to congregate farther down on the beach. A good lunch menu, a few beach loungers and highly rated for its friendliness. Try the fish tacos and Coco Loco Whackers.
Gertrude’s Beach Bar & Grill
Gertrude’s Beach Bar is looking good. Rebuilt, colorful and a bunch of beach chairs out front. It is said that Gertrude’s has the best Chicken Roti on island. We will be back to test out that theory, but definitely worth a stop by to pour your own drink, have a chat with Gertrude and to enjoy a quieter pace and the beautiful white sand of White Bay.
Soggy Dollar Bar
The Soggy Dollar Bar. Although nearly wiped out (check out the photo book on the table next to the bar), Soggy Dollar is back. As popular as ever, be sure to check out their signature Painkiller, originated and perfected at the Soggy Dollar in the 1970’s, a Nilla Killa, Raspberry Therapy, or if you’re really feeling, uh, thirsty, a Soggy Man. Apparently the Sandcastle will not be rebuilt next door. In it’s place, a new rum tasting area is being built and will probably be the place to sample and purchase the new Soggy Dollar Rum to take home!
Hendo’s Hideout
We first noticed a new bar emerging on White Bay during a day visit in November 2015. Hendo’s Hideout has now been open for a few years (and fared better than some during the hurricanes). Hendo’s is a beautiful dark wood structure with appealing bright orange beach chairs to to soak up the JVD sunshine. Hendo’s offers a delicious lunch and dinner menu. Try the Rum & Coke Pulled Pork and a Delirious Donkey or Hendo’s Helldiver to wash it down.
Path to Ivan’s
Time to walk over the rocky outcrop towards Ivan’s Stress Free Bar. Much of the path is still there – minus a step or two at the end on Ivan’s side. Be sure to wear shoes or flip flops!
Escape Villa (on the left) and Glass House
Before reaching Ivan’s, we were surprised to see two new buildings. One is Escape Villa and the other is Glass House. Apparently both are luxury, beachfront homes on the west side of Ivan’s and available to rent. Find out more on their websites: Escape Villa and Glass House.
Ivan’s Stress Free Bar
Ivan’s Stress Free Bar sustained an incredible amount of damage. When we visited 6 months after Irma, there was nothing left of the campground and only a temporary structure for a bar. So unfortunate given Ivan had just built a beautiful new 2 story bar in 2014(?) because the old bars foundation was settling and he wanted his customers to be safe. All that is left of the new bar now is the foundation. Ivan has built a smaller bar next to it, but unfortunately we were unable to find out any more about his future plans. Be sure to head down to that side of White Bay when you visit to show Ivan some support. The beach is still beautiful and the drinks are nice and cold.
On the far side of Ivan’s is Pink House Villas – 2 separate villas available to rent. Find their website here.
Time to walk over the hill to Great Harbour. When we stayed on-island, we took this strenuous walk several times. We thought perhaps it would balance the number of calories we were ingesting in rum and great food from the local restaurants. Unfortunately we still gained weight… There are, however, taxis that will pick you up and take you over the hill for about $5 per person.
Great Harbour looks so different since the hurricane(s). The yellow church is still in shambles and the beach lost most of its vegetation. Surprisingly though, the view of the beautiful beach is in my opinion, better, and some of the bars are rightly taking advantage of the “new view”.
Jost Van Dyke Scuba is open again and sells sunscreen. Yep. We left ours in our room on Tortola…
Corsair’s
The first bar heading east is Corsair’s. Owner Vinnie was busy rebuilding the bar when we visited last year, but it is now open and looking good! Corsair’s still offers Wench Juice and a Pirate Sandwich, but don’t overlook the other fantastic breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings – delicious! Vinnie and his bar may have a tough exterior, but he is a genuinely nice guy. Best to call for reservations if you are planning to have dinner here. From your boat, you can dinghy right to shore in front of Corsair’s.
Next, Ali Baba’s. In all honesty, we haven’t spent a lot of time at Ali Baba’s, but apparently there are a lot of people that enjoy the food and hospitality. On the list to visit next trip! If you’ve had a good experience at Ali Baba’s – tell us about it!
Cool Breeze Bar & Restaurant. This is the first time we’ve noticed this restaurant in a prime location on Great Harbour although the reviews date back to 2013. Not sure if it just looks different than before or under a new name, but somehow we’ve missed it on previous visits. During this visit, we stopped by around 10 and thought we’d order a cup of coffee, but the nice young man said that no one was there to serve yet, so we moved on. Island time perhaps?
Foxy’s Tamarind Bar
Foxy’s Tamarind Bar. Part of Foxy’s bar/restaurant made it through the hurricane(s), including a sticker we put up in 2015. He has re-built a new bar out front of the restaurant and the dock was rebuilt as well. The store is open again. Foxy was back playing the guitar and singing a song or two while visitors circled around. Judging by the crowds later in the day, the word is out that Foxy’s is open again for business!
We didn’t personally make it past Great Harbour this trip, but here is some current info on Little Harbour restaurants & bars and Foxy’s Taboo in Diamond Cay.
Sydney’s Peace & Love was the first restaurant to re-open in Little Harbour. This was no little feat as Irma deposited a ferry boat on top of their restaurant! The ribs and lobster are always delicious and you can serve yourself at the honor bar!
When we visited Jost Van Dyke 6 months after the storms, we were devistated to motor in to Little Harbour and find Harris’s Place completely destroyed. Years ago, we had met Cynthia, the owner, on a ferry over to JVD. She said if we didnt already have plans, to come to her place for dinner. We took her up on it and had the loveliest evening, an amazing lobster dinner and incredibly tasty Bushwackers made by Cynthia herself! From what we hear, Cynthia just opened Harris’s Place again. Don’t know if the menu is the same as before, but knowing Cynthia, it’s all good!
Abe’s By the Sea. We’ve not had the chance to visit Abe’s in person yet, but hope to on our next visit. According to the grapevine, Abe’s is open again, although still rebuilding. Once we visit, we’ll be sure to report on the “must try” food and drink and in the meantime, if you’ve been to Abe’s, let us know what you enjoyed about it!
Now over to Diamond Cay. Foxy’s Taboo is open again! According to the news we’ve recieved, Taboo recently opened and had a grand re-opening party on New Years Day this year.
There you have it! Jost Van Dyke has recovered so well, although I’m sure it will take years to repair and refinish some of the things that Irma took away. We hope to spend a week on Jost again soon. Do you have plans to visit?
This time of year we like to reflect on the year we’ve just enjoyed and look forward to the year to come. This past year our rum recipe page was visited quite frequently by our rum and island loving readers and the following are the 10 most visited rum recipes on our website for 2018. How many of these have you tried? Cheers!
A well known travel company recently published a list of their favorite beaches in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Unfortunately, many of our favorite beaches, and evidently yours too, were not on their list, so we asked our beach loving readers for their input. The following is a list of the 10 best (or at least favorite) Caribbean/Bahamas beaches of 2018 compiled from the responses of Rum Therapy readers. There are SO many gorgeous beaches in this region that inevitabley there will be some deserving beaches left off any “best of” list, but the following 10 (and the honorable mentions at the end) are definitely worthy of a visit if you love beaches as much as we do!
Treasure Cay, Abacos, Bahamas
10. Treasure Cay Beach, Abacos, Bahamas A 3.5 mile stretch of sugar-soft white sand set against the powdery blue hue of the beautiful Abacos waters. During low tide, a large sandbar emerges towards the eastern edge of the gorgeous beach. Accomodations available. Looking for a beach bar? Coco Beach Bar & Grill sits on the white sand with stunning views of the water.
Sandy Spit, British Virgin Islands
9. Sandy Spit, BVI More of a spit of sand than a beach, Sandy Spit and it’s larger neighbor, Sandy Cay, are two small uninhabited islands in the British Virgin Islands. Situated between the island of Tortola and Jost Van Dyke, these two islands have become popular stops for boaters and day excursions. Sandy Cay has a small trail through the middle that will take you to the rougher north side of the island. Both are worthwile of a stop to walk around, enjoy the beautiful sand, sun and scenery. No beach bars here, but you can find B-Line Beach Bar close to Sandy Spit on Little Jost Van Dyke and a number of excellent beach bars not far away on Jost Van Dyke!
8. Tropic of Cancer Beach, Little Exuma, Exuma, Bahamas Tropic of Cancer Beach (also known as Pelican Beach) is the longest beach (about 1 mile) on island of Little Exuma in the Bahamas. The Tropic of Cancer meridian runs along the beach and is notated onto a step leading down to the beach (good photo op). No ammenities here, so bring some food, water and snorkeling gear. Although the beach is stunning, it’s not the easiest to find and you will most likely have this gorgeous beach to yourself!
Orient Beach, St. Martin (before the hurricanes of 2017)
7. Orient Beach, St. Maarten Unfortunately, the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin was hit hard by the hurricanes of 2017 and much of Orient Beach was destroyed (including all the beach bars…). Although we haven’t personally visited again since the hurricanes, there are reports that the beautiful mile+ long beach is recovering and businesses are returning. The Bikini Beach Bar reopened in July and Kontiki is scheduled to open this month.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda
6. The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands One of the most unique Caribbean beaches you will ever see, The Baths on the British Virgin Island of Virgin Gorda is something to explore. Take the trail through the large boulders surrounded by white sand and shallow pools of clear blue water and end up on beautiful Devil’s Bay. Looking for a snack and a drink after exploring? The Poor Man’s Bar sits across from the entrance to the trail – but if you like your rum with a view, don’t miss the Top of the Baths Bar and Restaurant across from the visitor’s center and parking lot. From the Top of the Baths, enjoy sweeping views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel and Tortola, a swimming pool and shops – in addition to delicious fresh food and cold drinks!
Sunset in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
5. Cane Garden Bay, Tortola Jimmy Buffet mentioned this British Virgin Island beauty in his song Mañana – ” I hear it gets better, that’s what they say, as soon as we sail on to Cane Garden Bay.” Located on the northwest side of Tortola, this palm tree fringed bay is a haven for boaters and the long, sandy beach and calm waters are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Showcasing some of the prettiest sunsets we’ve seen, Cane Garden Bay has some dining and beach bar options. Tortola was hit hard by last years hurricanes and even though the rebuilding is ongoing, it’s a great place to relax, unwind and enjoy. Catch a sunset here if you can.
4. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Actually not quite 7 miles long (but even at 5.5 miles it’s an incredibly long beach!), this stunning expanse of white sand is a beach lover’s paradise. There are several dining options along the beautiful sandy expanse as well as beach bars and shopping and no shortage of water based activities such as snorkeling, jet skiing and parasailing to enjoy!
Jolly Beach, Antigua
3. Jolly Beach, Antigua Located on Antigua’s calm, west coast, Jolly Beach is a mile long white sand beach, fringed by the turqouise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Although it can be very busy when cruise ships are in port, it’s worthwhile to visit for the sheer beauty. Plenty of watersports are available as well as beach umbrellas for rent. Several beach bars and restaurants are just yards away from the beach.
Shoal Bay, Anguilla
2. Shoal Bay, Anguilla Ahhh, Shoal Bay. Frequently ranked as one of the top Caribbean beaches, this lovely two mile beach has water so beautiful that it could be described as an “electric blue”. A soft sndy shoreline and normally calm water make this beach a great one to spend the day enjoying the gorgeous sand and water. Several popular beach bars dot the pretty beach such as Gwen’s Reggae Bar & Grill and Uncle Ernie’s.
Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales
And the #1 Choice of Rum Therapy Readers? Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos On the northeast part of Providenciales, the most populated island in the Turks & Caicos chain, lies an amazing stretch of sand and clear, blue water that is usually calm due to a barrier reef about a mile offshore. Frequently listed as one of the top beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach is truly a beach lovers dream. A variety of hotels, timeshares and villas dot the long beach and there are many options for food, drink and watersports.
As with any “best of” list – not all deserving beaches that received a vote from our readers made the list. Here are the honorable mentions – each one worth a visit too!
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke Cinnamon Bay, St. John Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas Druif Beach, Aruba Playa Los Tainos, Cuba Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada Playa Flamenco, Culebra Paradise Beach, Carriacou Bavaro Beach, Dominican Republic Rendezvous Beach, Anguilla Coki Beach, St. Thomas Jack & Issac Beach, St. Croix Grand Anse, Grenada Meads Bay, Anguilla Morne Rouge Beach, Grenada Little Bay, St. Maarten
A traditional Christmas drink in Puerto Rico, this smooth & creamy rum drink is nicknamed Puerto Rican Eggnog by some. Several recipes we found called for eggs and some did not. We opted to leave out the eggs, but I’m sure it would make the drink even fuller and creamier – more akin to a typical eggnog, although we didn’t mind the lightness and frothiness without the eggs at all… Feliz Navidad!
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
Are you dreaming of one day getting to visit the exquisite chain of islands known as Exuma Cays in the Bahamas? Have a hankering to swim with the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay (aka Pig Beach)?
Would you be brave enough to get in the water with the “pet” nurse sharks of Compass Cay? Do you want to see and snorkel through Thunderball Grotto – made famous by the James Bond movie “Thunderball”?
Or, do you just want to bask in the ridiculously clear, blue water and maybe walk along a sandbar that only appears at low tide?
How about a visit to Staniel Cay Yacht Club – mentioned by Jimmy Buffet as one of the 10 great places for a waterside drink! Are you ready to go now? Me too!
Here’s a great way to experience all of the above – and more. Staniel Air, based out of Florida, offers a one of a kind Exumas day trip from Ft Lauderdale to Staniel Cay, Exumas which will include (weather permitting) a beautiful flight to Staniel Cay over the stunning Exuma Islands then transfer to one of their luxurious and roomy boats for an ‘insiders’ island tour of the attractions listed above – plus time to explore the island and beaches of Staniel Cay and enjoy some beverages, if you’d like, at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club Bar!
2017 Grand Cessna Caravan
The day begins with a 6:30am check-in at the Ft Lauderdale Executive Airport and you will return to the airport a 7:00pm. The small group tour includes a maximum of 8-9 people and is available each week on Friday or Saturday. If you’d like to book a private tour, it can be done any day of the week (depending on aircraft availablility).
Tour Boat
A few more things:Prices include flights, boat excursion, immigration & customs clearance and transfers in the Bahamas. Passports are required. Minimum age is 5 years old. Staniel Air also offers private air charters within a 500 mile radius of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and single seats to and from Staniel Cay/Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, when available.
Are you ready to book this tour? Click here to find out more, and be sure to let them know that you read about the Bahamas Day Trip – Fort Lauderdale to Staniel Cay Exumas on Rum Therapy!
**This post contains an affiliatelink to Staniel Air. If you do decide to book the Bahamas Day Tour with them, be sure to mention that you read about it on Rum Therapy. We receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from our links, which, we promise, we’ll mostly blow on creating more rum recipes to share with y’all!**
Skip the straw and save a turtle? Keeping one single straw from making it to the ocean won’t fix the problem, but imagine if everyone said “No straw, please”!
The problem has been highlighted recently by a video of scientists pulling a straw from the nose of an unfortunate sea turtle. The video is hard to watch, but you can view it here: The Story of the Sea Turtle with a Straw in its Nostril.
I’m sure you’ve heard some of the facts on plastics, including plastic straws, and how plastics are impacting our oceans and marine life.
1. Of the 260 million tons of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the Ocean, according to a Greenpeace report (Plastic Debris in the World’s Oceans, 2006).
2. Research has found that 70 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of sea turtles have some amount of plastic in their systems. (NBC News)
3. As plastic debris floats in the seawater, it absorbs dangerous pollutants like PCBs, DDT and PAH. When animals eat these plastic pieces, the toxins are absorbed into their body and passed up the food chain. (Center for Biological Diversity: Ocean’s Plastic Pollution)
4. Plastic straws and stirrers can take up to 200 years to decompose. (https://4ocean.com/blogs/blog/how-long-does-it-take-trash-to-biodegrade)
What can we do to limit the amount of plastic that makes its way into the ocean? Well, a lot actually. Much of it takes a conscious change in our routine or preferences, but given that plastic can do so much damage to marine life and our oceans in general, it’s really worth making the change.
In an effort to do our little part, we’re asking our readers to consider enjoying your beach beverages without a straw, and if possible, without a plastic cup. Glass containers are usually not allowed on beaches, so plastic cups may be necessary while enjoying the sun and sand, but we can make sure they get into a trash or recycle bin after finishing them. Some establishments are already forgoing the use of straws in an effort to curb the number that end up in the ocean and hopefully more will get on the “no straws” bandwagon soon.
(Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.)
We make a stop at The Longboard in Cruz Bay whenever we are lucky enough to get to St. John. Simply put, we are big fans of their hand crafted cocktails and their delicious, innovative dishes. Our recent visit to The Longboard was no exception. Despite the fact that when we visited it had only been 7 months since “the hurricanes”, and despite the fact that The Longboard served several thousand meals for the Red Cross to hurricane victims for a month after the storms even though they sustained some damage themselves, The Longboard reopened for business again in January and is just as good as ever.
Check out a few photos of our recent visit, and be sure to stop by and check out The Longboard for yourselves during your next visit to St. John. Pretty sure you’ll become big fans of The Longboard too!
Always on the lookout for some new and delectable rum cocktail recipes, we ran across this one last week and decided to give it a try. The recipe was found on the Cruzan Rum website, and as we happened to have a bottle of Cruzan Mango Rum on hand, we put a couple of them together. Delicious! These will be great during the warm, long and lazy days this summer.
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
Imagine staying just a few steps from The Baths, Virgin Gorda in a gorgeous, unique villa that is built around and incorporates some of the huge boulders indigenous to the area, has expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sir Francis Drake Channel and Tortola and sits on a lovely 1 acre+ private gated lot.
Mon Repos, translated as “my place of rest” is the name of a beautiful villa that we had the pleasure of calling our “home” during our recent vacation in Virgin Gorda, the third largest island in the British Virgin Island chain.
Virgin Gorda is truly one of our favorite islands and we were excited to get to stay close to one of the best known beaches in the world, The Baths. Little did we know how truly special this villa was.
The villa sleeps 8 in beds with 3 bedrooms on the main level and a lower level apartment with an additional bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Also on the main level – a large, open kitchen, dining room, living room area which would be great for families or several couples.
On the main level you can also find a nice, cool media room with a good collection of DVD’s. There’s a lovely deck on the back of the home with a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. We enjoyed our coffee out on the back deck every morning.
From this deck you can also view the beautiful South American Tortoises that reside in a fenced area in the backyard.
The owners originally started with 9 of these beautiful creatures and they have multiplied to 40. Some are 50 years old!
In addition to the tortoises, we were visited by a family of goats one evening. So much to enjoy from the back deck!
The front of the home showcases a large patio (partially covered) with an outdoor dining area that sits next to the lovely pool. We spent afternoons lounging in this area and loved the privacy and quietness of the space and the views of the channel and Tortola. The sunsets were spectacular from here.
What makes Mon Repos unique? Well, many things, but first and foremost, the way they incorporated the same boulders that you find in The Baths inside and outside of the structure. The master bedroom was built atop the massive smooth boulders and the headboard of the bed rests up against a large boulder.
The TV at the foot of the bed also rests on a massive boulder.
Downstairs in the apartment, the bedroom encases another enormous boulder in which the bed rests upon! Kids and adults alike may fight over who gets to stay in this bedroom!
If and when you decide to leave the villa for a while to explore, it is just steps away from the entrance to The Baths and Top of the Baths.
Spring Bay is just a little farther away – but still within walking distance.
We rented a car for the stay and spent time exploring gorgeous Savannah Bay, Leverick Bay and the view (and BBQ) at Hog Heaven.
We hated to leave Mon Repos, but are looking forward to returning some day with our entire family. Whether looking for a place to stay with a family (great place for kids!) or several couples, you will absolutely love the privacy, beauty and the amazing location of Mon Repos Villa, Virgin Gorda.
A traditional Christmas drink in Puerto Rico, this smooth & creamy rum drink is nicknamed Puerto Rican Eggnog by some. Several recipes we found called for eggs and some did not. We opted to leave out the eggs, but I’m sure it would make the drink even fuller and creamier – more akin to a typical eggnog, although we didn’t mind the lightness and frothiness without the eggs at all… Feliz Navidad!
Always on the lookout for some new and delectable rum cocktail recipes, we ran across this one last week and decided to give it a try. The recipe was found on the 
