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British Virgin Islands Hotel, Resort & Villa Reviews
Long Bay Beach Resort 01/03/2004
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
First off, I'll start by assuming that you've already decided that the BVI's are the right place for you and your vacation so this review isn't as much about Tortola/the BVIs as much as it is about Long Bay in particular.
Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas
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Terraced resort set on 1-mile Atlantic Ocean beach
- This 156-room resort is 1.5 miles from ferries to St. Thomas and features panoramic Atlantic Ocean views.
- Beachfront and hillside guestrooms have furnished, ocean-view terraces and tile floors.
- Two open-air restaurants, one built around an 18th-century sugar mill, offer casual and elegant dining options.
For those of you that are still considering the BVIs, I recommend reading the following books:
- "Best of the British Virgin Islands" by Pamela Acheson (make sure you get the latest edition!) This book describes most of the things to do on the islands and is comprehensive as it not only discusses Tortola but also day trips and things to do on the other islands.
-Fodor's "The US and British Virgin Islands"
My girlfriend and I were able to learn most about what to do on the islands via these two books and you really don't need anything more, in my opinion!
OK, so onto the review of Long Bay:
I should start by putting this review in perspective. This was our first time to Long Bay and we visited in December 2003, just before the "peak" season. We stayed for 7 nights and while we slept every night at Long Bay, our days were mostly filled with day trips to neighboring islands and seeing other sights around Tortola. In other words, Long Bay was a home base for us. We weren't there 24/7 ;-)
We purchased the "adventure package" which as of the time of this writing includes a day sail w/snorkel, 3 day car rental (4WD), airport transfers, full breakfast each morning at the Beach Cafe, 4 dinners at either the Garden Restaurant or Beach Cafe, and a day trip to a neighboring island.
If you stay at Long Bay, I recommend purchasing a package, especially if you are planning on traveling around during the day. This is because when you get back at night you'll be tired and may want to just relax. Dinner at the Garden Restaurant is convenient as is breakfast at the Beach Cafe. If you don't buy a package and plan on eating at Long Bay regularly (which is very likely in the morning and on days when you return back a bit early) then you will actually save money by purchasing one.
Location:
Long Bay is on the West End of Tortola and is fairly secluded. If you want to go somewhere else at night, count on taking a cab or your rental car. I recommend a rental car. The freedom is great (leave whenever you want) and the fare ($50/day at National as of this writing, onsite at Long Bay) is probably comparable to what you'd spend on a cab in a day if you travel around quite a bit. The only thing to be aware of is that every 4X4 on the BVI's is referred to as a "Jeep." When I first heard there was a Jeep in the package I was thinking it would be a Wrangler etc but in fact there aren't any at Long Bay. They are all Suzuki's and Daihatsu's (there may be others). Get a 4X4. If you want to go to Smuggler's Cove (easily the most beautiful beach on Tortola in my opinion) you will need a 4X4 to get there. Don't even try in a 2-wheel drive car. One thing you may not know by reading other reviews is that in November 2003 there was actually a fairly drastic rainstorm on the BVIs that caused some mudslides and damage to the dirt roads (there are a few of these on the West End). Traversing then without an SUV--well, good luck!
Here are a list of places that are fairly close to Long Bay (i.e. you can either get to them by taking a long walk or a short drive)
- Bomba's Shack
- Sugar Mill
- Smuggler's Cove
- Sebastian's
- Soper's Hole
- Apple Bay
- Callwood Distillery
- Shell Museum
Checking in:
The people at the check-in counter were very friendly. We brought them a gift from our hometown and I think this is a very nice gesture if you decide to do the same. If you're looking for good treatment, just observe common sense and treat others well ;-)
The process of checking in was very fast. Even before I said hello, they knew our names, had our keys ready (along with a "welcome" punch (non-alcoholic), and we were off to our Beachfront Cabana in just a couple of minutes. The porter drove us to the house and was polite, even taking the time to drive us around Long Bay to introduce us to the various places at the resort.
I noticed while we were driving around that some of the resort appeared a bit dated, while other places appeared new. For example, some of the beachfront cabanas had been around for awhile, while many of the residences on the hillside were obviously much newer.
Accommodations:
Even though our particular cabana was somewhat older, this didn't hardly matter when you consider the view! It is nothing short of breathtaking. White sand, crashing waves, a secluded beach, privacy, and the smell of the ocean and the warm breeze are all at this resort. The Beachfront Cabanas are situated on stilts, with a hammock below a deck that faces the ocean. You're practically on the beach. For those of you that are wondering about the rooms at Long Bay, I recommend springing for one of the locations on the beach. They may be slightly more expensive, but when you put it in perspective, they really don't cost that much more and it's worth it. You're practically on top of the beach and can fall asleep each night to the sound of the waves. It's a true paradise.
Inside the room, I noticed that some of the amenities were a bit dated; however the room was very clean and was well cared-for. For us, it was less important how attractive the room was when compared to many of the other features of the resort. I mean, we didn't come to the BVI's to sit in our room!
Resort features:
Speaking of other features, Long Bay has them all. I've vacationed plenty of times before in "mega" resorts. Don't be confused or put off by the fact that Long Bay is a full service resort. It still offers plenty of privacy and is much smaller than the mega-hotels and other structures you'll find other places in the Caribbean. All in all, it is, in my opinion, the perfect balance between comfort, serenity, and practicality.
Let's take a look at what Long Bay has to offer. On-site car rental (Dollar and National), a salon/massage clinic (I highly recommend getting a massage here)! I paid for an hour swedish massage and it was one of the best of my life. There is also a small store where you can buy food and other staples. It's great because it's convenient, but if you're more driven by price then just stop by a place in Road town. You'll find the sundries at Long Bay marked up considerably. There is a gift shop which contains most of what you could want to buy your loved ones back home, such as clothing, postcards, books, and other great stuff.
There are two pools at Long Bay: One of them is just in front of the Beach Cafe and faces the ocean. I didn't see anyone swimming in it the entire time I was there, but then again we didn't go during peak season (I also recommend you don't go during peak season if you want more privacy!) and there is another pool across from the conference center.
Dining:
The restaurants: The Garden Restaurant is excellent--if you stay at Long Bay you'll be missing out if you don't go for at least one night. The menu changes daily and the food is exquisite. There is a dress code. The Beach Cafe is open mornings and evenings and is decidedly more casual. 5 stars, well deserved for the Garden Restaurant. It is a great place for a romantic evening.
In the Garden Restaurant, I recommend the salmon. It's unlike anything you've ever had! (hopefully if you go they'll still have it there). The seafood medley at the Beach Cafe is also great. Be wary that breakfast food at the Beach Cafe seemed a bit overpriced to me. We had a package so didn't have to pay for it (well, we DID pay for it I'm sure but just not directly ;-) For instance, a continental breakfast buffet consisting of the most basic of breakfast foods ran in the $16 -$18 range which was fairly laughable given what was offered; however, this could just be something Long Bay did to raise gratuity (which is not included in the bills, by the way). I don't mean to give a bad impression of the place. Other than the included buffet in the package, all of the other prices seemed more than reasonable and the menu is quite extensive for breakfast food.
Service:
I read on other places on the Internet prior to going that the service at Long Bay wasn't that great. However, we did not find that to be the case at all. Everyone bent over backwards to help make our stay memorable. The front desk made dinner reservations at Brandywine Bay for my gf and I (I highly recommend by the way) and helped us book a day sail. Everyone was very professional, and always had a smile on their face. The staff at the massage clinic was very professional and talented. Folks at National Car Rental were were similarly professional and served us with a smile. We joked around with the staff and were very comfortable talking with our waitstaff and people in the gift shop. The rule of thumb in the BVI's is to ask people how they're doing (and be sincere about it) and don't be afraid of a little light conversation. People will open up to you if you're respectful of them. Check-out was fast and settling our account was easy. There were no hidden surprises. Just be aware that Long Bay, like many hotels/resorts in the BVI's will assess a 17% tax which is due on your check out. Make sure you budget for this, as 17% of $2000 USD can be a substantial sum.
Night Life:
First of all, if your idea of a vacation is pounding music at a club, mega resorts, and huge beaches filled with hundreds of people, the BVI's are not for you. There are plenty of other places to go in the Caribbean that cater to this style of vacation.
One night while my fiancee and I were eating at the Beach Cafe, we ran into a couple that had just flown in and was disappointed that all of the bars were closed at 2AM the night before. They were looking for "action." If you're looking for some of this, I am not saying there's none on the island--just make sure to pick up a copy of the "Limin Times" which is the local rag that is published on (I think) a weekly basis and gives a great overview of the good night spots.
Even so, please don't come to Long Bay or any other resort on the BVI's and expect swarming throngs of college students or a huge mega strip featuring bars and clubs. Tortola does offer these, but they tend to be a bit more spread out and the crowds might be a bit smaller than you expect.
A perfect night at Long Bay is a walk on the Beach at Sunset, a romantic dinner at the Garden Restaurant, and then sitting on the beach watching the moon reflect off of the water. This is a place to unwind, not to get "geared up."
Overall impression:
Long Bay is a romantic, secluded paradise that offers a suite of features you'd expect in a top-notch resort, but it provides these without turning you into a number or in any way detracting from your stay. I tend to be a bit more price sensitive to things such as vacations but we did splurge a bit on this stay and I'd recommend to any others out there to do the same if it's within your means :-) The adventure package is highly recommended and is a great value. Consider it even if you're going on a honeymoon.
The service at Long Bay is excellent. The staff is professional. The views are to die for. It is *so* relaxing. Overall, I can confidently say that we'll be back to Long Bay and hope you consider it for your own travels. We stopped by other places and there is no doubt: this is the best resort to stay at on Tortola.
Justin
Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas
Hotel Details |
Book Hotel |
Book With Air
Terraced resort set on 1-mile Atlantic Ocean beach
- This 156-room resort is 1.5 miles from ferries to St. Thomas and features panoramic Atlantic Ocean views.
- Beachfront and hillside guestrooms have furnished, ocean-view terraces and tile floors.
- Two open-air restaurants, one built around an 18th-century sugar mill, offer casual and elegant dining options.
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