My advise is to get accommodations first, then get flight. My rationale is that there are only so many places to stay on Jost Van Dyke and it may be difficult to find a place in March (February is sold out nearly everywhere except Ivan's campground). Work your St. John trip around Jost. There seems to be a couple of places you can stay on St. John by the night if you need to break up the trip (2 nights on STJ, go to JVD for 4 nights, back to STJ for 2) or you can do a 4 night stay on STJ on either side of JVD. I really think JVD will be your toughest room accommodation to find.

Multiple airlines service St. Thomas and that will most likely be your starting point for the trip. You may spend a few more dollars to work around the accommodations, but at least you WILL have accommodations.

We're coming in February, staying 3 nights on St. Thomas (Mafolie Hotel), moving to St. John for 5 nights (Cruz Bay Villas) and hopping over to JVD for a Friday night stay in a cabin at Ivan's Campground.

Good Luck - Have Fun!

We are also interested in this thread. We are considering a 10 day trip in June that may include: 3 nights STT, 2 nights JVD, 4 nights STJ.

The ferry only runs from STT to STJ to JVD on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, correct?

Can you use your round trip ferry ticket to go from STT (to STJ) to JVD on Friday, then return from JVD to STJ on the Sunday afternoon ferry? or do you have to use the round trip ticket the same day, AM and PM? The only other option is a private water taxi, right?

Thanks in advance for the tips and info!
Kimba: I'm sure you'll do fine with your arrangements. A combined STJ/JVD trip will be awesome!

I'll find out about using the roundtrip on separate days - great question!

The other option is to take a ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola and a separate ferry from Tortola to JVD. It's more expensive that way, but if you really need to get to JVD during the week, it works. Can do the same thing on the way back. There are pretty regular ferries to/from JVD and Tortola and a couple per day St. Thomas to Tortola. Takes a little more planning and patience, but if it makes the "dream" a reality, then it's worth it!

I'll write a trip report when we get back Feb 11th and let you know about spending the overnights on JVD.

Thanks so much VI Lover! I hope your February trip is fantastic...can't wait to hear about it. =)

The trip we have planed for this February we are coming in on a Thursday, spending the night at the Mafolie that night then going to Red Hook to get on a sail boat that we chartered with another couple for crewed overnight to Yost for Friday and Friday night then they are dropping us off on Saturday at St John were we have a villa at the Westin for the week. You could easily stretch this to a two or three day charter then off to St John. It wold be a good way to get a taste for a charter boat to see if you like it and it also would alleviate the problems with lodging on Jost. The boat that we have a term charter with is Forever Young through interline http://www.interlinesail.com/st_thomas_day_sails_captain_only.htm
Also doing it this way eliminates all of the ferry nonsense. One other thing with air fair. I have found over the last few years that most flights are less expensive coming in on Wensday or Thursday.
Good luck

We are also headed back to the islands in 23 days and have decided to extend our normal week long trip to two so we are flying into St. Thomas, spending one night, taking the Saturday ferry over to Jost Van Dyke where we've rented a villa for the week, then we are taking the Sunday ferry from Jost to St. John where we rented another villa for a week, then the following Sunday take the ferry back to St. Thomas and fly home.

I know the ferry runs out of Red Hook to Jost on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but there is a ferry out of Charlotte Amalie that runs during the week not sure of the schedule however, your other option for getting to Jost would be take a private water taxi which you can book for whenever.

I'd definitely book the accommodations first as people have mentioned there isn't a lot of options on Jost and therefore they get booked fast. Check out White Bay Villa in Jost, they just built some new villas and perhaps they have some availability for the time you are looking into.

If you need other info let me know and I can try and help.

23 More days and we are island bound!

Jill

I just spoke to the nice people at the Ferry Service. The roundtrip ticket is valid for any of the days they return from JVD to STJ/STT. So - you can take the ferry over on a Friday and use the return-trip ticket on Saturday or Sunday. It does not need to be used on the same day.

Thanks, Jill and to everyone else who responded. I will definately be asking more questions when I get more into the planning process.

I envy your two weeks....that would be ideal for me, but I think my 10 day max might even be a stretch to pull off.

thanks, again.

Thanks VI Lover! I appreciate that you took the time to call. This ferry info is very helpful. We're trying to make it to STJ, etc. 3-4 times this year. On our budget this requires cutting some corners! We're going to try the St. John Inn in for 8 days in February. During that week, we'll take the ferry over to JVD on Saturday, stay at Ivan's Campground and come back on Sunday afternoon. ( We know this is the plan now, thanks to you getting the ferry info!) Taking the public ferry helps us save a few bucks that we'll spend to rent a dinghy or power boat a different day! In June we'll probably do STT (Mafolie), JVD (Ivan's), and STJ (St. John Inn) for a 10 day trip. Talk about island hopping on a budget! ha ha! We won't be enjoying the luxuries of a villa for those trips, but we'll be having loads of fun anyway! Thanks again!

Kimba.....we have done and are again ( march & april) doing a 10 day split st. john/jost. this year we'll start on jost and finish on st. john. i prefer the reverse..nice to end on jost since, imo, it's the best place ever to relax , HEAVEN !! alas , we couldn't get the reservations we wanted but as long as i get there i'm happy. all that said , trying at this late date, it might be difficult to find accomodations for jost. there is very few offered and they book quickly...but you never know unless you try. there could be a few days available . forget sandcastles, unless they have a cancellation?? this is my favorite !! have also stayed at ivans/rented a cabin and loved it too !! very basic, very unique !! Ivan is wonderfull and friendly ! perfect pineapple is a great option , also white bay villas/very nice !! take a shot and give them all a call and maybe you'll get lucky !! all of these are on white bay...beautiful !!

I can't seem to find Ivan's Campground on the BVI website. What is the deal with this place? Where is it located etc. Thank you for your help. Leticia

Here's a link

http://www.caribbeancruisingclub.com/Ivan/index.html

My browser won't allow pictures. You can also look up Ivan's at: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g580449-d150947-Reviews-White_Bay_Campground-Jost_Van_Dyke_British_Virgin_Islands.html and you'll get additional information. It's just a campground with tents and some cabins - no luxuries - just beautiful scenery.

Ivan's is right on White Bay on JVD.

Good luck with your search!

www.ivanscampground.com -- Ivans is located on White Bay, Jost,bvi's......this is a truly unique place !! we've stayed in the cabins. these are not for the all-inclusive /5 star crowds...very basic , communal bathrooms/showers/kitchen...i've never used the kitchen, (keep some items in refrig ) too lazy, we eat out and there are some great restaurants on island !! on thursday Ivan has a bbq which is delicious and entertaining too...some great music/people !! i love waking up on white bay, so peacefull/beautiful !!

Looks like you've stayed there before! We're staying in an "ocean-view" cabin on a Friday night. Any advice? We're planning on spending Friday at Ivan's and Soggy Dollar then Friday evening at Foxy's. Saturday at Bubbly Pool then ferry back to STJ at 3pm. Any other opinions?????

Thanks for your thoughts!

VI Lover

for friday night give some thought to dinner at Corsairs , great food and entertaining host ,Vinny....after dinner just walk down to Foxys for some music/dancing !! hope the swells are up at the bubbly pool...otherwise not too bubbly. we had a nice lunch at Taboo last trip. also, if you want breakfast saturday , tell them at sandcastles(when you're there friday) you'd like to and they'll accomodate ...but you need to let them know ahead and they'll tell you what the next day offering is !! you also need to walk down to Seddys One Love on friday too !! great people and maybe he'll do some majic for you !!