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This may be a dumb question, but if you want to go straight to Virgin Gorda Baths from St., Thomas, spend 2 to 3 hours, then straight back to St. Thomas, what's the quickest way that would be reasonably priced for 4 people? Sounds like New Horizons has a charter, but has extra stops and is therefore an all-day thing. Sounds like ferry would eat up about 3 hours (1 1/2 each way) and we only have about 4 days vacation and already have time scheduled for St. John and a day of diving. Any ideas? We don't want to rent a boat to drive ourselves as all our experience with watercraft has occurred on a farily calm lake rather than the sea. Really want to see the Baths, but the logistics sound daunting! Any info will help us!
Your only option is private charter and hire a captain to drive it. I've done that. It is the most expensive option, but not so expensive that it is prohibitive for everyone.
Captains run about $100 for the day. Look at the charter boats and then just add the cost of captain on. I used nauti nymph. I got the fastest boat they had because I wanted to get from A to B very quickly...twin outboards on a Fountain. Will probably run you about $700 /day with captain, fuel and tip.
I went from STT to Virgin Gorda..then to Jost's Great Harbour for lunch at Foxys..then to White Bay on Jost...then for a run around (playing with the boat in the open sea)...then back to STT.
Creeker: If you don't have enough time, maybe you will want to save this for another trip. There is no way to get to The Baths quickly AND cheaply. The ferry route would be the cheapest, the private boat the quickest. Most of the day boats give you an overview of the entire BVI- if you have never done this, it is a great day.
Creeker,
why does the best way have to be the most expensive. If you can go get two more couples on the boat, you can do it easily for 250./couple. tha'ts a private boat w/ a knowledgeable captain, going to the baths early when it's not crowded. then probably to some quiet reefs for excellent snorkeling, the indians, the caves, etc.. and to top it all off the best thing in my book...is you don't have to worry about dinging the prop or scratching the hull. the captains' fee is also the insurance policy. if you can do it like this, it will be the best 250. per couple spent on the trip.and you get to meet four new friends. oh and what about checking in at customs going and coming. he does that for you too!! i'm definitely looking into doing like this.
The baths are "nice". but not worth the extreme effort and money you are considering. If you have just 4 days you will find that there is more than enough to entertain you around St Thomas. A trip like that will only make you more stressed and tired. The idea of an island vacation is to slow down and enjoy the warm sandy ambiance.
The baths are, after all, just a beach with a bunch of big rocks. In my opinion the Baths are overrated as a tourist stop. I spent three weeks on Virgin Gorda and only went to the Baths one (1) time because it was too crowded.
hmmmm...there's a "different" opinion. Interesting to hear an opinion that differs from the norm.
