How To Salve (And Non Save) Coin Inwards The Virgin Islands
Budget go is similar a puzzle to me. I roam the world, trying to position the pieces together, in addition to I’ve been able to plough some of the most expensive destinations inwards the basis into budget destinations: Iceland, Japan, Sweden, in addition to fifty-fifty Norway. I’ve only failed once, inwards Bermuda, a province whose luxury go powers proved likewise swell fifty-fifty for me to defeat.
That was, until I came to the U.S. in addition to British Virgin Islands, where I i time over again failed at traveling for $50 a day. While at that topographic point are ways to brand these islands semi-affordable, my watch taught me that they volition never live a true budget destination. There are likewise many rich people, taxation shelters, in addition to yachts, in addition to likewise much focus on mid-budget in addition to luxury travelers.
But that doesn’t hateful all is lost. There are some ways to lower your costs in addition to avoid spending hundreds of dollars a 24-hour interval similar most people do. By following just a few guidelines, y'all tin receive got a wonderful fourth dimension on the islands in addition to all the same keep a budget.
How much did the islands cost me?
After spending 22 days sailing around, I spent a full of $2,255.75, for an average of nearly $102 per day. That’s bad. I was truly shocked that I spent in addition to thus much when I saw the math. Sure, I splurged a chip — there were a few hotels in addition to fancy meals inwards my itinerary — but I didn’t realize how much. Here’s how the coin breaks down:
Activities: $140
Accommodation: $714.50
Drinks: $216
Transportation: $228
Taxis: $260.50
Food: $635.75
Miscellaneous (visas, sunscreen): $61
Why did I pass in addition to thus much?
While I was able to acquire complimentary accommodation on a boat, the lack of budget accommodation truly drove upwards my housing costs. Even with sharing the cost of hotels, some nights I was paying $60. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 last-minute alter inwards plans in addition to a flying to St. Thomas alongside handbag fees meant an extra $80. And, spell I cooked a bit, I splurged on some squeamish meals during Thanksgiving, ate a lot of seafood (so many lobsters!), in addition to bought drinks for my Couchsurfing hosts (a rum imbibe hither in addition to at that topographic point adds upwards fast).
Looking at the numbers, I know I could receive got done better, particularly alongside nutrient in addition to beverages.
So how produce y'all produce it cheaply?
While I mightiness receive got failed, y'all don’t receive got to. Traveling the Virgin Islands is never going to live rock-bottom inexpensive or backpacking friendly, but alongside a fiddling planning, it doesn’t ask to live a “luxury only” vacation. My $100 a 24-hour interval was comfortable — from tasty fish in addition to never-ending happy hours, to snorkeling, white sand beaches, in addition to sailing. However, y'all could produce it cheaper (around $70-80 per day) if y'all acquire from my mistakes:
Accommodation
This is going to live the biggest obstruction to overcome. There are few Couchsurfing hosts overall, no hostels, and, inwards the BVIs, barely whatsoever hosts on Airbnb or similar services. With hotels costing hundreds of dollars per night, it’s non a skillful situation. Here’s how to fix on the problem:
Couchsurf — You tin notice enough of hosts in the USVIs in addition to a few on Tortola inwards the BVIs. Given that most hosts tend to operate on boats, their schedules are erratic, in addition to you’re going to receive got a depression reply rate, in addition to thus enquire good inwards advance. The flip side of that is that when they produce respond, they almost ever enjoin yes.
But ever receive got a Plan B.
Camp — There are a few campgrounds on the islands that tin lower costs: Cinnamon Bay (St. John); Ivan’s (Jost Van Dyke); Reggae Camping (Virgin Gorda); in addition to Anegada Beach Club (a hotel that lets y'all pitch a tent). They cost an average of $60 a nighttime for a cabin or $30-40 if y'all desire to pitch your ain tent.
Airbnb — In the USVIs, exercise Airbnb equally a hotel alternative. Rooms outset at around $50 a nighttime in addition to are your best choice. Tripping.com is a skillful alternative for storey rentals if Airbnb doesn’t operate out. There aren’t many storey rentals inwards the BVIs though, in addition to thus camping ground or sleeping on a boat is a improve option.
Since accommodation is in addition to thus expensive, I wouldn’t recommend going to these islands alone. If y'all do, your expenses are going to skyrocket. It’s much improve going alongside a friend in addition to thus y'all tin carve upwards costs.
On the addition side, everyone on the islands is friendly in addition to welcoming. The locals’ hospitality is incredible: they invite y'all into their homes, give y'all rides, contact friends on other islands, in addition to brand y'all purpose of their family. One nighttime spell Couchsurfing, our host got his friend Hamish to give us a ride dorsum habitation since our host was working. We ended upwards stopping along the agency in addition to thus Hamish could process us to dinner. There was also Oggie, who offered us a spot on his boat if nosotros needed a identify to crash; Kirby, who drove us around for a day; in addition to Dan, who took us out on his boat for a sail.
It’s a modest community on these islands, in addition to i time y'all are “in” alongside a twosome of people, they volition produce what they tin to connect y'all to their friends on other islands in addition to notice y'all places to stay. I was impressed in addition to amazed at how welcoming they were to strangers.
Transportation
Hitchhike — Taxi prices, regulated yesteryear the government, are exorbitant ($10-30 per ride). If y'all aren’t careful, y'all tin easily pass upwards of $30 a 24-hour interval getting around. An alternative is to simply hitch. It’s the preferred vogue of shipping for locals in addition to tourists alike. Since taxis in addition to cars are expensive, many locals simply part cars or hitchhike. Do the same. It’s security in addition to drivers volition receive got groups.
Rent a Car — If you’re going to live hitting a lot of spots on the bigger islands similar Tortola or St. Thomas, you’re going to notice it difficult to acquire taxis inwards some of the to a greater extent than secluded places (they tend to stick around to a greater extent than crowded locations). It’s improve to rent a auto on these islands, fifty-fifty at $60-80 a day. It volition give y'all to a greater extent than flexibility and, if you’re splitting costs alongside friends, volition live cheaper than taxis. My friend in addition to I figured out the math toward the destination of our trip in addition to kicked ourselves for non thinking nearly it sooner.
Ask to live dropped off — Taking a 24-hour interval canvas but excogitation on heading to the adjacent isle after? Most tour companies volition drib y'all off at no extra charge if the isle is nearby. It’s a complimentary ferry!
Hitchhike on boats — Want to acquire from isle to island? Hitchhike on the boats in addition to salvage thousands of dollars. It’s truly slow to do. Here’s how.
Take shared taxis — The larger islands, such equally St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Gorda, in addition to Tortola, receive got shared taxi services locals exercise for $1-2 each way. They go betwixt the major towns and, spell infrequent, are a money-saver when y'all tin acquire one.
Food in addition to Drink
Cook your meals – The cheapest repast I saw around the islands was a modest sandwich that cost $8. In general, $12 volition acquire y'all a fish or chicken plate or a burger. For principal courses, steak, fish, or seafood, you’re looking at $20 or more. While groceries tend to live fairly expensive because they receive got to live imported, at that topographic point are some inexpensive options. Five days’ worth of nutrient cost me $56 in addition to included pasta, chicken, some fruits in addition to veggies, eggs, in addition to bread.
Hit happy hour — $8 drinks add together up, fifty-fifty if the pours are super heavy (tax-free rum!). Happy hr specials are one-half that, alongside many on St. John offering dollar specials. If y'all desire to acquire sauced, produce it early.
Stick to the local venues — The islands are filled alongside nutrient trucks in addition to tiny mom-and-pop restaurants yesteryear the side of the route that cater to locals, non tourists. These roadside stalls offering large, filling meals for nearly $10. Be certain to notice the chicken guy inwards the principal foursquare on St. Thomas. Delicious!
Activities
Buy your ain snorkel gear — Snorkel rentals cost around $10 per day. Bring your ain equipment to salvage coin (buying gear on the islands volition fix y'all dorsum $50!) spell you’re taking wages of the offshore snorkeling opportunities.
Travel inwards the shoulder season — From October-November in addition to May-June, prices on hotels, activities, in addition to boat rentals are upwards of 50% less than they are during the high season. You acquire inexpensive prices in addition to y'all acquire to avoid the crowds.
The Virgin Islands volition never live a $50-a-day destination, but they don’t receive got to remain alone for cruisers, honeymooners, in addition to the rich, either. I wasn’t able to continue my budget equally depression equally I wanted to spell on the islands, but y'all could acquire yesteryear on $70-80 a 24-hour interval if y'all pushed it. It’s non a budget paradise, but y'all tin contend to run across in addition to produce all the same things equally people who mass expensive vacations through Expedia in addition to pass hundreds per day, for a fraction of the price.
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