Bitter End Yacht Club International - Virgin Gorda Hotels

Address:
North Sound
Virgin Gorda
British Virgin Islands

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Expert Reviews
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Expert Rating & Recommended:

	Beach
	Family

Expert Review of Bitter End Yacht Club International

Beach Review of Bitter End Yacht Club International

By Away Travel Expert : Gary Chandler

Beach Expert Favorite

Beach Expert Rating

Recommended for:
Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Windsurfing

Be forewarned: The Bitter End Yacht Club is not for everyone. Those who love water sports--snorkeling, diving, kayaking, windsurfing and especially sailing--will love the place. Those looking for that classic Caribbean vacation--an endless white sand beach right outside your villa door--probably won't. Set on Virgin Gorda's pebbly North Sound, BEYC doesn't have the sand or sun of your typical Caribbean getaway, but makes up for it with myriad activities: sailing trips, snorkeling tours, champagne cruise, Sunday regatta, hiking trails--all included in the room rate. What's more, the resort offers all guests a free introductory sailing course and access to the club's fleet of ships for all sailing levels. (Guests can also make use of kayaks and traditional boats to reach better beaches on their own.) Add to that all the activities you can book separately--windsurfing lessons, scuba diving, fishing, and more--and it's easy to see why active vacationers flock here. BEYC caters to families

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Family Review of Bitter End Yacht Club International

By Away Travel Expert : Candyce H. Stapen

Family Expert Favorite

Family Expert Rating

The Spread:
The Bitter End Yacht Club, accessible only by boat, gets its name from the term old mariners, who thought the world was flat, used to refer to the last spit of land before the open ocean. Unsurprisingly, resort guests spend their days on the water in complimentary sailboats, Boston whalers, rowing shells, plus windsurfs and kayaks. Experts teach sailing, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. Out of the warm Caribbean waves, there are beaches for sunning and a pool for splashing.

Along with a 70-mooring and 25-slip marina, the property offers 87 rooms. To reach the beachfront "villas" (really suites), you must climb some stairs (difficult for families toting sleepy tots and strollers). These comfortable but not fancy rooms come with a sitting area plus a bedroom and a good-sized deck with a hammock, though no air-conditioning. The North Sound Suites have smaller decks

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Note: While the resort's waterfront remains open year-round for boaters, the rooms are closed mid-August to mid-October.

Why Families Love It:
If you know how to sail, captain a Sunfish, Laser, or other craft to reach one of the BVI's many snorkel sites. Old salts can perfect techniques at classes, and never-evers literally learn the ropes as well as all those nifty nautical terms at sailing classes. Families can sign up for private sailing lessons.

During February break, Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving (not summer), Bitter End operates special kids' sailing camps for ages three to 12 from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Along with learning basic sailing skills, kids go on treasure hunts, guided nature walks, and compete in beach Olympics. The kids' camp is part of the family package. Most guests book one of the Admiral's packages as these come with lodging, three meals daily, as well as snorkeling trips.

In addition, kids three and older paint coconuts, create beaded bracelets, and craft shell photo frames on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the complimentary Arts and Crafts Center.

Special Events & Activities:
Split your vacation by staying on land and then at sea aboard one of the resort's skippered yachts. Be sure to show off your sailing skills by taking part in the Sunday regatta.

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Visitor Information

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Currency: USD

Description:

Bitter End is a "rollicking nautical village" with 85 shoreside accommodations, three restaurants and an awesome array of activities. Reachable only by sea, the resort stretches along a mile of beach and waterfront on the North Sound -- the most protected and secluded deep water harbor in the Caribbean.

In addition to all the amenities and activities of a full service resort, Bitter End is also home to a full service marina, with dockage, over 70 moorings, where repairs, provisions and supplies are readily and easily available.