Sandcastle

Jost Van Dyke, BVI

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*The Sandcastle was relaxation defined.* Visited: July 2005
Posted by jwildman7
	My wife and I enjoyed our honeymoon at Sandcastle in July and could not have had a better time. The staff was helpful and very courteous, but didn't bother us. Thanks to Chef Oliver, the food was on par with (or better than) some of Chicago's finest dining establishments. The food was fantastic! The bar was very casual and always buzzing with visitors from neighboring islands. Thanks to KC and to John for the Black Seal and Coke. The snorkeling was fantastic right on our beach, too. The rooms were perfect, no need for AC. The gardens were beautiful and offered a shady escape from the sunny and often busy beach. Also, check out Gertrude's next door for her food and drinks, and Foxy's BBQ buffet. If you need a fishing, scuba, or snorkeling guide, or just want to check out the other islands and scenery, give Colin at JVD Watersports a call. He will treat you like an old friend and show you an excellent time. This was the perfect vacation, and we are already planning our second trip.
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*It was Paradise...with bugs.* Visited: July 2005
Posted by richard_sittema
	Our honeymoon at Sandcastle was worth every nickel. The location of the Sandcastle hotel on White Bay Beach, Jost Van Dyke could not possibly be better. The beach was simply gorgeous and was well maintained, as was the water and reef within the bay itself. That is impressive considering how many boats drop anchor there during the day. I was also impressed at how clean the beach was - no cigarette butts or beer bottles at all. The food at Sandcastle was very, very good. Big "thank yous" to Claire, Tina, Roger, and Sandy for making our Honeymoon so wonderful! I highly recommend the MAP plan. Getting breakfast every day was great, and the Sandcastle dinner experience was one of the best in the BVI. Also, you get the private boat to/from the island, which is much better than the ferry. If you stay at Sandcastle, I recommend renting a four-wheel drive Jeep from Paradise Jeep Rentals and exploring the dirt roads along the top of the mountain. You will experience some of the most breathtaking views you could possibly imagine (make sure you beep your horn around corners to get the goats out of the way). Also, have dinner at Corsair's one night (everything was good) and make sure you get to Foxy's for BBQ on Saturday for great food and dancing. The "Bubbling Pool" on the east end of Jost Van Dyke was beautiful but over-rated; the little fish kept nibbling on my ankles! Make sure you go snorkeling every day (equipment was free at Sandcastle). You'll see something new each time. We saw countless types of reef fish, sea turtles, and even a six-foot barracuda right next to us! The worst part about the tropics was the bugs. However, you can deal with it if you burn mosquito coils constantly and coat yourself with "Off" every time you leave the cottage. The second worst part about our stay were the "tourons" (tourist + moron) who came over from St. Thomas every day to get drunk, smoke cigarettes, and drop their anchors right on our beautiful beach. Don't worry, they're annoying but harmless, and they're only there from 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Sandcastle was recently purchased from old owners Bruce and Debbie. Here are some tips for the new owners: 1) Invest in better power generators; the rolling blackouts get old. 2) Provide air conditioning in every cottage; room-only window units are cheap and would be a welcome addition. 3) Tell the cleaning staff to do a better job dusting; the ceiling fan blades and window ledges were pretty bad. Overall, I could not have picked a better spot for our honeymoon. It was a tiny island, with not a lot of tourists, and nothing to do but relax, read, eat, drink, snorkel, and sleep! Perfect!
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*Great Staff - More To Come!* Visited: July 2005
Posted by richsittema
	My fiancee and I will be going to Sandcastle July 11-18 of 2005 for our honeymoon. FYI to all readers - the resort is being purchased from long time owners Bruce and Debbie, so stay tuned for my post-honeymoon report. Several of the staff I've talked to have been wonderful, but they tell me that not everyone will be staying. Hopefully this doesn't mean Sandcastle goes corporate!
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*This is a true island dream!* Visited: October 2004
Posted by zapit
	If you have ever dreamed of a deserted island, this is the place. We first visited a few years before and my wife was very apprehensive. At the time, there was no hot running water or power! We arrived by dingy from the main harbor and had to get out into the sand/water with our suitcases over our head. I'm glad and sorry to say our last time in 2004 was almost as memorable. There is now power in the cottages and hot water for the shower. What hasn't changed is the most important. The hardest chore of every day was picking what we wanted to choose for dinner. The food is gourmet, believe it or not, sitting in the dining patio with a view of the water. Of course the water is only feet away! You get to meet the nicest people and relax during the day, again having to make hard choices: the Soggy Dollar Bar or finding a hammock and reading a book. Tour operators offer day sails to other islands, but Sandcastle is actually the destination on most "BVI" trips, so you are leaving the nicest beach in the BVI. We have plans to make another trip in the next year. The only disappointment, not being able to go at least once a year to decompress!
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*Our stay here was unforgettable.* Visited: December 2003
Posted by james166
	I wanted to do something very special for my family, as they were growing up and starting to move away from home. So I arranged for my wife and me, each of my two daughters, and their special friends to spend a week on Jost Van Dyke for New Year's and experience the famous Foxy's New Year's party. The eight of us arrived at the Sandcastle on December 27, 2003 to begin what was to be one of the most fabulous experiences of our lives. We took over four cottages, which were all outstanding accommodations. We also ate every meal here, prepared by Oliver, the best chef in the Caribbean. We had incredible meals. Bruce and Debbie were very gracious hosts and watched over every detail to make our stay truly unforgettable. It will be forever one of our most fond memories.
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*It is paradise!* Visited: July 2002
Posted by parkinso
	We stayed at the Sandcastle for several days on our honeymoon, and I could not imagine a more perfect place on earth. The white sand beach and turquoise water was breathtaking. The cottages were cozy (and provided a whole library of books to chose from). The staff was wonderfully friendly, and the food was excellent. We had several gourmet candle light dinners in the open beach dining room that will certainly be remembered. If you are looking for the ultimate place to relax, this is it.
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*A very relaxing and low-key place to be!* Visited: March 2002
Posted by hesketh
	If you want to be treated like royalty for your money, this is not really the place. If you enjoy having a menu of activities organized for you daily with starting times and group rah-rahs, go to Sandals - not Sandcastle. If you like the leisure and responsibility of doing whatever you please - whenever you want - you may truly cherish this place. The word "resort" really did not apply. Sandcastle was more like my uncle's cottage near the lakes where my family vacationed. There wasn't anyone trying too hard to entertain us - they pretty much left it up to us to entertain ourselves, but they were there to help if needed. The food was outstanding! The rooms were outstandingly simple and efficient. The Soggy Dollar on the premises is all you need from a beach bar atmosphere. The mornings and late afternoons were the best. Some days the cruise ships and day-boaters could get the Soggy Dollar hopping. You can meet a lot of interesting people or simply recluse back to your private area and chill. Oh - and the snorkeling off the shore was wonderful!
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*A honeymoon dream come true.* Visited: August 2001
Posted by yenchots
	I've heard many times how wonderful the British Virgin Islands are, but I never thought they could be as great as they are thanks to The Sandcastle on JVD. Bruce, Debby and the rest of the staff were excellent hosts who quickly became friends, as were the other vacationers staying at this resort. My wife and I felt we had the entire White Bay to ourselves. Oliver treated us to unreal dinners night after night, and KC kept the painkillers coming at the bar--even through one full day of tropical storms. I quickly learned there is nothing better than to lie in the hammock looking out over one of the most beautiful beach settings I think I'll ever see. I could have stayed there, doing just that, for weeks on end. The cottages were nice, though it did get warm during the nights when the tradewinds died down. This isn't the place to come to get pampered, and it isn't a tourist trap like many other Caribbean resorts--but if you want relaxation and good company, then The Sandcastle is up there with the best of them.
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*Paradise!* Visited: February 2001
Posted by gingele
	This was my second trip to Sandcastle. Love it, love it, love it. I first traveled here in 1996 as a single woman for 8 days and found it to be the most amazing place. I could not have asked for better hosts (Debby and Bruce), better food, and better company should I look for it. Yet there was perfect peace and quiet, which was what I went for. Arriving via Greg's boat, (much preferred over the ferry from Tortola), I jumped into the beautiful bay to wade/walk up to the beach bar (no dock here, hence the name "Soggy Dollar"!). Kendrick was the wonderful bartender, with a perfect Painkiller or Rum Punch and a game of Mancala. Days were spent in a hammock or lounge chair with a pile of great reading to do. The cottages! Perfect with king-sized bed, outdoor showers, (mosquito coils!) and just enough privacy. The food, oh the food! Big, delicious breakfasts, great lunch at the bar, and amazing multi-course gourmet dinners in the charming open-air dining pavilion, with the lights twinkling and a cold glass of Pinot Grigio or - if feeling particularly indulgent - champagne. Nights were quiet, the stars amazing. Pick a hammock, listen to the ocean, and wait to catch a falling star. I returned to this resort (finally) 5 years later with husband in tow. Again, the trip was incredible and was everything I had remembered. Accommodations were perfect - the rondel cottages were as comfortable as I remembered. (Though I was disappointed to find that electricity had been brought to the cottages!) The outdoor showers are always a treat. Food again was great and the company of the other guests was quite pleasant. If things get too quiet for your tastes - try Foxy's in Great Harbor or Abe's for lobsters in Little Bay. (Call ahead, get a medium or large lobster, and bring your leftovers back to Sandcastle, where they'll keep them cold and make you a fabulous lobster salad sandwich for lunch the next day!) I cannot recommend this place enough. This is paradise for those seeking an out-of-the-way, can't-get-there-from-here experience. You�re treated like long lost friends or family -and many guests here are, returning again and again - as we have and will continue to do so!
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*A resort for relaxation.* Visited: December 2000
Posted by tferry33
	If you want a great vacation with nothing to do but sleep, swim, eat, and enjoy the bar and the sun, this is the place. This was our second year back and we will be back again. There�s great food each night. Take advantage of the seven-day package. We have been to several other islands and this is by far the best. But if you expect to be pampered don't bother coming to Sandcastle. Upon arrival, I got to swim in from the launch that picked us up in West End. Dinner each night had a max of 12 people. Enjoy the day trippers, we met all sorts of folks from all over the world. Debbie and Bruce and their staff are the friendliest and most accommodating we have encountered in the islands.
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*Romantic, beautiful and relaxing!* Visited: August 1999
Posted by Trfrazier
	What a relaxing vacation! Sandcastle is the most relaxing place on earth. White sand beaches, candlelight dinners, snorkeling in crystal blue waters, rum drinks and hamocks. What more could anyone wanting to get away from the hussle and bussle of city life want? The owners are friendly as well as the staff. The food was terrific. Pack light and leave your blowdryer at home. This place is all natural. I stayed at Sandcastle 4 years ago and I am returning in August of 2000. Can't wait to get back to the only relaxing vacation I have ever had!!
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Sandcastle Overview

Access to the Sandcastle is by American Airlines from Puerto Rico to Tortola, or American, Delta or USAir to St. Thomas; then take a ferry to Tortola. From Tortola it's a half-hour small boat trip to the Island of Jost Van Dyke. A good rule of thumb is to...