Tel: 1 (246) 434 3434 E-mail: info@skyviews.com
The British Virgin Islands General Information
BUSINESS HOURS:
Commercial: Mon - Fri 8.00 am - 4.30 pm Sat 8.00 am - 12.00 noon. Many of the shops have longer opening hours and many are open all day Saturday too.
Banks: Mon- Fri: 9.00 am - 3.30 pm. Closed at weekends.
CLIMATE: The average temperature is 83° F (29°C) with little seasonal variation. The wet season lasts from June to December.
COMMUNICATIONS: Cable & Wireless (British Virgin Islands) provides a range of reliable services including cardphones, payphones and credit card calling facilities. Caribbean Cellular Telephone "Boatphone" offers a cellular phone service allowing you to keep in touch whether on a boat, in a hotel or on the road. VHF radio is also a widely used and Tortola & Virgin Gorda Radio can patch radio transmissions into the phone lines.
CURRENCY: The US$ Dollar is the accepted currency, as are travellers' cheques. Travellers' cheques incur a stamp duty of 10¢ a time. Major Credit cards are accepted on the larger islands like Tortola and Virgin Gorda. It is best to carry cash to the smaller islands as in most cases they will not accept credit cards.
DRESS CODE: Casual dress is normal although some hotels and restaurants require 'elegantly casual' in the evenings. Please ensure to cover up if you are venturing into the shops from the beach.
ELECTRICITY: Both 110 Volts and 208 Volts are supplied throughout the islands.
LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: The British Virgin Islands are grouped tightly together on the northern tip of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. Tortola is located 18 degrees 26 Minutes North, 64 Degrees 40 Minutes West. Virgin Gorda is located 18 Degrees 25 Minutes North, 64 Degrees 25 Minutes West. These two islands rise steeply out of the sea to around 1500 feet despite being only 10-15 miles in length. The smaller islands have similar relief enabling one island to be seen clearly from the next making it ideal for cruising.
NIGHTLIFE: Take a look around the local bars and hotels as they provide a range of entertainment.
PERMITS: There is a daily tax for cruising in the BVI waters. Payments for a cruising permit can be made at point of clearance or at the start of a charter, if you are embarking on one. If you intend to fish in BVI waters, you will also need a recreational fishing permit obtainable from the Fisheries Department. They can be reached at 1 (284) 494 3429
SUN TANNING TIPS: Always have sunblock at the ready, as even on overcast days as you can easily become badly sunburnt and spoil your holiday. Try to get a sunblock that is water resistant as it is tedious to continually keep reapplying suntan creme every time you get out of the water. For those travelling on boats the need for sunblock is especially great; you've got very little shade and the consistent breezes may well make you feel that your skin is not burning. Pack a decent sized hat - preferably one that protects the back of you neck as well as your face. If going on a boat, make sure you have one that fits tightly around your head, or one with a chinstrap otherwise it will end up in the water. Avoid the intense mid-day sun if you can; this is when you are most likely to get sunburnt. Remember, build your tan slowly as a nasty bout of sunburn will put you out of action for a few days.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Festival Tuesday Festival Wednesday |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boxing Day |
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TOURIST INFORMATIONTel: 1 (284) 494 3134
| Skyviews.com | BVI | Getting There | General Information | BVI's History | Places To See | Want To Go Diving? | Yachting Information | National Parks In BVI | Other BVI Links |
©
2007 Website created by Skyviews Inc.