FAQ's for The Pink House Beachfront Villas on Jost Van Dyke…

Pink House Villas are private vacation residences located on the eastern corner of famous White Bay beach on the island of Jost Van Dyke (JVD) in the British Virgin Islands ("BVI's"). They are about 6 miles north of St. Thomas, 5 miles northwest of Tortola and 60 miles east of Puerto Rico. Although Jost van Dyke is British (and you'll need a passport), the local currency is the US Dollar. The local time in the BVIs is Atlantic Standard time, the same as US Eastern Standard time in the summer and one hour ahead in the winter.

There are a number of options:
By far the easiest and quickest way to reach us is with Dolphin Water Taxi. They meet Pink House guests right at the Dolphin counter at St Thomas bag claim with free beer, water, and local area rum shots for a quick transfer here. Dolphin's land transfer to red hook and to a water taxi standing by ready to go direct to Great Harbor JVD. Total trip time 90min, approximate cost is $128 per person each way + $65 per person Int'l processing fees for entry. Text 340-774-2628 with any questions about the VIP service, or click here to make your reservation now.

Dolphin Can also be used for day trips throughout the BVI while you are enjoying your stay. Fly to Beef Island, Tortola, BVI. Take a 30-minute taxi ride to "West End" and the ferry When or Paradise Express to Great Harbour, JVD. Fly to St. Thomas, USVI. Take the ferry directly from downtown Charlotte Amalie to JVD on certain days or connect through West End, Tortola. You can also obtain ferries from "Red Hook" St. Thomas and the Inter-Island ferry to Great Harbour, JVD. Fly to St. Thomas and taxi to Red Hook, then either arrange a private taxi through our concierge service, a partner company such as Dolphin Water Taxi or rent a boat* for transportation over to Pink House Villas that can be used throughout your stay.
*Although there is no dock on White Bay, there is a mooring buoy and you may anchor. Transportation information can be found on sites such as www.bvitourism.com. The ferry schedule to get to and from JVD as well as other islands can be found www.newhorizonferry.com as well as at www.bestofbvi.com.

Ferry transport to Jost Van Dyke costs vary by Ferry company but typically range from about $120 to $170 per person. Buying a round trip tickets will save you time & usually offer a discounted price.
Additional fees of $10-$20 may be charged per bag depending on weight.
To get the most up to date pricing for ferry service to JVD contact us at +1 340-201-4976 or info@jostvandyke.com for ferry travel sailing from Saint Thomas.

Arrival by air from St. Thomas (STT):
Fly to St. Thomas and take the ferry to Road Town Tortola or West End Tortola, and then the ferry from West End to Jost Van Dyke.
You should plan on arriving to STT no later than 2:30 pm in order to catch the 5:00pm ferry from Red Hook St.
Thomas to West End Tortola and then West End to last daily Jost van Dyke New Horizons ferry at 6:00 pm

Once you arrive at your ferry dock, depending on schedule & Ocean conditions the estimated travel time to Jost Van dyke by ferry is 50 minutes from the Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas ferry dock to the Road Town Tortola ferry terminal, and approximately 15 minutes from West End Tortola to Jost Van Dyke. Departures from STT airport:
Flights must be after 3:30 pm in order to have enough time to get to the airport at the 3-hour suggested advance time. Arrival by air from Tortola (Beef Island EIS):

• - There are no time restraints when landing at EIS
• - Departing flights should be booked no earlier than 11am

Getting from Tortola to Jost Van Dyke
Once you arrive in Tortola and clear Customs, you will take a taxi (approx. $30/person) to West End. There is a ferry to Jost Van Dyke (New Horizon ferry) leaving at 8am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 6pm.

Yes, you need a valid passport to visit Jost Van Dyke, including US & UK citizens. The BVI are part of the British Commonwealth.
Make sure that your passport is not within 6 months of expiration before for your travel dates.

An international customs fees of $65 per person is levied to enter the BVI which is typically charged at your port of entry (Road Town, West End Tortola, or Great Harbour JVD).
Although, these fees may vary based on Sundays, holiday, overtime, and number of passengers. Additionally, your private water taxi Captain may charge each guest.
You will be responsible for paying what the customs officers actually charge.
The total fees you may be charged are per person and also vary based on the following criteria:

• Vessel Entry Customs and Immigration, document, processing fees (based on size of vessel and number of passengers)
• BVI cruising permit
• BVI Environmental and Tourism Levy
• BVI Wharfage and dockage
• BVI National Park Fee- VI Search & Rescue (VISAR)

There is a per person customs fee that ranges from $25 to $40. Every visitor to the USVI 21 years of age or older may bring in, free of duty, the following: (1) 1 liter of wine or hard liquor; (2) 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco; and (3)$800 worth of gifts. These exemptions are offered to travelers who spend at least 72 hours in the United States and who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months. It is altogether forbidden to bring into the country certain foodstuffs (particularly fruit, cooked meats, and canned goods) and plants (vegetables, seeds, tropical plants, and the like). Foreign tourists may carry in or out up to $10,000 in U.S. or foreign currency with no formalities; larger sums must be declared to U.S. Customs on entering or leaving. For details regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection, consult U.S. Customs (tel. 800/232-5378; www.cbp.gov). Then from the U.S.V.I. to the states, U.S. citizens can bring back $1600 worth of goods duty-free. That can include 5 liters of liquor, plus an extra liter of rum (including Cruzan rum) if one of the bottles is produced in the Virgin Islands. Be sure to collect receipts for all purchases in the Virgin Islands and beware of merchants offering to give you a false receipt -- he or she might be an informer to U.S. Customs. Also, keep in mind that any gifts received during your stay must be declared. For the most up-to-date specifics on what you can bring back from the BVI and the corresponding fees, go to www.cbp.gov. (Click on "Travel").
Note that visitors to the BVI can bring in food, with the exception of meat products that are not USDA-approved. Visitors can bring up to $10,000 in currency and 1liter of alcohol per person.

Everywhere on Jost Van Dyke is within easy walking distance but for faster transportation to Great Harbour, the Pink House or the Ferry dock there are several options.

Taxi's can be found in Great Harbour and around the ferry dock. To schedule a taxi, if you have an off island excursion or early morning departure, call at least a day or two ahead of time to schedule pickup. The best way to arrange taxi service is to reach out to one of Jost Van Dyke's wonderful taxi drivers directly.

There are a number of ways to provision the house for your stay.

• Bring groceries from home. We use banana boxes from our local grocery store or an extra suitcase to pack groceries, then bring them along as checked baggage. Frozen foods travel well.
• Shop on the way from the airport to the ferry. On both St. Thomas and Tortola there are grocery stores which will probably meet your needs. Cost-U-Less, Marina Market, and Kmart are on St. Thomas and Rite Way is on Tortola. Rite Way's website is www.rtwbvi.com and you can order your groceries online and work with our property manage to assist you in provisioning the villas prior to your arrival.

While you can purchase many everyday items on Jost, there are no large supermarkets. There is a small grocer in Great Harbour: JVD Grocery for supplemental items and alcohol as well as Christine's Bakery for fresh baked treats.

• Tons of sunscreen. You are in the tropics - even those of us lacking fair complexions burn rather quickly.
  To help protect our fish & coral we recommend Reef Friendly sunscreen
• Insect repellent. We especially like to burn the green coils which are available almost anywhere.
• Pharmacy items including peroxide, bandages and antibacterial cream.
• Snorkel gear. There may be some in the house, but they may not be the proper size.
• Your own music. We have our own favorites- nothing beats a little George Winston and a gin/tonic at sunset, Frank Sinatra with a candlelit dinner, or some Winton Marsallis with lunch!

Pack very lightly… you may never put on more than a bathing suit and sarong or shorts and a T-shirt!

There are retail shops and boutiques selling clothing, t-shirts, jewelry, beach stuff, souvenirs, etc on Jost Van Dyke. Shops are typically associated with bars and restaurants such as Foxy’s and Soggy Dollar (a short stroll down the beach). These shops sell branded and useful vacation & souvenir items to purchase. JVD Scuba offers rentals for snorkeling, SUP, fishing & and has a retail shop for souvenirs and water sports equipment.

Off Island: Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas is a well-known for tax-free and duty-free shopping, especially jewelry. Many cruise ships dock in Charlotte Amalie for that very reason. Tortola also has excellent retail shopping areas in both Road Town and West End. Both of these locations are accessible via the ferry for a fun day trip!

Yes. It is especially safe on Jost Van Dyke. The beaches & few roads tend to be lightly traveled most of the time. Like any destination, there can be a few unhappy residents or tourists. As with any place, always use common sense, be vigilant when walking in less touristy or unknown areas. Tortola and St. Thomas are generally safe, especially during the daytime.

Absolutely! Colin Aldrige is our property manager and can help you with virtually any detail. His phone number is 757-287-2731 or 284.443.2222 and email is info@jostvandykescuba.com. Colin will be your on-island contact; he can orient you and answer any questions you may have. Be sure to call Colin a week or two before your trip to confirm your arrival time.

There is a full time nurse on JVD, and hospitals on both Tortola and St. Thomas. In event of a medical emergency contact the clinic or the police (495.9345) on JVD.

The phone number at the house is 284-495-9441. To call long distance, dial "111" then use a credit card. Calls to the United States will be international calls. Most cellular companies offer service - check with your provider to be sure. Colin's phone number to use in the event of an emergency is 757-287-2731 or 284-443-2222.

White Bay weather is consistently beautiful. The Caribbean days are sunny and comfortable at 80 degrees. You will enjoy crystal clear water that is as calm as your bath. At night the star-filled sky and 70-degree air is perfect for a stroll on the beach.
The current weather forecast for Jost Van Dyke and the British Virgin Islands can be found at: Weather.com