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 We were not happy with our stay. Visited: March 2005 |
| Posted by berlitzboy |
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Sorry, but this place was a total disappointment. It was very expensive, and the food was just okay. The service was the worst.
If you're not into sailing, there is nothing to do here. It was a long walk to the pool. Also, there was no AC. However, the snorkeling was nice.
We are really not hard to please, but as expensive as this was, I suggest you go to Little Dix Bay. It was ten times nicer!
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| 10 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. |
 A busy and active place with less than great attention to detail. Visited: June 2002 |
| Posted by carltoryl |
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The Bitter End Yacht Club was remote and isolated with great sailing. We enjoyed tooling around North Sound in their Hobie Cats. Their Boston Whalers, though always available, tended to die on us out in the middle of the Sound and their unreliability made them an unappealing choice after the first couple times.
The food was fine, nothing special, but there was always plenty of it. We were on the Admiral's Package, so we tended to eat way too much!
The rooms at the north end of the property (beachfront villas) were truly fabulous and probably the best part of our stay. They were charming and had a spectacular view. They were not air conditioned, but the breezes made them bearable.
The pool was at the far end of the property and the long walk did get old, especially if you plan to spend much time at the pool. The beaches at the resort were nothing special, but you can take a boat anytime you want to Prickly Pear Island across the way, and the beaches there are lovely.
The staff was inconsistent. Some folks were great--we particularly loved the wait staff in the restaurant--but the watersports staff was often unorganized and the boats were in need of repair. The week we were here, they had an international windsufing competition. It was fun to watch, but us regular "guests" tended to feel in the way and many excursions were cancelled or modified.
The daily excursions to other islands and snorkeling trips were lots of fun and a real highlight for our family. Mostly, they could use a better children's program. They advertise as a "family resort", but our three kids under 12 found that there were limited things they could participate in without us.
All in all, we would recommend the Bitter End Yacht Club. It was a spectacular location and if you take the hike up Biras Hill, the views were amazing. The water was warm, clear and full of fish and turtles. The rooms were charming. We just felt they could have been a little more organized and cater to children better. |
| 9 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
 This is the perfect vacation spot. Visited: June 2002 |
| Posted by twruprec |
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We returned to Bitter End for a second visit in two years and loved it even more this time.
They have a huge slate of activities to choose from, all well managed and scheduled. The surroundings are as close to paradise as you'll ever get, and you can be as active as you wish. If you want to lounge on the beach and read, no problem. If you want to snorkel in coral reefs in the morning and take a windsurfing lesson in the afternoon, that's available too.
The day trips to other islands for snorkeling and sightseeing are wonderful. The food they provide on the M/V Corinthian is great (fresh grilled fish or burgers, multiple salads and desserts, etc.). You get to snorkel in the best spots around and see fabulous vistas in the waters and isles of BVI. We thought the food this trip was even better than the last time.
The resort has increased the information they provide you at check-in. Now you get a complete calendar for the week showing all the activity choices and locations. There's so much to do and see, it really helps to plan out your week ahead of time.
Summertime definitely is the kids' season for Bitter End, as it is in many resorts. In my opinion, kids under about nine do not appreciate all they're seeing and doing. Nine and older, however, have an absolute ball ... they understand what a special place Bitter End and the BVI are.
And we're already planning our trip to Bitter End next year ... this time with our 12-year-old daughter. |
| 4 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. |
| A most memorable experience! Visited: October 2001 |
| Posted by ashleymarino |
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While at the Bitter End, we experienced sailing for the first time and loved it! The sailing staff was so informative and very patient. We really enjoyed the sport of sailing but especially the relaxation of it with friends who we met our second day staying there.
Regretfully, we lost their contact information but hope we will one day reunite with them at the Bitter End for our sails around the sound and sunset cocktails! Mary Ann and Ellen-send us an e-mail sometime! Can't wait to go back to the Bitter End soon! |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. |
| Wonderful vacation experience. Visited: September 2001 |
| Posted by kotoole |
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This is in a beautiful location with a friendly, fast and helpful staff in all areas of the facility. There are plenty of opportunities to relax or partake in the numerous day trips, short trips and on-island water activities. It’s small enough so that you can meet a lot of people, but large enough to be on your own if you wish. I'll be going back. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. |
 Property nice, but food not that great Visited: July 2001 |
| Posted by fluffypig |
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The property is very unique in a hillside. Airy rooms, balcony with hammock, high in the hillside with wonderful views. It is, however quite a hike to the rooms up many, many flights of stairs.
It seems very unorganized here. Staff doesn't really seem to know what is going on. The front desk was very rude to me on several occasions. The food is not all that great for the prices you are paying to stay. A lot of children at this resort also. So in the common areas don't expect peace and quiet. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. |
 A beautiful place, but disappointing all the same. Visited: February 2001 |
| Posted by catherine |
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My husband and I were very disappointed with the standard of The Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC). We had lunch here one day after getting off of our cruise ship and were delighted with the setting and some of the staff, as they seemed extremely friendly. However, when we stayed here upon finishing our cruise, we were disappointed. The food, although good for simple dishes at lunchtime, was fairly mediocre and very expensive if you were staying on a room-only basis. Some of the service was rude and unfriendly, particularly at the reception desk. However, some was excellent, making up for everyone else.
The hillside rooms, although extremely spacious, with good views over the harbor were in drastic need of renovating. It was a nightmarish trek getting to them, but necessary because the taxis were nowhere to be found. If walking down at night, be very careful, as the wooden walkways and the roads were very poorly lit. We felt that it was only a matter of time before someone had a serious injury, if it hadn't already happened.
This was a great place for watersports, and snorkeling on the nearby reef. It was also a wonderful place to bring children, but if you are a couple and want some peace and quiet as well as good variety of quality food, this is not the place to be.
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| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Can't wait to go back! Visited: January 2001 |
| Posted by gerberdaz |
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The Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) was our introduction to the Caribbean and what an introduction it was! We usually take skiing vacations in the winter, but friends urged us to join them at the BEYC for a change of pace. The natural beauty of the BEYC and its surroundings captivated us. Our accommodations were nestled on the hillside overlooking the sound, which provided the most incredible views of sunsets from our balcony. Every morning we were greeted by an iguana sunning itself on a rock and every evening we were lulled to sleep by the soothing chirps of tree frogs.
My husband had always wanted to try sailing, and the BEYC was a terrific place for him to learn. After a few lessons, he was zipping around the sound in a Laser. The snorkeling also was incredible. We recommend taking out one of the motorboats and heading over to the reef and the bay just east of the resort. We also enjoyed the snorkeling excursions that were provided by the BEYC. (We were served a great grilled lunch on board.) When we weren't enjoying the water, we were exploring the resort and the trails on the island. Or just hanging at the beach and watching the pelicans dive for fish, which was one of my favorite pastimes. Also, you can't beat the night sky for stargazing. We were wowed by the sudden appearance of a meteor that streaked across the sky.
One of our best memories was hanging out with our friends at the end of each day at the water's edge, drinking Rolita's Lime Daiquiris (delicious), and eating popcorn until it was time for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed every meal: fresh fish, a wonderful salad bar, delicious sweets (my favorite), and my husband's favorite--the seafood salad. The staff at the BEYC was also extremely helpful and made us feel welcome.
Although this was our first trip to the BEYC, it certainly won't be the last. We now are warm-weather winter vacation converts, and look forward to our next BEYC stay.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Beautiful with bite. Visited: December 2000 |
| Posted by ATraveler |
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We stayed five nights and expected to see a lot of green peas and rice, which we read in another review. Actually, we only saw it at three meals out of over a dozen. We did find the grilled swordfish addictive, so we did not take advantage of all the variety that was possible.
While the food was good, the hotel staff were rude to both guests and one another. On the first day, we were read the riot act for attempting to hike to our accommodations, after asking one of the staff how to get there. He pointed us up the hill, so off we went. We were almost there, and the same guy accosted us from a golf cart yelling at us that we were to wait for them to take us to our room and that we could get lost, which was unlikely. Some of the staff was friendly, but those with a friendly demeanor were the exceptions. If you have to ask any questions, be prepared to be dressed down for your ignorance.
We gave three stars because the location was beautiful, demerits because of the rudeness of a few staff members. The food as remarked in some of the reviews here was not five-star, but was ample and there was variety. Again, the swordfish was awesome.
The rooms were fine, not rustic, but not swank. They appeared to have been designed to resemble a ship cabin, but were as roomy as a larger hotel room. The Commodore rooms were quite private and had great views.
This resort is recommended for people with thick skins who will not be fazed by yelling islanders and who do not expect haute cuisine.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Good food and lots to do in this paradise! Visited: December 2000 |
| Posted by ATraveler |
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We loved Bitter End. This was our first trip to the Caribbean, having been avid snow skiers for many years. I researched off and on, via the Web, for about four weeks before we chose Bitter End. We were not disappointed in any way. I surprised my wife with this trip for her "milestone birthday," and we enjoyed a quiet and romantic, yet wonderfully active vacation.
We had read the reviews that criticized the food and the staff. We found the food to be very good, with plenty of variety, and we found the staff to be like anywhere else: 75% of them were very helpful and accommodating and 25% of them had a bit of an attitude. Much of the staff were delightful, responsive, fun, and always willing to help.
We stayed in the Commodore accommodations and found them to be very, very nice. The view from a higher-up vantage point was spectacular, especially in the quiet morning. The air-conditioning, while not necessary, was appreciated a few times.
Our only recommendation to Bitter End was to improve the information they provide at check-in. We were still learning things about meal service options and resort activities four days into our stay, information that was in a color tabloid in the Registration area, but not included in our welcome packet.
Water sports activities were many and varied and we took advantage as best we could during our one-week stay. We would go back to Bitter End in a second, though it unfortunately may be a year before it actually happens.
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| 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. |
| Pleasantly surprised! A very nice place to stay. Visited: September 2000 |
| Posted by soongs |
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My husband and I vacationed here not really knowing what to expect. We had read negative reviews posted on this website and elsewhere and were a little concerned about what we read, but tried to keep an open mind. We ended up being pleasantly surprised.
We had a very nice time and had no problems with customer service. I can certainly see how someone would perceive some of the staff as being "rude." But people have different personalities and those who are reserved can sometimes appear as rude or aloof. However, what goes around comes around and I found that if you greet the staff with a warm smile, friendly demeanor, and treat them with respect—you receive the same.
BEYC is geared more to the active vacationer. Not that you couldn't enjoy a lounge-lizard vacation, but because there was so much available to do, it seemed like a waste if you didn't partake in the activities. We had originally planned to do a lot of reading and lounging, but ended up filling our days with different activities. My favorite was the resort scuba dive; a whole other world was introduced.
The food was from okay and occasionally pretty good. It was never gourmet, but it was certainly never bad either. I would say the food we had at a couple other places was actually better (restaurants at Anegada and at top of Baths), but unless you are a gastronomical die-hard, I think this was minor.
Also, I really enjoyed visiting during the month of September, as there were no crowds anywhere we went. There was a risk of bad weather, but we purchased trip insurance for peace of mind, and it was truly worth it. I think visiting the Baths with hundreds of other tourists versus two to three other people makes a big difference. I would certainly return to vacation here.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| B.E.Y.C is the best vacation I have had! Visited: April 1999 |
| Posted by Boneydog56 |
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I may be 10 years old but I can't wait to bring my own family to Bitter End! This was my second time coming to the Bitter End and it was great, especially with all the boats. Watch out for the sunfish, I flipped one over. I recommend the Hobie Waves.
This was my parents 11th time in the BVI's (that's how good they are), so come on down, pull up a chair and watch the sunset on the hills of Virgin Gorda!
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| My favorite place to stay in the Caribbean Visited: March 1999 |
| Posted by karinp |
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We came here two years in a row, Spring of '98 and Spring of '99, and loved it both times. The only drawback was that it took quite a long time to get here (having to change in Puerto Rico and then take a water taxi from Beef Island airport). Once we were here, the property was just beautiful.
You stay in little villas either by the beach or up on a hillside. We both sail and there was a fleet of boats we could take out any time. There was a sailing staff to teach you if you couldn't sail. Other than sailing, you can go scuba diving, snorkeling or just lounge by any one of the beautiful beaches. There were also daily excursions to nearby islands and rides on the resort's enormous catamaran.
You could dine in one of the two restaurants, both of which were excellent. The resort stretched quite a way around the point so there was a lot of walking. You do get a feeling of privacy if you choose to have it.
The other nice thing about this resort was that in the past two years, we have met some of the nicest and friendly people. I could not reccomend this place enough. The only reason we are not going back this year is that we are taking our two small children with us and it is not a great place for children under seven.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Beautiful resort, horrendous service Visited: November 1999 |
| Posted by ATraveler |
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Although the property and the rooms were phenomenal, and the access to boats, windsurfers, etc. was very convenient, I was greatly disappointed in the food, service and the wait staff at BEYC.
When my boyfriend and I were here, only one restaurant was open which we ate at every night. One would think that because of the all-inclusive dinner portion of this package, the dining staff would be smart enough to include some variety in their food. If I saw the same rice with (yes) peas in it one more time, I was going to flip. This might have been a little more acceptable had there been a smile, a "how was your day today," or even a simple acknowledgement of questions.
On a nightly basis, we witnessed several parties fuming about bad food, late food, food prepared wrong, wrong orders, etc., etc., etc. From the manager of the restaurant to the front desk personnel, we were treated rudely and impersonally.
I will say, however, that the watersports and sailing staff were tremendous--very helpful, friendly and courteous (Becky especially).
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. |
| The most fun we've had on vacation since..? Visited: November 1999 |
| Posted by dbowers |
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We absolutely loved this resort and cannot wait to go back. We almost made reservations for next year before we left the resort! It was the perfect blend of activities and quiet time--really, you could do nothing all week or be on the go nonstop.
The fleet of boats were fabulous. So plentiful, we could not take advantage of them all. The sailing school was great! Thanks Rob and Becky for great lessons!
The grounds, rooms, and atmosphere of the resort were delightful. It was a treat to sit on our very private deck -- at times we had to pull ourselves away to make sure we took advantage of all the resort amenities.
We also liked the variety of dining options. One of the jokes among the guests was that the most difficult decision you made all day was what time to make a reservation for dinner, and in which restaurant. We ate in the main restaurant a few nights, Italian night at the Carvery, and two nights on the dinner cruise. Watching the sun go down over the water with a rum punch was the perfect end to a great day.
We met so many wonderful people at Bitter End, many of whom return year after year. We know we will too!
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| The best resort for people who love water activities Visited: November 1999 |
| Posted by rmlien |
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My wife and I have been going to The Bitter End yearly since 1981 when we discovered this lovely spot. Our children were in college at that time and enjoyed the water activities during their school breaks. Since that time, we have recently been taking our entire family for a three-generation vacation.
Each year we go to The Bitter End we renew friendships with people that we have met over the years on previous trips. It has also been fun to watch members of the staff grow through the years and perform more responsible jobs. I was surprised to read comments from people that they were treated rudely by the staff. I have never seen an incident like that happen while we stayed here. Any time there has been a problem with anything, it has always been taken care of by the management, especially Mary Jo Ryan.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
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| Bitter End is a "rollicking nautical village" with 87 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. ... |
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