The Tides is a 3 story condominium building on the beach at Little Apple Bay comprising High Tide (www.vrbo.com/3274934), Spring Tide (www.vrbo.com/3713149), and Apple Tide (www.vrbo.com/3712956).
This listing is for Apple Tide on the ground floor. In addition to the large terrace that is found at each condo, AppleTide benefits from the private Sandy area and the deck area on the sea wall.
Each condo is 2 bed/2bath with a full kitchen, and a large outside terrace with gas bbq/grill and has outside seating and a large dining table.
High Tide is the top floor. Spring Tide is the middle floor. Both have large terraces with an outside sitting area and a large dining table.
Apple Tide is on the ground floor - it has the same (slightly larger) terrace as High Tide & Spring Tide, but also has a private (but not secluded) raised beach area and a sun deck right above the sea. The quoted rate is for two person occupancy, and there is a modest surcharge for a third and fourth person. Given that the condos are often rented by two persons this seemed a better way to deal with the rate because VRBO does not allow both a two person, and a four person rate to be quoted.
You will be delighted by the stunning sea views from the terraces - which are less than 10 feet from the water. You can see out to Jost Van Dyke and along the North Shore of Tortola, and watch the surfers and the sea life. The location is perfect for surfers as the Apple Bay reef provides good surfing - in particular from November to April when the northern swells roll in. All year round swimming is beautiful at Smugglers Cove, and, depending on the sea conditions, you can swim with the surfers at Little Apple Bay and Apple Bay. Surf board hire can be arranged with www.bviwatertoys.com who are in Sopers Hole.
The coast line is relatively flat - ideal for walking and discovering Long Bay, Smugglers Cove and the North Shore. There are several restaurants and bars within 15 minutes walking distance. Try Sebastian’s (2 mins), Tropical Fusion (15 mins walk over a short but steepish hill), Long Bay Hotel (15 mins walk over the same short but steepish hill) and the two restaurants at the Sugar Mill (10 mins along the flat coast). A little further past the Sugar Mill and with fabulous views is D'Coal Pot. The restaurants in Cane Garden Bay, West End, and Road Town are all relatively short drives/taxis away.
You may want to rent a car for at least some of your stay so you can explore the rest of Tortola - small/medium jeeps are ideal and readily available .There is dedicated on-site parking for each condo. Don't forget your driving licence and a credit card (credit cards are preferred for car rental - debits cards are taken virtually everywhere else). Details of rental car companies appear below.
The Tides is a 7 minute drive from the delightful Sopers Hole, West End with its shops, marina, ferry port and restaurants - including Pussers, the Admiral Bar and Omar's coffee shop and Sand Spit restaurant. Cane Garden Bay (best avoided on days when there is a cruise ship in Road Town) is a 15 minute drive away. If you do go to Cane Garden bay when a cruise ship is in ,then head to the quieter end of the beach and Indigo Beach House (closed Mondays ). Bananakeet Cafe and Stoutts lookout 8 mins away on the way to Cane Garden Bay, are beautiful spots to have a cocktail and watch the sun go down. If you want to eat in Road Town The Dove is a good choice and further East Brandy Wine restaurant is well recommended.
Road Town (the capital of the BVI) is a 25 minute drive.
The airport at Beef Island (EIS) is a 55 minute drive.
It is easy to visit the other Islands in the BVI and to get to and from St Thomas in the USVI.
The port at Sopers Hole, West End has regular ferries (New Horizon Ferries)to Jost Van Dyke - with fabulous beach bars including Foxy's, the Soggy Dollar and Hendo's) and to St Thomas (with its airport (STT) providing services to numerous US cities).
Hannah Marina (20 minute drive) has a regular ferry to Norman Island.(see piratesbight.com for ferry schedule - reservation only).
The port in Road Town has ferries to Virgin Gorda (for the Baths and North Sound), Anegada and St Thomas.
Trellis Bay (next to the airport) has ferries to Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Scrub Island.
You can visit Cooper island by ferry from Hodge’s Creek (reservation only contact sailcaribbeandivers.com). The ferry to Marina Cay (marina-cay.com) goes from Trellis (at 45 minutes past the hour) or Scrub Island (at 30 minutes past the hour).
Please always check ferry timetables and reservation requirements because they change from time to time.
You can also visit all of those islands, and the islands not served by a ferry, on your own day charter. There are day sailing and motorboat trips, deep sea fishing trips, and scuba/snorkel dive trips available.
Fishing on island isn’t straightforward and requires a permit. https://www.laststopsports.com/Fishing_License_Permit_Tortola_BVI.htm will help you with that . A good option is to organise a deep sea fishing trip. https://baddogcharters.com/https:// or www.saltshakerbvi.com/ offer trips. If you are interested in a guided hike look at hikebvi.com.
The Tides at Little Apple Bay is a great choice to stay and discover these beautiful British Virgin Islands.
There is a fibre optic connection to the internet - which is then distributed wirelessly in each unit. The wireless signal is typically strong enough to stream sports and/or films so bring your tablet or laptop if you would like to watch TV.
Additional Useful information
Travelling to The British Virgin Islands your port of arrival will be either (i) Beef Island airport (EIS), (ii) Road Town Port , Tortola (flights to St Thomas USVI, then ferry from Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook in St Thomas), or (iii) West End Port, Tortola (flights to St Thomas USVI, then ferry to West End from Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook, in St Thomas).
The closest entry point to the The Tides is West End Port. You can easily get a taxi to the apartments, or meet one of the local rental car firms based in West End who will take you to their office nearby , sort out the paperwork and you can drive the 10 minute easy journey to The Tides.
If you arrive at Road Town Port or Beef Island Airport you can get a taxi, or arrange with a rental car company to meet you at the port/airport and pick your car up. Depending on which rental company and length of rental you may need to pay a pick up and drop off fee at the airport.
We suggest pre- booking your departure ferry to St Thomas (if you leave via that route) as the ferries seem to have become quite busy
Remember, we drive on the left hand side in the BVI.
The south shore from Beef Island to West End is pretty flat - pretty much the only flat road in the BVI. You need to go over Zion Hill to get to The Tides on the north shore. The rest of the north shore roads are much more hilly with some good bends and steep hills but concrete or tarmac surfaces.
Several of the beaches, including Smugglers Cove, have hard packed gravel access roads so a 4 wheel drive car will make your driving more enjoyable - the height off the road is often more important that the 4 wheel drive.
Both Road Town Port and Beef Island Airport have taxi stands. Hotels and restaurants will call you a taxi. Be mindful that in this part of the world the taxi fare is often per person and can be quite expensive, and they take cash not credit/debit cards. If you like a particular taxi driver, take his card and he will almost certainly be happy to pick you up again. The taxi drivers often tell great stories about the BVI - your task is to distinguish between the truth and the entertaining fiction.
West End based Car Rental
Jerrys Car Rental (jerryscarrentalbvi.com )
Denzil Clyne Jeep Rentals (dcrentalbvi.com )
Sopers Hole Car Rental ( sopersholecarrentals.com)
Road Town based car rental
Esme's Car Rentals (esmerentals9@gmail.com) - directly opposite the port.
Aaron's Car Rental - a ten minute walk from the port, but they will pick you up at the port
Maria's by the Sea Car Rental - a five minute walk, but they will also pick up you up at the port. Said car rentals +1 284 542 5232
Road Town and Beef Island airport based car rental
Enterprise Car Rentals
National car Rentals
Avis Car Rentals
Alamo Car Rentals
Please note that in High Season the smaller and medium size jeeps (typically Suzukis etc) often get booked so do not leave your car rental booking until the last minute.
Restaurants can get busy too so bookings are advisable a few days in advance.
There is a wealth of information about the BVI , day trips , ferries on bvitourism.com
