Bitter End Yacht Club

The new Beachfront Bungalows at the BEYC restore its spot as a premier fun and family resort in the BVI, if vastly smaller, but more on that later. The vibe remains chill, the water sports options still seem endless, the staff is always smiling, and the Caribbean-chic Beach Bungalows both honor the windward-side rooms of old (29N/S was my family‘s favorite for 20+ years) and finally launch the resort back into the shoreside-stay future, past the 2017 CAT5 destruction of hurricane Irma, and closer to its freewheeling, nautical-paradise vibe of the last 50 years. First, the new bungalows. There are only 4 of them and whispers of plans for 10 more, up the windward-side, over the next few years. Too long for that expansion in my view. Book early for they are really good and will be hard to get. Situated 10 feet off the beach, not quite around the corner from Watersports, they are a rectangle bedroom/sitting room of varnished wood, high peaked ceiling and big picture windows to the blue and turquoise sea. Simple, classic and wonderful—-and not overdone. Behind the comfortable air conditioned bedroom sits the stone accented bathrooms, leading to the louvered-to-the-sea shower, and then, through a teak looking door, to the outside shower, my favorite. I was out there, under Orion‘s belt, each evening. The new tankless hot water supply kept up perfectly. Second, Watersports, the historic fulcrum around which this resort rotates, is still really good, even if diminished from the heyday of old. The Hobie Getaways (2) and Waves (4) are always rigged and ready. And if you are like Courtney, my wife of 31 years, after sailing there is a book and a Bakus lemon-crush, or a perfect missionary downfall, served on the sand. That Bakus is a resort treasure. Windsurfers are there, plus new wing and foil options, which I gotta learn next time. For flat days, SUP‘s and kayaks and the like are around. Because the resort’s room count is vastly smaller, the trimaran, Parranda, Is gone, as is the big day-excursion boat, the Ponce de Leon, and the wonderfully fun Kinto‘s – super-snorkel, three-pack of stops, is but twice a week. Hopefully it comes back daily soon, for Kinto, and the places he takes you, are also resort treasures. My 20-year-old, Susan, loved being on his ample shoulders, 17 or so years ago. Kinto embodies the best of a friendly group of staff: happy, helpful, and always smiling, as if to say: don’t you want to move here too? ….Yes, I say “yes“, though my lawyer work can’t stretch that far once reality set back in. Third, the heart of a great resort is it’s people, and the BEYC has always had a wonderful and friendly group, nowadays led by Nick and Gemma in Watersports, Bakus at the Beach Boat bar, Yolanda at the restaurant, Eva at the shop, Alisha at the front, and Kinto for snorkel adventures. We lost Winston last year, maker of the iconic BEYC Key lime pie, but his nephew carries it forward. Don’t miss that pie, and Eva always keeps a coupl

The Bitter End is coming back from the devastation of hurricanes about 7 years ago. The old facilities were destroyed and the restaurant and bars are new. They have a limited number of rooms for guests, but are quickly expanding capacity. I have never stayed at the hotel, but did recently enjoy a meal there, and can recommend the dining facilities. My trips to North Sound have always been while sailing the USVI/BVI waters and the North Sound is a logical stay over for anyone heading to Anegada.

Bitter End has done a nice job with their rebuild after the Irma hurricane. The beach bungalows are amazing. Food was outstanding. Samantha took such great care of us at The Clubhouse restaurant. She is an outstanding server and the food was the best we had in Virgin Gorda.