We have been to Tortola about fifteen times -- but who's counting? -- and stayed at Mongoose Apartments in Cane Garden Bay for all but two of those trips. The owners, Sandra and Ellie Henley, have built and maintained an environment which, to our minds, is absolutely perfect.

If you require traditional five-star luxury, then stop reading, However, if you travel to relax completely into your surroundings, you will love your Mongoose experience. It is indeed luxurious, but the luxury is outdoors, in the beautiful gardens, the warm breezes, the wonderful night sounds, and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Tortolans are lovely people and Sandra and Ellie epitomize the best. They are warm but reserved, striking the perfect balance between being present and helpful, while never intrusive.

The Moongoose accommodations are immaculate, spacious and airy, the beds large and comfortable, and the apartment is thoughtfully stocked with anything one might need to live well for whatever the length of the stay, even to coolers in several sizes for picnicking on the beaches.

We brought friends along for their first visit to the island three years ago, and they decided to be married during their stay. We all enjoyed their honeymoon immensely! They would return in a heartbeat.

Tortola is small, and easily explored with a four-wheel drive rental car. Attractions include Road Town, Mount Sage, and more gorgeous beaches than can be believed.

We've often said that, if we ever were to run our own guest house, we would emulate the Henleys; Mongoose would be our model.

Go to the Mongoose website to contact Mongoose, view photos of the property, and of Cane Garden Bay: www.mongooseapartments.com

We plan to return for as long as we're able!

My husband and I really liked this place. The units were large, very clean and had everything you would need. We eat lunch/dinner out on vacation, but it was nice to have a kitchen to toast a bagel for breakfast and a refrigerator to keep drinks cold. We also liked the fact that this is an apartment as opposed to a hotel room or a studio. It is nice to have the bedroom separate from the living area, in case one person wants to stay up and watch tv and the other wants to go to bed. We liked Cane Garden Bay. After driving around the whole island, we didn't see any place we would have rather stayed. Cane Garden Bay has a nice long beach and several restaurants in walking distance. There is also a grocery store and a laundromat, so basically everything you need is there. One thing that I thought set this property apart from others that I saw was the beach area. The building is not directly on the beach, but it is a very short walk away. At the beach, Sandra has lounges and kayaks for use. Aside from a couple of small hotels that are right on the beach, I didn't see any other properties that offered a beach area with chairs like the Mongoose did. Without this, you would need to rent chairs and would probably have to sit in the busier very crowded area of the beach, where the cruise shippers are. Overall, we were very pleased with Mongoose Apartments and thought Sandra was very friendly and helpful. If we return to Tortola, we will definitely stay here.

Just had 3 days at Mongoose pre-sailing in the islands. The perfect start - Sandra and Elroy are great hosts and helped in so many little ways, including returning my glasses. The new apartment was great - best night's sleep in years. short walk to the beach and all the usual beds etc available. Cane Garden Bay is great - excellent food and beverage nearby and great beach. Thanks - we will return as I suspect have plenty of others.

My husband and I stayed at the Mongoose Apartments near the end of May 2010. We loved it. The place was very clean and roomy. We loved that we had a full kitchen, so that we could eat some meals in - as the food is pretty pricey in the BVI. Sandra provides everything that you need during your stay and is very friendly and accomodating. Cane Garden Bay beach is about a 2 minute walk from Mongoose Apartments. It is great for snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. We saw turtles, lots of fish and a shipwreck while snorkeling there. We did rent a car - which I recommend if you want to go check out some of the other awesome beaches. The beaches were never crowded. We loved Brewers Bay, Smugglers Cove and Cane Garden Bay for snorkeling. Long Bay Beach(near Smugglers Cove) had awesome waves, while the other Long Bay Beach near the airport was great for crystal clear blue waters and white sands. Josiah Bay is great for collecting sea shells and watching the waves crash in.