Carol Vanterpool made our Tortola experience memorable. We stayed at Turtle Dove cottages in 1999 and found that her care in maintaining extremely clean, well decorated, comfortable accommodations is evident. And, she provided wireless Internet at our convenience. Turtle Dove Cottages are absolutely our most favorite place to stay in the last ten years. The view, the comfortable ambiance, the ownership and management are memorable.

This was my second stay with Carol at Turtle Dove Lodge. Last year, I had stayed in the Oleander (see my other review). At that time (Feb 06), Carol had just purchased the Chai House and was in the process of renovating it. Based on what I saw that time, I couldn't wait to come back and rent it. This year, my fiance and I returned and was lucky enough to stay in the Chai House--the only problem with it is we are now so spolied, that anywhere we stay on our honeymoon will pale in comparison.

The Chai house is exceptional. There is a 270 degree view from the house, wrap around porches (both from the bedroom and off of the living room), you are king/queen of the hill (located at the top, this is clearly the "master" cottage), there are cathedral ceilings with floor to ceiling windows, and VIEWS VIEWS VIEWS. The first day we were there, it rained all day, but frankly, we didn't mind. We sat on the couch and read all day while looking out over seemingly endless ocean and islands. The high vantage point and the huge windows made us feel like we were floating above the water. When the rain finally ended, we actually didn't feel like leaving the house!

The inside is extremely well equipped (stainless steel modern kitchen, huge bedrooom with new king bed, absolutely amazing shower build right into the local bedrock....you feel like you are showering in a stream!!!). Plus, the walls are decorated beautifully and tastefully (Carol's forte really). Chai really is the theme. Also adorning the walls are Carol's wonderful photographs (she has photographed for Nat Geographic). See my pictures for more.

All this for an incredibly reasonable price (much much cheaper than the crammed Long Bay Resort just down the hill).

Writing this is only making me yearn for that house again! Thank you Carol for providing one of the most memorable weeks I have ever had while vacationing!

We honeymooned on Tortola in 2001 and wanted to return for our 5th anniversary. We remembered another couple had stayed at the Turtle Dove and so we looked it up (because it's not listed in 90% of the travel guides). We're so glad we did!

Turtle Dove is a small collection of guest cottages built up on the hillside overlooking Apple Bay and Long Bay. We stayed in the Guavaberry cottage, which was right off the small (3-4 cars max) parking area (i.e., no climb up the hill to get to the front door). The cottage featured a porch that wrapped around the corner of the building, with sweeping views of the island. Absolutely stunning. We could watch surfers in the water at Apple Bay and see over to Jost Van Dyke as the sailors accumulated for the big Foxy's bash. The cottage was smartly decorated in island style, featuring several of owner Carol Vanderpools' original art pieces. No AC, but many ceiling fans and good breezes.

The cottage had a full kitchen, which was great. We picked up breakfast food, snacks, and beverages at the grocery store and ate on the porch in the mornings. Carol had greeted us with a lovely bottle of wine. All linens, beach towels and a clothesline were provided. The bed was comfy, and the cottage was fully equipped with cable TV, DVD player with an assortment of recent releases, and a desktop computer with broadband internet access. At first I goraned at the thought of using the computer on vacation in Tortola, but I must admit that we fired it up once or twice to get restaurant phone numbers.

If you stay there, make sure you rent a car with four-wheel drive, because the steep road up the hill requires it.

We loved our stay and hope to return for another visit!

We stayed at the Flamboyant Cottage from July 20-23, 2005. Upon our arrival, Carol had welcomed us with a bottle of wine in addition to several thoughtful amenities. The view of Long Bay was spectacular and during our brief stay, we were able to catch an awesome sunset. It is best to rent a 4-wheel drive since the road to the Flamboyant is very steep. The detached unit is always nice since you can enjoy complete privacy. The flowers that surround the cottage add to the ambience of the Flamboyant. One thing to consider is that there is no air-conditioning, and during July it can become quite warm.

We planned our trip to Tortola around the full moon so we could experience the "Full Moon Party" at Bomba's. It is an experience that should be had once, however, is overrated (especially the mushroom tea)!

We got tipped on the best place to buy seafood (from a previous couple that stayed there). If you're going to cook on the grill or use the kitchen, Go to Sailor's Ketch. It's in the east end bay at the marina (close to the Airport). They supply all the restaurants on the BVIs with seafood. Buy it there and get it cheaper than in a restaurant.

We liked the general location of where we stayed on the west end of the island. Be aware, that all native island drivers tend to tailgate and drive fast, so to lower the stress level and your road rage, be prepared to pull over a lot to let them by.

Joshua Bay Beach on the northeast end of the island was the best we found. No one was there, and it's a nice curved strip of sand a mile long. Least favorite was Cane Garden Bay Beach - OK but it was very crowded when the cruise ships were docked in Road Town. Overall, we had a great time here and would book it again.