GETTING HERE
Getting Here: You can fly into our island airport at Beef Island (code: EIS) from San Juan (Puerto Rico) with Air Sunshine, American Eagle, Cape Air, Caribbean Sun or LIAT; from Antigua, St. Kitts or St. Marteen with Caribbean Star, LIAT, or WinAir. You can also fly into St. Thomas, USVI and take a scenic ferry boat ride (Native Son, Nubian Princess or Smith’s) to the ferry terminal at West End, Tortola. A forty minute taxi ride from Beef Island and a fifteen minute taxi ride from West End brings you to Cane Garden Bay and Mongoose Apartments. We can arrange for a personal taxi driver to meet you at the airport upon request. Pack a bathing suit, a change of clothes and personal items in a carry-on bag as luggage arrival is sometimes delayed. Dress is casual and modest.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
To enter the BVI you will need proof of citizenship – passport is best – and a return ticket.

VEHICLE RENTALS
One rental agency is within easy walking distance of the Mongoose; the others will pick you up free of charge and take you to their office to fill in the paperwork. We recommend the rental of a four wheel drive vehicle as this capability is necessary in order to visit some locations on the island plus the terrain is extremely hilly and can be slippery after a light shower. Note: we do drive on the left hand side of the road.

To drive legally, you require a BVI driver’s license. This requires proof of a valid driver’s license from a recognized jurisdiction and a small fee ($10). Licenses can be obtained from the vehicle rental agencies or from the Licensing Department in Road Town.

PHONE CALLS
There are public pay phones which use Cable & Wireless Calling cards and some accept AT&T calling cards. Upon arrival you may seek permission from Elroy or Sandra Henley to use the office telephone for local calls and to make credit card or collect cards. Please note that 800 and other toll free numbers are not free calls in the BVI; therefore, these numbers can not be direct dialed on the office telephone. Most Cellular phones do not work on the BVI unless they are authorized by CCT Boatphone.

INTERNET
There are internet cafes throughout the island. Mongoose Apartments plans to have internet access in the office, for the guests to use, by the winter of 2004/2005.

ELECTRIC POWER
Electric power is standard North American 117v 60 Hz and uses the standard North American 15 amp plug.

RESTAURANTS
Quito’s Gazebo, Big Banana, Rhymer’s, Stanley’s, The Elm, Netties, Myett’s and De Wedding are all beach restaurants/bars within easy walking distance from the Mongoose. All serve lunch and dinner and some serve breakfast. They also have evening entertainment most evenings.

PROVISIONS
There is now a Bobby’s Market Place in easy walking distance (and they do free pick up/delivery if you choose to not walk). This is a North American style supermarket, fully stocked with food and drink, open every day from 7:00am-10:00pm. There are also two local bakeries, Miss Elaine and BestKakes. Or if you wish, you may make a trip to Road Town and shop at RiteWay/Cash and Carry. Remember we are an island where everything is imported, so prices do tend to be higher than some are accustomed to.

CREDIT CARDS/CURRENCY
The U.S. dollar is the local currency. Many, but not all, establishments accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and/ or Discover. Most establishments accept traveller’s cheques when making a purchase.

SNORKELLING/OTHER ISLAND VISITS
There is snorkelling on Tortola in Cane Garden Bay, Smuggler’s Cove, Brewer’s Bay and Long Bay, Beef Island. Or, take a ferry boat to Jost van Dyke (leaves daily from West End; sometimes a water taxi is possible from Cane Garden Bay), Virgin Gorda (leaves daily from Road Town) or the US Virgin Islands (leaves daily from West End). Take a day sail/boat to an uninhabited island for beautiful snorkelling/diving (leaves from West End or Road Town). Fly to tranquil Anegada (Clair Aero leaves from Beef Island on M, W, F, and Sunday) for fabulous snorkelling and lobster lunch.

For a total change of pace, if you wish to go fishing/canoeing/swimming/relaxing in New York State, visit our friends, Gary and Lee Hill, at Indian Head Point on Black Lake.