Best Place to Provision in BVIs ?

[TEE10]

Whats the best place to get your food provision from in the bvi?

ps:
since i can reply to my post i was asking whats the difference between amplehampertoo.com and bobbysmarketplace.com which one is better ? because bobby's navigation isnt...... any help would be good!

[Vasco]

Bobby's. You can do it online.

[speciald@ocens.]

Where in the BVIs? If your are on Tortola - Bobby's is best for food, beer, booze, etc.

[TEE10]

i need to do it online, but between bobby's site Bobby's Market Place, British Virgin Islands - Supermarket, Villa and Yacht Provisioning Specialists and amplehampertoo BVI Food Provision, Yacht & Boat Provisioning | AmpleHamper Services amplehamper looks easier to navigate through. is amplehampertoo ok? as i saw the are at the very top for the search term "bvi food provision" sorry for the long lines but i just need an easy check out so can someone tell me if amplehampertoo is good or bad

[Auspicious]

You can download an Excel spreadsheet from Bobby's that makes it really easy to work with.

If you're loading up on a lot of alcohol you might look at Tico's.

[TEE10]

i see that Auspicious but did you see amplehampertoo site??? your can start an order finish it days after, email it to a friend and you can add each of your items in your cart one time i also heard amplehamper has very cheap rates on there dockage.... 80cent a foot? i mean sorry if i seem to be asking so much question but i just need someone to verify that amplehampertoo is no good then i'll contact bobby's

[Rolf the Rotten]

Just go with amplehampertoo, it sounds like you have already convinced yourself

[Auspicious]

I chartered one to three times per year in the BVI from 1982 until about 2006. I've only been down about four times since then. I do keep in touch with friends there.

What follows is my opinion. I think it is educated and experienced opinion, but it is opinion none the less.

I used Ample Hamper through the 90s and was quite happy with them. Bobby's cropped up sometime in there (I forget when) and after a few years I tried them. I've been quite happy with them. Riteway (RTW) also has a lot of followers. In my view Bobby's and RTW are quite close in price, quality, and service with Ample Hamper following behind. You will likely be satisfied with any of them. Tico and Caribbean Cellars are the best places (on Tortola) for alcohol, soft drinks, and water.

All five places will deliver to your boat or to a ferry if you are off Tortola.

I'm heading back to Tortola this Fall (first time on my own boat!) and have already started my Bobby's order. I'll finalize it before I leave and e-mail Bobby's with a final delivery date a day or so out from the BVI. I'll do the same with Tico's. I expect to take delivery in Soper's, although it make take a couple of trips with the dinghy (big delivery crew, three weeks in BVI).

If you are indeed set on Ample Hamper you'll likely be pleased. If you choose Bobby's or RTW you are likely to spend less for food as good or better.

All that said, for special stuff I like to cruise the Ample Hamper store in Soper's where I can look and feel things.

For those who are really into seafood there is a small place on Tortola that has a good reputation. I haven't used Sailor's Ketch myself but people I have confidence in speak highly of it.

For contact information see Tortola Yacht Provisioning by Bareboats BVI .

[Janice]

You are on vacation with limited time and easy is more important than cost. We shop at Bobby's or Riteway. BVI's are not inexpensive!

[Reality Check]

As a live aboard I only use Bobbies for specialty items as they are probably the most expensive source. I get most from Riteway and they have locations and mini mart locations in several locations some you can get to by dink.

When I was coming here for charter, I used Bobbies as it had the ability to get what I wanted easy and deliver it to the boat. This did cost more but like most, when I'm on a charter I don't want to spend a half day in stores trying to find what I need and then paying for a taxi to get them to the boat.

When you get more familiar with a place you will find the best price for specific items and if you don't have a car then you will find the locations you can dink into or catch one of the low cost taxi/ buses that run in some locations... on Tortola they can be found on the Eastern end and it cost about $3 a person to get to Road Town or any place in between and same for a return ride, where a full up taxi would run you about $20 to $30 bucks each way!

You may want to mark on your charts a good place to make a quick reprovison stop is at the East End of Tortola where the Riteway mini store has a dock you can use or use the dink dock next door at the marina in Fat Hogs Bay or the Penn's Landing area. The market is next to the marina with the dive Shop and small motel. Other reprovision locations are at Sopers Hole at West End next to the Pussers Store and at Trellis Bay on the north side near the Airport. If you are in the Norman Island area, you can even get some supplies by boat by contacting Deliverance, a boat out of Nanny Cay that will bring ice and supplies to your boat. In the major season they run a boat to Norman every day that will stop by the boats in the Bight. Nice if you need ice or a few more limes!

You should be careful not to over buy.... you will eat out more often than you plan. I would not recommend going with the full provision and stick with the partial at the most. Call me if you do have too much left over! I'll be happy to pick it up! LOL

[s/v Sunsets]

I agree with Auspicious. Caribbean Cellars is the place to go for all your beverage needs. Don't they even have locations on St. Thomas?

[Reality Check]

A Couple of days ago RiteWay opened their New Store. It is basically in the same location as the Cash & Carry but larger and just next to the old location. It is a state of the art US style SuperMarket... the largest now on the island. Prices are significantly lower than Bobbies and they have a far larger selection.

While I'm told they do deliver to boats... I've not done it as I typically do the shopping myself since I'm a live aboard cruiser here and not on charter for a few days.

If you have the time and desire to do your own real time shopping this is now the best place to do it.... HOWEVER for a short term charter... I would still probably use Bobbies just to save the time and have everything delivered to the boat which is something they are great at doing.