We visited Tortola a few years back, ever since that time, my wife has wanted to return. It's not at all a "touristy" type of place at all, the people are really receptive to visitors and the island is chalk full of natural beauty. The snorkeling is great and the beaches aren't bad either. It's worth noting that being that this is a British Virgin Island, the monetary system is based on the British Pound, which is more valuable then the US dollar, so it's a little more expensive then some of the other destinations in the Caribbean.

The Local folks are the one thing that make the BVI a truly wonderful place to go. My 6th trip there is coming up in March 2003. I can hardly wait. It is Paradise.Great views, great nite life and the water activites rock. There is no place better for the dollar

Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands, but it is still incredibly low-key and unspoiled compared to the U.S. Virgins that are nearby. There is only one city on the island, Road Town (pop: 8000 or so), so don't come to Tortola expecting to shop! There are several nice beaches with the bluest water and lush landscapes given the mountainous nature of the BVI's and Tortola especially. I'm not a big snorkler, but that and sailing are major pastimes in the BVIs. The people are super-friendly and crime is not a concern. There is a decidedly upbeat vibe throughout the island -- especially at the Bomba Shack, the incredible reggae club that's open on Wed, Sun and full moons. It's truly just a shack, with graffiti all over it ("$50 fine for breaking the shack"), but fun and lively as can be. We stayed at a small resort called Frenchman's Cay on the West End, which has an excellent restaurant and package deal that includes a rental jeep so you can explore the many beaches -- the remote Smuggler's Cove, with its "honor bar" (a fridge of beer and a cigar box where you leave $3 per bottle) was our favorite. The accomodations at Frenchman's were nothing special, but I have heard similar complaints about pricier resorts like Long Bay and Fort Recovery. We took a day at a Marriott in St. Thomas at the end of the trip to get a day at a hotel with real "amenities". If you go to Tortola, you should do a day trip to visit the wonderful Baths of Virgin Gorda, or escape to even less populated islands like Anegada. In all, we had a wonderful time and already miss the warm sun and cool breezes!