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Relaxing on a beach by the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean is a dream vacation scenario for many a winter-weary soul. Give me and my partner a good book and the occasional cocktail, and we could happily spend all our vacation time sitting on a beach with nothing more than the waves as our soundtrack. Like so many others, we are drawn to the shores of the islands looking for sun, sand, and a getaway from busy, non-tropical lives. Also, we are a same-sex couple, out and proud in our everyday lives back home in our relatively progressive, liberal community. But we know that when choosing other places and cultures to visit, there are issues of safety and comfort that we may need to consider when planning our trip. We have found, in the course of our two visits to White Bay Villas, the safety and comfort we seek in a vacation experience.
When looking for our ideal tropical getaway, we dreamed of a place that was relatively quiet and uncrowded, with beautiful beaches and turquoise water for swimming. We are not interested in bustling resorts with crowds of people, and the quiet vibe at WBV is perfect for us. We don’t require ‘fancy’ - but we do value privacy, good food, and warm hospitality. On both our visits to WBV, we stayed in a Seaside Cottage - one the villas situated closest to the beach. We found the villa to be the perfect balance of privacy and proximity, and the view overlooking White Bay can’t be beat. We loved having breakfast with our ocean view before heading down to the beach for lounging, swimming, and snorkeling. We particularly enjoyed our late afternoon paddles via kayak to the other end of the bay for drinks at Soggy Dollar Bar (mahi bites are a don’t-miss!).
Traveling as a same-sex couple, it is (to a degree) possible to pass as two friends on vacation, when necessary for safety in a place where a welcoming attitude might not be a guarantee. In the case of two women, especially, the ‘leaving their husbands behind for a girls’ vacation’ story isn’t that unusual. This ‘passing,’ however, doesn’t feel right to us for several reasons. First of all, we don’t want to feel like we have to hide who we are, no matter where we go. Secondly, what about anyone whose outward appearance means they cannot ‘pass’ in a place that doesn’t accept who they are? ‘Passing’ exploits a privilege that some don’t enjoy. On all accounts we prefer very much to move through the world as we are, who we are.
Therefore we hoped for a place where our presence as a couple would not only be tolerated, but welcomed. Even before arriving on Jost Van Dyke, our first interactions with the people at WBV helped us feel that this would be the case during our stay. The staff we spoke with during our booking process were warmly welcoming, and this was a good first step toward ensuring we would feel safe. Once we arrived ‘on island,’ we continued to feel comfortable with the friendly people we encountered there as well. We felt at ease being ourselves and while enjoying all the island and the property have to offer.
During our trip, we also thought about representation - are there other people like us here? We were delighted during both of our visits to WBV whenever we spotted other members of ‘the community.’ Our favorite spotting was one night while dining at Alice’s, WBV’s wonderful beachside restaurant. A delightful person came ashore with her wife and family to have dinner. She noticed my partner and me at our table, and passing by, she leaned over, tipped her sunglasses down and said, with a smile, “hey, Family.” That simple moment of recognition sparked a fun conversation about her own family’s travels sailing through the BVI, and was a beautiful moment of community for us. It was a highlight of our trip.
In addition to dreamy views, gorgeous sunsets, and the best water for swimming we’ve ever found, we also found tolerance, acceptance, and a bit of queer community on Jost Van Dyke. All of this together makes it a vacation spot that we are looking forward to enjoying again in the future."
E.S. - May 2024
