Sandcastle Hotel

When it opened in the 1970s, there were no roads leading to the Soggy Dollar Bar. Instead, bar patrons arrived by boat, anchored in the water, and swam to shore. The establishment got its name from the wet dollar bills swimmers used to pay for their drinks — the most famous of which is the Painkiller, a dark rum and tropical juice concoction. Since its opening, Soggy Dollar Bar (referred to as Soggy by locals), has been a wildly popular hot spot for day-trippers. The Sandcastle Hotel is essentially the bar’s six overnight rooms, for guests who don’t want to leave. 

Thanks to the arrival of paved roads to Jost Van Dyke in the 1990s, guests no longer need to use the jump and swim method to reach Soggy and the Sandcastle Hotel (though many still do). Instead, guests arrive to a simple but well-kept sand floor entryway with beautiful trellised bougainvillea. There isn’t much of a lobby or reception area, as most people just head straight for the bar. Though the property is small, the hotel rooms are nicely sequestered, so hotel guests can have a little privacy if they want it.  

Children of all ages are welcome at the Soggy Dollar Bar, but only those over the age of 16 are allowed as overnight guests at the Sandcastle Hotel. We saw plenty of children during our visit, but we wouldn’t recommend this place for a family vacation. The property is essentially a bar on the beach, and the clientele can get rowdy. The bar’s slogan, “A sunny place for shady people,” should probably be hint enough that this isn’t the world’s most family-friendly place. Nearby White Bay Villas & Seaside Cottages is definitely a better option for those traveling with kids.  

The Sandcastle Hotel is located on Jost Van Dyke, the smallest of the four main islands that comprise the British Virgin Islands. With a population that wavers between 200 and 400, the island is a quiet oasis with nothing much to do. Soggy Dollar Bar and the Sandcastle Hotel are about a five-minute cab ride from the ferry dock in Great Harbour, and taxis are always plentiful in this area.  

Travelers can reach Jost Van Dyke via ferry from either Tortola or St. Thomas. Jost is a popular day trip for many people visiting the Virgin Islands, but few visitors spend the night. Those traveling from St. Thomas, or any of the U.S. Virgin Islands, will need to clear customs upon arrival in Jost, so passports are a must.  

Soggy Dollar Bar and the Sandcastle Hotel are located on White Bay, one of Jost’s largest and most beautiful beaches. White Bay gets its name from its soft, sugar white sand. The sand is noticeably whiter and brighter than that on neighboring islands, and keeps the ocean water crystal clear.   

We were unable to photograph any rooms during our visit because the hotel was completely occupied. However we were able to learn about the Sandcastle’s three different room types. The Sandcastle has six rooms — two of each type — which include beachfront cottages, garden cottages, and air conditioned rooms. The beachfront cottages are the largest of the three types and are closest to the ocean. They are equipped with king-size beds, ceiling fans, and outdoor showers, but do not have air-conditioning. Guests in the beachfront cottages are mere steps from the water, but many find that beach noise easily carries into their rooms. Garden cottages have similar layouts and amenities as their beachfront counterparts, but are quieter and more secluded. The air conditioned rooms are smaller than the cottages, but have connecting doors, should groups or families require a larger space. 

Decor throughout the six rooms is beachy and casual —think whitewashed wood paneled ceilings, tile floors, and simple rattan furniture. None of the rooms have TVs or phones, but there is free Wi-Fi for all hotel guests. Rooms are not luxurious by any means, but they’re certainly the nicest “rooms at a bar” accommodations on Jost Van Dyke.   

The Sandcastle Hotel doesn’t have typical resort amenities like a pool, spa, or fitness center. The greatest attractions here are the bar and the beach. The Soggy Dollar Bar has been a Jost Van Dyke institution since the 1970s. The bar claims to be the original founder of the Painkiller, a popular Caribbean drink made with dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice, and fresh nutmeg. With a sand floor, hodgepodge wooden signs, and tons of law enforcement patches (don’t ask) tacked to the ceiling, the bar itself can best be described as a dive. The bar is tiny, but most people take their drinks and head straight to the beach, where lounge chairs and hammocks are set up all along the sand. The beach has tons of plastic slatted loungers, white Adirondack chairs, and picnic tables for guests to sit. Hotel guests have their own roped off section of the beach, but many guests feel as though they’re treated no differently than the day-trippers. The beach is almost always crowded, and sometimes a little chaotic. It’s not really a relaxing place to bring a good book or take a nap, but better suited for hanging out with friends and having a few drinks.  

The property has an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The lunch menu consists mostly of bar food, like conch fritters and fish and chips, but the dinner menu is slightly more diverse. Dinner includes a salad or soup, a main course, and a house-made dessert. The food is tasty, though certainly not likely to be the culinary highlight of a vacation.  

Of course, the Soggy Dollar Bar wouldn’t be a proper Caribbean hot spot without a gift shop. Located just off the bar, the gift shop sells all kinds of Soggy Dollar paraphernalia, from hats and T-shirts, to magnets, bracelets, beach bags, and beer koozies.