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Well how excited was I (more than a child waiting for Santa I think!). Myself and Jaclyn were travelling out to St Vincent with the SVG Tourist Board, Harlequin Hotels & Resorts and British Airways. We arrived at Gatwick and stayed overnight in the Sofitel which meant that as we were on terminal we could have a little bit of a lie in (it’s possible to walk into the north terminal without having to go outside, so we were at the check in desk 10 minutes after leaving our room). We got up around 7.30 and met with the group and checked in. We were lucky enough to be travelling British Airways in Club World to Barbados.
Neither I nor Jaclyn had flown Club World before, although both of us have walked past these seats often enough on our way to economy! We were able to use the Clubworld lounge where we rubbed shoulders with Nigel Mansell. Upon boarding, our flat bed seats were just amazing and we couldn’t stop laughing at each other whilst choosing our meal from an extensive menu and of course our Kir Royale champagne cocktails! A few cocktails and a nice meal later it was time to settle down and watch a film or two. To be honest, for once, the flight was over too soon.
At Barbados we passed the time at the bar before the 25 minute flight to St. Vincent. Buccament Bay was around half an hour by road and we were greeted by the management team and a cool drink.
Buccament Bay
We checked into Buccament Bay Resort and I was blown away by my Villa. I had a stunning 1 bedroom Villa with my own private plunge pool which I made use of in conjuction with my mini bar! I also had a resident crab whom I called Leighton after one of my work collegues. The villas are beautiful! Everything is finished to the highest standard, quality linens, nice furnishings, ample storage, high spec bathrooms with multi headed rain showers. Unlike many of the villas, Jaclyn’s had a bathtub too. The beds are huge and incredibly comfortable.
The first night we ate in Bamboo where we had a fab BBQ with an amazing duo playing reggae music. So, by now it was around 10pm and a decision had to be made; decipher the Lavazza coffee machine or go to the late night bar. Hmm, late night bar it was.
Next day we were up bright and early (must be the club world difference!) for a great breakfast at Bamboo, the rustic style restaurant down by the beach. There’s a wide buffet choice, plus omelette station. I opted for eggs Benedict, which was so good I had the same almost every morning.
Our first morning was spent on a detailed tour of Buccament Bay. The facilities at this hotel are fantastic; I know it’s a cliché but there is something for everyone. We met James who does the tennis coaching and he works very closely with Pat Cash. You don’t need to take your own equipment as everything there for tennis is the top spec Dunlop range.
Our next stop was a performing arts master class with 2 west end stars, James & Nathan. I must confess to being somewhat reticent at first, singing and dancing never having been my forte. Predictably, after the first 10 minutes of shuffling feet and 17 people all trying to stand behind each other, we got into the spirit and I was belting out Mama Mia with the best of them. We all came out thinking that we should be signed up!
The football academy looks amazing and is sponsored by Liverpool Football Club. This resort offers both a Spa and Gym facilities (I looked at the Gym but didn’t participate!). We were all invited to have a spa treatment. The spa rooms were nicely decorated and the whole atmosphere was very relaxing. In the afternoon a beach volleyball tournament was arranged but a sharp shower put paid to that, I’m relieved to say.
After an action packed morning and early afternoon we then had the Sunset Catamaran Cruise to look forward to. This is included in the All Inclusive package for all guests. I have to say that I have seen many sunsets but none have reduced me to tears the way that this one did. We had Rum punch on tap and the ocean in front of us… pure heaven.
We had a beautiful evening meal with the St Vincent tourist board and General Manager of the hotel that night. We ate in the Bay Beach Club, the food was outstanding. The hotel also had some Caribbean reggae stars (Barrington Levy) staying there as they were doing a gig on the island and they actually performed for us that night.
Bequia & Firefly Plantation
The next day we took a boat out to Bequia, pronounced ‘Beckway’. It’s around 45 minutes by catamaran. We sailed into Port Elizabeth in Admiralty Bay, what a picturesque scene, yachts bobbing on the glittering blue seas, palm trees waving in the breeze, and steep, green hills rising in the background. We were met by our taxi drivers, Curtis and his wife and given a tour of the island. The roads are little more than concrete tracks and quite winding, up hill and down. It was like going back in time and the taxis themselves were fabulous, we sat on benches in the back of a pick up.
Firefly Plantation was our first stop. Firefly is a working plantation and guided tours are available. There are also four rooms and a cottage available for those who wish to stay for more than an afternoon. The views across the valley to the Caribbean are beautiful. The fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices grown on the plantation form the backbone of the menu at Firefly.
Our next stop, after another unique experience on the Bequia roads, was the Bequia Beach Resort, a lovely, new hotel, built and very much loved buy its present owner. The attention to detail at this hotel was outstanding, the quality of the furnishings, the décor, everything has been thought of. The hotel is set on Friendship Bay, a lovely sandy beach with the ubiquitous fabulous views. Lunch here was fresh and of course, local. The service was impeccable and I could just imagine a few days at Bequia Beach Hotel as part of a leisurely trip around the Grenadines.
The journey back to Buccament Bay on the Catamaran was invigorating to say the least. Jaclyn and I decided to sit on the front of the Catamaran and get some sun. Great whilst we were motoring out of the bay at a leisurely pace, but once the captain ‘put his foot down’ the spray soaked us to the skin, good fun but a major disaster as I got salt water in my rum punch!
After a full day we returned to Buccament Bay to make ourselves look beautiful as we had a hosted dinner on Young Island with the General Manager there. We were going back to Young Island later in the week for a site inspection.
Tobago Cays & Palm Island
The next morning we were all very excited. We were spending the whole day on our beloved Catamaran (rum punch again!). We were going to be sailing to Tobago Cays and swimming with the wild turtles. As you sail into the Cays you can’t help but be in awe. The water is just crystal clear and the colours are amazing. Most of the group went snorkling but I just went swimming around the Catamaran. The turtles were just swimming around. It really was idyllic.
We then sailed to Palm Island and as we approached I just couldn’t believe how stunning it looked. Palm Island could quite easily sit in the Maldives and not look out of place. Palm Island resort is quite simply beautiful. Only a small hotel with around 43 rooms it is a complete ‘get away from it all’ holiday. The rooms are traditional Caribbean style and in keeping with the theme do not have TVs in them. The idea is to send you home knowing that you have had a holiday. The island also has its resident Iguanas which are HUGE but so friendly. This is an ideal wedding Island and they really do make you feel special. The Island also has a private 2 bedroomed villa which is just stunning and apparently some very famous people have stayed there. They were getting the villa ready for someone checking in that day but they wouldn’t tell us who! Even though the hotel rooms don’t have TVs you can still use a lovely TV room that the hotel has along with a library and games room. We then got back on the Catamaran and sailed back to Buccament Bay for a fabulous Lobster and Steak BBQ.
Tour of St Vincent & Young Island
Our final day saw us being taken on a coach tour of the Island of St Vincent. There are some spectacular views and we even went down to the site where they are building the new international airport (this is due to open in 2013). We then went on a small ferry back across to Young Island to do a site inspection. I would describe this hotel as an Eco resort. The rooms are typical Caribbean and all have amazing views. The grounds are just bursting with flora and fauna. This Island would be great for guests looking to be on an island but with the bonus of only a couple of minutes transfer on the ferry to the main island. Some of the rooms are built into the mountain and have quite a few steps to climb for them, but I do believe that you can opt for the golf buggy rather than walking. Again it has a beautiful area for weddings. The meal that we had at this hotel earlier in the week also proved to us that the food was great here as well.
After the site inspection we then went for lunch at a beautiful local restaurant called ‘Driftwood’. I thought the food here was lovely and the views from the restaurant were again amazing. The prices here are very good and if you wanted to go out for the day is a really good alternative to eat. There was 18 of us and it didn’t faze them at all. The food came out all together and piping hot.
We then returned to Buccament for a free afternoon which we spent around the pool enjoying the facilities of the hotel. The pool area is stunning and the beds are really comfy, much nicer than the standard sunbeds that you normally get elsewhere. We also used the facilities of the HQ coffee shop. This is a fab area and we made use mainly of the ice cream section where I had a strawberry and chocolate one with loads of choccy bits on it. This was our last evening in resort and we were eating at Saffron which is the Indian restaurant. The chef came to the resort with his wife on holiday and ended up staying (much like what I wanted to do, except I can’t cook and I think my hubby back home would have had something to say!) The Indian meal was most definitely one of the best Indian meals that I had eaten in a long time. We had a lovely last evening in the company of the St Vincent Tourist Board.
Barbados & H Hotel
The following morning we had to be up early for breakfast as our flight to Barbados was at 11am. We had a 30 minute delay in St Vincent which gave us 30 extra minutes sunbathing time, much to the amusement of the airport staff as we all sat on the grass verge right outside the runway.
Once we arrived in Barbados we were met by the Management team of Harlequin Resorts (Buccament Bay) and were taken to see the site of the new H Hotel which will be opening in November 2012. This was great fun as we had to wear hard hats and yellow fluorescent jackets, we really did look like Bob the Builder! The beach here is stunning and this will be a really high class hotel once it is finished. We then had a couple of hours free time which we spent on the beach in Barbados and dinner at KFC!
Our flight back home left on time and this time we had seats in World Traveller Plus, not quite Clubworld but still great seats with loads of leg room. Unfortunately when we landed the weather wasn’t quite as good and the flip flops that we had on didn’t seem like such a good idea so the first task was opening the cases for winter clothes.
This was the most amazing trip that I have been on. We had a brilliant group and made some wonderful friends. I have to say a massive thank you to Graham at Resort Marketing, Lesley from the St Vincent Tourist board, Anna from Harlequin Resorts and above all the fabulous staff of Buccament Bay who made our stay so special.
