Why should Sandals St. Lucia be your next stop?

April 11, 2019 By Susan Robson

Why should Sandals Grande St. Lucia be your next vacation stop? First, consider that guests enjoy the All-Inclusive Luxury Vacation in the most gorgeous tropical & beach settings! Does that get your attention? Add to that: Best Beaches, Unique Gourmet Dining, Premium Spirits, Premium wines, Padi-certified scuba diving included, entertainment, championship golf, unmatched service, and finally, stay at 1 and play at 3 (or more) resorts!

Sandals Grande St. Lucia

St. Lucia is a magical island offering panoramic bay views and the best beaches in the Caribbean. This gives one the feeling of complete island seclusion – you are in a world by yourself. Towering Piton mountains and fern-frilled jungles bring about a complete sense of relaxation. Sandals Grande St. Lucia builds upon that feeling and gives you the ultimate vacation experience. For this reason, it is probably my favorite Sandals Resort on St. Lucia. The beach here is long, the drinks steady, entertainment entertaining, and the soft breeze amazing! The swim-out rooms and romantic Rondoval Suites make it an ideal honeymoon hot spot. The main pool area is very lively and winds around through the room buildings, like a ribbon of water.

Why should Sandals Grande St Lucia be your next vacation spot? The resort offers an endless supply of restaurants with delicious food options, recreation and amenities along with some of the BEST diving available, anywhere in the Caribbean. The best hiking is a trek up to Fort Rodney, on the peak just beyond the resort (club concierge will act as your guide on the hike). And, with the free inter-Sandals shuttle service, there are up to 27 restaurants and numerous beach options available between the three Sandals resorts in St. Lucia. Dinner reservations are required at some restaurants, so be sure to plan ahead and contact the concierge or a butler for dining options soon after arrival.

One note… because of location, getting to this resort can be a bit bumpy and the transfer time is approximately ninety minutes+. If this a concern I recommend a helicopter tour to/from the George F.L Charles Airport. This flight to the north is one that you’ll remember for a lifetime!

Sandals Halcyon up next!

Susan

10 Reasons Why St. Lucia is a Perfect Caribbean Island Destination!

December 17, 2018 By Susan Robson

**St. Lucia, a perfect Caribbean Island!**

Top 10 reasons why St. Lucia is the perfect Caribbean getaway! St. Lucia’s sandy beaches, crystalline waters, and luscious rainforests draw visitors from around the world to experience all that it has to offer. And it offers so many unique and unforgettable inspirations, that it leave visitors with memories that last a lifetime. Being a small Island in the Caribbean, unlike any of its neighbors and unique in its own way, here are several things you need to know before visiting St Lucia.

Food on the island combines Creole with French and West Indian. The restaurants and hotels/resort in the major towns serve many different types of food and international dishes. Fresh seafood is caught and brought in daily, along with locally grown vegetables and fruits. The main agriculture on the island, and exports, is cocoa and banana.

Most Saint Lucians are bilingual, speaking Kwéyo`l, a creole language that is a mixture of French and African languages. English is spoken & instructed in schools, and it’s used in business, government offices, and in most formal settings. The people are happy, friendly, and helpful. Service throughout the island is exceptional – from beachside bars, boutique restaurants, and fine dining. Everyone we met was such a joy to get to know and wanted share their island. St. Lucia is very safe compared to other Caribbean islands, and the locals told us that theft/crime is not very common. Everyone we met never displayed any kind of aggression, in fact the opposite, as they displayed a warm charm and genuine friendliness.

#10 Hike the Pitons

The Pitons are to St Lucia what the Great Wall of China is to China. One of the most photographed landmarks on St. Lucia, they rise straight out of the sea, and offer a majestic scene across the western coast. Gros Piton stands 2,619 feet above sea level, and together with Petit Piton, they present really stunning views of the island once you reach the top, or if they are viewed from below! A hike to Fort Rodney on Pigeon Island is a wonderful way to get a panoramic view of the island without being overly challenging!

#9 Pigeon Island National Park

History & a hike to Fort Rodney on Pigeon Island is a wonderful way to get a panoramic view of the island without being overly challenging, mentally or physically! Don’t let the name fool you, Pigeon Island is a quiet place to stop, swim, and take in the beautiful views. Visitors can also learn about the island’s history and explore the 18th century ruins at Fort Rodney, pictured below.

#8 Scuba or snorkel

St. Lucia offers world class diving locations with amazing experiences to offer. No matter what your level or diver or snorkeler, the island has many wonderful diving sites with spectacular coral formations, fascinating shipwrecks and reefs teeming with tropical sea life.

#7 Drive thru Volcano at Sulfur Springs Park & Botanical Garden

A must see is the world’s only Sulfur Springs drive-through volcano in the Caribbean! The 30-minute guided tour will take you to the top of the volcano, and the sulfur mineral bath afterwards will feel like a spa treatment. This location can get crowed! Plan on going early in the day to enjoy it the most.

#6 Fly through the rainforest canopy

For those who want more than a tan from their holiday, St Lucia couldn’t be better. Approximately 77 % is covered in forest. So this is good reason to escape the beach and start exploring. Visit the Rainforest Adventure, about a 20-minute drive from the capital, Castries. A gondola, series of treetop platforms linked by zip lines, takes guests deep into the jungle. The guides are knowledgeable – and all ages are certain to love it.

#5 Castries Market

**Local people & food at Castries Market**

St. Lucia’s capital boasts an open air market that is full of a variety of food & souvenirs. National Geographic has rated it #3 food market in the world. Don’t miss out on the locally caught fish, spices, fresh fruit and fresh coconuts on the streets of Castries. The market is closed on Sundays.

#4 Hurricanes try to stay away from St. Lucia

Because this is such an enjoyable island, with so much to do, most hurricane wrath is felt further north and the very worst of the stormy weather tends to stay away from this more Southern location. (Hurricanes can reach St. Lucia.)

#3. Chocolate lovers heaven on earth

Hotel Chocolat, since 2011, has been home to a 14 room hotel & restaurant. Britain’s famous chocolatier, obtains cocoa from it’s plantation, the Rabot Estate near Soufriere. Dine on a delectable menu featuring chocolate or plan to go on one of its three-hour “bean to bar” tours to learn all about cocoa production, pick and taste fresh pods, graft your own plant, and then smash dried beans to make a chocolate bar.

#2. Best Resorts & locations imaginable

Nestled between St Lucia’s landmark Pitons and the Caribbean waters, find so many luxurious resorts & hotels, making vacations the most memorable spots anywhere in the Caribbean. With impeccable service, incredible menus, eye dropping views, and gorgeous accommodations these luxurious resorts won’t soon be forgotten.

And the #1 reason why St.Lucia is the perfect Caribbean island…St. Lucia has best view in the Caribbean!

There are more gorgeous beaches on St.Lucia than imaginable! Along the west coast – Anse Castanet, further north – Marigot Bay with it’s picturesque harbor, mile-long Reduit Beach, and the largest, most popular, near the town of Rodney Bay, is the biggest, and most popular. St Lucia’s spectacular coastlines and Grand Pitons are among the most photographed.

If you want to find out more about St. Lucia: https://www.stlucia.org. Don’t miss my next posts about the resorts that I visited while on St. Lucia. Call/ email today to find out how to experience St. Lucia’s Top 10! Susan@GoTravelStl.com

Susan

Top 5 Mountains to Beach Dream Honeymoons

May 14, 2016 By Susan Robson

Top 5 Mountains to Beach Dream Honeymoons

1. St. Lucia – my #1 – Top 5 Mountains to Beach Dream Honeymoons because of the all-inclusive and adults-only options available!
Saint Lucia is the perfect beach to rainforest to mountain destination, whatever you are seeking…it is in St. Lucia! Adventure, romance, natural experiences for the young at heart, St. Lucia is the answer! The island is a natural landscape of beautiful palm-trimmed beaches, endless unspoiled rainforest, and a land of volcanic surprises – the majestic Piton Mountains.

Around every bend, travelers can refresh under natural waterfalls, stroll through a rainforest to find breathe-taking views, climb Gros Piton Mountains, zip a line, ride above a rain-forest canopy, soak in mineral baths, visit the world’s only drive in volcano, or just bask in the fabulous Caribbean sun on one of St. Lucia’s many secluded beaches. All of this is not even considering the most important and loved part of the island: sea and sand! Most resorts provide opportunities for waterskiing, sunfishing, kayaking, snorkeling and windsurfing. Experiences that serious adventure seekers might want to include such as: fishing, scuba diving, snuba, jetovator, sea trekking, flyboarding and kitesurfing. Whale and dolphin watching, sport fishing, and boating are available for even more fun with nature! http://stlucianow.com

Honeymoon Accommodations: Adults only All-inclusive properties
Sandals offers 3 properties in St. Lucia:
*Sandals Regency La Toc – a glamorous resort with a cove beach and cliff-side suites
Sandals Grande St. Lucian – a vibrant, exciting resort with views that stir the soul from a unique peninsula. Sandals Halcyon Beach – a true “garden of Eden”, with luxuriant gardens providing the quintessential Caribbean resort.* (*Sandals description of properties)

2. Costa Rica – a fabulous destination to choose a tropical beach, to rainforest, and to an Arenal Volcano mountain area for a Dream Honeymoon. Start out a travel experience with 3 nights in the Arenal Volcano area. Visit Arenal National Park & Volcano, hanging bridges of the tropical rainforest, Tabacon Hot Springs and pools, and travel the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge aboard a Rio Frio Boat Safari.
Then, for the next 4 days, travel to the Guanacaste region for a beach experience like no other! Choose from a family friendly, all-inclusive resort, or an adults-only, like Secrets Papagayo. This trip will awaken your advenurous spirit!

If you choose not to take the escorted tours, there is plenty to keep you occupied and challenged!
Adventures – canopy ziplining and Tarzan swing, rafting, surfing, hanging bridges, wildlife safaris by raft, fishing packages, horseback riding, rain forest experiences, jungle treks, and so much more can be found, with a tour guide for safety and security, if you choose.

Honeymoon Accommodations: All-inclusive properties
Dreams Las Mareas – Family friendly
RIU Palace Costa Rica – Family friendly
Secrets Papagayo – Adults only
http://www.visitcostarica.com

3. Maui, Hawaii – Known as the “Valley Isle”. Maui is another perfect Mountains to Beach destination for Dream Honeymoons. One of Maui’s most memorable experiences is to view the Haleakala sunrise/sunset from the summit at 10,000 ft above sea level. After the view, don’t go home! The park offers 30,000 acres of public land for hiking, horseback riding and exploring nature to find many endangered species, seen nowhere else. Maui’s white, black, and red sand beaches cover over 30 miles of it’s 120 mile coastline. Some of the best surfing, windsurfing, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing beaches are found here. Public and private beaches abound, as well as undeveloped “secrets spots” that can be found off the beaten path. http://www.gohawaii.com for more about Maui, Kauai, Oahu.
Experiences visitors don’t want to miss:
Scenic Road to Hana
Coastal whale watching
Historic Lahaina Town
Haleakala National Park

Honeymoon Accommodations: No All-inclusives
*Sheraton Maui * Hyatt Regency Maui * Maui Grand Wailea * Ritz Carlton *
*Four Seasons * Royal Lahaina Resort

4. Kauai, Hawaii – Known as the “Island of Discovery”. This island is the tropical focal point of Hawaii, full of so much to do outdoors, with attractions and culture everywhere. On Kauai’s stunningly beautiful beaches, you can sunbathe, snorkel, learn to surf, and Dream! Waimea Canyon has been nicknamed the “Grand Canyon” of the Pacific. It is truly a geological wonder stretching 14 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 3600 ft deep. As you can imagine, there is plenty to explore, hike and just take in the panoramic views. The main road to Waimea Canyon, Waimea Canyon Drive, takes visitors into the mountains and ends at Kokee State Park. Other adventures on Kauai include, but not limited to: ziplining, boating – sailing – catamaran – fishing, kayaking, mountain tubing, scuba and snorkeling, surfing, whale watching, air tours by plane or helicopter (fantastic, by the way), and hiking.

Honeymoon Accommodations: No All-inclusives
Grand Hyatt Kauai
Kauai Marriott
Sheraton Kauai
St. Regis Princeville Resort
Aqua Kaui Beach Resort

5. Oahu, Hawaii – Nicknamed the “Heart of Hawaii”. Oahu is the commercial center for the islands, and is sometimes called “the gathering place”. Honolulu brings metropolitan cityscapes to view against the beautiful blue water of Waikiki Beach. The Pearl Harbor Memorial is here, as well as Iolani Palace, with it’s historic architecture.
Tip – The Waikiki Trolley or “TheBus” are both affordable and convenient ways to travel in Honolulu and Waikiki Beach. It is suggested that visitors do not rent cars for city stays. Oahu has 112 miles of shoreline, that creates endless possibilities for water, water, and water activities. Every possible water activity can be found here: boating and fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, parasailing & submarines, whale & dolphin watching, and… hiking & biking & Trikke, skydiving, all terrain vehicles, horseback riding and more…

Surfing was born in Waikiki, so be sure to learn to ride the waves here, before spending any time just basking in the Hawaiian sun. Some of the best beaches: Waikiki Beach, Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Kailu Beach, and, so many more! For the most incredible mountain experience, don’t miss the very popular – hike to the top of Leahi, Diamond Head, and take in panoramic views of Waikiki and Honolulu.

Honeymoon Accommodations – There are only 7 oceanfront properties on Waikiki Beach (these are my recommendations): Outrigger Reef on the Beach * Halekulani Hotel * Moana Loa * Royal Hawaiian Hotel Pink Palace” * Turtle Bay Resort (North shore – not on Waikiki).

With any of these Top 5 Mountains to Beach Dream Honeymoon locations, couples don’t have to choose between mountains or beach, because they get the experience of both! If you would like to find out more about any of these destinations, just fill out my renowned “Perfect Honeymoon Finder”. As soon as I receive your information, I’ll begin your Honeymoon analysis to find the perfect Dream Honeymoon for you and your fiance’!

Susan