The Caribbean Supplement 2012 by Alain Charles Publishing

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All About

the Caribbean April 2012

Your one-stop guide to all the latest news and developments in the Caribbean Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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All About

Caribbean CONTENTS

he Caribbean has had its fair share of challenges over the last few years. The global recession coupled with air passenger duty adding a hefty chunk to the already high costs of air fares have put the region financially out of reach for many holidaymakers, who would have previously considered the destination a viable holiday option. However, the tourist boards have pulled together with the tour operators and the hotel groups to ensure that the Caribbean is doing its best to deliver affordable holiday prices and its hard work seems to be paying off. A recent trends report by Hayes and Jarvis has shown that British tourists are opting for destinations that they perceive to be safe from unrest – and the Caribbean is one of them. Also the value message is key to the Caribbean’s current success with affordable pricing fuelling demand for three and four-star trips to Barbados and Saint Lucia. So having our All About the Caribbean supplement at hand is more important than ever to help you get those bookings flooding in. For this year’s issue, the What’s new section includes all the latest news from the operators, tourist board and hoteliers. With the luxury end of the market showing no signs of dipping, we catch up with the hotels across the region that really know how to turn on the VIP treatment for clients, where money is no object. Spa holidays are a big part of what the Caribbean has to offer, but the focus these days is much more on health and wellbeing than ever. So in our spa holidays feature, we find out what the spa specialists are up to when it comes to keeping their client’s mind, body and soul ticking over. The Caribbean is the perfect destination for families with children of all ages. From toddlers to teens, we look at our the kids’ clubs in resort plan to keep the kids happy during the summer holidays. Finally, for those of us who want to see more than one island in one holiday, we find out what island-hopping options there are available for every budget. So make sure, you flick through our must-read guide to the Caribbean. There’s lots happening, so make sure you have the knowledge. Angela Cronin Supplements editor Travel Bulletin

All about the Caribbean

What’s new - 4

Luxury holidays - 8

Spa breaks - 11

Family holidays - 14

Island hopping - 17

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Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Nicky Valsamakis Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited Cover Picture: Grace Bay Hotel, Turks and Caicos ISSN: 0956-2419

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Classic Collection has added the Tucker’s Point resort in Hamilton Parish for 2012

What’s T new From expanded programmes, multi-million pound investments in new hotels and improved training for agents, the Caribbean looks set for a busy 2012

he islands in the Caribbean have been hit harder than most by the rise in air passenger duty on flights from the UK leading to a hike in the cost of flying to the region. However, operators and hoteliers are pulling together to deliver affordable prices to us cash-strapped Brits. We catch up with the operators, airlines and hotel groups to find out what new products and offers are bookable for 2012. Caribtours Caribtours is tapping into the nation’s cost-conscious state of mind with the launch of its first all-inclusive summer sale that offers a range of discounts available on a selection of properties. There is a large number of luxury properties included in the summer sale with packages leading in at £989 per person for seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Now Larimar Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Agents that book a holiday in the summer sale between 23 April and 31 May for travel up until the end of September can earn up to £200 in Capital Bonds, with every booking made being entered into a prize draw to win a seven-night

all-inclusive holiday for two to Windjammer Landing, St Lucia. To claim their vouchers and be in with a chance of winning this prize, e-mail werewardagents@caribtours.co.uk by 15 June with booking references. Classic Collection Holidays Classic Collection Holidays has introduced the Tucker’s Point resort in Hamilton Parish and the Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Paget to its Bermuda programme. Five nights at Tucker’s Point lead in at £1,404 per person, with five nights at Newstead Belmont Hills starting at £1,411. The upmarket operator is pulling out all the stops to promote its Bermuda programme including a redesign of the brochure as well as new hotel product and new stopovers in Boston. The specialist also has a dedicated sales and marketing team on the road promoting Bermuda to the trade. “Nick Munday, managing director of Classic Collection Holidays, said: “In terms of value, Bermuda compares favourably with upscale short-haul destinations and yet gives our customers access to quite a unique destination.”

All about the Caribbean

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What’s new Holiday like a royal Half Moon, A RockResort in Montego Bay, Jamaica is offering holidaymakers the chance to holiday like royalty in its staffed royal villas. Prince Harry stayed in the resort’s royal villas during his recent visit to Jamaica. The resort’s Royal Summer promotion offers 20% off its 33 four, five, six and seven-bedroom villas. All the villas have private pools, two golf carts to explore the resort, as well as the services of a personal cook, butler and housekeeper on hand to cook gourmet meals, lend advice on the resort and cater to every need. The Royal Summer promotion requires a minimum stay of four nights between April 16 and November 16. Hayes and Jarvis Hayes and Jarvis has added the new Magdalena Grand Beach Resort to its Caribbean collection. The four-star beachfront resort is located on Tobago’s south coast, 10 minutes from Scarborough and 15 minutes from the airport at Little Rocky Bay. Magdalena Grand is the first major new resort to open on Tobago in some years and the grounds offer nature trails and canopy walks through a virgin mangrove forest. Hayes and Jarvis product manager Katie Parsons said: “It will be great to have another family-friendly resort to offer on Tobago.” Hayes and Jarvis offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast for £795 per person including flights and transfers. Abercrombie and Kent A&K has responded to the growing demand for villa accommodation in the Caribbean with the addition of new properties in Jamaica and Barbados to its existing portfolio of villas in Mustique, Anguilla, Bahamas and St Barts. A&K Villas in Barbados range from the classic Georgian style villas, chic townhouses and cottage-like beachfront villas, to the luxurious Sandalwood House, Saramanda and Vistamar nestled in the Sandy Lane Estate with a golf course and private

All about the Caribbean

beach on the doorstep. Prices start at £380 per person for seven nights at one of eight villas at Ocean’s Edge in the Merlin Bay resort. This price is based on six people sharing. A&K Villas in Jamaica are situated in the resort of Half Moon in Montego Bay, where each property comes with its own butler, cook and housekeeper. Prices start at £1,342 per person per week based on 12 sharing. Cosmos Cosmos Tours and Cruises has introduced a new tour in Cuba following an increase in demand for longer itineraries that explore the country’s culture, history and scenery. The 13-day Viva Cuba visits Cuba’s second largest city Santiago de Cuba, the Vinales Valley and Santa Clara on the southern coast, the resting place of Che Guevara. Prices lead in at £1,739 per person and includes 11 nights’ accommodation, flights and transfers. Meanwhile, the operator has seen demand for all-inclusive properties in Tobago increase. Carrier Upmarket operator Carrier is offering a range of savings on selected breaks in its Caribbean 2012 programme. For example, guests spending 14 nights at the Half Moon resort in Jamaica only have to pay for seven. Prices start at £1,665 per person, representing a saving of £1,630 per couple. This offer is valid from 16 April to 15 November. Carrier also has some special offers for Brits looking to attend the British Airways Football Legends tournament, which is scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 May at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. World-famous players such as Gianfranco Zola, Andy Cole, Roberto Di Matteo, Rob Lee, Dwight Yorke and Gaizka Mendieta will be taking part in the charity tournament to raise money for the National Sports Council’s Primary School Football Programme and the Barbados Football Association’s Youth Development will also benefit from the event. To coincide with the tournament, Carrier is offering stay ‘seven nights pay for six’ at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion with prices from £1,785 per person based on 23 May departures, representing a saving of £330 per couple.

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Cosmos has introduced a 13-day Viva Cuba tour

The Colony Club is offering discounts on seven-night breaks with prices leading in at £1,365 per person based on 23 May departures, representing a saving of up to £630 per couple. Caribbean Airlines Caribbean Airlines is offering agents the chance to travel on the airline’s inaugural flight from Gatwick to Piarco in Trinidad. The service will operate four times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, starting on 14 June. Flights will depart Trinidad at 7:10pm and out of Gatwick on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11:50am. This will be followed shortly by thrice weekly services via Bridgetown, Barbados and onward to London, which will mean there will be a daily service out of Trinidad. The Barbados flight will be launched in the summer of 2012. Agents interested in taking part in the fam trip should email cto.uk@caribbean-airlines.com or call 0870 774 7336.

Sandals Sandals Resorts has introduced a new wedding-themed trade incentive and competition, Sell and Celebrate. Qualified agents will receive a £50 high-street voucher for every upgraded Sandals wedding package that they book before May 31. Agents that send details of their booking to their local Sandals business development manager, explaining how they made the reservation, and including sales tips and advice for other agents will be entered into a draw to win a seven-night break for two to a Sandals resort of their choice. Meanwhile, the newly-renamed Balmoral Tower at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort and Offshore Island in the Bahamas has reopened after undergoing a $17 million renovation project to upgrade amenities and decor. The all-inclusive accommodation provider has also launched the Sandals Corporate University, the company’s adult education programme for Caribbean nationals employed by Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, and celebrated the third birthday of the Sandals Foundation. Since its launch, the foundation has raised more than $1.5 million for programmes that support education, communities and the environment in the Caribbean region.

Hotel Hotline Harlequin Hotels and Resorts has opened a new hotel on Saint Lucia following a two-month refurbishment. The four-star Blu St Lucia has newly decorated rooms, with all public areas, such as the reception, pool area, kids' club and restaurants, undergoing a complete refurbishment. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the popular Rodney Bay, with its abundance of bars and restaurants. Blu Hotel offers four room types, all with air conditioning, king beds, a mini bar and complimentary wifi. The One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas is celebrating its 50th anniversary in May by offering guests 50% off a second room when reserving one room for a minimum stay of four or more nights for travel beginning May 1 and December 20. The luxury resort is also introducing a 1960s-inspired dinner and cocktail menu, which will also be available from May 1 to December 20. Barcelo Hotels and Resorts has recently launched a loyalty programme for agents. The Barceló BPartner allows agents the chance to earn points for every Barceló booking they make. These points can then be redeemed for complimentary room nights in any of Barcelo’s hotels worldwide. Canouan Resort and the Grenadines Estate Villas have launched a collection of two to six-bedroom villas. While each of the villas are named individually, they carry a consistent style throughout. All of them offer views over 6

the lagoon and many also overlook the 18-hole Jim Fazio-designed golf course. Four Seasons Resort Nevis is tempting guests to ‘stay longer’ with a fourth night free package. Visitors that book three nights will receive the fourth night complimentary, and as an added bonus, children five years and under can dine for free. Rates start at $445 per room, per night. The property has also just completed the final stages of its $110 million renovation which includes the introduction of two newly refurbished luxury suites, Afterglow and Seascape, and a newly expanded fitness centre. Coral Reef Club in Barbados has created a diamond package to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The sevennight, half-board package is available at both the Coral Reef Club and its smaller sister property, The Sandpiper and includes accommodation, champagne and flowers on arrival and a 90-minute spa treatment. Prices start at £1,455 per person, based on two adults sharing, including return airport transfers, but excluding flights. The boutique Reefs Hotel and Club in Bermuda have reopened its Cliffside rooms following refurbishment work to upgrade the bathrooms. During the winter The Reefs have undertaken work to upgrade the bathrooms in the majority of its Cliffside rooms to include larger open-floor plans with large walk-in rain showers. All about the Caribbean

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What’s new From the tourist boards… Turks and Caicos Agents interested in improving their bookings to Turks and Caicos should check out the tourist board’s training website. If they sign up, complete the course,become a certified Turks and Caicos Expert and make a log of all of their bookings to Turks and Caicos, they will be eligible to take part in fam trips. The website also contains information on events, promotions and fam trips. For more details, go to turksandcaicosexpert.co.u k/login.

Agents booking holidays to Puerto Rico with direct BA flights will be entered into a prize draw to win a trip to the island. For more details, visit vippuertorico.co.uk Jamaica The tourist board is encouraging Britons keen

to avoid the Olympics to consider escaping to Jamaica with a number of hotels offering a range of special deals. These include seven nights’ halfboard in the new Cottage 7 at Jamaica Inn, from £3,190 per person. This price includes flights and transfers and is available

through Azure Collection. Saint Lucia The Saint Lucia Tourist Board has released its new line-up for the 21st Saint Lucia Jazz Festival. Heading the list of acts is Diana Ross and Toni Braxton. For more details, see stluciajazz.org

Antigua Jolly Beach and Carlisle Bay have put together some family-friendly offers for 2012. At Jolly Beach, children aged between three and 16 can stay for free when holidaying with two adults. Meanwhile, children can stay for free at luxury resort Carlisle Bay for up to three nights. Puerto Rico The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has launched a dedicated trade microsite aimed at improving agents’ knowledge of the Caribbean destination. The number of operators featuring the island has increased from four to 14 since the launch of British Airways’s flight from Gatwick in March 2011. This has prompted the PRTC to launch the agents’ site. The PRTC is also running a sales incentive at the moment.

Dream Holiday Dream Price Imagine your dream vacation. The setting is Grand Bahama Island, a tropical paradise with palm-fringed, exp perience is sheer luxury, combined with wi th first-class facilites and superb powder sand beaches. the experience service at Radisson Resor rt Grand Lucayan. It’s not just about our elegant rooms and suites Resort with wonderful views. With W a nd golf to a revitalizing spa everything from watersports and and fitness cent ter, Grand Lucayan is the ultimate vacation va acation destination. center,

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Luxury Holidays

Blow the budget Enjoy the view from the penthouse suite at the Cove, Atlantis in the Bahamas

Holiday like a superstar at one of the many five-star resorts in the Caribbean

espite fears that the ongoing global recession would have a knock-on effect on the luxury, long-haul market, bookings from operators would suggest otherwise. According to Hayes and Jarvis’s recent trend reports, it seems ‘west is best’ with record bookings for Mexico, Latin America and the Dominican Republic as well as significant increases for both the US and Caribbean. Value for money is driving demand for the Caribbean, particularly when it comes to the luxury end of the market. So we speak to the luxury specialists to find out where the best place is to spend the family inheritance. The Bahamas If money really is no object for your clients, then suggest they push the boat out by booking one of the penthouse suites that occupies the 14th and 15th floor of the Cove Atlantis.

The entrance to this suite is through a foyer with a domed ceiling and Murano glass chandelier, and is kitted out better than most people’s homes with an executive office, a 10-seat dining area set off a full chef’s kitchen with butler’s office including a dry bar with a refrigerator and wine cooler. The master bathroom features an oversize shower and infinity bathtub. The entire suite showcases vaulted ceilings and dramatic lighting, which is complemented by a 360 degree view of the ocean and harbour. And if this isn’t luxurious enough, the suites have their own dedicated, 24hour butler to satisfy your every whim. How much? Prices lead in at $4,825 per night for the one-bedroom presidential suite. British Virgin Islands Rock stars, movie icons and members of the royal family will go to any lengths to find the ultimate hideaway, and if your All about the Caribbean

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Luxury Holidays Jade Mountain’s ‘sanctuaries’don’t have a fourth wall so guests can chill out in their plunge pools and enjoy the vista

client feels the need to have their own paradise island, then why don’t you suggest they hire out the entire Peter Island Resort and Spa. This island in the British Virgin Islands boasts five pristine, pearl-white beaches, lush palm groves and tropical mountains across 1,800 acres. Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Peter Island’s private location makes it the perfect destination for guests seeking a serene and calming getaway. Guests can choose from a variety of luxurious accommodation options, from the fully-staffed private villas; Falcon’s Nest, Hawk’s Nest and Crow’s Nest, the beautiful beachfront junior suites just steps from the sea or the charming Oceanview Rooms in the heart of the resort. How much? Abercrombie and Kent offers seven nights for the price of five in Hawk’s Nest Villa from £3,325 per person based on six people sharing a three-bedroom villa on a full-board basis including flights and private transfers. Grenadines Many a super star retreats to the island of Bequia in the

Grenadines to write and escape publicity, according to Grenadine Escapes, a villa operator that has a number of properties on the island that really do have the wow factor. Take the Villa Bequia that overlooks a remote white, sandy beach with six bedrooms that can sleep up to 14 guests, who can be waited on hand and foot by lodge staff if they so request. Or what about the six-bedroom Villa Amitabah, which sleeps 12 and has its own tennis and basketball courts, gazebos near to its pool and beach, spa-like bathrooms, indoor gym and cinema and its own yacht moorage? How much? Villa Bequia leads in at $10,000 for seven nights including free speedboat to Mustique and Villa Amitabah starts at $8,000 per week. St Lucia Set high on a hillside above Anse Chastanet beach, every inch of the Jade Mountain resort screams luxury. From its spectacular scenery, views and unforgettable architecture – every room, or should I say sanctuary, has been designed without a fourth wall to deliver views of the Pitons and the

Find out why everyone’s talking about the unique Boucan experience thehotelchocolat.com pr@hotelchocolat.co.uk

All about the Caribbean

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Grenadine Escapes rolls out the red carpet with its portfolio of luxury villas

Caribbean sea – guests can be guaranteed to feel like VIPs. The pools at the resort can be illuminated by fibre optics at night and the sanctuaries are deliberately techno-free, so there’s no telephones, radio or television The hotel has plenty of themed packages to choose from, including romance, gourmet and hot-shoe lighting photography holidays. How much? Rates at Jade Mountain start at $1,250 per night based on two people sharing a Star sanctuary. SeaDream I The ultra luxury experience in the Caribbean doesn’t have to be confined to dry land. When it comes to high end on the high seas, Seadream Yacht Club ticks all the right VIP boxes with the emphasis being on yachting, not cruising. With only 112 guests on board SeaDream I and 95 crew,

passengers can be guaranteed to receive the VIP treatment and the smaller sizes of the ships mean they can access smaller harbours or even just drop anchor close to the white, sandy beaches of the Caribbean. For this winter, SeaDream I is embarking on a 15-night cruise around 17 Caribbean islands, including: Bequia, Grenadines; Grande de Anse, Martinique; Portsmouth, Dominica; Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe; Gustavia, St Barts; Basseterre, St Kitts; Coconut Grove, Nevis; St John's, Antigua; Little Bay, Montserrat; Charlestown, Nevis; Sandy Ground, Anguilla; Virgin Gorda, BVI; Jost van Dyke, BVI and San Juan, Puerto Rico. How much? Prices lead in at $6,098 per person, including all meals on board, complimentary open bar, wines at lunch and dinner, use of water sports marina and the ship’s water toys.

News in brief Caribtours has a number of special offers. These include one free night and a complimentary Renew, Revive, Relax spa package for clients spending seven nights at Sandy Lane in Barbados. Prices lead in at £2,965 per person for seven nights. Meanwhile, clients booking seven nights at Tortuga Bay in Dominican Republic can benefit from a 10% earlybooking discount. Prices start at £2,645 per person. Seasons is offering seven nights at the Eden Rock, St Barths, an exclusive villa comes with its own Mini Cooper to buzz around the Island in plus a recording studio. Prices start at £2,650.

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Spa Breaks

Mind, body and soul...

Bajan influences spice up the treatments at the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados

From sleep clinics to Pamper in Paradise packages, the spa resorts in the Caribbean are really upping the ante to compete with rival spa destinations

he days when spas in resort focused on manicures, pedicures, facials and the odd head, neck and back massage are gone. Spa specialist resorts in the Caribbean are investing a lot of time and energy in putting together programmes that aim to help people learn to cope with the stresses and strains of modern-day living. So if your clients are struggling to cope with the demands of our 24-hour society, why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you suggest they check in to a resort in the Caribbean where they can learn to look after their mind, body and soul. One&Only Ocean Club If you want to strengthen your body and relax your mind at the same time, then the four-night Physique 57 Retreat at

All about the Caribbean

One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas is just what the doctor ordered. Marketed as the most effective workout system in New York City and Los Angeles, Physique 57ÂŽ is said to be a vigorous and dynamic exercise method designed to rapidly transform your body with a proven cardiovascular programme of isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches. Interval training sets incorporate muscle-defining arm exercises, intense thigh and seat sequences, waist-chiseling abdominal moves and fluid stretches to create a long and lean physique. How much? The four-day retreats are taking place from September 20-24, and December 2-6 and lead in at $2,200 per room and include two daily Physique 57 classes in an outdoor beachfront 11

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Spa Breaks pavilions in the mornings and afternoons, breakfast, 20% off spa treatments, transfers and a welcome gift bag with Physique 57® DVD Workout Series. The BodyHoliday, St Lucia Having established a reputation as being one of the most comprehensive wellness centres in the Caribbean, TheBodyHoliday is switching its attention to the wellbeing of the whole family with its Wellfit Family Week. A family-based fitness week, Wellfit is designed to help parents and their offspring get fit and healthy together in a beach setting. Inspired by real beach lifeguard training regimes, the programme offers the opportunity to learn everything from physical strength and cardiovascular fitness to first aid and CPR training. Yoga is available to help focus the mind; cycling and sailing to increase your stamina. The holiday is suited to children aged 12 and over so is perfect for parents who feel they need to spend some quality time with their teenagers. Wellfit® will run for seven weeks this summer. The first

week begins on 16 July and the last week starts on 27 August. How much? Carrier offers the seven-night Wellfit programme for £8,700 all-inclusive for a family of two adults and one child including flights and private transfers. LaSource, Grenada The Caribbean’s holistic all-inclusive resort has created a MindBodyReformer programme that aims to offer the missing elements in traditional boot camps that focus predominantly on the physical aspects of fitness and weight loss. Addressing the whole fitness picture by integrating body and mind, participants will be supported in making their exercise routine and eating habits more sustainable in everyday life. Guests that sign up will follow a personalised exercise, diet and wellbeing schedule, and be given a specially designed “take your resolve home with you” plan to keep up achievements. The MindBodyReformer programme has been created by Andy Grant, Olympian and Grenadian boxing champion and wellbeing director Dr Manoj Kutteri. MindBodyReformer focuses on habit change and the right emotional space required to sustain fitness goals.

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How much? The MindBodyReformer’s seven-day workshops will run: May 24-31, June 13-20, July 15-22, August 1-8, September 13-20 and October 3-10. Luxury Holidays Direct offers a seven-night stay for two adults at La Source from £1,385 per person including flights, and transfers Meanwhile, La Source has also added additional dates to its Sleep School, which it launched last November in partnership with UK insomniac specialist Dr Guy Meadows and Kuoni. The seven-day workshops for this year will run June 4-10 and November 25-December 2 and are free of charge to guests. Through a series of sessions, Dr Meadows works with people who suffer from insomnia to teach them to let go of struggling with sleep so that their natural ability to sleep can emerge. All of the tools that The Sleep School uses feature a combination of mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy. The approach is 100% non-drug based and prop-free. How much? Kuoni offers seven nights’ all inclusive for £2,059 per person including flights and transfers. COMO Shambhala Retreat, Parrot Cay This exclusive resort at Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos has an expansive range of wellness facilities that include an infinity pool, a yoga room, nine treatment rooms, two double massage rooms, an outdoor Jacuzzi garden and two yoga and pilates studios. For 2012, guests will be able to dive into a menu of treatments as part of the resort’s Summer of Healthy Living that aim to invigorate, purify and harmonize. These treatments include a mixture of massage, yoga, shiatsu, acupuncture, reflexology and reiki. How much? A three-night package starts at $1,620 based on single occupancy. This includes a bottle of champagne on arrival, breakfast, three-course lunch and dinner daily, a complimentary group yoga and pilates class, non-motorised watersports, two 60-minute spa treatments and a COMO Shambhala gift. The Jalousie Plantation, Saint Lucia This luxury resort has relaunched its Spa Break Away for the summer season. Nestled on the paradise-like Sugar Beach with views of the Pitons, Jalousie Plantation is offering guests staying four nights in one of Jalousie’s luxury villas or higher room categories to stay a fifth night for free. The resort will include a complimentary Rainforest Spa signature Bamboo massage, and manicure or pedicure per booking to give guests the opportunity to experience the Rainforest Spa with its tree house treatment rooms and Amerindian steam room. How much? Prices lead in at $520 per night for a luxury villa with a private plunge pool and butler service. Valid for travel between May 23, 2012 and October 31, 2012 on bookings made by May 31.

All about the Caribbean

Sandy Lane, Barbados Although not a traditional spa hotel, the Spa at Sandy Lane offers an array of treatments inspired by traditions around the world with an authentic Bajan touch. The therapeutic ritual of Rhassoul is a signature treatment that features two mosaic chairs with showers located above. Pink Kaolin clay is applied from the neck down, followed by dry heat to extract impurities, then a herbal steam to soften the clay and moisturise the skin. To finish, warm cascading water removes the clay leaving the skin hydrated and refreshed. How much? Carrier offers seven nights for the price of six from £2,875 per person based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis. Price includes a full body massage, a Bajan scrub, a Bajan head massage, a pedicure and a lunch for two in Bajan Blue or the Spa Cafe.

It’s only natural A number of the spa resorts in Grenada serve up vast menus of treatments that use locally-grown ingredients. These include: The Calabash Spa director Sally Dawson says: “We only use natural products in the spa. For example, we use coconut oil for the general massage. Essential oils of cinnamon, black pepper and lemon grass are used for the Heaven and Earth spa massage – these are produced in Grenada by West India Spices and the intention is to improve circulation and relieve muscular aches and pains.” Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort The spa treatments at Mount Cinnamon use products created locally from belzeb. The products contain natural products grown in Grenada that have been used for many years to promote health and well-being such as nutmeg, cinnamon and other herbs and spices. Spice Island Beach resort Janissa’s Spa at the Spice Island Beach uses nutmeg, ocean seaweed aloe vera, the zest of orange and Coconut. Natural oils such as grapefruit, cinnamon, aniseed and lemongrass are also used as well as ginger, cinnamon and honey. 13

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Family Holidays

Family times

Grin and bear the long flights, the family-friendly resorts in the Caribbean will make sure it is worth your while

hen it comes to finding a holiday destination that is guaranteed to keep all the family happy, the very child-friendly resorts in the Caribbean are experts in providing entertainment all day − and a lot of the night − for kids of all ages. From newborns to young adults (yes, one resort has a package for parents that are still taking their 21-year-olds on holiday with them), the resorts have an array of age-appropriate activities to keep the children bus, while the parents enjoy some time out by the pool. So, let’s find out what the resorts have up their sleeve for summer 2012. Atlantis Summer Camps, Bahamas From June 25 through August 17, the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas is running a series of four-night/five-day Atlantis Camps where children aged six and over will be invited to take part in a variety of

different “edutainment” age-appropriate camp programmes. These include the Cartoon Network Studios Fantasy Camp, which will run from August 6-10 and will teach aspiring cartoonists the fundamentals of animation. The Lego Master Builder Academy Camp offers kids the opportunity to work alongside a LEGO Master Builder. The camp runs from July 23-26 and is aimed at children aged six to 12. Finally, the StoryTellers Scrapbooking Camp: Imagine.Design.Create will include workshops for both traditional and digital scrapbookers wishing to learn new techniques, work with the latest products and get inspired. The camp runs from July 30-August 3 How much? The camps start at $495 per person, excluding room cost. Jolly Beach Resort, Antigua While Hayes and Jarvis Caribbean All about the Caribbean

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Family Holidays product manager Katie Parsons recommends Atlantis as the perfect compromise for families with pre-teen kids and teenagers, she also suggests Jolly Beach Resort, Antigua is a great value option for credit-crunched families with allinclusive accommodation and excellent resort facilities. “Jolly Beach is a good choice for parents with children 12 and under. It has a mile-long powder white, sandy beach, ideal for this age group, and one of the most switched-on kids’ clubs in the Caribbean. The Jolly Kidz Club is imaginative in the activities it has, which range from sack races to rounders.” How much? Hayes and Jarvis offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for a family of four leaading in at £4,795. Almond Casuarina Beach, Barbados For new parents who are struggling to cope with the sleepless nights should consider checking into the Almond Casuarina Beach resort in Barbados as it is the only resort in the Caribbean to offer child care for newborns, so that new parents can get to enjoy some time to themselves. The children’s programme offers a range of age-appropriate activities designed to provide educational fun to children up to the age of 16 keeping them happily entertained with playgrounds, kids’ pools and activity centres. Their fully qualified staff allows parents to relax and enjoy themselves in the knowledge their little ones are well looked-after. All activities are included in the price so families can go hobie cat sailing, snorkelling, water-skiing, windsurfing, aqua cycling, kayaking, fishing. Banana boats, golf courses and tennis courts are also available. Carlisle Bay, Antigua As the economic recession means that young adults are having to delay flying the nest, Carlisle Bay has responded to this 21stcentury problem by extending the teenage limit of its new Super Chill Out package to 21. The luxury Antigua resort is offering a 50% saving on a second Ocean or Garden suite for teenagers and young adults up to the age of 21. For families with younger children, up to two children under the age of 15 can stay free in a beach suite with their parents including all meals. There is also a complimentary Cool Kids Club for children aged two to 12 years that can cater for babies from six months at a small charge. Activities for children aged four to six include art projects, song and dance, tennis and swimming, while seven to 12-yearolds can do raft building, yoga and beach volleyball. Teenagers can make the most of the Crush programme of activities, which include tubing, zip-lining and wake boarding. How much? Carrier offers seven nights for a family of four for £7,090 based on departures between 31 October and 2 November. Four Seasons Resort Nevis Putting conservation at the heart of its kids’ programme, Four Seasons Resort Nevis promotes education and preservation to children through its Nevis Turtle Group and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. 16

Making conservation a fun and educational experience for the whole family, the resort’s complimentary Kids for All Seasons programme, offers a weekly sea turtle day camp for kids. Activities include turtle tales, turtle watch beach walks, arts and crafts, postcard drawing contests, interactive games, puzzles and videos. During the turtle-nesting season on Nevis, which runs from June through October, children ages three to nine can participate in the Kids for All Seasons turtle education programme and will receive a sea turtle adoption certificate and Sea Turtle Conservancy membership as a memento. How much? Until September 4, Four Seasons Resort Nevis is offering a third night free when booking two consecutive paid nights, valid on all room types and villas for resort stays between April 15 and September 9. Rates per night start at $445. The small visitors with their Explorers’ packs at St James’s Club, Antigua

St James’s Club, Antigua St James’s Club in Antigua has just launched new Little Explorers packs for children staying at the resort. All children are given a Little Explorers backpack for the week for free which includes an activity booklet, which gives them a few tasks to complete during their stay, including spotting local flowers, fish, fruits, flags, food, currency and national costume around the resort. Also in the backpack are a magnifying glass, binoculars, whistle, water bottle and sun-hat. As part of the exploration tasks, children are asked to find a tree with coconuts on it, write down where they found it and, with a member of the kids’ club or a family member, find Mr King Large who will pick a coconut for them, crack it open and they then need to describe what it tastes like and colour in a picture. How much? Virgin Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for £1,305 per person including flights and transfers based on six people sharing a standard room.

All about the Caribbean

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P&O’s Ventura will be heading for the Caribbean this Christmas

Plain sailing Island hopping around the Caribbean is easier and more accessible than you think

hether by yacht, powerboat, cruise ship or inter-island flights, island-hopping in the Caribbean is a popular way to experience the different cultures in the region in one holiday. We look at all the options available, from the more affordable journeys to the ultimate, ‘money can’t buy’ island-hopping experiences. By air Antigua and St Kitts/Nevis British Airways’ flight to St Kitts stops off at Antigua on the way, making these two islands the perfect twin-centre combination, says Cox and Kings. Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands and has a beach for every day of the year, and its close historical links with Britain have left a legacy of interesting places to visit. English Harbour was

developed as a base for the British Navy by Horatio Nelson. The largely unspoilt twin islands of St Kitts and Nevis are just a short boat journey apart and have their own character and charm. The landscape and plantation inns are a constant reminder of the once dominant sugar industry and Montpelier Plantation is where Admiral Nelson married Fanny Nisbet in 1787. How much? Three nights at the English Harbour in Antigua and four nights at Ottleys Plantation, St Kitts lead in at £1,945 per person including flights, half board accommodation and transfers. Saint Lucia and Antigua With properties on both islands, which are served by inter-island flights, Sandals recommends combining a visit to its Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa and Beach Resort with a few days at its Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa.

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Princess Cruises’ Grand Golden Caribbean takes in the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Aruba, St Martin and Puerto Rico

Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa and Beach Resort is located on its own peninsula and is surrounded by crystal Caribbean waters, set against a backdrop of volcanic mountains and a mile-long crescent beach. Sandals Grande Antigua offers the best of both worlds, combining Caribbean charm set among the European grandeur of the palatial retreat known as the Mediterranean Village. How much? Prices lead in at £3,169 per person for seven nights at the Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa and Golf Resort and seven nights at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa on an all-inclusive basis. Price includes flights and transfers based on a departure date of 5 September. By yacht Fancy sailing around the Caribbean in a tall ship? Then look no further than Star Clippers’ sailings in the Caribbean for 2012/13. The cruiseline, which owns three tall ships, will have two of its ships in the Caribbean from December to April after they cross the Atlantic following their summer season in the Mediterranean. The unique selling point of the Star Clippers brand − apart from the fact they are traditional tall ships − is that the smaller size of the yachts means they can drop anchor almost anywhere and access much smaller bays, harbours and berths than the large cruise ships. The 227-passenger, five-masted Royal Clipper will be sailing the Grenadines and the Windward islands. The ship’s seven-night Grenadine itinerary sets sail from Barbados and heads to the Grenadines, Grenada, Bequia, Martinique and St Lucia before heading back to Barbados. Royal Clipper’s seven-night Windward itinerary starts off in Barbados and calls in at St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St Kitts, Iles des Saintes and Martinique. How much? The seven-night Grenadines sailing costs from £1,225 per person including all meals, but excluding flights. The Windward cruise is the same price. The smaller, four-masted, 170-passenger Star Clipper will be operating two itineraries. These include the seven-night Treasure Island cruise, which will take in St Martin, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Tortola, St Kitts and St Barts. The seven-night Leeward itinerary stops in at St Martin, Nevis, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St Barts. How much? The seven-night Leeward and Treasure Island cruises lead in at £1,145, with all meals, excluding flights. 18

By powerboat catamarans When it comes to holidaying in style, celebrities are way ahead of the pack with their passion for speedboat holidays. If your client fancies holidaying like an A-lister, suggest they check out Caribbean powerboat charter company The Moorings. Crewed or uncrewed and the perfect holiday option for families or groups of friends, the powerboat charter operator can take clients on cruises around the Bahamas or the BVIs in comfort and style. A Bahamas powerboat charter typically focuses on the Abacos, with cruising to isolated cays and coral reefs with the chance to explore the Sea of Abaco, the Berry Islands, the Exumas, Georgetown, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Rum Cay, and Long Island. Alternatively, a BVIs powerboat charter combines fishing, snorkelling, and scuba diving during the day with the spectacular nightlife of the BVIs − both the US and the Spanish ones. How much? A two-cabin 37' power catamaran that sleeps between four and six starts at £310 per day. By cruise ship If your client fancies a break from the norm this Christmas, then suggest they consider a cruise around the Caribbean with P&O Cruises. The cruiseline’s 3,574-passenger ship Ventura will be sailing around the Caribbean for 14 nights from 14 December, calling in at Barbados, St Kitts, Tortola, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Antigua, St Martin, St Vincent and Grenada. Meanwhile, Azura will be cruising the Caribbean from 28 February to 15 March, stopping in at Barbados, St Martin, Tortola, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Curacao, Aruba, St Vincent and Grenada. How much? Prices lead in at £1,699 per person for the Ventura cruise, while 14 nights on the Azura sailing lead in at £1,549 per person. Both prices include flights. Fred Olsen The cruiseline that has been grabbing the headlines for its Titanic memorial will be switching its focus to the Caribbean early next year when Black Watch cruise ship will be departing on a 26-night Caribbean Rum cruise, from Southampton on 31 March 2013. The ship will be crossing the Atlantic to Bridgetown in Barbados, where the cruise will start, before heading off to St George’s in Grenada, Castries, Saint Lucia, St John’s, Philipsburg in St Martin and Tortola in the BVIs, before taking a leisurely cruise home via Ponta All about the Caribbean

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Island hopping Delgada in the Azores. Guests can book on the Virgin Islands Sailaway tour from Road Town in Tortola, boarding a catamaran from the marina and cruising across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to one of the surrounding islands, for swimming and snorkelling, before relaxing on the beach. Or in Philipsburg, they can try the Island Tour and Butterfly Farm visit, where they will experience rare and exotic butterflies. How much? Prices start at £2,349 per person sharing an inside cabin. Set sail from Southampton with a stop en route at Funchal, before heading across the Atlantic to Bridgetown.

How much? Prices on the Silver Whisper sailing lead in at £2,518 per person, while the 14-night Christmas cruise costs from £4,499. Flights are not included.

Princess Cruises The 14-night Caribbean Grand Adventure on board Emerald Princess gives cruisers a flavour of the region at affordable prices, calling in at San Juan in Puerto Rico, St Martin, St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Princess Cays in the Bahamas, Fort Lauderdale and Aruba. How much? A 14-night round trip from Fort Lauderdale costs £899 per person based on two adults sharing. Flights are excluded

Voyages of Discovery Voyages of Discovery have put together a Caribbean Gems itinerary that gives passengers the opportunity to take in 12 Caribbean destinations during a 17-day sailing on board Voyager this Christmas. The ship sets sail from Bridgetown in Barbados on 20 December and calls in at St Lucia, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Grenada, Tobago, Margarita Island in Venezuela, La Guaira in Venezuela, Curacao, Bonaire, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and Montego Bay in Jamaica. Post-cruise add-ons include a few nights at the adults-only Secrets St James Resort in Montego Bay. How much? The 17-day cruise costs from £2,569 per person, including return flights and transfers, meals, entertainment and gratuities on board.

Silversea The ultra luxury cruiseline has two winter sun cruises around the Caribbean this year, one of which visits the region over the Christmas period. Departing from New York on 22 October, Silver Whisper sets sail for Bermuda where it stays in port overnight giving passengers the opportunity to discover the island that has strong ties with Britain. The ship then has two days at sea before arriving at St Barts for a full day’s exploring, departing at 11pm for Antigua. Other ports of call include Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines with the last port of call being Bridgetown, Barbados on 1 November. Meanwhile, sister ship Silver Spirit sets off on a 14-day voyage from Fort Lauderdale on 20 December calling in at: Tortola, BVI; Basseterre, St Kitts; St George's, Grenada; Castries, Saint Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; St. Johns, Antigua; Gustavia, St Barts; and Frederiksted, St Croix.

Carnival The US cruise giant offers a number of departures on board Carnival Dream on its 14-night, back-to-back, island-hopping cruises around the Caribbean, sailing out of Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale. The 14-night itinerary consists of a seven-night Exotic Western Caribbean cruise, which visits Cozumel in Mexico, Mahogany Bay on Isla Roatan and Costa Maya in Mexico. The ship then returns to Port Canavarel and sets out on a sevennight cruise around the eastern Caribbean, taking in Nassau in the Bahamas, St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and St Martin. How much? A 16-night fly-cruise on Carnival Dream, departing on 23 November with back-to-back sailings on Exotic Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean cruises leads in at £1,379 per person.

Royal Clipper will be crossing the Atlantic for a winter season sailing around the Caribbean

All about the Caribbean

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