Travel Inspiration with Harden Holidays

TRAVEL INSPIRATION – WINTER SUN – CARIBBEAN’S BEST ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS

By Harden Holidays

As we write this article, things in the travel industry are sadly still not looking good. There are barely any countries on the government green list to travel to this summer and the new Covid cases in the UK keep creeping up. The good news is that the vaccination programme is going well and we put our trust and hope that this will bring with it the opening of international travel for later in the year. With this in mind, we thought this month we will give you a bit of inspiration for winter sun destinations that may get you that well deserved break in the sun. We will focus on one of our favourite destinations and suppliers – Sandals and Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean is a joyous mosaic of islands enticing paradise hunters, a burst of colour surrounded by beaches and soaked in rum. It is a lively and intoxicating wealth of people and places spread over 7000 islands with fewer than 10% of them being inhabited. They have a lot in common, but they are also very different from the contrast between bustling Barbados and its neighbour, the seemingly unchanged since colonial time St. Vincent to the booming British oriented St. Kitts and it’s sleepy, Dutch affiliated neighbour Sint Eustatius. With so many islands, beaches, cultures, flavours and waves to choose from, how could this not be the holiday paradise?

Our favourite resorts in The Caribbean must be Sandals and Beaches Resort – here is why: Sandals is a perfect romantic stay for two or for a perfect family holiday try their Beaches Resorts. Sandals is couples only; whilst Beaches is families only. Sandals has been voted the World’s Leading All-inclusive Company for over 20 years and that is because of its incredible Luxury Included® concept, with more quality inclusions than any other resort anywhere in the world. Each resort has a first-class location on the beach, protected by offshore reefs which create the clear and calm water, innovative rooms and suites, out of this world gourmet dining with some of the resorts offering a choice of up to 21 different cuisines and a fantastic range of facilities and entertainment. Premium wines and spirits, diving and water-sports are also included, as well as golf on some of the most

challenging and prestigious courses in Saint Lucia. Sandals has also been voted best Wedding Travel Company at the UK Wedding Awards in 2019.

Every Sandals Holiday Includes: Luxurious and Unique Suites ◊ Unlimited 5-Star Global Gourmet™ ◊ Dining at up to 16 Restaurants per Resort ◊ Exclusive Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® Wines ◊ Unlimited Premium Spirits ◊ Up to 11 Bars per Resort, Entertainment Day & Night, Exclusive Butler Service* ◊ Club Sandals Concierge Service* ◊ Sandals Private Offshore Islands** ◊ PADI® Certified Scuba Diving ◊ Unlimited Water Sports ◊ Unlimited Land Sports ◊ StateOf-The-Art Fitness Centres ◊ Complimentary Green Fees for Golf** ◊ Exclusive Exchange Privileges Between Resorts ◊ Free Non-Stop Round-Trip Airport Transfers ◊ Tips and Gratuities ◊ Wi-Fi in all Rooms and Public Areas ◊ Exclusive Airport Arrival Lounge in Jamaica.

You can find Sandals and/or Beaches resorts in Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas. There are 24 properties to choose from in total, each of them offering the highest level of luxury, all included product and at the same time staying true to their home island.

Each and every one of the resorts caters for a special kind of couple, looking for a carefully curated experience where love is all you need to bring. The resorts have their clientele old and new, and repeat visitors are very common.

Which Sandals resort is best for you? That depends on the kind of experience you are going for. For example, Sandals Ochi features more than 100 swimming pools and 16 amazing restaurants. Ochi is never boring, and you are likely to find a lively atmosphere. On the other hand, Sandals Negril offers a plethora of motorised water sports on Jamaica’s beautiful Seven Mile Beach. One of the most frequent questions we get about Sandals resort is which one is best for younger/older couples? They are perfect for all ages, especially those celebrating a wedding, honeymoon or anniversary. You can expect to meet couples from all over the world of all age groups. There are some resorts that attract holiday makers of a particular age group however this can vary according to your time of travel. Resorts like Sandals Grande Antigua, Sandals Royal Plantation and Sandals Halcyon Beach tend to attract a more mature crowd, while Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Ochi and Sandals Royal Bahamian are known to pull a younger crowd.

We must quickly mention the amazing Over-The-Water bungalows recently added to the already amazing accommodation choices. The Over-The-Water bungalows include glass floors, Tranquillity Soaking tubs and personalised butler service. They are incredibly popular and sell out fast – if you are considering one, we recommend booking well in advance. The three Sandals resorts you can find these deluxe bungalows are Sandals South Coast, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals Grande St. Lucian.

The best time to visit the Caribbean is the UK’s cooler months, making this a great destination for those seeking some winter sun. Between December and April, you can expect to see the driest weather along with a pleasant temperature averaging around 25-30C and low humidity. Of course, this also means that this is peak season and prices are slightly higher. Good time to visit is also May, June and November as they fall just outside the rainy season. These months will see great weather but then do tend to be quieter and cost less than the peak winter months. While there is the risk of the odd shower you can expect plenty of sunshine too. The rainy season in the Caribbean typically falls between June and November. This season is characterised by showers and short heavy downpours rather than constant rainfall, so this should not put you off visiting as you can still get plenty of sunshine and a more cost-effective holiday.

To find out more and start planning your winter sun, contact our friendly and knowledgeable team here at Harden Holidays.

0800 023 8974 - info@hardenholidays.co.uk - Dartford town centre.

Dartford Town Centre

www.hardenholidays.co.uk 0800 023 8974

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