In conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation

Following our trip to St Kitts & Nevis, we boarded our Private Charter flight to Anguilla.

The flight was approximately 40 minutes and the flight path took us over some breathtaking scenery including the islands of St Barts & St Martin.

Anguilla is the most northern island of the Leeward Islands, less than 9 miles from St. Maarten and 150 miles east of Puerto Rico, two of it’s major gateways. It is flat, low-lying and is envied for pure, pristine white sands, wrapped in brilliant turquoise-coloured waters.

Accompanied by our host from the Anguilla Tourist Board over here in the UK, Mekesha Mussington, we were warmly greeted at the airport by members of the local Tourist Board before being transported the short distance to our hotel, Paradise Cove.

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In conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation

Marriott Resort

Our flight to St Kitts & Nevis was with British Airways and operated via Antigua on both routes. The stop-off in Antigua is a “technical” one and does not involve leaving the aircraft.

The “base” for our 4-night stay in St Kitts was the impressive St Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino, a mere 10 minutes transfer from St Kitts airport.

Overlooking the emerald green Atlantic Ocean on the Windward side of the island, the hotel provided us with a high standard of accommodation and an ideal location from where to begin our exploration of the island.

St Kitts

Brimstone Hill

St Kitts boasts a significant history. Christopher Columbus first discovered the island back in 1493 when it was populated by native tribes but it wasn’t colonised by the Europeans until the British arrived in 1623. It’s strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was the best in the Colonial Caribbean.

We were hosted by Jennifer Hensley from the St Kitts Tourism Authority in London. Jennifer’s love and passion for her homeland was infectious from the outset and her knowledge and that of our locally-based guide contributed significantly to making the whole experience a very special one.

On the first morning of our stay in St Kitts, we embarked upon our Island Tour, taking in some of St Kitts’ most breathtaking scenery and panoramic views.

Among our stop-off points was the famous Brimstone Hill Fortress & Heritage Park. This is one of the best preserved historical fortifications in the Americas.

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Click here to book The Verandah Resort & Spa from £1159pp

Kevin and the gang

Having heard excellent things about The Verandah Resort & Spa, I had rather high expectations. I have to say it more than lived up to these expectations and in most cases, far exceeded them.

The resort has a sort of ‘village’ feel with each villa being individually named. Another nice touch were the little buggies that were always driving around to take you around the resort… very handy when you’ve got tired legs after a busy day.

The Verandah Resort & Spa

Although the hotel only has 3 restaurants, the choice of food was extensive and the quality of the food was very high. It had one of the best selections of all inclusive food that I have seen. The only thing I would say is that the restaurants had a tendency to be a bit warm, though a table by the window helped a little.

The staff were all really friendly and were always on hand to help. Nothing was too much trouble and they seemed to genuinely go out of their way to have a bit of a chat with each guest and ensure everyone was having a good time.

The Wedding Gazebo

The hotel has two pristine reef-sheltered beaches; I am not the world’s greatest swimmer, but because the water was so calm (due to the bay location of the resort) and the beach was very shallow-sloping, you couldn’t keep me out of the warm, turquoise water. The Verandah is also Green Globe Certified, with the resort’s daily operation being geared towards ecological preservation of the surrounding environment.

We spent quite a bit of time in the huge free-form pool at the hotel and I would certainly recommend the cocktails which they serve from the pool bar.

The main pool area

There are lots of different watersports and activities to enjoy on the main beach and not just one, but two 18 hole golf courses.

I would highly recommend taking the short stroll to the nearby Devil’s Bridge; be sure to take your camera because the views are stunning! The ferocity of the water beating down onto the limestone cliffs not only creates fantastic scenery, but also a series of extreme sounds, produced when the water is forced through holes in the limestone, which it has created over time. You can also go on various island tours, including one that takes you past Eric Clapton’s mansion… which has to be seen to be believed!

Devil's Bridge

This hotel has definitely earned its place high on my list of favourites and I would definitely recommend it for couples, families and groups. There was so much to do, I could have easily stayed for 14 nights and I would have still had plenty to do on a return visit!

Click here to visit our Verandah hotel page and learn more about the resort.

Plus for a limited time only you will also receive a FREE UK Airport Lounge Pass when you book The Verandah with us, as part of our Exclusive Offer of the Week.

Click here to learn more about this offer.

Sandals Star Awards 2010

During the month of December, I was privileged to represent our company at the 9^th annual Sandals Travel Agent Recognition (STAR) awards which this year took place at the fantastic Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, Blue Bay Travel Ltd having been recognized for our outstanding achievement by Sandals Resorts.

Sandals Resorts has always believed in the valuable role that Agents like Blue Bay Travel Ltd play in helping Clients choose their dream holiday.

All of our Agents at Blue Bay Travel Ltd are specially trained and accredited to sell the Sandals & Beaches products which enables each and everyone of them to find for you the perfect Sandals and Beaches holiday.

Whether you are planning a destination wedding, honeymoon, romantic getaway or a family holiday at one of the famous Beaches Resorts, we have all latest information on developments and services at Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, Royal Plantation Collection and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts.

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“The beach is just the beginning…”

Never has there been a truer phrase spoken.

During the month of March 2010, I was kindly invited by the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Board to visit their lovely islands and to experience everything they have to offer.

I was soon able to discover that there is so much more to Antigua & Barbuda than those 365 magnificent beaches for which the islands are famous during our one week stay. continue reading…