knowledge caribbean Fam trip
ttglive.com
Like a Beaches virgin
Sean Miller of Virgin Holidays Retail in Bristol had never been to Turks and Caicos or to a Beaches resort, but he came back from a fam trip a real convert
RESORT.
It was absolutely amazing. Before I went I’d heard from a lot of people and colleagues that it was very American, very cheesy, and very in your face. I couldn’t have disagreed more. It was so much better than I expected. I thought people would be bothering you to take part in activities while you were relaxing by the pool, but it wasn’t like that at all. It is a big complex, but because of the different quarters — a Caribbean Village, Italian Village and French Village — it has the feel of something a bit more private. Sometimes in the Caribbean you walk into a room and need your sunglasses, but there are none of the garish colours from some of the old brochures here. There is a toned down colour scheme, and the French Quarter where I stayed had nice neutral beiges. You can get a Concierge room with a gazebo and a Butler room. The living rooms are a good size, not an extension of the bed- room, and some of the bath tubs are so deep you almost need a ladder to get out. There are 16 restaurants and 13 bars, and the food was the best I’ve had on holiday. We had fine dining which included the likes
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of scallops for starters and steak as a main. You usually only get local wine at all-inclusives, but Beaches have all the big brands. The staff were so friendly — I was only there for three days but they knew my favourite drink.
CHILDREN.
Children are spoilt rotten. There’s a kids club, waterpark, a Scratch DJ Academy and teens’ nightclub. I spent some time in the Xbox room without getting thrown out. If I went as a kid I’d never want to leave.
TURKS AND CAICOS. Turks and Caicos has quite an exclusive
image. It’s not that developed but it still has
a nice feel to it. It’s postcard Caribbean with white sand, blue sea and blue sky. You can hardly tell where the horizon is. You’d never get bored, though obviously the activities are mostly very hotel-based. But I think when you go to these places you are going to chill out and get a good tan. Out of the hotel I tried a catamaran excursion to a deserted island and went snorkelling. Virgin Holidays tends to send more people to Jamaica Beaches, as with Turks and Caicos we fly via Miami, although that is a chance for a twin-centre. If clients could afford it, I would definitely switch-sell them to Turks and Caicos as it is more exotic.
SELLING BEACHES.
Since I’ve got back I’ve been more confident selling Turks and Caicos and our sales of Sandals and Beaches have doubled. We’d sold maybe two or three holidays there in 2010 before I went in June, and since we’ve sold six or seven. We’ve also got a lot more involved with Sandals and Beaches, and have even been to a wedding fair with them. To sell, it’s better to break down what you get. For instance, with food there is a really wide choice and very high standards. I’d also tell clients they don’t have to pay more, that they get everything included, even motorised watersports.
Splashing around in Beaches’ waterpark is one of many things for kids to do
It’s great value for money — the prices compare well with Atlantis in the Bahamas when you add in all the food and extras.
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