DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN | REPEAT VISITORS
exper expert ASK THE
Jenny Basham product manager – long-haul beaches, Carrier
“We’re seeing more demand for twin and triple-centre stays. Clients are looking to get more out of their holiday and a second island can introduce a different experience. We recently put together itineraries pairing Saint Lucia with Grenada, Nevis with Anguilla, and Antigua with St Barts.”
Matt Rushbrooke commercial and product director, Inspiring Travel Company
“We’ve noticed a rise in all-inclusive travel, especially in the school holidays, so I recommend agents book well in advance to secure family rooms. There’s been a rise in business to St Kitts and Nevis, which is served by twice-weekly direct flights with BA, so make clients aware of these gorgeous islands.”
Caroline Beckett Caribbean product manager, Elegant Resorts “Bookings to
Grenada are up 40% on last year and more than half are clients who have previously visited – showing what a special island it is. Luxury properties like Spice Island Beach Resort are particularly appealing. We’re also looking forward to the opening of Six Senses La Sagesse on April 10.”
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada; Aruba’s Butterfly Farm; snorkelling in Dominica; Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort, Dominica PICTURES: David Troeger, Derek Galon
TIME FOR ST VINCENT For Sandals fans, this spring will bring a whole new Caribbean island to sell with the opening of Sandals St Vincent and The Grenadines on March 27. Set on the west coast of mountainous St Vincent, the 301-room beach resort is easily reached via Virgin Atlantic’s thrice-weekly flights from Heathrow. The super-scenic isle is well worth exploring and excursions from the property include whale watching, climbing the mighty La Soufrière volcano and a snorkelling cruise to Bequia and Mustique.
ARUBA EXPANDS A year after British Airways launched twice-weekly flights from Gatwick, this Dutch island is upping its game with three new resorts. For a boutique stay, book clients into the four-star Aruba Boutique & Art Hotel in Palm
21 MARCH 2024
fast factast act
Virgin Atlantic will up Heathrow-Barbados flights to twice-daily on October 27, while Aer Lingus has extended its Manchester-
Bridgetown service until May 31
Beach, which opens on April 1. Two large five-star properties will follow this year – the adult-only Iberostar Grand Aruba, with 240 suites, due in late summer, and the St Regis Aruba Palm Beach Resort, coming in December.
RUM TIMES IN GRENADA Grenada is a good choice for clients interested in tasting rums and discovering their heritage. As well as a visit to the rustic River Antoine distillery, which dates from 1785 and still has a working waterwheel, suggest a trip to the Renegade Rum Distlillery in St Andrews. It opened for tours last month and is on a mission to create a premium tipple that can vie with a single malt. True Blue Bay Resort in St George’s offers a Rum Shop Experience that includes tastings along with a lesson in how to play dominoes Grenadan-style.
DIVE INTO DOMINICA Having recently completed a £14 million upgrade including 60 new rooms, Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort is an ideal base for exploring this green and mountainous isle that will appeal to clients who like
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