DESTINATIONS ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES | CARIBBEAN
ABOVE AND RIGHT: Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the resort’s Buccan restaurant TOP RIGHT: Dark View Falls, St Vincent
Bequia is also benefiting from a new dedicated fast ferry that offers a 40-minute connection to St Vincent, making the larger island easier to visit on a day trip. Capital Kingstown offers plenty of cultural draws, including botanical gardens established in 1765, alongside active options such as hiking up the 1,235-metre La Soufrière volcano. Two single-resort islands, Petit St Vincent
and Palm Island, remain closed, although the latter is set to reopen in early 2027 as the barefoot-luxury, 25-bungalow Voaara Grenadines – the brand’s second property, following its debut in Madagascar.
TWIN PLEASURES The best way for clients to visit the Grenadines is to fly via Barbados and connect with a regional carrier such as Grenadine Alliance. The scheduled flight time from Barbados to Canouan, for example, is 70 minutes. Agents should check the luggage allowance for these small aircraft – it’s likely to be lower than for their transatlantic crossing – and whether the departure tax for the return leg is included or has to be paid in cash. Consider proposing a twin-centre trip, perhaps pairing a few nights at the well-established Coral Reef Club on Barbados with time at the Mandarin Oriental Canouan or The Cotton House in
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Mustique. The latter is a honeymooners’ favourite and much loved by rock stars and royalty. It has a mere 17 rooms and recently added a spa designed in the style of English artist Oliver Messel, featuring high-end Bamford toiletries.
RISING TIDE
With a mountainous interior surrounded by tiny coves that once hid pirates, St Vincent is finally getting the attention it deserves, offering activities ranging from waterfall swims and rainforest hikes to ATV adventures and whale and dolphin-watching trips. Much of this is down to the combination of thrice-weekly direct Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow and the 301- room Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which opened in Buccament Bay in 2024. Dave Geer, Virgin Atlantic’s chief commercial
officer, says: “Virgin Atlantic carried almost 25,000 customers to and from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2025, which translates to 5% growth year on year. About 80% of these passengers are from UK point of sale. The outlook for 2026 remains positive, with strong forward bookings aligned with our expectations.” The Sandals resort has also drawn the attention
of UK travellers, offering 12 restaurants, daily excursions for certified divers and a choice of 22 island tours for customers who like to explore.
“This is our newest property,” says Leah
Marshall, sales director for Unique Vacations UK, which represents Sandals Resorts. “We call it ‘Sandals 2.0’ and I’d encourage agents to upsell to its butler suites, where clients get 24-hour room service and a complimentary speedboat transfer to the airport on departure. In November, we will add 20 Rondoval Butler Villas with Private Pools.” For somewhere smaller and more subdued, clients can also consider Young Island, an all-inclusive private island resort with 29 cottages and suites that is a mere stone’s throw from the St Vincent mainland.
TW BOOK IT
Elegant Resorts has a holiday that combines three nights’ B&B at Coral Reef Club, Barbados, with four nights’ room-only at Mandarin Oriental Canouan, from £8,375 per person. The price includes Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow on May 22, inter-island flights and transfers.
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Sandals offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from £2,479 per person, including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow on September 11 and transfers.
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26 MARCH 2026 35
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