The Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio, Jamaica

I've been to the Blue Lagoon before. The first time was 2001. Back then, the Jamaica Tourist Board took a more active role in marketing Port Antonio. We flew into the small airport just outside of town. We stayed at a hotel that is not currently operating called Dragon Bay. {If you saw the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise, you know the beach and the famous beach bar.} But that was then. In the years since, I've been lucky enough to spend about 5 Easters in Port Antonio and I make it a point with each visit, to return to the Blue Lagoon.

And this is why...

It is simply MAGICAL...

I'll visit any way I can... usually by rising early to walk down the long and winding hill from our home-away-from-home at Goblin Hill Villas. This year, we succumbed to the offers to take a bamboo raft into the lagoon and swim.

 

The ride was relaxing to the point I almost dozed off - that was, until my husband decided to add a little adventure to the trip and jump in the shallow flats in front of the lagoon and capture a sea creature for our son:

Success and oh so spiny....

Fascination with hands on nature is.... better than any classroom...

The Blue Lagoon is adjacent to some of the prized real estate in the Caribbean. These waterfront villas sell for millions but rent for pretty reasonable rates - ask me about renting one for your next villa vacation.

Then we finally reached the lagoon and took a swim in the cool water. The lagoon is reportedly 186 feet deep. I figure that must be 15-16 stories - right? That's DEEP and the reason behind the water's amazing hue - not quite blue, not quite green - truly the closest thing to turquoise I've even seen...

After an hour swimming, our raft guides returned to pick us up... 

Priceless...

a trip to remember

Cheers,

Finding Luxury at Villa C'est La Vie - St. Lucia

On my March trip to St. Lucia, I was lucky enough to secure a private tour of Villa C'est La Vie... one of the island's premiere villa rentals.

I love the gingerbread style and many private spaces for relaxing.

The bedrooms are decorated in muted tones that mimic the natural palette of the Caribbean...

The bathrooms are full of luxurious touches...

The outdoor spaces are impressive... a zero entry pool complete with waterfall, an outdoor bar and BBQ, charming patio perfect for dancing...

Villa C'est La Vie includes membership at the Windjammer Landing Resort next door with full beach access!

Go here to see all of the photos from my trip to Villa C'est La Vie in St. Lucia.

This property often offers promotions - please inquire!

St. Lucia isn't always the easiest island to reach in the Caribbean but it is possible to find cheap tickets during most of the low season months. Traveling from most major US gateways, you can expect to find airline tickets. priced in the $500-$550 range if you are flexible! Also, remember that St. Lucia has TWO airports and it is a good idea to price air into both for comparison. The northern airport, and the one closest to this property, is Vigie - airport code of SLU. The southern airport is Hewanorra, airport code of UVF.

Enjoy!

St. Croix's Fantastic Flight Promotion!

St. Croix was one of the first islands I visited after starting my business, Caribbean Journey. I found a great deal on airfare and in those early years, I tried to visit as many islands as possible - simply based on price. I didn't expect St. Croix to be as lovely as it was and I quickly learned it was only their marketing department that was lacking because the beaches were as fabulous as many of the other larger islands we've all heard so much about...

That's me, circa 2000 at the Hibiscus Beach Resort.

This was before I had a fancy digital SLR camera to capture all of my adventures... but I think these photos came out just fine. 

If you are looking for an affordable island with white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, look no further than St. Croix and their current Fantastic Flight Promotion. Located in the US Virgin Islands, passports are NOT required... so gather your friends and contact us to start planning your St. Croix Vacation today! 

The St. Croix Fantastic Flight Promotion Includes:

$500 Instant Credit Per Booking

$50 Dining Certificate

$50 Retail Certificate

$50 Activity Certifcate

6th Night Free

Package must include air. Book by October 31, 2011 for travel August 22 to December 15, 2011. {as with all promotions, restrictions apply}

Cheers,

My Visit to Calabash Cove - St. Lucia

Calabash Cove is a new boutique hotel in St. Lucia. I had the opportunity to visit this little gem on my recent babymoon vacation on the island.

This is the view from the lobby, looking over the restaurant... every table has a view of the turquoise sea:

This shot is looking up at the main lobby & restaurant from the pool deck. The bottom floor rooms, cloaked in greenery, are the hotel's "swim-out" category:

Beneath the main pool deck, but still within easy walking distance of the pool bar, is another level for relaxation and sun bathing:

As we strolled the property, the bright florals of the gardens had our full attention....

 

Stunning! 

This is a shot of the small hotel & beach from the pier:

Isn't this painting lovely? More on this next week - stay tuned! 

We finished our tour with a delicious meal at the hotel's signature restaurant. The menu changes frequently to keep the options fresh:

The watermelon & feta salad drizzled with turmeric oil & balsamic vinegar was to die for:

Lastly, we ended up back at the pool bar where my husband enjoyed a libation and I a lime spritzer to cool us off before we jumped back in the hot car...

Ready to start planning your trip to St. Lucia? We can arrange the full vacation package for you, or you may search for cheap flights on your own and ask us to simply assist with booking your hotel only. If you do search for your own airfare, keep in mind that American Air has some of the best rates to the island.

To see more photos of my visit to Calabash Cove, jump over here!

Cheerio,

Views of St. Lucia

I fell in love with St. Lucia all over again on my recent "Babymoon" vacation. My last visit to St. Lucia was 10 years ago and since then, I've experienced many more islands. I know I tend to say this every time I come home from an island... but St. Lucia truly is one of my favorites. It has everything I would want in an island...

Bright, colorful seaside towns....

Beautiful churches full of voices lifted in song...

Easily the most dramatic coastline in the Caribbean...

St. Lucia also surprised me because of how clean it is. We rented a car and drove around daily. We didn't spot a single piece of trash on the side of the road... no overflowing trash bins. We were amazed and praised the local people for having such a strong pride in their beautiful island...

The bustling seaport town of Castries was pretty by day and night...

The local market made me wish we had access to a kitchen. How I would love to shop and fill my market basket with a rainbow of fresh local produce and see what delicious meal I could create...

It was a wonderful trip and I simply can't wait to return...

You may view more of my views of St. Lucia here.

If you'd like more information on where to stay, please contact me for full St. Lucia Vacation details.

Flights to St. Lucia are somewhat more expensive than to other islands. However, if you book far enough in advance, you can still secure a deal. Check out American Airlines because they service both airports on the island and tend to have the best rates.

Enjoy,

My Visit to Ladera, St. Lucia

On my recent Babymoon Vacation to St. Lucia, I had the pleasure of stopping by Ladera. At Ladera, its all about the view... stunning at every turn. Ladera is a luxury eco experience delicately located between the Twin Pitons on St. Lucia's southern coast...

The rooms are constructed of local woods and help the resort blend into the natural landscape. Open-aired and cooled by the constant sea breeze, each suite comes with its own private pool...

Some of the pools are both indoor/outdoor...

Plenty of wide open spaces to take in the view...

The cozy bedroom lofts also share the sweeping view...

The property is lush, green, and manicured to perfection...

Complimentary shuttle service delivers guests to the beach below anytime they want to stick their toes in the sand...

Ladera is home to the award winning restaurant, Dasheene. We shared a 3 hour meal with the famous Chef Orlando, referred to as the top ambassador of Ladera and creator of the most innovative and fresh cuisine on the island. This was one of the best meals I've ever had and certainly worthy of its own blog post - stay tuned! 

To view more photos of my visit to Ladera, jump over here.

Ladera is currently offering the 7th night free. Book and travel by December 20, 2011. Contact me for a customized quote on your vacation package to Ladera! 

See you there!