Calabash Cove is the perfect resort for adult groups wanting a lush & tropical vacation!

Calabash Cove is the perfect resort for adult groups traveling together - whether it is for a beautiful Destination Wedding or just a few couples who want a quiet, yet luxurious, resort to enjoy their vacation. At Calabash Cove every single room has a fabulous view of the ocean and just past the ocean is the amazing backdrop of the far side of the cove which lights up at night to make the most stunning and romantic view. There are four room categories at Calabash Cove including Ocean View, Swim-up Suites, and Waters Edge Beachfront Cottages. All rooms are available with or without the all-inclusive package. There are not any ‘bad rooms’ at Calabash so there is absolutely something for every budget.

There are four swim-up suites at Calabash cove Each swim-up room is only a few steps up from the main pool with its stunning infinity edge and the comfortable swim-up tiki bar. Get your group to reserve all four of these swim-up suites and you will rule the pool for your entire stay! Guaranteed.

There are nine Waters Edge Cottages all of which have their very own private patios and plunge pools. Eight of these cottages are side-by-side so a group of two couples or a group of four couples could reserve 2-4 cottages and be in close proximity to their friends yet also have the privacy and space they desire. These cottages fill up fast so pre-booking them in advance is a must!

Ocean View Suites at Calabash Cove are in blocks of four - all with stunning views of the ocean and each with its very own Jacuzzi tub and spacious patio. Take over a block of four or take over the entire building of eight – it’s your party and the view is waiting for you!

The perfect thing about Calabash Cove is that is that is a boutique property. There are less than 30 rooms throughout the entire property so you cannot lose touch with your friends unless you chose to hide in your room or go off-property. The staff is amazingly hospitable and the food is absolutely fantastic.

Calabash Cove is the perfect choice for your adult group – contact me today to learn more about Calabash Cove and get your FREE personalized quote for your next vacation! Delta Airlines now has direct flights to St. Lucia, but almost all large airlines have flights to the island at some point during the week.

christy@barediver.com or christy@caribbeanjourney.com

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Calabash Cove in St. Lucia is even more luxurious than you have heard.

To my immense pleasure, I was recently able to spend a week at Calabash Cove I cannot emphasize how much I truly enjoyed the tranquility of the resort, the luxury Calabash offers, and the stunning grounds.

My room was a beautiful Junior Suite Ocean View.  There was a fabulous balcony with a large cushioned lounge as well as a small table for two just large enough for a quite breakfast for two.  The view of the ocean with more of the hills of St. Lucia in the distance was just stunning both during the day and while lit up in the evening.

The pool at Calabash Cove is a very stunning with it’s infinity edge that makes you feel like you can swim right into the ocean.  There is a swim up bar with friendly bartenders who are ready to make you the drink of your dreams.

Calabash Cove’s beach is set in a quiet cove with lounge chairs in full sun or under natural shaded canopies.  The sand has specks of the black sand which St.Lucia is famous for and feels divine under your toes.  Kayaks and snorkel equipment are available for the guests and I truly enjoyed my kayak trip around the bend.

While St. Lucia is known for its great food, the food at Calabash Cove is even better than you could anticipate.  Fantastic menus offer a variety of dishes all of which will have your pallet celebrating with joy.

I absolutely recommend Calabash Cove for couples that want a romantic getaway, Destination weddings, single travelers wanting peace and quite and even small groups who truly enjoy luxury and fantastic service. 

Contact me today for your free quote to Calabash Cove. I would love to help you and tell you more about my personal experiences at this fantastic resort on my favorite island in the Caribbean.  Most airlines now offer you direct flights to St. Lucia. 

christy@barediver.com and christy@caribbeanjourney.com

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10 Reasons you want to have a Butler while staying at Sandals Resorts

While staying at Sandals Resorts you have a choice of the level of service you would like ranging from their standard service which is very good to Butler service which is over the top.  Personally, I love the extra pampering and perks I get when I have a Butler.  I most recently had the wonderful experience of a Butler at Sandals Halcyon and I was truly impressed.  Here are 10 perks I was able to experience because of my Butler service:

1.  Upon arrival at Sandals Halcyon all guests were seated at the lobby where a formal check-in process began followed by a short group tour of the property.  Having a Butler, we were whisked away and were able to do the check-in process in our very own air-conditioned room.

2.  While checking in, after a long day of travel, a beautiful assortment of fruit, cheeses, and drinks we presented to us while we checked in inside our air-conditioned room.

3.  Instead of having the group tour of the property, our Butler took us around and showed us all of the resorts amenities.  This was especially nice because we had the Butler’s undivided attention and could ask questions without feeling like we were holding up others who hadn’t yet been to their rooms or had a refreshment. (Yes, I got my own coconut!)

4.  Having done some research ahead of time, I knew what Sandals restaurants I wanted to dine at while in St. Lucia.  My Butler happily took my list and went to make all our dinner reservations for the week.  Then, one day, we needed to change our reservation time and our Butler took care of that for us as well.

5.  There are 3 Sandals Resorts in St. Lucia and if you stay at any one of them you can enjoy the amenities of all three so even though we were staying at Sandals Halcyon, there is a fabulous restaurant at Sandals Grand I wanted to enjoy but it is only open to those clients who have Butler service.  This restaurant, Gordon’s, is located out on a pier in the ocean and they have fantastic blue lighting under the water so you can see all of the fish while dining.  The food and wine were amazing and I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone.

6.   Butlers are more than willing to run errands for you.  At some point in our stay we needed a few amenities such as suntan lotion and a comb and all we had to do was call our Butler on our private cell phone (given to us by the resort) and she went to the gift shops to find these items for us and bring them to us wherever we were on the property.

7.  We had some rainy nights and on one of these rainy evenings I decided to retire earlier than my husband.  When I arrived at my room my room key chose not to work.  Being in high heals, a dress, and in the rain, I whole-heartedly did not want to walk all the way to the front desk to get a replacement key so I pulled out my fabulous cell phone and called my personal Butler who arrived within minutes to let me in to my room. He then took my old key to the office and got me a new key made.  I cannot emphasize how wonderful this was for me!

8.  With the Butler service you have the ability to have 24/7 room service and this includes breakfast brought to your room in the mornings.  We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast on our cozy patio every morning with our favorite music in the background.  I did notice quite a few envious eyes walk past us during those times.

9.  Our Butler made all of our Day Excursion reservations for us.  Like the restaurants, I knew what day excursions I wanted to do while in St. Lucia. I handed the Butler our list of excursions along with the dates we would like to do them and he took care of it from there!  While waiting in the lobby with the other guests going on these excursions, our Butler would appear out of no where and offer us a beverage – this perk was better than you can imagine because St. Lucia is hot in September and we were stuck waiting in the lobby. Again, jealous eyes surrounded us from the other guests.

10.  With the Butler level of service we had a fully stocked mini bar with all call brand names of alcohol.  Upon check-in our Butler asked us what we drank and shortly thereafter our fully stocked bar was re-stocked with the types of drinks we prefer!  Now, if you book through me as your travel agent, I will ensure they know what you drink ahead of time so it will be there waiting fro you when you check in!

When you chose the Butler level of service at Sandals it insures that you have what they call the “WOW” factor. They will do something (for me it was a thread of birthday surprises – see previous blog) that will truly surprise you above and beyond your already fabulous Butler service.

While I have listed some great experiences I had with my Butler service, I can tell you there is much more that I could tell you – for example the abundance of towels, how our Butler would appear out of nowhere to assist us, how our Butler always seemed to know where we were and what we needed, that my Butler actually ironed my slacks for me, and that your Butler will unpack and repack for you! These perks are difficult to explain until you experience them yourself.  I truly recommend Butler service for you while you stay at Sandals.
Contact me today for your free personalized quote for your next Sandals vacation! christy@caribbeanjourney.com or christy@barediver.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

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Celebrate your special occasion in style at Sandals Halcyon!

Do you have a special occasion coming up and want a unique way to celebrate it?  Maybe it’s your anniversary, your birthday or your significant other’s birthday, your honeymoon or possibly you want to get married or renew your vows? Sandals Halcyon in St. Lucia will roll out the red carpet to ensure your special occasion is absolutely magical and even more amazing than you had envisioned.

At Sandals Halcyon,  your special day can be celebrated privately or publicly – it’s all up to you!  They can host your wedding or vow renewal in a beachfront gazebo, on the beach or in the gardens.  They offer you a romantic dinner for two directly on the beach with your own private staff.  Or you can chose to stay in your room and have an exotic meal delivered, champagne, or maybe even a bubble bath drawn up as a surprise to your significant other. 

I happened to be at Sandals Halcyon for my birthday and the surprises started in the morning and lasted the entire day!  From special wishes from the staff, decorated tables at my meals, a personalized birthday cake with a singing staff in the evening and when I retired to my room it was full of balloons, cards and Champaign  - with all of this attention, I truly felt like a queen for the day!  Let me know what your special day is so I can ensure they do the same for you!

contact me today for your free personalized quote to any Sandals Resort and let me help you ensure that your special day – whatever it is – is magical and memorable. Christy@barediver.com and christy@caribbeanjourney.com

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Sandals Halcyon in St. Lucia is like vacationing in your own lush, botanical gardens!

If you are looking for a luxurious tranquil vacation, Sandals Halcyon in St. Lucia is the place for you!  Sandals Halcyon is a wonderfully small resort with an abundance of simple elegance amidst lush, tropical landscaping.

The grounds at Sandals Halcyon are exotically manicured giving you the feeling of being in your very own botanical gardens.  There are a variety of flowering bushes and vines which throw splashes of color everywhere you look and the meandering paths are lined with vegetation that will entice you to stop and admire.

Scattered throughout the grounds are wonderful nooks and crannies where you and your significant other can escape to enjoy a good book, a private conversation or some solitude.

Follow the walkways throughout this resort and you will also find hidden games of shuffle board, basketball, bocce ball, and a giant game of chess which sits right next to the beach! 

All rooms have cozy patios for you to enjoy the beautifully kept grounds while you recharge and relax.  Contact me today for your personalized quote to Sandals Halcyon at christy@caribbeanjourney.com or christy@barediver.com.  I can get you fantastic prices for the hotel itself or even better prices for hotel and air combination packages.  Delta Air Lines now flies direct to St. Lucia from Atlanta, GA.

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Vacation in Paradise Day 1

Arrived in St Lucia, Sandals Halcyon.

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FREE Companion Airfare PLUS 30% off select Exotic Resorts

Book your next vacation by September 30th you can get a FREE companion airfare ticket* as well as up to 30% off any of these fantastic resorts: Galley Bay Resort, St. James Club & Villas, and The Verandah Resort and Spa. All of these resorts are on the exotic island of Antigua. The only catch is that you need to put your deposit down on your trip by September 30th, 2011 but you can travel any time between November 17, 2011 – April 14, 2012.

Galley Bay Resort and Spa is a family run resort that offers adults a tranquil environment to reconnect and enjoy that ‘island’ feeling. I have visited Galley Bay myself (see additional blogs) and would love to share my personal experience with you! Below is a photo of their Gauguin Cottages that allow a couple an abundance of privacy with their very own private pool and garden.

St. James Club and Villas are tucked away on a secluded 100-acre peninsula on the southeastern coast of Antigua. St. James Club exudes a casual, club-like ambience and is an exclusive hideaway caters to couples, families and singles with plenty of amenities and activities. The resort has a longstanding reputation for exceptional, caring service. Here, guests can retreat from the world or enjoy a wide array of island- and water-based diversions.

The Verandah Resort and Spa provides a stunning setting for romance, family fun and sumptuous indulgence. Nestled along Antigua's pristine northeast coast, this eco-friendly luxury resort encompasses 30 spectacular beachfront acres traversed by hiking trails and bordered by Devil's Bridge National Park with its dramatic landmark rock arch. Kayak, snorkel, windsurf or even swim in the tranquil waters of the resort's two reef-sheltered beaches and discover eco-adventures at the resort and around the island. The adventures are yours to choose from.

Contact me today for your personalized quote including a FREE companion airline ticket and a luxurious stay at one of these fantastic Antigua resorts! *The free companion airline ticket is valid for the price of the airline ticket only but you must still pay all taxes and fees on this ticket.

I look forward to hearing from you! christy@barediver.com or christy@caribbeanjourney.com

Calabash Cove in St. Lucia is the perfect Romance Getaway

Looking for the perfect spot for a romantic getaway? May you are going on your honeymoon, renewing your vows or just want to keep the romance in your relationship – whatever the case may be Calabash Cove in St. Lucia is the perfect resort for you.

Does the name seem slightly familiar? That is because the Bachelor was filmed here and we all fell in love with the hotel right along with the couples who were staying there!

Calabash Cove has the perfect room for every need – they have the most amazing Water’s Edge Cottage, Swim-up Suites, and Sunset Ocean View Junior Suites. The Water’s Edge Cottages are literally your very own cottage with a private balcony and your own personal plunge pool! But the best part is that the Water’s Edge Cottage is right on the sandy beach and only steps from the ocean. It truly doesn’t get any more romantic than that!

For those that want to keep the pool close at hand, Calabash Cove offers you Swim-up Suites with you very own patio that you can step right off of into a gorgeous infinity pool. Each balcony has luxurious chaise lounges as well as chairs for your every need. Take a midnight swim or swim to lunch – the options are endless!

But fantastic lodging options are not the only benefit to staying at Calabash Cove – Calabash Cove has one of the very best restaurants on the entire island. Not only will your every bite take you bit closer to heaven, but Calabash Cove even offers you an all-inclusive plan so you can eat there nightly! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Contact me today for your personalized package including flights and hotel. christy@barediver.com or christy@caribbeanjourney.com