‘LOVE IS IN THE AIR’ IN SAINT LUCIA
To celebrate the start of spring and showcase its appeal as an award-winning romance destination, 22 hotels, resorts and villas in Saint Lucia are offering value-driven “Love is in the Air” specials for March and April travel.
As an added bonus, qualified visitors can register to receive a Saint Lucia Exploration gift bag that includes US$60 worth of complimentary gifts including: One pair of Saint Lucia beach slippers for long walks on the beach; one Chairman’s Rum miniature bottle to toast romance; one bottle of Saint Lucia’s Baron’s Pepper Sauce to keep things fiery; a Spice Basket that includes a variety of locally sourced spices to bring home (maybe even some local aphrodisiacs); one pack of authentic Saint Lucian Cocoa Tea ingredients and a recipe for this delicious local favourite; and one reusable Saint Lucia tote bag.
A dedicated “Love is in the Air” page at stlucia.org/love2020 celebrating romance and spring travel highlights packages and offers from 22 hotels, resorts and villas, such as up to 65% off accommodations, free nights, couples massages, chocolate and rum tastings, romantic picnics and candlelit dinners, bottles of wine and champagne, truffles and other special in-room treats, complimentary or discounted activities such as golf, private chauffeured island tours and catamaran cruises, VIP airport transfers, hotel credits, and more.
Participating hotels and resorts include Ashaka Luxury Villas, Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Bay Gardens Hotel, Bay Gardens Inn, Bay Gardens Marina Haven, Bel Jou Hotel, Boucan by Hotel Chocolat, Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel, Calabash Cove, Coco Palm Hotel, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, Fond Doux Plantation & Resort, Ladera Resort, Marigot Bay Resort Spa & Marina, Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort, Oasis Marigot, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Halcyon, Sandals Regency La Toc, Serenity at Coconut Bay, Stonefield Villa Resort, and Sugar Beach – A Viceroy Resort.
The booking window is through through April 30 with a travel window from March 1 to April 30 (blackout dates and holidays excluded). Agents/travellers simply enter the code LOVE2020 when booking the special offers online.
Once a hotel reservation has been made using the LOVE2020 booking code, travellers can register for their gift bags by going to stlucia.org/love2020 and typing their name, e-mail address, hotel and hotel confirmation number, and arrival flight details (date and airline). Upon flight arrival at Hewanorra International Airport, registered guests will receive a warm welcome at the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority booth, where they show their ID and collect their gift bag.
GOWAY LAUNCHES SAMOA CAMPAIGN
Goway Travel has teamed up with Samoa Tourism to promote the exotic island nation.
“Our goal is to increase awareness of Samoa as a wonderful travel destination and grow the number of passengers we send to Samoa. We are promoting fantastic vacation packages for travellers, as well as offering online webinars for our valued agent partners,” says Richelle Emefe, Goway Idyllic Islands general manager.
Located east of Fiji, officials say Samoa doesn’t have the tourism profile of some of its neighbours, but it is one of the region’s most alluring destinations. Fiji Airways offers daily service from the US West Coast to Samoa via Fiji. Flights depart in the evening, allowing easy connections from across North America. Another great way to get to Samoa is through Hawaii.
Goway has created vacation packages to suit a variety of travellers. For example, Goway’s 10-day Romantic Samoa package is currently on sale with a savings of $400 per person. The vacation includes round-trip airfare to Apia, Samoa on Fiji Airways, seven nights at the four-star Sinalei Resort, transfers and breakfast. The package is priced from Vancouver at $3,149.
“We have a dedicated Islands department at Goway who specialize in selling idyllic island vacations,” says Emefe. “Goway’s agents are well versed on Samoa and will be able to provide agents with everything they need to book their clients’ trip to this lesser-known South Pacific treasure.”
VILLA PREMIERE INTRODUCES SEA-TO-TABLE ‘FISH MARKET’
Puerto Vallarta’s Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel has introduced the “Fish Market,” a sea-to-table concept created by Chef Sebastian Varona and his team to enhance the beachfront dining experience with fresh ingredients straight from the Bay of Banderas and other waters near Mexico’s leading Pacific Coast culinary destination.
Guests will find that the culinary team at the resort hosts a literal fish market where they can pick whatever fresh fish and other saltwater delicacies caught from the Pacific they desire. On the menu, diners will find seasonal options such as mahi-mahi, red snapper, sea bass, octopus, crab, lobster, clam, scallops and oysters, among others.
Surcharges to the all-inclusive plan may apply for specific dishes and ingredients.
To ensure their dishes are cooked to perfection, guests will be able to specify their favourite preparation method – from grilled to fried or ceviche and sashimi-style.
Dishes include aguachile, a traditional lime-cooked ceviche with serrano pepper; natural sashimi with ponzu; and fish filet cooked in a wooden oven with roasted vegetables.
