A picturesque escape on a charming island loaded with natural wonders
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Picture this: you’ve arrived at your dream resort ready to soak up the sun and hit the cabanas by the 300-ft linear pool, but Mother Nature has quite literally put a damper on those plans. Not ideal, but it can inevitably happen. Now what?
“We have a rain concierge — they offer snacks and popcorn whenever it’s raining so guests don’t have to leave their rooms. They’ll bring any type of snacks that they want — tacos, chips, beer — so they can relax and watch movies,” Ketisha Alexander, director of sales for Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, tells Travel Courier on property. “They can also bring you a wide variety of games like Dominoes and Bingo.”
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the first all-inclusive resort on St. Vincent, part of an archipelago of 32 islands and cays, found south of Saint Lucia and north of Grenada. The 301-room property opened its doors in March and is located on a secluded cove surrounded by lush hills, providing arguably the best backdrop of any resort in the company’s portfolio.
“The layout of the property, the location, when you step out and have the ocean and the mountains around it, just makes it special, makes it unique,” says Winston Anderson, managing director, Eastern Caribbean for Sandals Resorts International. “It’s so picturesque. I travel all over the Caribbean, work all over the Caribbean, and I’ve never seen this before. The different colours, the rainbows over the mountains, plus the natural layout of the property, the accommodations, the restaurants, and the different features just truly make this property unique.”
One thing that quickly became apparent during a site inspection is how spacious all the rooms are, regardless of the category. There are swim-out suites, suites with private media rooms and even fitness rooms for those who want to workout in the comfort of their suite, complete with weights, exercise bikes and yoga mats. Now there’s no excuse to not workout!
For clients who are looking to book a vacation with another couple, a great option is the two-bedroom butler villa suite with a private pool, facing the beach. There’s only one of these on the property so be sure to secure this category with ample notice. Walking around the resort, it’s clear that a significant portion of the accommodations are stand-alone villas, which are very spacious.
While over-the-water villas and bungalows are not new to the Sandals brand, what’s new here is the fact that they span two storeys. The first floor layout of the Vincy overwater two-storey villa features a spacious bedroom area overlooking the water with in-suite glass floor areas to admire sea life. Off the main room there’s a private patio with daybeds and a deck to access the water. Meanwhile, the upstairs area has an outdoor shower and tub, a telescope and a lounging bed.
“People love it,” says Anderson. “They’re just raving about it.”
Another first for the resort is that butler category guests can arrive (or depart) by taking a complimentary boat transfer between the airport and the resort. Executive chairman Adam Stewart first visited the property by boat and thought guests should have the same sense of arrival.
Beyond the location, food was a major highlight of our stay. Every restaurant we sampled in the name of research was delicious. Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has some new dining concepts including Scrimshaw, which has a dock-to-dish concept taking advantage of the island’s access to fresh seafood, and Imoro, a grab-and-go spot offering healthier, veggie-focused bowls and salads.
One of the meals that stood out the most was Buccan, a new family-style dining concept that kicks off with a welcome drink and nibbles served in front of the open-concept kitchen. Reservations are required because they offer timed seatings. The communal-style restaurant features a multi-course dining experience using local and seasonal ingredients. The food was amazing but so was the service, with the chef and staff coming out between courses to explain the dishes. The name Buccan is derived from a South American and Caribbean word, referring to a wooden framework or hurdle on which meat was slow-roasted or smoked over a fire, which was how our feast was prepared. I’m still dreaming about the lamb curry!
After visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines several times in the past both pre-and-post pandemic, I was honestly worried that new developments like this could take away from the charm of the destination. But with only 301 rooms, no high rise buildings and mainly local staff members, I think it only enhances the island’s offering. For Canadian travellers, it’s helped to secure year-round service between Toronto Pearson and Argyle International Airport on Air Canada.
We took a luxury boat transfer on departure and it was a lovely scenic farewell to cap off a memorable stay. The experience started before takeoff, as staff gathered on the dock to bid us adieu and serenade us with a sweet goodbye song. As we pulled out of the bay, I vowed to return.
- The property has a large spa with outdoor treatment rooms available overlooking the river, a large fitness centre, pickleball courts, tennis courts and more.
- There are multiple pools to choose from including one dubbed the WiFi pool because it resembles the WiFi logo and a lovely heart-shaped pool. Of course, the first thing you see on arrival is the signature 300-ft linear pool.
- Zip around faster by taking a spin on one of the on-property bikes. Guests can hop on and off wherever they like.
- Forget the standard flights of beer, Three Jewels Bar has several flights of Caribbean rum on offer. This is also a happening spot for dancing and silent disco nights.
