Friday 15 May 2009
Barbados:
Bayfield House, small friendly family run hotel with 10 rooms, all immaculately finished, lovely garden and pool. Trevor RC Ramsay, Proprietor Tel: (246) 419 0497, email: trevor@bayfieldbarbados.com www.bayfieldbarbados.com
The Ramsey Family at Bayfield House
Restaurants:
The Cove, Cattlewash on the East coast. Run by Laural Ann Morley who has produced a wonderful award winning Caribbean Cookery Book Tel: 433 9495 email morley@sunbeach.net great food
Mullins, at Mullins Beach Tel: 246 422 2044
Waterfront Café, Bridgetown Marina Tel: (246) 427 0093 www.waterfrontcafé.com Live nightly entertainment. Particularly good on Thursday night, great atmosphere and food
Car rental:
Stoutes Car Rental Ltd, www.stoutescar.com Tel: (246) 416 4456
Sightseeing:
Animal Flower Cave: there is the most spectacular view from this point, great for photography
Great walk along Cattlewash Beach on the east coast, spectacular waves, not for swimming.
Cherry Tree Hill, great spot for photography
Sunbury Plantation House in the Parish of St Philip, an interesting historical building
Four square Rum Factory Parish of St Philip – a tour shows you how the rum is distilled.
St Nicholas Abbey
Mustique:
Firefly Mustique: Restaurant and five rooms, fantastic view from the bar.
Mustique Company:
Owns this private island. You can rent out villas from $8500 upwards per week!
The Cotton House: The only resort on the island
Thursday 14 May 2009
Bequia:
Bequia is a small (7 sq miles) island situated to the south of St Vincent in the Grenadines and north of Mustique. It is a volcanic island and used to have plantations. The beautiful beaches are a feature of the island on both the leeward and windward sides. Port Elizabeth is its capital and the main industry here is around the yachting world. We flew into St Vincent on Liat Airways and then got the ferry across to Bequia
Tourist Information: http://www.bequiatourism.com/
Car Hire:
Grenadine Island Villas www.grenadinevillas.com email: islandvillas@mac.com
Hotels:
The Frangipani Hotel Tel: (784) 458 3255 http://www.frangipanibequia.com/ Situation on the waterfront in Port Elizabeth, overlooking Admiralty Bay, charming old-style rooms in the original family home.
Typical morning view from Frangipani
Gingerbread Hotel (784) 458 3800 http://www.gingerbreadhotel.com/. Situated on the waterfront in Port Elizabeth, overlooking Admiralty Bay, has apartments too.
The Goingerbread from the bay
Friendship Bay Beach Resort Tel (784) 458 3222 http://www.friendshipbayhotel.com/
Apartments:
Grenadine Island Villas is an agency dealing in accommodation, car rental, boat charter in the Grenadines http://www.grenadinevillas.com/ email islandvillas@mac.com
Island Inn Apartments, Friendship Bay (784) 458 3706 http://www.islandinnsvg.com/
Kingsville Apartments Lower Bay (784) 458 3932 http://www.kingsvilleapartments.net/
Deja View Apartments, Belmont (705) 897 6537 (Canada) http://www.dejaviewapartments.ca/
De Reef Apartments, Lower Bay (784) 458 3484 dereef@caribsurf.com
Orchard Apartment, Belmont http://www.bequiaorchardhouse.webeden.co.uk/
Sea Shells Holiday Apartments seashellsbq@vincysurf.com
http://www.seashellsbequia.com/ Tel 784 458 3656
Eating places:
The Frangipani Hotel, Port Elizabeth, as above
Gingerbread Bar and Restaurant, Port Elizabeth, as above
Portofina, Belmont Walkway Tel (784) 457 3008
Mac’s Pizzeria, Belmont Walkway Tel: (784) 458 3474 (MOG's favourite!!!)
Jack’s Bar on Princess Margaret Beach (784) 457 3762
Typical view at Jack's bar on the beach
Dawn’s Creole Beach Bar and Café
Diving:
Dive Bequia situated along the Belmont Walkway, http://www.bequiadive.com/
(Don’t get this confused with the dive school next door...its called adventure diving but have a very similare e-mail address)
Best Beaches:
Princess Margaret Beach (Jack’s Bar)
Lower Bay (Dawn’s Creole Beach Bar )
Friendship Bay (The Friendship Bay Hotel and Bequia Beach Hotel’s Beach Bar)
Yacht Charter:
TMM Yacht Charters http://www.sailtmm.com/ email: tmmsvg@sailtmm.com Tel: (784) 456 9608
Day Trips:
To Tobago Cays, Mustique etc – there are two ships:
Friendship Rose Schooner http://www.friendshiprose.com/
Passat Schooner http://www.sailholiday.com/
Both boats seen here moored in Mustique
Hairdressing:
Emma Boucher specialises in European hair and has worked in a to London salon in Chelsea Tel: 455 5820
Friday 10 April 2009
Dominica
Accommodation:
Traditional House: Harmony Villa, Pont Cassé owned by Carla Armour, UK Tel: +44 1273 273 074. It is a delightful traditional wooden house set in the middle of the rainforest, providing a tranquil setting, which is central to many of the sights http://www.harmonyvilla.com/
Calibishie Lodges Sea View apartments Tel: 001 767 445 8537
http://www.calibishie-lodges.com/
Beau Rive on the east coast one mile north of Castle Bruce, an elegant boutique hotel run by 'Brit' Mark Steele Tel: (767) 445 8992 http://www.beaurive.com/ or mark@beaurive.com
Eco Retreats:
Eating places/bars:
Coral Reef Restaurant & Bar, Main St. Calibishie Tel (767) 445 7432 situation on the beach
MOG enjoys a birthday drink (She's 21 AGAIN) with Alicia
Beaches:
We visited beaches at Portsmouth (pictured) and Batibou Bay
A drive through the Carib Territory on the east coast.
There are freshwater lakes to visit and hike to such eg Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake.
Thursday 26 March 2009
St.Kitts & Nevis
St Kitts:
Accommodation:
In my opinion the bed and breakfasts and condominiums are very good value for money. The plantation houses are beautiful and certainly give you a taste of history. They are more expensive than the bed and breakfasts, however deals can be done. The resort hotels are on par with the plantation houses in price. Good internet sale prices can be obtained periodically.
Bed and Breakfasts:
Plantation Houses:
Rawlins Plantation Inn http://www.rawlinsplantation.com/
Resort Hotels:
http://www.stkittsmarriott.com/ Tel: 800-223-6388
Bars/eating places:
Frigate Bay Beach Front: The beach front has several lively bars/eating places worth visiting:
Mr. X Shiggidy Shack
Ziggy’s
Cathy’s (We ate here and thought the food excellent but service slow)
Monkey Bar
All good down this beach and good value.
Cockleshell Beach: Reggae Beach Bar open until 6.00 pm. Relax on sun loungers along the beach listening to reggae music and sipping cooled drinks from the bar.
Sights:
West Coast: Brimstone Hill Fortress, dating back to the 18th Century and known as the ‘Gibraltar of the West Indies’ is a must.
East Coast: Kate Spencer’s art gallery, next door to Ottley’s plantation.
Southeast peninsula: Beaches such as Cockleshell Beach, Turtle Beach, South
Friar’s Bay and Shipwreck Beach are worth a visit.
Car Hire: We used Avis. They will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the Avis office. Suggestion: Try and book a small 4*4 such as a Suzuki Jeep if you want to go to more remote places.
Ferry: Sea Bridge car ferry, located in Major’s Bay, at the very south of the island, can be taken across to Nevis: EC$190 return. Be aware that you need good parking skills.
Nevis:
Accommodation:
Once again we stayed in the bed and breakfast and beach villa type accommodation which were superb value for money as well as being in contact with local and interesting people, giving a real feel for the Caribbean. The beach villa accommodation had its own small kitchenette which enabled us to eat in as desired. Again the Plantation Houses are more expensive but I believe that due to the recession deals can be done during this time of recession.
Bed and Breakfast:
View from our Villa at Hurricane Cove:
The Hermitage Plantation Inn http://www.hermitagenevis.com/
Walks/hiking:
Beaches:
Windward Beach. Hard to find and get to but worth it. The most stunning of roller coasters and nice long quiet walk.
Cades Bay/Qualie(A bit ‘sea-weedy’ when we were there)/Lovers(The only recent mugging on the island-very remote)/Paradise Beaches are all worth a visit.
Eating/bars: Bananas Tel: 469 1891, about ½ mile from the Banyan Tree. Fine dining on the veranda. Moderate to Expensive. It didn’t quite hit the mark in value for money though.
Mem’s Pizzaria Tel: 469 1390 or 0492 Pizzas and local food, also takeaways. Modest to Moderate pricing.
Gallipot Restaurant at Jones Estate Tel: 469-8230, a lovely restaurant, moderately priced.
Saturday 7 March 2009
Journey from Les Gets to UK
La Montgoniere, 1 Rue Saint-Georges, Harricourt, 08240 Buzancy.
Tel: +33-(0)3-24716650
E-mail: regnault.montgon@wanadoo.fr
http://www.lamantgoniere.net/
Fabulous room and excellent food. Very quiet village and suggest it is best to eat in!
Visit: http://www.oldgitsgapyear.blogspot.com/ for more on these places.
Alagna, Montarosa, Italy
Accommodation:
BaitiReale: old tradition chalet with one and two room apartments with kitchenette, 200m from centre of Alagna, 300m from ski lift, fitness centre, sauna, hydromassage,
Tel +39 347 3496053 Fax +39 0163 91168
Pietregemelle Resort: situated in Riva Valdobbia 2 km from ski lifts in Alagna, wood and stone chalets divided into 1 and 2 bedroomed apartments with kitchen, shuttle to and from the Monterosa Ski Resort, http://www.pietregemelle.it/ Tel +39 0163 917006
Hotel Cristallo 4 star: in the centre of Alagna with fitness centre, sauna, swimming pool and SPA. http://www.charmerelax.com/ Info@CharmeRelax.com Tel +39 0163 922822
Restaurants/Cafes
Caffe’del Centro Luisa: Tea House in centre Alagna by the church: Tel: +39 0163 91290
Dir und Don Pizzeria: next to the wine bar mentioned above. A touch pricy but good food albeit service is slow in busy periods: Tel +39 0163 922642
Unione Ristorante & Bar: Just across the road from the Pizzaria with excellent food and wine. Service and atmosphere excellent.
In Riva:
Travel Costs: Mont Blanc Tunnel 33.20 euro, single
Autostrade: Mont Blanc Tunnel – turn off for Alagna 15.50 euros
Ski Passes: 264 euros for 10 days
Tourist Information: http://www.atlvalsesiavercelli.it/
Food Shopping: There is only a small ‘Spar’ style shop in Alagna but if self catering we bought food in Bennets Supermarket just off the Autostrada (A26) on the road up to Alagna