Sun, sea and…. no responsibilities? No matter how adventurous a traveller you like to think you are, there’s nothing quite as rejuvenating as a week spent in paradise, where you don’t even have to lift a finger. That is the joy of Sandals Resorts after all – an all-inclusive bolthole where the hardest decision is which one of the many restaurants you should head to for dinner that night. And the brand’s newest resort, secreted away in a private cove on the island of St Vincent’s southwest coastline, is perhaps the jewel in a very large crown.
Overwater villas that put the Maldives to shame? Check. Swim up hotel rooms? Of course. More cabanas than you can shake a stick at? Obviously! But more than just unparalleled comfort and luxury, Sandals Saint Vincent offers unbridled natural beauty. It’s not just the myriad dining options, bars and pools that make this resort such a slice of paradise – it’s the island it calls home and the bay that cossets its white-washed shores. Here, we round up the top five reasons to make Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines your next holiday.
Saint Vincent
An adventure around every corner
As the largest island in the archipelago that makes up the country of St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Vincent covers just 33 square miles of volcanic wilderness. Watched over by La Soufrière peak which sits at just over 4000 feet above sea level, it’s like someone painted a Caribbean idyll, where a blanket of lush rainforest stops only to accommodate sandy beaches and crystalline waters. Head to Rawacou Recreational Park on the island’s east coast, though, and you’ll find the direct antithesis; a commanding black sand beach where the Atlantic rumbles against the shore in a tumble of whitewater. Slightly south of the resort sits the vibrant capital of Kingstown, nicknamed ‘The City of Arches’ thanks to the innumerable Georgian – you guessed it – stone arches that line the city’s streets. All of that before you even get to the island’s innumerable hiking trails, historical botanical gardens and impressive waterfalls. It’s safe to say that should you choose to tear yourself away from your sun lounger, there’s no shortage of adventures to keep you busy.
Fishy friends
Prefer your fun underwater? St Vincent has you covered there, too. Take a short boat ride to the Tobago Cays Marine Park, don your mask and dive down to find an alternate universe teeming with a diverse array of marine life, including parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels and seahorses. Fancy something a little more high-octane? Head to The Bat Cave at Buccament Bay where you can traverse tunnels and caverns to find the nocturnal flying mammals.
A good night’s sleep
A holiday is only as good as the sleep you get, and hours of uninterrupted Zs are guaranteed at Sandals Saint Vincent. And, while all of the accommodation options come with their own benefits, from the expansive beachfront suites that come with a butler and their own private pool, to the swim-up suites with in-pool sun loungers so you can catch the rays without overheating, the pick of the bunch are the impressive vincy overwater two-story villas. Like something out of the Maldives, these rooms are bookended by the rainforest to the rear, and the luminescent Caribbean sea to the front – pure, uninterrupted bliss.
Snorkelling at Saint Vincent
Get physical
Sandals’ all-inclusive ethos doesn’t stop at food and drink – most activities are, too. Start your day with a paddle board over the placid bay, spotting shoals of fish darting between coral or simply spend an afternoon kayaking along the coastline. Certified divers can head out for two free dives per day, and landlubbers can get their competitive fire going with endless games of tennis on the greens, while the state-of-the-art fitness centre will help you work up an appetite.
Culinary kudos
One of Sandals’ biggest draw cards is that all food and drink is included in the price of your holiday, meaning you can sit, relax and eat and drink well knowing you’re not racking up an enormous bill at the end of it. With 11 restaurants and bars dotted across Sandals St Vincent, there’s no shortage of places to indulge. Many take advantage of the bounty of locally grown produce on the island thanks to its fertile volcanic soils, including Parisol, the go-to spot for lunch under the sun (and sundowners, when the beach bar picks up the vibe) and Buccan which focuses on over-fire cooking for an impressive dinner spread. Plus, you can satisfy your cravings with Japanese at Gatsu Gatsu, steak at Butch’s and Italian at Sora. In the mood for a nightcap? Head to Three Jewels for local rum soundtracked by an extensive array of vinyl records.
Sandals Resorts, 0800 742 742, sandals.co.uk
