Destination St. Lucia! (Part 1)
Arrived at Gatwick Airport after a
very comfortable night at the Sofitel Gatwick Airport. Can highly
recommend the Sofitel – especially for travellers flying from the
North Terminal, as the terminal is linked by a covered walkway,
meaning a walk of less than 5 minutes. The hotel is beautifully
decorated with spacious rooms and immaculate public areas which
includes 2 bar areas and restaurants. The hotel is equipped with
excellent business facilities and with spacious lifts and wide
escalators, makes good provision for disabled guests
Greeted at the BA check in area by
Jon Hardcastle from ITC, and ushered around to Club World check in by
Jon, with the words “This is ITC Rob, flat bed all the way to St
Lucia!”. Check in was a very seamless process with helpful and
polite staff. Granted access to the BA Executive Lounge. Very
luxurious lounge with very attentive staff and many facilities
available although if I was to make one minor criticism, no hot food
was available – something that I’m aware the Virgin V Lounge does
provide.
Airside at Gatwick there are a
plethora of shopping options for those last minute essentials, as
well as more luxury and tax free gifts. Prices appeared very
competitive versus the high street as you would expect. There were
numerous food outlets as well
We flew on a BA 777 aircraft.
Naturally, business class offered an incredible amount of comfort.
The seat fully reclined to allow a flat bed with different recline
positions available to you. By your feet, was a storage draw – very
handy – and both the tray table and television screen were able to
stored conveniently away when you wanted to rest. There was also a
dividing screen which could be lowered or raised – depending as to
whether you wanted to speak to the person next to you or ignore
them!!! I was seated facing backwards to the direction of travel –
a concept I had always thought of as strange. However, it felt no
different to facing forwards. Access to the seat was a little
confusing however and had there been anyone seat in the aisle seat in
the row behind who had decided to sleep, I would have been forced to
vault over them to get out to the toilets/snack bar area!!! Cabin
staff were particularly attentive – already having checked the
seating plan to be able to address guests by their names. They were
very helpful throughout and very prompt in responding to any requests
we had. The catering was high class with a choice of 4 main courses
and 3 desserts and the inspired decision to have a speciality
cocktail for that particular flight!!! Kir Royale x 7 was the request
I remember!!! In terms of entertainment, there was a library of not
just current films (I guess around 30 – 40) but also some of the
classics, as well as a wide array of television programming –
tailored to suit all age groups. There were radio channels – again
to suit most musical tastes - as well as a CD library which again
numbered around 30 to 40.
Flying time was 8 hours and 50
minutes – with regular inflight updates provided by the crew. On
arrival, after descending the aircraft steps, a short walk, about 200
metres around the perimeter of the terminal was required to reach the
immigration area. Wheelchairs were available for less able bodied
travellers but I was not able to see how such travellers would be
able to disembark. The immigration process was a little slower than
ideal (extra windows were eventually opened up to speed up the
process ) but the walk to baggage reclaim was a very short one.
NB Landing cards are completed on
the aircraft to help speed up the process.
The airport is very small but
equally is well signed. Once through to the arrivals hall, it is
rather chaotic to be fair with many transfer providers jostling for
position, alongside the car hire desks. We were however easily able
to locate to Spice Travel representative and joined our transfer
minibus to the Landings – on the very Northern tip of the Island,
whilst the Airport is on the Southern tip.
The transfer itself gave you the
opportunity to travel up the Western side of the Island through the
St Lucian Rainforest and the journey was scheduled for around an
hour and a half to an hour and three quarters. It afforded some
breathtaking scenery, although the journey was very windy with some
sharpish bends and inclines, so not ideal for everyone. We did
encounter traffic issues upon arrival in the main town of the island
Castries. We unfortunately arrived there just on rush hour and it
took around an hour to get from one side of the harbour to the other
– a matter of 2 miles at most. (Something that I later found out
was not an uncommon occurrence, which I imagine is difficult to avoid
for UK originating passengers – even perhaps also for those
arriving on the slightly earlier Virgin flight). The journey
eventually took just over 2 and a half hours. As an alternative to
customers, there is a helicopter transfer option. The helicopter
takes off from the far end of Hewanorra Airport and lands on a small
landing area close to Gros Islet, where a number of the large hotels
on the North of the Island are located. (Most hotels are reached by a
10 minute transfer from the landing area). Whilst we did not verify
precise costs, the helicopter transfer is a fraction more expensive
but certainly worthwhile for some clients, who after a near 9 hour
flight, just want to get to their hotel.
The Landings
Very luxurious property with a
rather grand reception hall – something you would expect more in
the Middle East, although the property itself had a Floridian feel to
it in terms of the layout of the accommodation blocks and other areas
of the property. I was certainly reminded of a stay in Fort
Lauderdale where rooms had Intercoastal views – similar to the
harbour/marina views afforded at the Landings. Check in was a
straightforward process with “heavy on the rum” cocktails
offered. Guests were then immediately transferred by buggy to their
accommodations – although to be fair no room in the entire property
seemed to be more than a flat 5 minute walk from reception.
I was given a Two Bedroom Deluxe
Villa Suite with a Harbour View. The room was huge – 2 huge
bedrooms – both with large ensuite bathrooms and one with a
dressing room. A separate washroom – laden with a washing machine
and tumble dryer. A massive kitchen and dining area which opened out
into a lounge area with large settee and armchairs – not forgetting
the two balconies – one containing two day beds, the other a dining
table, oh and a Jacuzzi!!!! I remember thinking, awestruck as I
walked around, how’s a lad who Dad spent all his life down the
mines, ended up in a place like this….
To be fair, this property is all
about the accommodation itself. Whilst we had a thoroughly enjoyable
evening in the luxurious restaurant – with a great choice of local
specialities – and the bar area offered a plentiful supply of
cocktails, plus there was a very good spa and pool at the property –
it somehow seemed to be missing something. Shopping facilties,
perhaps. However, fishing trips and other excursions could easily be
arranged from the hotel so you would certainly not be short of things
to do.
The hotel would certainly suit all
age groups and with the kitchen/dining facilities available, it would
lend itself to families with young children. The Rodney Bay shopping
area is a mere 10 minutes from the hotel so provisions could easily
be obtained - and stored in the huge American style fridge in the
suite! The hotel has both 2 and 3 bedroomed accommodations and some
of the more luxurious 3 bedroomed Villas have their own plunge pools
too. Some rooms were on higher floors but each block had a lift and
the blocks were wheelchair accessible.
Cap Maison
Had a site inspection and luxurious
dinner at Cap Maison. This property, also located in Gros Islet, a
very idyllic location at that, has a very Moorish/Spanish feel to it
in its design. Rooms were beautifully decorated and again very
spacious (a feeling you got from most of the properties we viewed in
St Lucia). All suites afforded excellent views. The property had a
very relaxed feel to it – with the owner/ manager keen to point out
that they don’t trouble guests with admin or request credit card
details as soon as they arrive, they allow them to enjoy their new
surroundings. The property does lend itself to couples – rather
than families – who want a relaxing luxury retreat and who want to
be able to get on with their holiday without fuss. Equally, it was a
good choice as a wedding venue compared to the other St Lucian hotels
we visited. You imagined that there would be some amazing
photographs! In terms of the less able bodied, it didn’t seem to
lend itself that well compared to other St Lucian hotels.
In terms of dining, there are a
number of options. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, we were unable
to dine beachfront at the Naked Fisherman Restaurant so were taken
down to Bruce’s wine cellar for a private dining experience. If he
doesn’t sell this to guests as a meal option, then he should!!!
Truly wonderful evening, tasting great wine and sea food. Equally,
if not, private dining was an option, beachfront or should I say
“rockfront” at Rock Maison – a small decking area which holding
up to 30 but can cater for just 2. The property offered a beautiful
spa as well as gymnasium facilities and overall, it simply oozed
class!
Stay tuned for Part 2, coming on January 3rd!
For more information about St. Lucia, and other unique travel experiences, please visit www.kanootravel.co.uk, or call us on 0800 458 3412, or email webbookings@kanootravel.co.uk
