Mango Madness

ST. LUCIA'S luxury resort Anse Chastanet are in for a special treat next month when Mango Madness returns from June 13 to 17. The popular event celebrates the tropical fruit and offers mango-themed activities to entertain and educate visitors.

As part of the five-day festivities, there will be a live, interactive cooking class using mangos as the core ingredient. Participants will learn to cook with the flavorful fruit in the Chef de Cuisine's special cooking class.


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Sunset Jazz in St Lucia

A locally-owned hotel in #StLucia is getting into the spirit of St. Lucia Jazz by presenting a free "Beach Sunset Jazz" musical showcase for local residents and visitors to the island.

To be held on Reduit Beach near the resort chain's flagship Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, the jazz experience will feature local food and beverage offerings with spectacular sunset views, and promises to be an entertaining event.

St. Lucia Jazz is a celebration of St. Lucian, Caribbean and international jazz music, with events in all parts of the country, culminating with a major concert at the Pigeon Island National Landmark on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2018.

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Jade Mountain in St. Lucia is among the world's Top 25 hotels.

READERS of influential travel magazine Travel + Leisure gave the famed St. Lucian hotel the 25th spot in the world and number two in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas category in its annual survey. 

Jade Mountain's sister resort, Anse Chastanet, was not far behind, placing number six among hotels in the Caribbean region.


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Conservation Cuisine

LIONFISH, one of the most destructive invasive fish species ever to reach the #Caribbean, are wreaking irreparable damage on coral reefs by eating practically everything they come across. And they eat a lot: A lionfish's stomach can expand up to 30 times its normal size.

It has become of particular concern to environmentalists who lament the fact that lionfish, with no natural predators in the Caribbean, continue to grow at an alarming rate, with scientists fearing the invasive species may never be entirely eradicated from the region's seas.

But, a high-end resort company in St. Lucia is doing its bit by including the fish as part of its famed cuisine.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of Jade Mountain and its sister resort Anse Chastanet, together with her culinary team, have launched a "conservation cuisine" initiative preparing the lionfish as a delicacy.

"It is not much of a stretch," declared Troubetzkoy. "Lionfish is a white flaky, but firm, fish with a flavor between grouper and mahi mahi."

To ensure diners get to try as many takes on the fish as possible, Troubetzkoy said, "we are serving a multi-course dégustation menu with paired New World wines, in which we showcase the quality and taste of this very unique fish."

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Picture Credit: A Lionfish meal compliments of the culinary team at Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet resorts.

Rainforest Resort

ANSE Chastanet is set amid a lush 600-acre estate with two soft-sand beaches and breathtaking views of St. Lucia's twin Pitons mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Amidst St. Lucia's lush tropical beauty, activities range from jungle biking, hiking and bird watching to snorkeling on the reef within swimming distance of the beach. 

The environmentally friendly, award-winning resort comprises 49 individually designed rooms, 37 of which are scattered about a lush hillside, and 12 that are nestled within a tropical garden at beach level.  

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Behind the lens in St Lucia

ONE of the world's most accomplished photographers is hosting a master class at Anse Chastanet Resort in St. Lucia for National Geographic Expeditions this year.  Joe McNally, whose acclaimed career includes assignments in more than 50 countries, will lead the classes at the eco-friendly resort.

"Advanced Photography and Lighting Workshop," the session, to be held October 10-15, 2017, is designed for 16 advanced photographers and National Geographic Photography Workshop alumni.

Named a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens and voted one of the 30 most influential photographers of the decade by Photo District News, McNally will deliver lectures and guide participants through the complexities of advanced photography while taking them through the sprawling Anse Chastanet property, which features a tropical rainforest, an organic farm and jungle bike trails.

Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, two of St. Lucia's most picturesque resorts, have been recognized by the TripAdvisor® GreenLeaders™ program, which helps travelers around the world plan ecologically responsible trips by identifying hotels engaging in environmentally friendly practices.

For further information about and participation in the workshop, visit http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/saint-lucia-tour-caribbean-photo-workshop/detail.

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Scuba St. Lucia wins PADI Green Star Award

ST. LUCIA'S longest-running dive operation, Scuba St. Lucia, has received the PADI Green Star Award for its dedication to conservation.

Founded in 1981, Scuba #StLucia is located at the water's edge of the 600-acre Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resorts. Consistently voted among the top hotels in the Caribbean by leading travel authorities, both hotels were designed with a commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.

Now, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is recognizing the resorts' efforts to keep its scuba diving operation clean and green. The region around Anse Chastanet is part of an award-winning marine reserve run by the Soufrière Marine Management Association. Scuba St. Lucia strictly follows the marine reserve policy of "look but don't touch," to ensure protection of the area's coral reef and other marine life.

www.scubastlucia.com

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Picture Credit: Mark Edley flickr.com/photos/34980062@N08/10249879286 stlucia2013195  via photopin.

Thomson & First Choice add to their long haul portfolio for 2017

THE UK’s leading #holiday brands, Thomson and First Choice, are announcing the introduction of #Vietnam to its winter 2017 programme. 

The Caribbean islands of St Lucia and Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba, which were new additions to its summer 2017 programme, will also be extended into the winter season. 

The move is part of continued interest in long haul destinations and builds on the 350% increase in long haul holidays over a 10 year period that the brands revealed last year.

The island of Phu Quoc off Vietnam has been added to the long haul portfolio, the island off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand is well known for white-sand beaches and resorts. The majority of the island is part of Phú Quốc National Park, which features mountains, dense tropical jungle, hiking trails and wildlife.

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Gold for being green

ST LUCIA'S Jade Mountain resort has become the first hotel in the #Caribbean to receive the coveted LEED GOLD (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification status.

Nick Troubetzkoy, who designed and built the multiple award winning resort which overlooks the Piton Mountains rising from the Caribbean Sea in front of Jade Mountain, said: "The beauty of St Lucia's landscapes, the warmth and character of its people and the unlimited potential to create something very special here captured my imagination. "

Troubetzkoy described Jade Mountain, artfully sculpted into the mountainside, as "a response to almost every hotel I've ever visited ... where I found myself disappointed by what I encountered."

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Picture Credit: Prayitno flickr.com/photos/34128007@N04/24143692642 Jade Mountain Resort via photopin.com

Caribbean opening for James Villa Holidays

JAMES VILLA HOLIDAYS has expanded into the #Caribbean, adding 56 properties across Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Lucia, to its portfolio of 2,675 holiday homes in Europe and the US. 

 Managing Director of James Villa Holidays, Mark Bloxham says: ‘The #JamesVillas Caribbean collection is a carefully selected and curated portfolio of villas, townhouses, and apartments in four of the most popular Caribbean islands. We now offer four luxury villas in Antigua, 23 in Barbados, 11 in Jamaica, and 18 in St. Lucia, with plans to expand later this year. All villas have been equipped with the latest appliances, as well as having private pools.

‘Quite a number of the properties are located on holiday resorts so guests can enjoy the full range of hotel services including spa, restaurants, and activities. Every aspect of a guest’s holiday can be arranged on request in the booking process by James Villa Holidays’ dedicated customer service team, from flights, airport parking, car hire, and travel insurance.’

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How to see St. Lucia

101 Things To Do and Places To See in Saint Lucia by Russell Streeter offers information about 27 beaches, 55 attractions, and 19 activities, plus a guide to the island’s cuisine and major scuba diving sites. 

‘Saint Lucia is too beautiful to spend your whole holiday lying on the beach or stuck in the hotel,’ says Streeter, whose earlier guidebook was 101 Things To Do and Places To See in #Barbados. ‘With maps, attractions, and contact information for many of the island’s tour guides and activity providers, your only challenge will be deciding which of #SaintLucia’s many wonders to leave until next time.’

To buy the guide – as either a paperback or Kindle edition – go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-Things-Places-Saint-Lucia/dp/0993431801.

Mr Streeter was born in Barbados to an English father and Guyanese mother. He lives in England with his family.

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Picture Credit: Jealousie Beach, St Lucia copyright David Kernek

Waiting for the wedding …

GETTING married abroad can be romantic but also a bureaucratic nightmare. You have go through legal processes of one sort or another everywhere, but in these countries it’s little less of a headache than in many others … 

Cyprus
All paperwork is in English and couples don’t have to spend a certain period of time on the island before they get married, so they can have the wedding and honeymoon within a week.

Rhodes, Greece
Getting married in Greece is relatively straightforward, although the couple do have to be in the country for a full week before the wedding so they will need to book a fortnight holiday and get married in the second week. Santorini is another big wedding island in the Aegean.

Barbados
The Caribbean has long been one of the most popular overseas wedding destinations for British couples and Barbados, arguably the most ‘British’ of all the islands in the region, is a safe bet. Couples need to register only 48 hours before getting married, so it is easy to organize.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is popular because it’s good value and has unusual wedding options – few places allow the bride and groom to ride off into the sunset on the back of an elephant, or marry on a moonlit beach to the hypnotic sound of drums. On a practical note, the couple need to be in Sri Lanka at least five working days before the wedding. Good flight connections from the capital Colombo mean it is easy to combine a Sri Lankan wedding with a honeymoon in the Maldives.

St Lucia
Another favourite Caribbean option, a special licence allows couples to be married within 24 hours of arrival and the choice of venues ranges from a deserted beach to a botanical garden, church, or yacht.

Las Vegas, US
Getting married here isn’t quite as uncomplicated as popular myth has it; there is paperwork. Both parties must appear in person at a Clark County Marriage Bureau location and present identification with ages and names. It, though, almost instant. There's no waiting period; couples will get their marriage licence on the day they apply for it … and the marriage bureau is open from 8 a.m. to midnight daily. Divorce in the state of Nevada, of course, takes somewhat longer.


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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28113499@N08/5526299075">"Endless love"</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124348109@N01/150969285">Runaway Bride</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

The luxury collection

A TOUR operator offering #privatevillas, villa resorts, and #privateislands to UK clients has launched operations.

The Villa Collection – established by tourism industry veterans Andrea Lovering and Gemma Lewis – handles luxury villas in locations including Barbados, St Lucia, Anguilla, and Antigua.

#Luxury properties in the Hamptons, Miami, and New York are coming on stream, and a range of Indian Ocean & Middle East destinations will also be available. Clients can currently book directly with the company, but plans are in place to begin working with travel agents.

‘The brand and our product offering has been carefully designed and selected with the target market in mind,’ says Ms Lewis. ‘We will be offering a highly personalized service to our clients and sharing our knowledge and experience to ensure our customers stay in the perfect villa and destination for them.’

Ms Lovering adds: ‘Many people initially assume private villas are more expensive than hotels, but villa rates often work out more affordable per person and clients enjoy privacy and space that a hotel cannot offer. We also offer villa resorts which combine both resort facilities with villa accommodation, and for ultimate luxury and privacy, we feature a range of private islands.’

www.thevillacollection.co.uk

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28402582@N07/8806746124">Beach patio</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

A world on the move …

IRELAND’S Central Statistics Office reports that almost 3.9 million foreign tourists visited the republic in the first half of 2015, up by 11.7% on the same period last year. 

More than 1.6 million of them were from the UK, up by 9.4%, while numbers from the US and Canada rose by 15%.

VIENNA registered 6.3 million visitor overnights between January and June 2015 – 5.4 per cent more than for the same period in previous year and an all-time record. 

Vienna’s top markets in the half-year included Germany, the US, Italy, and the UK.

ST. LUCIA has seen a surge in holiday bookings, says the Expedia Group. Overall, demand increased by more than 20% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015.

GERMANY recorded 27.1 million overnight stays by foreign visitors between January and May this year, a 4.1% increase on the same period last year. Tourists from the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Great Britain accounted for almost half of the increase.

GUERNSEY reports strong Q2 results, with the total number of staying visitors up 6.2% year-on-year. Total overnight stays were up 10.7% and the average length of stay increased by 4.3%. This follows healthy visitor numbers in Q1, which saw a 7.3% increase. From January to June, there was an overall increase of 6.5% – to 102,000 – in the number of staying visitors.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54238124@N00/1413904048">Lough Leane, Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/33174580@N00/7337171826">Smugglers Cove</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/8851994@N05/3488379497">Vienna at Night</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

From snowy Chicago to sunny St. Lucia

WITH visitors arriving at a record pace from the US – showing a year-to-date increase of nine percent over 2014 – Saint Lucia will see additional winter season flights as United Airlines launches a non-stop, weekly service from Chicago in December.

‘The expanded partnership with United signifies the first non-stop regularly scheduled service between the two destinations, making Saint Lucia even more accessible for travellers,’ says Louis Lewis at #SaintLucia Tourist Board. ‘The new flights connect major gateways in the Midwestern United States and provide added convenience for connections with a number of new markets.’

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