Archive for year: 2017

Two of my favourite things are travelling ( particularly to the Caribbean) and food ( both eating it and cooking it)!

As we are coming up to Christmas I thought I would share some recipes and traditions which they enjoy in the Caribbean at this time of year. Maybe you could try some of them and ‘spice up’ your Christmas a bit this year – quite literally!

Obviously one of the main staples of the Caribbean at any time of year is rum, and rum punch is drunk all year round but particularly at Christmas. It is a traditional Caribbean cocktail normally including local rum, pineapple juice and orange juice.

I really like this Christmas drink from Trinidad and Tobago which is their version of our Egg Nog! It is called Ponche De Creme and is a creamy alcoholic drink made from sweetened condensed milk, plenty of dark rum, angostura bitters and spiced with plenty of fresh nutmeg and lime.

Taste-the-Islands-Ponche-Creme.jpg

As well as being drunk, Rum is also used in many recipes. A popular one, is Caribbean Black Cake, a truly traditional West Indian Christmas Recipe . It is intensely aromatic and alcoholic. Dried mixed fruits are infused with rich flavours of rum, cherry brandy, and locally sourced spices such as cinnamon, all spice and nutmeg. Many people will start soaking the fruit months in advance for a real full-bodied Caribbean flavour.

We found a recipe here for you – http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/caribbean-christmas-cake-known-as-black-cake-73302.

A festive drink which is very popular in Jamaica ( and yes it has Rum in it, though you can make it without if you prefer) is Sorrel. This is made from the sorrel flower which is in full bloom at Christmas. The flower is steeped in boiling water with ginger and pimento berries and left to soak overnight, then just add rum, lemon juice and sugar to taste. – https://dominicaexplorer.com/food-and-drink/how-to-make-sorrel-drink/

Glazed baked ham is a popular Christmas dish in Jamaica, as it is over here. We like this recipe with pineapple to make it more tropical – https://cooklikeajamaican.com/glazed-baked-ham/

A great accompaniment, as well as the traditional ‘rice and peas’ is this wonderful candied sweet potatoes – https://cooklikeajamaican.com/candied-sweet-potatoes/. This dish has been around for centuries and is very popular with islanders. It is an excellent accompaniment as it has just the right amount of sweetness without the feeling that you are eating dessert.

So I hope that has given you a bit of inspiration to try something different this Christmas.

Have a wonderful and aromatic Christmas!

 

Sandals Barbados – Lisa’s recent visit

I recently, finally managed to visit Sandals Barbados. I was very excited as I have sold it many times over the last couple of years, since it opened, and have heard wonderful things about the property but now I was going to see it for myself. Also, this is the first time I have visited any Sandals ( couples only hotels) as an actual couple! I was allowed to bring hubbie along.

We flew Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick and treated ourselves to extra legroom seats. As a Virgin frequent flyer these only cost £40 per person when booked 3 days before travel.

On arrival at Sandals we were treated to a welcome song by the reception staff then taken to the Club Lounge and given a welcome drink whilst our check-in was done, in air-conditioned comfort on an i-pad.

We were then taken to our lovely Crystal Lagoon Club Level room with balcony soaking tub! The balcony tub was a nice touch and, in case you wondered, there are curtains across your balcony so people can’t see you in the bath!

We spent most days by the pool and enjoyed the entertainment. I managed the aqua aerobics a couple of times and a swim/ float in the pool and, of course, we made several visits to the swim-up bar.

As well as around the main pool, there were plenty of sunbeds both on the beach and around the quieter pools if you just prefer to sunbathe quietly and read a book.

At lunchtimes we managed to get as far as the buffet restaurant by the pool and one day we ordered pizza from the poolside pizza hut, which was excellent. There was also a hot dog trolley for those who fancied something more simple.

In the evening we visited as many of the restaurants as we could. The only two which you had to book was Kimonos and Butch’s Chop House but the staff in the Club Lounge kindly did this for us before we arrived as we were only there for a few nights.

The restaurant which I wasn’t too bothered about going to was Bombay Club as I am not a big Indian food fan. However, we did go in there on our first night and we both agreed that it was one of the best meals we had during our visit!

My favourite evening was in Kimonos Teppanyaki. It was a very sociable experience and made you talk to the other couples around your table. The couple next to us were a lovely couple from Tennessee who were actually getting married the next day on the beach so we all went down there to watch and congratulate them.

The Piano Bar was a great place to spend the evening, being entertained by Dales excellent piano playing and singing whilst everybody joined in.

There were also excellent singers and entertainers some evenings next to the Courtyard Bar.

We did get some rain one day so we just just got out our courtesy Sandals umbrellas and walked into St Lawrence Gap and sampled the local bars and did a bit of souvenir shopping.

All in all we had a fantastic few days and I would highly recommend Sandals Barbados, whether you are looking for a romantic week just chilling out and enjoying fabulous food, or if you prefer to join in all the activities and have a fun, active week.

Watch out for Sandals Royal Barbados opening in December next door to Sandals Barbados, offering even more choices of bars, restaurants and pools.

Your honeymoon should be the trip of your dreams as well as the trip of a lifetime. Whether you prefer a paradise island, where you will sink into your private suite, enjoying lazy breakfasts in bed, soaking up glorious sunshine alone together or maybe you would prefer an amazing adventure, taking in an African Safari or exploring the temples of Cambodia and the historic sights of Vietnam? There are so many decisions to make before you decide on your honeymoon destination.

When to Go on Honeymoon

Whatever may be your preference, you first of all need to decide when you wish to go. Although most couples prefer to jet off soon after the wedding, others may prefer to defer the honeymoon for a few months so that they have something to look forward to later in the year. The weather in your destination may help you decide. If you have a summer wedding and you wish to honeymoon in the Caribbean, then it may be better to wait until the drier winter months for your Caribbean honeymoon.

It can be quite overwhelming knowing which destinations are best to visit at which times of year. If you would like help making your decision please contact us and we would love to help you – info@caribbean-boutique.co.uk or 01706 507175.

How Much to Spend?

Your budget will also be a deciding factor. Do you want to blow all your money on the wedding and then just enjoy maybe a shorter honeymoon closer to home or would you rather cut a few corners on the wedding so that you can enjoy the honeymoon of your dreams?

Your honeymoon provider may offer a ‘Gift List’ service, whereby your wedding guests can contribute to the cost of your honeymoon instead of buying wedding presents. This may give you a bigger budget than you originally thought you might have.

Contact me for more details of our ‘Gift List Service’ – info@caribbean-boutique.co.uk or 01706 507175.

Which Honeymoon Hotel to Choose

Once you have decided when you want to go, how much you want to spend and what kind of honeymoon you want, then it is time to look at what kind of hotel (s) you wish to stay in.

Your boutique travel agent will be able to help you and make suggestions and recommendations to suit your requirements and budget and then you just need to choose from their options.

Here are a few of my own suggestions;

Rendezvous in St Lucia – an adults-only boutique, all-inclusive hotel

With day beds for two, a romantic lazy river and candlelit dining, Rendezvous is the perfect choice for couples looking for a relaxing Caribbean honeymoon. Enjoy sumptuous dinners and couples’ massages or tuck yourselves away in one of the many secret spots hidden around the resort. After dinner you can head to the Champagne bar.

For the more adventurous there is a fantastic watersports team, evening entertainment and fitness classes giving you the choice to do as little or as much as you like on your unforgettable Caribbean honeymoon.

Anantara Dhigu Resort – Maldives

The beautiful Maldivian beaches at Anantara Dhigu seem naturally designed to set the scene for your dream honeymoon. Each day you can pick a new spot to enjoy blissful peace and quiet. The Over Water Suites offer a romantic sunken bath with stunning ocean vistas through floor to ceiling windows, marrying luxurious accommodation with the natural beauty of the Indian Ocean. Your honeymoon can be dreamily relaxed, but the natural lagoon is right there to explore on a daily guided snorkelling trips.

Here you can also dive on the house wreck, a short boat ride away, or try the underwater rocket which will have you zipping along like a dolphin at 20km per hour!

There are three sensational restaurants and access to three more at the sister hotel, Anantara Veli. Also, Anantara offers a ‘Dining by Design’ concept – whether you’re dreaming of a private banquet on the beach, a candlelit dinner on a desert island or a BBQ on your terrace with your own chef, Anantara can design the most romantic evenings so that you can celebrate your honeymoon in your very own style.

The H Resort Beau Vallon Beach – Seychelles

Sublime suites and delectable dining options make this boutique resort a great choice for honeymooners in search of a romantic hideaway – right on the shore, you are steps from the ocean and can laze on your private terrace enjoying the tranquil atmosphere and plenty of alone-time.

In the evenings, sink into your private plunge pool lit by lanterns for a romantic evening under the stars – you’ll never want to leave.

The unique Tete a Tete dining experience couldn’t be better tailored for honeymooners in search of a romantic atmosphere in total seclusion – enjoy a delicious bespoke menu created by the Executive Chef as you dine by candlelight on the beach.

These are all examples of luxury beach resorts for your honeymoon. Watch out in my next blog for something a bit more adventurous!

Now why not read our guide to Choosing the Perfect Alternative Honeymoon Destination –

read guide here

Get in Touch

If you would like to speak to Lisa or one of our expert Caribbean & Worldwide specialist travel advisors, then get in touch today;

Tel: 01706 507175