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Belmond La Samanna

Belmond La Samanna, St. Martin

XSeptember 16, 2019

The Belmond La Samanna is its own destination.

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It was great to be back in Barbados🇧🇧after q

It was great to be back in Barbados🇧🇧after quite a few years, even if it was a last minute addition to our trip. Nice to visit a few of the classic places the island is famous for, like the charming Cobblers Cove, where we stayed. And there are so many great buzzy new restaurants. One of our favourites was the chic Sea Shed, just down the road from our hotel. (They make an excellent Smokey Mezcal Margarita, by the way.) Though we had a great time, we never lost site of the fact that we were only staying in Barbados due to the terrible devastation visited on our original target, the islands of the Grenadines, by Hurricane Beryl. Desperately needed rebuilding is continuing there through numerous official efforts, supported by many private initiatives, big and small. Two in particular that I am familiar with are Palm Island The Grenadines (our planned destination), who are spearheading an initiative to rebuild Union Island; and Tradition Sailing Charters Anguilla, who gather much needed relief supplies from Anguilla and surrounding islands, sailing them south to Carriacou, where their classic West Indian sloop was built. We have contributed to both in a small way. A salute to both, and to so many others who are pitching in. 🇬🇩🇻🇨 @palmislandgrenadines @cobblerscovehotel @traditionsailinganguilla @seashed_barbados @visitbarbados @puregrenada @discover.svg @barbadostravel #barbados #thegrenadines #hurricaneberyl #islandhopping #caribbean #beachbars #beachsiderestaurant #seniortravel #canadiantraveller

Wanted to share the second of two original waterco

Wanted to share the second of two original watercolours I bought from Canadian artist Scott Kish. Love this view of Nevis Peak from Pond Hill in Nevis, captured in or around Montpelier Plantation & Beach - one of our all-time favourite places to stay. Unlike the painting of Anguilla’s Dune Preserve, which was a custom work, this one was in Scott’s portfolio. But just like the Dune painting, it perfectly captures the essence of a place that is special to me. You can see more of Scott’s work, including his extensive Caribbean series, at @kish.scottkishstudio. 😎 @montpeliernevis @kpragency @nevisnaturally @stkittsandnevis.official #caribbeanart #nevis #islandscenes #islandart #nevispeak #luxuryresorts #watercolour

A dear (female) friend of mine calls me something

A dear (female) friend of mine calls me something of a “clothes horse”. Not sure I would agree 🙄. But on a sunny Toronto Sunday, I was in a distinctly island mood, so decided to put on my finest, classiest Caribbean togs! 😅 Luckily, I still had a couple of appropriate beers on hand - Red Stripe and, my particular favourite, Carib. Oh, and a belated Happy Birthday Gwen!🎂. Many Blessings from my wife and I. Long live the Reggae Grill! @gwensreggaegrill @foxysjvd @caribbeercanada @redstripe #beachbars #caribbean #islandhopper #labourdaycanada #backyardbbq #tackytshirts #canadiantraveller #torontosummer

Absolutely thrilled to purchase this original wate

Absolutely thrilled to purchase this original watercolour painting of the one and only Dune Preserve in Anguilla, circa 2010, by Canadian artist Scott Kish. Scott has a remarkable habit of painting places that resonate with me. His Caribbean series contains a number of paintings of places I have visited throughout the islands. This particular one wasn’t in his portfolio, but he was able to work from photos I have taken over the years. We’ve been visiting the Dune virtually since it opened. It’s had many faces over the years, but this particular one is extra special to me, and Scott has captured it perfectly. You can check out more of Scott’s Caribbean series and other work at @kish.scottkishstudio. 😎 @thedunepreserveaxa @anguilla_tourism @beachbarbums @omaribanksmusic @jesson.company @trueanguilla #anguilla #beachbar #caribbeanart #islandart #canadianartists #beachbumming #caribbean #tropicalparadise

We came home from our recent island-hopping trip w

We came home from our recent island-hopping trip with a lot of great photos, but I think this is one of my favourites. It was taken at @calmoscafesxm in Grand Case, St. Martin. It was great to be back at this great waterfront spot after so long. Calmos Café was a favourite of ours, but then came the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the establishment, as the owners put it, “went into pause mode”. Luckily for us, it reopened last year. And I’m happy to report it’s brighter and better than ever. Lovely spot for a sunset cocktail. @discoversaintmartin @jesson.company #sxm #beachbars #beachrestaurants #grandcase #islandcocktails #ruminthesun #seniortravel #travellingcanadians #caribbean #tuesdaytravel

We are regular visitors to St. Martin and stopped

We are regular visitors to St. Martin and stopped off for a brief stay on our latest trip. It’s an easy and convenient flight from Toronto and a great place to spend a few days by itself, or use as a jumping off spot for other islands. We have stayed all over SXM, on both the Dutch and French sides, but the village of Grand Case has become our go-to destination. There’s a nice vibe, a lovely beach and absolutely terrific food at places like @lepressoirsxm, @rainbowcafesxm and @calmoscafesxm, to name just a few. And our new favourite hotel - the small, chic @ltc_hotelsxm - always makes us feel so welcome. It’s been a long hard, recovery from Hurricane Irma some seven years ago for this former fishing village and certain things are still suffering. It would be nice if the local government would step up and give Grand Case the love it deserves. @ilestmartin @jesson.company #sxm #stmartin #grandcasesxm #islandrestaurant #islandboutiquehotel #caribbean #bestrestaurants #seniortravel #travellingcanadian #beachbum #caribbeanbeaches

While in St. Martin, we visited Orient Beach for t

Enjoying our last day in Anguilla on our recent tr

Enjoying our last day in Anguilla on our recent trip. Love this time of day on the islands; late afternoon with the sun just beginning to go down and the light starting to soften. Sipping rum (Santa Teresa 1796👌) at C Level at @auroraanguilla, with a glimpse of the Dune Preserve in the background. Well and truly in my happy ‘beach bum’ zone at this point. Maybe because I know I’m not heading home yet. Still a few days to go in St. Martin and Barbados. 😎 🥃@thedunepreserveaxa @anguilla_tourism @santateresarum @jesson.company @hiho_caribbean #anguilla #beachbars #bestbeach #caribbean #rum #tropicalgetaway #islandhopping

For me, no trip to Anguilla would be complete with

For me, no trip to Anguilla would be complete without a visit to one of the island's true treasures - Gwen's Reggae Grill on Shoal Bay East. Serious rum punches, great cheeseburgers and the always smiling Gwen herself, and all on one of the Caribbean's best beaches. One of our favourite places, for sure. 😎 @gwensreggaegrill @anguilla_tourism @beachbarbums @jesson.company #anguilla #shoalbayeast #beachbars #bestbeaches #funinthesun #caribbean #barhopping #seniortraveller #ruminthesun

One of the highlights of our recent trip to Anguil

One of the highlights of our recent trip to Anguilla was the chance to return to the elegant Malliouhana, the island’s original luxury resort. It has been a few years since we last visited this iconic property on stunning Meads Bay. I remembered Malliouhana as being the most aesthetically pleasing and beautifully decorated hotel on Anguilla. Extensive upgrades over the past few years have just added to that sense of sophistication and visual delight, enhanced by judicious use of the original owner’s amazing collection of Haitian art. It’s a gorgeous place. No wonder it was just named one of the “Top 500 Best Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure Magazine. @malliouhana @anguilla_tourism @travelandleisure @anguilla_tourism @jesson.company #anguilla #worldsbesthotels #luxuryislandhotels #islandresorts #luxurytraveller #meadsbay #bestbeaches #westindies

Returned from our recent trip to Barbados🇧🇧

Returned from our recent trip to Barbados🇧🇧 with a nice haul of a few classic Bajan rums. After all, Barbados is the birthplace of rum and home to the world’s oldest rum distillery (Mount Gay, established in 1703 and represented here). And, in what is obviously not a coincidence, I will be attending the @torontorumfestival this weekend, hoping to learn even more about this under-appreciated spirit.🥃 @visitbarbados @mountgayrum @cockspurrum @foursquare_rum_distillery @planterayrum @torontorumfestival #barbados #rum #bajanrum #ruminthesun #islanddrink #caribbeantraveller #islandhopper #thirstythursday #bartenders

So, farewell to Barbados, home of crystal clear wa

So, farewell to Barbados, home of crystal clear waters, soft breezes, elegant, genteel resorts and Banks Beer (Hey Tyra!) - and the spiritual birthplace of the Seasoned Traveler. À bientôt. It's been a great but, for me, tiring trip. Back to Toronto today, where I plan to sleep for three days😴, check to see if our basement was flooded during the big storm of 16th July ⛈️ and water the plants 🪴 - in that order.😅 @cobblerscovehotel @visitbarbados @banksbeer #Barbados #westindies #luxuryresorts #islandhopping #caribbeanhotel #canadiantraveller #seniortraveller #beachbum

Enjoying some local flavour at the oft-recommended

Enjoying some local flavour at the oft-recommended Fisherman’s Pub in Speightstown, Barbados🇧🇧. It’s a casual, affordable, friendly and busy place, equally popular with locals and tourists - and especially jumping at lunchtime. A word of warning: don’t order food here unless you are really (really) hungry. Servings are delicious and huge.😋 @fishermans_pub @visitbarbados @banksbeer #barbados #speightstownbarbados #seasiderestaurant #islandfood #bajanfood #localflavours #watersidedining #caribbeanfood #caribbeantravel #islandhopping

Here I am back where the whole thing started - Bar

Here I am back where the whole thing started - Barbados🇧🇧 - the first Caribbean nation I ever visited, almost 40 years ago. This is where my passion for island travel was born. My next visit to this beautiful island was with my wife, also her first trip to the Caribbean. Luckily for me, she instantly embraced my love of the islands. So, it’s great to be back, this time staying at the elegant Cobblers Cove, but now with more than 40 other islands under our belts.😎 Having said that, we are really only here due to some terrible circumstances. Our original plans had us simply transferring in Barbados to spend time in the Grenadines. Sadly, the Grenadines were devastated by Hurricane Beryl, from Bequia down to Carriacou, forcing a change in plans. So, while we are fortunate enough to be enjoying the beauty and tranquility of Barbados, let’s spare some thoughts and, perhaps, consider supporting relief efforts in these lovely islands🇻🇨🇬🇩. @cobblerscovehotel @visitbarbados #barbados #bestislandhotels #luxurybeachresort #caribbeantraveller #westindies #beachhotel #hurricaneberylrelief #canadiantraveller #travelthursday #tropicalparadise @puregrenada @stvincentandgrenadines

How's this for a view to wake up to? Early morning

How's this for a view to wake up to? Early morning in Grand Case, St. Martin with Anguilla sparkling in the background just a few kilometers away. Taken from the balcony of our delightful little hotel - Le Temps Des Cerise. @ltc_hotelsxm @anguilla_tourism @jesson.company #stmartin #Anguilla #beachhotel #grandcase #bestbeaches #fwi #caribbeantraveller

Quick few nights stop in St. Martin before beginni

Quick few nights stop in St. Martin before beginning final phase of this makeshift trip. Enough time to find another great beach bar to add to my list - Bikini Beach @bikinisxm on the now bustling Orient Bay. Great views, nice people, that great FWI vibe and a Spicy Margarita that really lives up to it's name🌶. Will review this one for sure.

@bikinibeach_sxm @jesson.company #stmartin #orientbay #beachbars #beachbarbums #margaritas #funinthesun #caribbean #seniortraveller #canadiantraveller

Finished my brief time in Anguilla at the weekly

Finished my brief time in Anguilla at the weekly moonlight beach BBQ at Aurora Resort. Had an excellent time, with good food, lovely people and great music from @omalie360_music. Off to St. Martin today. @auroraanguilla @anguilla_tourism @hiho_caribbean @jesson.company #Anguilla #beachbbq #islandmusic #caribbean #beachesnresorts #seniortraveller #caribbeantraveller

Even a rainy day in Anguilla just adds a sparkle t

Even a rainy day in Anguilla just adds a sparkle to this absolute jewel of an island. Early dusk at the stylish and always welcoming Aurora Beach Resort & Golf Club. @auroraanguilla @anguilla_tourism @jesson.company #Anguilla #rendezvousbayanguilla #caribbeansunset #luxuryislandresort #bestresorts #caribbeantravel

Was lucky enough to catch Olaide Banks at a pop up

Was lucky enough to catch Olaide Banks at a pop up show at the Anguilla Great House. If you ever get the chance to hear Olaide sing, whether in his native Anguilla🇦🇮 or elsewhere, don’t miss it. Or check him out on Spotify. A super talented, genuine and gracious guy, carrying on the remarkable Anguillian family musical legacy that includes his father Bankie and brother Omari. Special thanks to the fun and funky DJ Chu Chu for hosting. @olaidebanks @anguillagreathouse @anguilla_tourism @jesson.company @omaribanksmusic @thedunepreserveaxa #anguilla #beachbar #islandmusic #funinthesun #caribbean

The sun will rise over better days in the Grenadin

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