Far from typical, few places like this still exist in the Caribbean. La Samanna is as classic as it gets and is one of our very favorite properties on a beach that is unbelievably awesome. And now, this legendary resort welcomes our clients with 30% off one-bedroom suites. It’s the perfect compliment to an island teeming with open-air markets and colorful locals.

SUITE DREAMS OFFER
Rates from $485 per room, per night
30% off one-bedroom suites
Daily buffet breakfast
Unlimited use of non-motorized water sports
Access to a state-of-the-art fitness centre
And since our agency is a member of the exclusive Orient Express Bellini Club, our clients automatically receive VIP statues with top priority for complimentary upgrades if available.

This is a wonderful honeymoon destination and with direct flights to St. Martin from many gateway airports, an easy romantic getaway for everyone.

Minimum of five nights stay. Offer applicable to one-bedroom suites only. All taxes and gratuities are not included. This package is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers or packages.Package available from May 1st-December 21, 2011.

The Islands with a special ‘Je ne sais quoi’

Few islands are as exquisite as those in the French Caribbean. A place where rum-soaked Calypso culture merges effortlessly with croissants and pain au chocolat. Here plump local seafood is served with sauces laced with wine and garlic, sea-sprayed Peugeots are driven with a nonchalant Gallic shrug and Euros change hands and timeworn island phrases, such as du sublime au ridicule il n’y a qu’un pas (it’s just one step from the sublime to the ridiculous) fill the air. French Caribbean islanders call the French Mainland le métropole and enjoy the same high standard of living as those on the Motherland over 4,000 miles away. Topless beaches and menus of fine Bordeaux wine can muddle geographic sensibilities. Dramatic rainforests, powdery beaches, sparkling lagoons, multi-colored blooms and lush palms remind visitors they are in the West Indies. Welcome to the ‘France of the Caribbean’ – where the best of two worlds meet.

Four main islands in the Eastern Caribbean make up the French Caribbean, lying southeast of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. First there is Martinique, at the heart of the Windward chain. Sister-island Guadeloupe is actually an archipelago that includes the pretty islets of Les Saintes and Marie Galante. It also serves as the capital of two larger dependents: St. Martin, the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations and oh-so chic – our very favorite – St. Barts.

The island of Martinique exudes a distinctly French ambience in its culinary excellence, stylish population and purity of language. Dressed head to toe in Parisian chic, Martinique islanders sip café au lait for petit-déjeuner much like ‘France in the Tropics.’ Exotic, sweet-smelling hibiscus, frangipani, bougainvillea, poinsettias and orchids fill the meadows with crops of papaya, guava, mango, bananas, pineapples, sugarcane, cinnamon and coffee in the fields. Dense rainforest, mountain peaks and dark sand beaches lead to rolling plains and white sand stretches. Towering ferns boast a thousand different shades of green. Many of Martinique’s remote rural spots remain virtually unchanged from when Columbus stepped ashore in 1502 – a dramatic contrast with the gleaming boutiques and fashionable cafes in the bustling capital city, Fort-de-France. Martinique’s clear azure waters provide excellent conditions for water sports with good visibility and an abundance of technicolored fish, shipwrecks and pastel coral reefs. Swimming, snorkeling and diving are unbeatable at Pointe-du-Bout and Anse Mitan as well as the small bays around Anses d’Arlets and Sainte-Anne.

Christopher Columbus landed on butterfly shaped Guadeloupe on November 4th, 1493, naming it after the famous sanctuary of Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Estremadura. An absence of gold or silver rendered it worthless to the Spanish and it wasn’t until the 17th century that the French arrived to colonize the island. Today modern Guadeloupe is a lively epicenter of Creole culture born out of a spirited blend of French and African influences. As famous for its rum and sugar production as for its palm-fringed resorts and stretches of sand, Guadeloupe’s modern cities, sleepy villages, thick rainforests and picturesque beaches offer plenty of diverse topography on a backdrop of turquoise waters. Created from two islands spanned by a bridge over the Rivière Salée, Guadeloupe’s landscape is distinctly different in its eastern and western parts. Grande-Terre to the east boasts magnificent white sand beaches, undulating hills, sugar cane plantations as well as the island’s commercial hub, Pointe-à-Pitre. To the west, Basse-Terre is renowned for its magnificent rain forests, cascading waterfalls and mountain peaks. At the 12,000-acre Parc National in the Basse-Terre rainforest a riddle of walking trails offer exceptional views at La Soufrière volcano. Water sports enthusiasts will discover that Guadeloupe’s offshore islands are ideal bases for sailing. Some, including pretty palm-scattered Les Saintes, can also be easily day-tripped by ferry. Glass-bottom boats at Malendure Beach offer snorkeling trips to Pigeon Island with some of the best surfing spots along the northern flank of Grande-Terre at Le Moule, Port Louis and Anse Bertrand. World-class windsurfing and kite-surfing can be found off Le Moule on Grande Terre while on the west coast of Basse-Terre a Jacque Cousteau Marine Reserve has a specialist dive program in some of the finest and most fertile waters of the Caribbean.

St. Martin and its Dutch alter-ego Sint Maarten are divided by a simple border, a couple of rustic signs that says “Bienvenue en Partie Française” and “Welcome to Dutch Sint Maarten, N.A.”. The island is a superb beach destination – Baie de l’Orient is the place to head to for activity while Baie Longue and Baie Rouge are a beach-bum’s delight. Apart from the sand, St. Martin offers a couple of simple pleasures in the form of good food and unforgettable sunsets. A handful of small towns ensure plenty of beguiling West Indian charm blended with the influences of provincial France. Street vendors hawk a rainbow of tropical fruit next to bakeries that would be at home in Dijon. In the capital Marigot, beautifully restored old buildings are opening up as seafood restaurants.  A handsome marina sits on a pleasant waterfront promenade where a pier overlooks a flotilla of bobbing million dollar yachts. In the little village of Grand Case one small street is choc full of gourmet delights with some of the finest cuisine this side of Paris. Some of the island’s finest fare is in this charming fishing village, hugged by a half-moon-shaped beach and waters that are five shades of turquoise.  A few water-ski, jet-ski, kayak, windsurf and sailing operators can be found in Baie Nettlé, Orient Bay and Friar’s Bay.

There’s an old island recipe that describes St. Barts (Saint-Barthélemy) in gastronomic terms, urging the island to be viewed as a rare treat to be savored. It says: take one beach-fringed volcanic island, sweltering in the tropical sun for several million years. Add a handful of French maritime adventurers in search of a new and better life. Simmer for four hundred years. Turn up the heat, and add luxurious villas, elegant small hotels, and world class French restaurants. Baste with equal amounts of sophisticated relaxation and rustic charm. Next, enjoy – bon appétit! An international elite jet in for Parisian grandeur coupled with the risqué antics of St. Tropez. Fine dining and expensive French wines are enjoyed by a host of Gallic starlets and beautiful people – who are overdressed in the bistros and underdressed on the beach. Although just eight square miles in size, this diminutive island makes up for a lack of girth in the style stakes. Over 30 beaches ooze pure class with Colombier Beach an exclusive treat enjoyed by those prepared to make the glorious 40- minute trek.

Over the years, we have visited all of these wonderful islands many times and would love to arrange your stay on one of these iles magnifuque … let us show you some Caribbean joie de vivre.

Just south of the United States, a string of pearls wends its way through the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea to the coast of South America.  We are fortunate to have visited most of them.  A trip to the Caribbean brings tranquil waters, perfect beaches and exotic cultures and cuisines. Each island is unique. Whether you are seeking to escape to nothing more than a sandy beach with a quiet hammock; looking for a cultural adventure with historical sights to explore; or hankering for a week full of bustling nightlife, elegant casinos and world-class shopping, we can offer you expert assistance in finding the correct island getaway that will fill the bill. We can find you an historic Parador in Puerto Rico, a Grand Class Resort, a private island hideaway, a condominium for the family, or an all-inclusive resort. We know where they are; we’ve visited them all.

BERMUDA, while not in the Caribbean is another island paradise less than two hours from the East Coast. Pink sandy beaches beckon along with stunning scenery, crystal clear waters warmed by the Gulf Stream, a unique British/African culture and great historical towns and sites to explore.  For golf and tennis it is perfection. With accommodations ranging from 5-star luxury hotels to quaint yet elegant cottage colonies, Bermuda is a fabulous destination at any time of the year.

Trisha is a certified CARRIBEAN SPECIALIST AND BERMUDA SPECIALIST