To celebrate 70 years of warm Caribbean welcomes, British Airways recently organised FAM trips for Agents to experience some of the fabulous islands.
Alison, our Marketing Manager, joined some of our Tour Operator Partners on an unforgettable visit to Saint Lucia and Tobago
Day 1
After meeting at London Gatwick, we were very excited to board our British Airways flight to Saint Lucia. We enjoyed a delicious lunch, with soft drinks and alcohol for those who wanted it followed by a hot snack before landing. The time went quickly, with some great options to watch on the in-flight entertainment system.
We arrived at 15:00 Saint Lucia time to glorious sunshine and headed to The Landings Resort and Spa which was to be our home for the next three nights. We were shown to our beachfront apartments and were all astounded by the stunning views and luxurious surroundings. After dinner at Suru where we enjoyed Asian Fusion cuisine, we headed to our comfortable beds to rest and recharge ready for our first day of exploring!
Day 2
Whilst still getting used to the time difference, I made the most of waking very early by enjoying a 6am swim in the sea. Continuing with this revitalising theme, the group then met for Beach Yoga before breakfast and a tour of The Landings.
Next we hopped into our minibus and headed to BodyHoliday This stunning resort claims that if you give them your body for a week, they'll give you back your mind. After a visit, I can see how this would be true! With daily spa treatments, beautiful accommodation, a beachfront location and full itinerary of activities, this is a great place to reset.
We headed from BodyHoliday to Cap Maison for a visit and lunch at their beautiful restaurant, The Naked Fisherman.
After a delicious meal, our next stop was Babonneau for ATV Adventure! Despite a tricky start where I bumped the person in front after hitting both the accelerator and brake at the same time, I soon got the hang of it and we enjoyed a brilliant couple of hours exploring the local surroundings and trying not to get too muddy!
Then we just had time to get washed and dressed before a wonderful hosted dinner on the balcony of The Landings Resort, overlooking the sea.
Day 3
After another early morning swim, we enjoyed breakfast before departing by speed boat for Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain. Both these hotels are absolute bucket list destinations and I'll never forget the colour of the water, the first sighting of the magestic Pitons or beauty of the beach as we docked.
After a tour of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, including what has been described as the most romantic bedroom in the world, we set off for Rabot Hotel for a tour and lunch before making our own chocolate at Project Chocolat.
Making chocolate is harder work than we thought, so we were grateful of a relaxing experience at Sulphur Springs for a Mud Bath Experience followed by a cool down at Toraille Waterfall. Following a full day of wonderful experiences, we headed back to the speed boat for dinner at The Landings.
Day 4
After a go at paddle boarding and breakfast at The Landings, we packed up our things, said goodbye to Saint Lucia and boarded our British Airways plane for a quick 40 minute flight to Tobago.
Upon landing in Tobago, we headed to our home for the night; The Villas at Stone Haven and enjoyed some wonderful welcome drinks and snacks from the team before heading to Z's Grill Shack for dinner. I couldn't miss the opportunity for a nighttime swim in our private infinity pool before heading to bed!
Day 5
After breakfast at Front Line Flavours, we headed to Adventure Nature Farm for some wonderful birdwatching before seeing fantastic historical sites in Plymouth Black Rock. From here, we visited Star Fish Turtle Beach Hotel before heading for lunch at Healing Garden for a Tobago Fireside Experience where we cooked bread over an open fire and churned our own coconut ice cream!
After checking in at the Comfort Inn and Suites, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Seahorse Inn before falling into bed after another full day!
Day 6
After breakfast, we headed to the south side of Tobago to explore the Main Ridge Forest Reserve and enjoy a fascinating tour around this stunning environment where we saw exotic birds, plants and even held a Tailless Whip Scorpion Spider!
From the forest, we drove a few minutes to Shurland's Nature Park where we had a close encounter with hummingbirds and enjoyed a lovely traditional lunch made by owner, Shurland.
Following a quick stop at Glasgow Bar to enjoy one of the best views in Tobago, we checked in at Mt Irvine Bay Resort before a delicious dinner at La Tartaruga with the owners and father and daughter team, Gabriele and Francesca. The Sunday School - a noisy and vibrant street festival - was our last stop of the day and a place where the Tobagonians' togetherness is impressively summed up
Day 7
We departed Mt Irvine early to head over to Kariwak for a yoga session followed by a deliciously fresh homemade breakfast.
This peaceful oasis in the heart of Crown Point is a stones throw from the beach and a beloved home from home for people from around the world since 1982. From here we went to beach restaurant 1763 Restaurant and Bar to enjoy views of the crystal clear water and stunning views before departing for Tonci chocolates.
We were welcomed into the home of Randy and Carlina to learn about how they make their delicious chocolate, and were all moved by their reasons for starting their business in memory of their son Tonci who sadly died of brain cancer in 2017 but who loved to eat chocolates. This special experience left us all in a reflective mood so the final activity, a spectacular Bioluminescence Tour, felt like the perfect end to our day.
Day 8
Our final day saw us depart Buccoo Jetty for a coastal tour of Bucco Reef, Nylon Pool and No Man's Land.
We had the opportunity to get up close and personal to the coral and creatures in the reef with a quick snorkel, before stopping at the Nylon Pool where its clear and warm water made it the perfect spot for swimming and relaxing.
After a wonderful morning, we headed back to the hotel to grab our bags before bidding a fond farewell to the wonderful hospitality and special experiences in Tobago. We enjoyed a comfortable British Airways flight back, arriving at Gatwick ahead of schedule and to snowy London scenes!
For more exciting opportunities, keep an eye on our Incentives page for your chance to join us on a future FAM trip!
