subject: Best St.Vincent Hotels [print this page] Best St.Vincent Hotels Best St.Vincent Hotels
So you have decided on a visit to St. Vincent?
Congratulations, you have made a great choice.
Welcome!
St. Vincent is part of a group of islands known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines otherwise called "The Jewels of the Caribbean."
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a fabulous genuinely friendly destination. As mentioned earlier, it presents a unique collection of islands so if you are a collector at heart, then you are in for a treat, because each island is a gem on its own that you'll treasure forever.
But we'll deal with the Grenadines in another of our guides.
The people of St Vincent are called Vincentians (just forget the Saint bit).
No Boeing 747 or any similar type aircraft has landed on St Vincent. But rather than being a disadvantage, being hard to get to has helped to preserve the island and its people as one of the most natural and friendly places anywhere in the Caribbean. Additionally, you would never find hordes of tourists of which you just become another number.
Guests are received not as groups, but as individuals with each one given their own personal welcome and greeting. When you come to St. Vincent you are not just a statistic, you are family.
Where is St. Vincent and the Grenadines?
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is 18 miles long and 11 miles wide and is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Located in the Caribbean Sea, 100 miles west of Barbados and between Saint Lucia to the north and Grenada to the south. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains. La Soufre is still an active volcano.
The territory was disputed between France and the United Kingdom in the 18th century, before being ceded to the British in 1783. It gained independence on October 27, 1979.
Approximately 110,000 people live on the island where Kingstown is the chief town. The rest of the population resides in the other five towns of Layou, Barrouallie, Chateaubelair, Georgetown, and Calliaqua and in villages and hamlets scattered throughout the island.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the currency used in St. Vincent. This currency his fixed to the U.S. dollar and so its exchange value is always EC$2.70 to U.S$1.00. This has been the exchange rate over the last 30 years. Other currencies such as the pound sterling and the Euro are accepted and easily convertible at any bank.
The E.T. Joshua airport is located just minutes from the main hotel area. There is hardly a hotel that is more than 30 minutes from the airport. The regional airline LIAT is the main carrier serving the airport, but a number of excellent air charter services also provide flights into and out of the E.T. Joshua.
History of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Long before Christopher Columbus spotted this island during his third voyage in 1498 it had been called Hairoun" land of the blessed - by the Caribs the indigenous peoples. Columbus named the island St. Vincent, because he stumbled on it on 22 January, the feast day of the patron saint of Portugal, Vincent of Saragossa.
St. Vincent is one of the few islands in the Caribbean where the resistance to the colonizers by the indigenous people was fierce. Indeed the island's national hero is the former Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer. He is renowned for taking the battle to both the British and French during his reign. He was eventually killed by a British soldier at Dorsetshire hill where today there is an obelisk erected in his memory.
The island is tropical and lush green vegetation abounds practically everywhere. There is an average temperature of between 18 and 31C depending on the altitude and time of year.
Mainland St Vincent is one of the few places on Earth that can boast of having black-sand beaches and white-sand on the same land mass.
There are places where there is just a rock that separates the black-sand beach from the white-sand beach. The black sand, which was formed by the action of the volcano, is said to be able to provide one of the minerals that is needed by the human body. The majority of the beaches on the mainland have black sand, while all of the beaches in the Grenadines have white sand.
There are several unique attractions including the oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere and more recently the remains of the set of the block buster movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean."
Vincentians are a house proud people. One of the things that will certainly attract your attention is the well crafted homes you see everywhere you turn. It is this sense of loving home and house that makes finding accommodation on St Vincent exciting and easy.
Most of the hotel properties are family owned and family run. This lends itself to very personalize attention and care.
So first of all, do not expect any high rise brand name hotels, there are none. Instead you can find accommodation ranging from a luxury island resort covering 35 acres and located just 200 yards offshore, to lovely bed and breakfast cottages. The choice is absolutely yours.
Holiday in St. Vincent
So what's your idea of the ideal St. Vincent vacation? What do you have in mind?
Well whether you want to hang out on a beach, walk a nature trail, tour historic buildings and other sights your fancy can be filled.
If adventure is what turns you on, then you can spend your day conquering all 4,000 feet of the rugged densely forested landscape that is the La Soufriere volcano.
The best time to holiday in St Vincent depends on your chosen purpose for visiting. The summer months are filled with festivities the major being "Vincy Mas" which is the famous Vincentian Carnival and crescendos during the first week of July.
Its ten days of revelry and parties climaxing with the colourful parade of costume bands and hordes of people jumping in the streets behind musical trucks.
If its business then you are welcome at any time, St.Vincent is a business friendly destination.
Steps to finding the best hotel for you
Again your choice depends on the type of vacation you are seeking.
Are you planning on reveling in one of the national festivals like Carnival which takes place in the months of June and July?
Are you a nature lover and want to explore the rain forests or climb the La Soufriere volcano?
Maybe you prefer to spend your time close to the water - cruising, sailing or Scuba diving?
What amenities are a must for you? Is it television, daily Maid service, air conditioning or babysitting or Child Care?
All of these things are important to know for you to decide where you'd like to stay in St. Vincent.
The majority of hotel properties are located on the Southern coast of the island. This is because the north and centre of the island is dominated by the La Soufriere volcano and secondly it's where the white sandy beaches are located. Capital Kingstown is also located in this portion of the island towards the southwest.
Steps to finding a good Hotel:
1. Decide what kind of vacation you want to have.
2. Research the various properties available
3. Ask how long they have been in business.
4. Check for reviews on the property you are interested in
5. Does the Location suit the type of vacation you are pursuing?
6. Decide the range of spend you can afford and get the rates
7. Determine what kind of amenities you would need to make your stay comfortable.
8. Find out what kind of transportation is available at the property
9. Ask whether bathrooms are in the bedrooms
10. Are their facilities for a business traveler such as printing, copying and fax?
The best place to start asking about a good hotel is your family and friends.
Other good sources of referrals include websites and in particular review sites or tour providers. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines tourism site http://discoversvg.com may even be able to provide a list of recommended hotel from their association. When asking for referrals, be sure to check the type of hotel you are interested in also determine whether it's a beach property or located inland.
What to look for in a good hotel
For most people a good hotel means one where they can be comfortable and secure. Rooms are clean, service is attentive and courteous. But a good hotel must offer much more than just good facilities etc.
So when looking for a good hotel you must first start with looking for the right location. Ensure that it is not located in a bad neighborhood or where there is vice and crime. Thankfully, in St. Vincent crime is not a major issue, though as in every destination in the world one has to be sensible about how you conduct and expose yourself.
If you are planning on staying out of town and you will need to either get your own transportation or link up with a reliable taxi operator or alternatively learn how to use the public transport system. So check whether the hotels you select have taxis easily available or if there is easy access to public transport to the places you will need to go.
After checking out on the location and transport you will then need to look for a hotel that meets with your requirements. What would be your requirement? A good hotel should have clean rooms with bathrooms included. You will certainly not be looking to go down the hallway for the use of a bathroom. Find out the size of the room. Depending on how long you plan to stay the room requirement may vary. There are standard size rooms but if your stay is going to be long you may want a room which is large and roomy.
A good hotel will have televisions in every room and the bath rooms will be spacious with complimentary toiletries provided for the guest. Access to a phone is a must especially when you are overseas. The telephone service in St. Vincent is of high quality and there are two cell phone service providers of world class standard.
When you are traveling and living out of a suit case, laundry facilities are a necessity and a good hotel should have an in-house laundry.
If you are on a business visit you may be working in the hotel after hours and you may require fax and printing facilities. A business centre which provides such facilities is available in good hotels. Also, internet facilities should be available in every room.
Just remember these points, and finding the perfect hotel for you could not be easier.
Location. Nothing is more important in a hotel than finding one in the right spot. To do this, holiday-goers must simply consider the things they wish to do. After planning these items, it is wise to pick a hotel in a central location, so it easy to get around. A hotel that is in close proximity to other places will save time, which is a precious commodity on any holiday.
Amenities. While the primary purpose of a vacation is to get out, time will still be spent at the hotel. For this reason, it would be good to look into the size of the rooms, the quality of the bathrooms, and in-room features such as a television, ironing boards or complimentary teas. Moreover, services such as high speed internet access or room service can greatly enhance a stay.
Accessibility. A holiday is about having fun, not about spending hours finding transportation to get around. Therefore, it is advisable to make sure there is a good access to taxi service or public transport if you don't choose to rent a car.
Facilities. While what is inside the room is most important, the overall facilities can definitely be a consideration as well. Some hotels come with all the perks, such as an attached recreation room or even a gym. Such things are not necessary, but they can certainly be a nice luxury and in the case of a gym, help to ensure you keep fit.
Price. Though this is a point that most holiday-seekers prefer not to think about, it is one of the most important considerations. It is best to set the budget first, mapping out how much can be spent on food, excursions, and shopping, and then figuring out how much money can be allotted toward a hotel.
Quality Service. Regardless of budget, every traveler expects a high level of quality service when traveling. Depending on the hotel, services available may include valet parking, concierge, complimentary wake up calls and room service. In St. Vincent one thing you could always be assured of are smiling faces.
Positive reviews. Let other travelers experiences guide you on your search. They've stayed at the places you're considering and they are willing to share their input. Why not read what they have to say about it? You can get a lot of honest feedback without leaving the comfort of your home. For an example of a quality hotel review site, check out www.yahootravel.com.
Some good questions to ask:
Q: Where can I find contact information for a specific Vincentian hotel?
A: Today there are various sources of information, especially websites, but many are sadly not kept up to date as they should. Another source is tour companies but they have information often more related to their line of business.
Q: How is your hotel different to the other hotels around?
In today's world each business wants to establish its own space, to highlight its brand. Brand has nothing to do with size but with what is unique about the business. Find out from the hotel you are interested in what makes them distinct in St. Vincent and why you should stay with them.
Q: How can I make special requests regarding my stay?
A: Each person is special and you are no different. There are no cookie cutter needs and so especially when you travel there are some things you'd like to have access to. Baby sitting services, office services even special diets might be something you want to make a special request about.
Q: Do you organize airport transfers with my accommodation?
Some hotels do not include airport pick up in their standard room rates. Having said that, they can arrange for you to be picked up at the airport by taxis they are familiar with.
Q: How do I find directions to the hotel?
The location information of the hotel is not always listed on the hotel description page. Fortunately St. Vincent is not very large and directions to practically all hotels are simple. Any authorized taxi operator which you can engage on exit from the arrivals hall can help you. If you want to make your own way, ask the hotel to send you the directions inclusive of recognizable landmarks.
Q: Is breakfast included in the room rate?
Many hotels include a buffet or continental breakfast as part of their room rates, while others offer it as a separate service. Not understanding this difference can cause you to have unplanned expenses, so inquire.
Q: Is the room rate per person or per night?
Some hotels offer a standard room rate that per room per night. Others offer a per person room rate. It is always wise to clarify this in your inquiries.
Q:Are taxes included in the rate?
Normally ALL taxes and charges ARE included in the room rate. Where there is doubt ask since taxes can be a small but insignificant portion of every final bill.
Q: Is there wireless internet in the hotel?
The availability of wireless internet today is as important, if not more important than access to telephone service. In fact, there are many persons who will not stay at a property where internet access is not at least available in the lobby area or some other designated area around the property. Dont be caught out on this if it is important to you, ask.
Q: Has the family room 2 separate rooms with one shared bathroom, or it is one big room?
If you will be travelling with the family, depending on the ages of the children you would required separate rooms even though you want a family shared area. This may include a shared bathroom or separate bathrooms. Ensure you inquire what the hotel offers in this event. There is also the option of two connecting rooms with two bathrooms. (Upon availability).
Q: How can we upgrade our room type?
Depending on how you make your booking, for example if you have booked through a Travel Agent or Tour Operator, then you may need to contact them in order to request a room upgrade. Otherwise the front office would be able to give you all the possible options for upgrade. (Upon hotel's availability of course and any extra charges)
Q: Do you have any non-smoking rooms available?
In both hotels there are Smoking and Non Smoking rooms available. Please specify your request while reserving.
Q: How do I check on availability and rates?
Availability can be checked on the Hotes website, by emailing them or calling on the phone. Make it clear what kind of room and services you are looking for to ensure you get quoted the right rates and availability.
Q: What if there is no availability?
If there is no availability at the property of your choice, you may do well to check availability at another property since most are situated in the same areas and offer similar services.
Q: How do I cancel my reservation?
Cancelling your reservation could incur charges or one kind or another. Before making reservation, ensure you fully understand what the terms and conditions of canceling your reservation are potentially. Don't expect to cancel your reservation without some sort of penalty.
Q: How do I make a booking for groups and meetings?
If you are interested in making bookings for a group or for meetings, your must do this with the greatest possible lead time since groups would take up blocks of accommodation. Normally groups are considered as booking with five rooms or more and can attract a discount on the regular rates so please make sure this is communicated.
Commitment to Safety
Accidents can happen with almost anywhere at any time. So ask the prospective Hotel what arrangements they have in place to prevent injuries and property damage. Again if a Hotel property is serious about their business they will be able to answer these questions with ease.
How long have they been in business?
A measure of how good a hotel property has performed is how long it has been in business. If the property has been in existence over several years then they must have been doing something right so ask. Additionally are they a member of the local association or other regional tourism organization.
