Tidbits from the Grenadines, mon - January, 2012

Happy New Year!!

The season is here. Don't miss out on the fun.

Our islands are just as beautiful and compelling as ever - and waiting for you. Now is the perfect time to take your Caribbean vacation. Don't wait. We have some of the finest beaches in the world in the Grenadines - see further down for statistics. Kiteboarding is growing in popularity. A new kiteboarding school has just begun in Union Island. Check it out.

Superyacht Services

The mega yachts are back from the Mediterranean, returning to our lovely Caribbean Sea. More than the usual number sailed our seas during the last winter season and we have many new yachts sailing our waters this year too. Gleaming in the sun, allowing their guests to savour their luxurious facilities and the wonders of the Grenadines, they are visible on the horizon, glowing at night like Christmas trees. The Canouan jet port attracts many of these lovely giants to our area, making arrival and departure from the heart of the Grenadines easier than ever before. Erika's offers many services to these yachts, from Customs and Immigration clearance to concierge services, flight bookings (even private air charter arrangements), events organizing and more. We now have agents at every port in the Grenadines!

Book your Grenadines flight, villa or charter yacht now and forget all your cares. Don't miss out on the best vacation of your life.

Union Island is located in the heart of the Grenadines, which are part of St. Vincent & the Grenadines in the Windward islands, a series of volcanic islands set in the azure seas of the Eastern Caribbean. Constant trade winds make yachting a dream here. The airport at Union Island is a good jumping-off spot for people wanting to explore these fabulous islands. Whether you are an inveterate sailor, or simply want to explore some authentic Caribbean isles, Union Island is the place to start - or end! This is the authentic and original Caribbean you thought was lost – almost-deserted white sand beaches, old fashioned hospitality, charming small hotels and guesthouses.

Weddings

Getting married soon? Consider having your wedding ceremony and reception in the Grenadines. You only have to be in this country for one day in order to be legally married here. And while here, you can stay on for your honeymoon. There are lots of venues for weddings. Charter a lovely old wooden schooner and sail through the Tobago Cays with your family and friends, celebrating your special day under a clear sky. Or sail to an uninhabited island, such as Morpion, and have the ceremony performed on the beach. There are churches of several denominations in Union and the other Grenadines islands. Ask at Erika's for ideas and possibilities. We have local knowledge and connections. Our event organizers are waiting to hear from you. Our experience will make your wedding arrangements less stressful for you. We arranged one recently in Palm Island. The idyllic view of sea and sand behind the wedding couple made for a most wonderful occasion.

Rent a villa or beach house on Bequia, Union Island or Palm Island. We represent some of the most romantic private villas and beach houses you will find. Consider renting an apartment or cottage too. Or why not combine a yacht charter with a villa rental? Chill out in the Tobago Cays for a few days and forget the world exists. Ask Erika's to help you organize the best vacation yet - in the Grenadines. We have the answers to your vacation questions.

And for business travel, let Erika's organize an executive retreat or business meeting for your group. Flights, hotel or villa bookings, local transportation, event planning, entertainment - we do it all. Destination management is our specialty. Just ask us.

Union Island is small, but quite cosmopolitan. Between the variety of people who live in Union, "characters" in their own right, and the large cross section of travellers who grace our shores, any given evening in Union is an adventure - of the nicest kind. Drop by Twilight Bar in the centre of Clifton and breathe in the ambiance, colour and great yarns being told there each evening. Contribute a story of your own! Visitors become instant friends at Twilight. Dine at the West Indies Restaurant on the shore in Clifton. Great food, service and ambiance.

Kiteboarding has become a popular sport in Union Island, as evidenced by Jeremie Tronet and Linn Svendsen, professional kiters who are in Union Island, running a kiting school.

For anyone interested in kiting or in learning to kite, there are several brilliant locations where the wind is strong and the water perfect. Contact Erika's for guidance on how to get here, where to stay and where to find the best kiting locations. Click here

You might just want to stay in the Grenadines forever, once you have visited our corner of paradise. If so, contact Erika's Land and Villa Sales to find the perfect piece of land to build your dream vacation or retirement home. We also represent already built villas and houses. Now is the time to buy, before the rest of the world finds out and gets in before you!

Over the past years, the Grenadines islands have received many world-class ratings.

2008 Best Honeymoon Country of the Year by Caribbean Travel World Awards

Aso in 2008 from the Travel Channel, two of The World's 21 Sexiest Beaches are –
#5, Godahl Beach in Canouan and #14, Macaroni Beach in Mustique.

2006 Caribbean Diving Country of the Year by Caribbean Travel World Awards

2010 - Grenadines 5th best diving location in the Caribbean

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has been ranked number five in the “World’s Top Destinations for 2012” by Cable News Network (CNN). SVG is the only Caribbean destination to make the CNN rankings and is described as “a tropical paradise”.

HotHotHotSpot – extended range Wi-Fi at Erika's!!! Surf the net from your own yacht in Clifton Harbour, even as far as Petit St. Vincent. Convenience, privacy and reasonable prices. Our new amplifier provides a strong signal much further out now. Simply open a browser on your computer, then follow instructions when you see the HotHotHotSpot portal page.

We visited Palm Island recently. What a lovely and tranquil place it is. Sandy lanes, views of unparalleled beauty from every vantage point and a group of charming beach houses, each with its own character – comfortable, private and situated on some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Erika's represents several of these villas. Check our "Hotels/Villas" page for information on renting a villa. Some are even for sale!

Erika's can also assist with chartering a yacht, either bareboat or crewed. If you want to sail the Windward Islands for a few days, or even a few weeks, Erika's has yachts available to suit your needs. Look on our "Charter a Yacht" page for more information. A variety of yachts is available through Erika's.
Just ask us.

And while you are in the vicinity, take a day sail through the Grenadines on one of the wonderful Union Island based sailing craft that Erika's represents. Just ask us and we will book a day sail that you will never forget.

Tobago Cays Marine Park – the perfect place to chill out

The Tobago Cays Marine Park (TCMP) is a group of sandy islets located adjacent to Union Island in the heart of the Grenadines, truly a paradise of crystal clear water and world class reefs for diving and snorkeling. It provides a degree of serenity hard to find anywhere else in the world. To add to the delights of this marine park, several underwater animal speciaes are starting to proliferate, thanks to the "no fishing" rules in the park. Swim with the turles and notice the increase in lobsters when snorkeling or diving. All yachts must pay a small fee to enter the park. Rangers are on hand in boats in the park to collect the fees if you have not paid elsewhere – such as at the TCMP office in Union Island or yacht charter bases. Union Island is close to the Tobago Cays, so you can obtain supplies, fuel and water easily.

Don't wait. Book Grenadines flights, charter yachts and/or accommodation now. Erika's travel services specialists, Heather and Chille, can look after all the details. E-mail:info@erikamarine.comfo@erikamarine.com