Jenni

Can anyone tell me about the excursion to the Grenadines from St. Lucia?<BR><BR>I hear it is pretty expensive? Does anyone know the price and did they feel it was worth it?<BR><BR>What did the trip entail? <BR><BR>If someone who has taken this trip could give me some details I would greatly appreciate it (like what islands did you stop at, did you snorkel, etc.)<BR><BR>Would sea sickness be a problem? Or would Dramamine do the trick?<BR><BR>Thanks for your help!!!

curiousx

Do you mean the excursion that goes from St. Lucia to Union Island, and then to the Tobago Cays and Mayreau, before returning to St. Lucia ? If so, then have a look at this website:<BR><BR>http://www.geocities.com/baerhans_2000/YannisCruise.htm<BR><BR>Absolutely worth doing - you'll kick yourself if you don't. The prices are not outrageous for what you get.<BR><BR>If you are prone to being seasick, definitely use dramamine or sea bands.

Jenni

Yes that is the one (I think). Thanks for the website. I have heard that the trip costs around $270.00 per person. Is that the same trip that is listed on the website? Or do you know if you can find a flight to Union Island and then take the trip that way? It seems that the trip listed on that website is much less expensive. <BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Jenni

curiousx

Yes you can fly independently to Union, and take the trip to the Cays.<BR><BR>Personally, I would email Captain Yannis using the website I gave you to find out his current rates - quite often excursions from St. Lucia, including air, are organized from his end and fares are fluid.<BR><BR>Alternately, he can put you in touch with a local travel agency or airline connection who will give you the best air rates going - sometimes it is cheaper booking from within the country.<BR><BR>Also remember that there are two airports in St. Lucia - one at the north and one in the south. Depending where you are staying and which airport you need to leave from, you might have to build in some travel time 'on the ground'.<BR><BR>And make sure that Captain Yannis has snorkelling gear that will fit you - otherwise, rent in St. Lucia for the day, or bring your own.<BR><BR>I'll get back to you on prices when I have a bit more time.<BR><BR>

Janet

We did this trip from St Lucia, we paid &pound;130 for a pick up from the hotel to the airport, flight to Union, met by Capt Yannis and did a cat trip to Palm, Mayreau, Petit Bateau and back to Union. All food and drinks were included. It was well worth it, but be warned - once you have been to the Grenadines you will want to go back. We went to Palm the following year for 2 weeks and visited again from Grenada and cruised round the Grenadines this year.

Jenni

I e-mailed Captain Yannis and he told me to get in touch with Sunlink tours. The trip does cost $270.00 per person through that particular company. I was hoping he would have some other suggestions. Does anyone know if there are any other tour operators that do the trip that are a little less expensive or is this the only one?<BR><BR>Thanks!!!

curiousx

Jenni, $270 pp for Captain Yannis may not be out of line - remember that the 45 minute Bequia-Barbados roundtrip, in a similar small aircraft to what you would use to fly from St. Lucia to Union, is regularly costed at $220US. Add to that, the typical per person charge for a day-sail of $70-90, and the Captain is definitely in the same ball park, and even a good deal. <BR><BR>For example, the cost to sail on the catamaran Passion from Bequia to the Cays and back is $75US per person. Lunch and tips for the crew are not included but there's all the rum punch and beer you want, and a light breakfast since departure time is 7.30 a.m.<BR><BR>The cost to charter the yacht Pelangi out of Bequia for a day sail to the deserted island of Savan is also $70 per person (minimum 4 people). A delicious beach BBQ, rum punch and beer are included - but not the tips !<BR><BR>As I mentioned in a previous post, it is possible to get better airline fares by booking from within the Caribbean - but is this what you want to hassle with on a vacation ?<BR><BR>Let us know what you decide - and if you get a really great deal, share the info !<BR><BR>Cheers<BR>

Jenni

Wow...It sounds like you have done a great deal of traveling. The $270 cost of the tour is acutally through Sunlink Tours out of St Lucia. The trip through Captain Yanis is $50 but then you have the added cost of getting to Union Island. His cost for the trip is once you get there. So I guess the price is right in line if you say the flight itself costs $220. I will do some investigating once I get there. But you really feel that the trip is worth taking?<BR><BR>Thanks so much for your help, it is greatly appreciated!!!

curiousx

Jenni, nothing is worth doing if it puts your finances in jeopardy. That's my Scots ancestors talking).<BR><BR>Also, it may not be worth doing if you are the sort of person who feels seasick in a bathtub - catamarans are very stable craft, but the ocean is the ocean, and the little airplane wobbles a bit too.<BR><BR>For me, yes it is worth it. The area around the Tobago Cays and Mayreau offers breathtaking beauty and very good snorkelling, as well as some of the finest sailing in the world.<BR><BR>The Tobago Cays are a small group of deserted islands near a large horseshoe reef with outstanding snorkelling. It is where you imagine Peter Pan growing up (and, in real life, Disney is filming Pirates of the Caribbean there with Johnny Depp, this month I think). With any luck, they will be gone soon !<BR><BR>Saltwhistle Bay on Mayreau is a picture perfect Caribbean beach gem. <BR><BR>If this is what interests you, then go. If not, wait until you are ready.<BR><BR>P.S. One of the reasons the Captain is able to charge $50, instead of $70, I expect is that it takes a lot less time to sail to the Cays from Union than from Bequia further north. <BR><BR>

sara

Curiousx-<BR><BR>You have really provided some great information on this board regarding the Grenadines. I will be headed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2003 for my honeymoon. Is there any chance that you and &quot;researcher&quot; are the same person? You both have a great deal of knowledge about this area. Thanks for all the tips. We will be staying at Young Island and then taking their &quot;sail away&quot; option for three nights to the Grenadines. Are there any &quot;must sees&quot; on our trip that you would recommend? Thanks for all the info you have already provided!<BR>

curiousx

Hi Sara -yes you busted me ! I did post as Researcher...and thanks for the compliments!<BR><BR>I posted using another name because I was replying to a post from (I think) Laurie, in which I suggested she'd be able to find some basic information by doing a text search before posting. <BR><BR>I've seen some threads where that kind of polite suggestion has turned into a flame war and I generally try to keep 'curiousx' out of those. <BR><BR>Laurie was great howeever, and had used all the research tricks - I think the Fodor's infamous search engine let her down a bit though ! <BR><BR>I'll get back later on the 'must sees'<BR><BR>Cheers