floridadventurist

Needing a little help with final travel plans.
We are staying a week on Union Island and then going to St. Lucia for 5 days. We have a few options for our route via Ferry and flights and are trying to decide whether or not to squeeze in any sightseeing in St. Vincent during our transfer.

Speficially...here's our main question:
How does St. Vincent Falls of Balein rate on the scale when compared to St. Lucia? We'd like to squeeze this in but not sure it's worth the hassle of coordinating it or if we can even find someone to take us in our limited transfer time.

If Balein Falls can't be missed...
then here's the transfer questions:
B. Should we take the Ferry to St. Vincent from Union Island? It's a 4 hour trek...$35 (as compared to $95 flight from Union Island to St. Vincent) Will we see a lot of the beauty of the islands this way?
(Ferry has Arrival St. Vincent at 10am)

C. Caribbean Star has one flight out of St. Vincent(leaves at 5pm and arrives St. Lucia after dark). That gives us 5 hours to see the Falls of Balein. Is this doable?

D. LIAT has so many flights throughout the day we could take our pick on time to leave. Are they more reliable than CS?

D. St. Lucia arrival at night...could be romantic? It's National Day with Festival of Lights celebration....wondering if evening arrival is worth it...we might miss out on the fun. Has anyone experienced this?
We are getting limited info.

caribqueen

No, don't miss St. Vincent's beauty. Is there a reason you are staying a week on Union? I think that might be a little long there. What about splitting up your time between Union and St. Vincent. St. Vincent is worth more than just a few hours, while I'm not sure Union is.

A: I've been to the falls of Baleine twice and I would go again in a heartbeat. Last time we were there, it was a pretty tough climb getting there as there had been a huge rockslide, hopefully that has all been cleaned up. It is worth the hassle.

B/C/D: If it's a question of money, then take the ferry. If not, fly, you will see the beauty from the air. I don't think 5 hours is enough time to do it justice. If you have your pick of flight times and you won't be rushed, then take LIAT.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of St. Lucia (although we got married there), I do think it is worth flying into in the daylight...the huge Pitons are awesome.

curiousx

A week on Union might not be too much if you are also using it as a jumping off spot for visitng the Tobago Cays for diving and snorkelling, and if you are really avid.

But I agree with caribqueen that it would be a shame to miss St. Vincent, although in fairness St. Lucia shares a lot of the same type of ecotourims opportunity although I am unable to offer a direct comparison between the two in terms of specifics like SVG's Falls of Baleine.

Re questions B,C,D

B - I would fly if money is not a problem - the view of the grenadines as you fly over is breathtaking and you don't get this on the ferry.

C - 5 hours is not sufficient to do the Baleine and be sure of making your departure flight

D I don't think there's much difference in reliability between CS and LIAT although the CS planes appear to be newer

E don't know anything about the Festival of Lights campaign but if you are arriving on a holiday after dark, I would suggest making sure you have your taxi arranged in advance...otherwise the drivers could all be off partying

floridadventurist

THanks for the advice! It was really very helpful.
Yes, we do enjoy diving and snorkeling very much.
And fishing. We thought we'd enjoy this part of the Grenadines for that reason. I was just reading about the mud slides on St. Vincent and it's looking like
we should take the flights, see the beauty of the islands from above, and then transfer to St. Lucia earlier in the day and enjoy the flight over the pitons.
Any sugestions on areas for fishing or charters to work with?
What islands would you suggest we visit while on Union Island if we took a day trip?

vinceygirl

I'm obviously biased but would be an absolute shame not to make some time for St. Vincent. Falls of Baliene a must. Nature at it's best. If you can swing it a drive along the Windward coast or a hike to Soufriere are other suggestions.

Sandy

joan

As beautiful as falls of Baleine were, I also was amazed at the beauty of the little park at the northern tip of St. Vincent, Owia Salt Pond I think it's called - and the drive along the windward coast to get there, as vinceygirl pointed out, is half the fun!

curiousx

totally agree with you about Owia, Joan, gree - but I very miuch doubt that floridadventurist could do this trip and make their connecting flight in the 5 hours available. They would also miss the great stops one can organize en route like the Hadley Orchid Farm, Black Tunnel Beach, Rabacca Dry River, Carib craftsellers etc.

vinceygirl

Joan I was sooo impressed with that park. The bathroom facilities were immaculate the day I visited. We could learn a thing or two in park maintenance. 5 hrs really isn't enough time. Such a shame there is so much to see. Just talking about it brings back such wonderful memories and in 9 looong days I will be there.

Curiousx I have a question for you. Your knowledge of Bequia is wonderful. Inyour opinion what is a must see and do while there. I've visited but really don't want to take a tour again. Would much rather strike out on my own for the day I'll be there on the Yankee Clipper 1st week of Dec.

curiousx

Vinceygirl, if I recall correctly from watching Mandalay and Yankee Clipper sail in out out of Admiralty Bay over the years, you will arrive in port quite early in the morning and sail out quite late in the evening.

Mandalay in particular is regarded as a party crowd and we often see the pax winding away at local jump ups that coincide with the ship's visit.

So, for a day on your own, I would get off the ship and spend some time in pretty Port Elizabeth while everyone else gets organized into taxi tours. Go west from the dock until you reach the Anglican Church (on your left) and ask someone local to tell you the stories about the people who are memorialized in the stained glass windows.

Keep walking west until you get to the Belmont walkway that runs along the shoreline.

At the Frangipani Hotel, stop and have a coffee (or Hairoun). This is a real meeting place and social hub for locals, yachties and expats - always something going on.

Or, walk a bit further and have a coffee and banana bread under the trees at Gingerbread.

At Gingerbread or Frangipani, hail a watertaxi to take you over to Lower Bay (or if the sea looks rough), get a land taxi to take you over to Friendship Bay.

At Lower Bay, take the well-signposted walk to the home of Claude Victorine, a French artist who handpaints on silk in the style of the court of the last Russian czars. Beautiful wall hangings, scarves and runners and very reasonable. Her little yellow cottage is an art gallery that pays homage to the work of her very talented daughter Louloune, and these pieces are also for sale.

On your way to Claude's, check out the folk art in Arts and Craft cafe - it's of varying quality but worth a peek.

Coming back down the hill, put on your snorkelling gear and snorkel along the reef at the far end of Low Bay beach. It gets better and better the further out you go. Watch out for spiny sea urchins!

Walk along the beach and have another cold one when you get to Dawn's cafe. A great spot for liming if you choose. Also good food - crabcakes, goatwater, chicken wings.

At this point you can just do a beach thing for the rest of the day, and hail a land or water taxi to get you back to the Port Elizabeth jetty. Or you could continue exploring.

Let me know if the itinerary so far sounds on target or ir you want more and I will post alternatives. On the tour you did last time, are there any spots you want to get back to or that you feel you missed ?

Also, if you can tell me the day of the week you are going to be in port, I will have better suggestions as to where to go for evening action (unless you plan to stay on board as there is normally a soca party or some kind on board - or at l easat that's what it sounds like from where I live).

curiousx

P.S. On line at www.bequiatourism.com, you will always find the latest version of a weekly Bequia island flyer called "Bequia this Week" - it has day by day listings details of most of the local happenings of interest to visitors.

vinceygirl

Thanks curiousx. Sounds good to me. My first trip to Bequia was in '92 with my friends from St. Vincent. I went along for the ride. We covered the 9 mi in a typical fishing boat and then a friend of their's took us off in a truck. I ended up at Angelina's talking politics and Bill Clinton. Was a great day. Last yr took the tour with I believe one of the Oliverre's. We visited the Turtle Sanctuary. I really enjoyed that and of course the pottery shop in Spring. I'm not sure what day we will be in Bequia. Capt. Julian of the Yankee Clipper is from the island so he keeps us pretty well informed as to the happenings. Will probably join in the festivities during the evening at Frangipani but during the day would like to do aa bit of exploring. I will take notes with me from your post and see what happens.
Thanks much and Happy Thanksgiving.

floridadventurist

Oh Boy! You guys are really making it tough for us inexperienced Caribbean explorers!
Sounds like we'll miss out if we don't hop north up to Bequia and St. Vincent a few days early. I'm thinking a day trip might be tough from Union to try to see these great islands...so where' s a good place to stay on St. Vincent or Bequia for a night or two? We are looking for romantic, quaint, not too expensive. ($100/night would be great)
Gotta have great access to both islands.
Turtle Sanctuary and Moon Hole are on the list...Falls of Baleine hike....we're not big drinkers and won't hang out at a bar, but
love great music and meeting new people.
If we had to choose...we'd go to bed early and get up to run with the sun and do something physically challenging.
We are booked solid to leave 11:45 am on a Tuesday from St. Vincent to hit St. Lucia.
Giving thanks for having you all as a resource for this once in a lifetime trip. Happy Turkey Day!

vinceygirl

Happy Thanksgiving FLadventurist. When are you going to the Grenadines? I changed my plans and will leave Nov 30 instead of Dec 2. How much do you want to spend on a room. I can give you something bare basics but lovely owners. This is where I stay and the price is right. If you prefer a few amenities look into Mariners. Trip advisor lists hotels inthe area or visit SVGtourism and do a google. If you get back to me before next Wed will be glad to advise.

Sandy

vinceygirl

Forgot to mention when you visit Bequia if you like pizza Mac's is a must do for lunch or dinner. Lobster pizza to die for. Curiousx can turn you onto other restaurants to try on Bequia. If you do the Falls of Baliene Wayne Habish gives you a good value for your money. I believe lunch is included as well. Which ever hotel you stay in the should be able to set things up.

curiousx

On Bequia, I would recommend either the old rooms at the Frangipani Hotel or Dawn's Creole Guesthouse in Lower Bay as meeting your criteria.

If booking one of the old Frangi rooms, try to get one of the two at the front (with an ocean view), ideally the one with the 4-poster.

If you choose Dawns, get one of the higher up rooms with an ocean view (and don't take the comfort room - cheap and lerge but really for a family on a very tight budget).

Frangi is better for meeting people and also staying there will cut about 45 minutes off your hike to the Turtle Sanctuary (compared to Lower Bay). Conversely, it will add about the same to your hike to Moonhole. Remember that Moonhole is private...so the best way to get access is through tours arranged by the owner/managers, Jimm and Sheena. Dawn's is best for beaching and snorkelling.

If you go to the turtle sanctuary, make sure to drop into the Spring Pottery enroute, and keep an eye peeled for the remnant of an Egyptian satellite on your right as you get close to the sanctuary - it's been there for years. The Egyptian identification (a sphinx) is a bit rubbed off by now, but that's what it is, alright. Also drop into the quiet (and enormous) crescent beach bar for a Hairoun. It was built by a millionaire with big dreams that did not pan out (Definition of a Bequia millionaire = someone who arrived tiwth 'two')

If staying in Lower Bay, Nando's (Fernando's Hideaway) is a must-do for dinner. In Port Elizabeth (Belmont), as Vinceygirl has said, Mac's is excellent. Reservations needed in both places. Coco's in Lower Bay and Gingerbread on Belmont can rock during their entertainment nights with local musicians.

I quite often catch the 6.30 or 7.30 a.m. ferry from Bequia over to St. Vincent for a day of hiking, returning on one of the evening ferries. I generally go with a taxi/tour duo of Dani and Norris (she is American, he is Vincentian). They are great fun and their price for a day's outing is very reasonable, and includes a delicious lunch (or you can choose to stop at a local restaurant en route). Their email address is [email protected]. The hike into Trinity Falls or up the Buccament Nature Trail to the Parrot Look-0ut should suit your taste for exercise ! I didn't find the walk in to the Falls of Baleine very strenuous...although one had to be careful with footing while scrambling over the rock fall though.

Access to the Falls of Baleine, however, is by boat...so I would consider going with Wayne as Vincey girl suggests, or a day trip with Friendship Rose from Bequia. This will go all the way up the beautiful west coast of St. Vincent, past the Pirates of Caribbean set, and include breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, and a snorkelling stop (gear provided) as well as a good long stay at the Falls (if they are open) for about $100US pp. Worth every penny.

You can check the schedules for the Friendship Rose, Moonhole Tours and entertainment nights on the "Bequia this week" on-line flier that I mentioned in an earlier post. www.bequiatourism.com will also give you good links to hotels and their rates and ferry schedules.

BTW, you will have no trouble catching your 11.45 am flight, even if you stay on Bequia. Take the 7.30 or 8.30 am ferry across, you'll arrive an hour later. Then its a 10-15 minute drive to the airport.

floridadventurist

Thanks so much for your help! We tried to book the Friendship Rose...what a beautiful boat...but they have private booking...hoping we can work things out when we get there...I am taking a printout of your suggestions with us.
We would stay on Bequia and will check into accomodations....will try to find Wayne for a tour of the falls though we have heard they are closed, well, "officially" anyway.
Have a wonderful trip Vinceygirl! We will be there
Dec. 6-13...then on to St. Lucia for Festival of Lights...so many unknowns...just so ready to chill!

vinceygirl

I will be in St. Vincent Nov 30-Dec 4 then I fly to Grenada to board the Yankee Clipper Dec 4-10 Dec 10 I fly back to SVG until Dec 12. We'll be there at the same time. You will have such a wonderful time. Vincentians are the best. They are very proud and love their country very much. I believe Election Day is Dec 1. Should be an interesting trip. Many of us Americans could learn a thing or two about patriotism and responsibility. From what I hear this is a very important election year. One more day of work and then I'm off.

joan

vinceygirl, have a lovely time. You too, floridaventurist. This thread is making me long for a return trip to that wild exotic island. Think of me when downing that Haroun hee hee!

vinceygirl

Work is done. I am officially on vacation. Now I'll unpack and repack a few more times before wake up call. Joan will absolutely give a thought and raise a glass to all. Talk with everyone in about 2 weeks.

Sandy

faithie

Have Fun !!!! Drink in that beautiful island for me , I will get there someday ! Happy Travels .... Faith .