A Gem, Undiscovered
Written: Sep 10 '99 (Updated Feb 13 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quiet, relaxed, undeveloped, yet enough to do for weeks on end, small enough to walk everywhere
Cons: Hard to get to -- hey, I think this is a pro
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| christine_richard's Full Review: Bequia |
So you want to go to Bequia? Shh, please don't let the cat out of the bag -- I've been going to this island for many years. It is everything St. Thomas or even Barbados isn't: It isn't developed; there aren't fast food chains or laundromats; the locals aren't mean; there isn't pollution; there wasn't even an airport until about six years ago. It is hard to get to Bequia, thus its charm. Actually, if you fly directly into Bequia, I think you lose a bit of magic. So, don't cheat, instead of flying on a charter from Barbados or St. Lucia, fly American into St. Vincent (American only flies to Barbados, but they will arrange your connecting flight on LIAT), spend a night or two in lush St. Vincent (volcanos, waterfalls) and then take the 40 minute ferry ride to Bequia -- spec-TACK-U-lar.
Just talking about it, I can smell the smokey vegetation, palms, mangoes, cassava, banana and coconut trees, the sea and the lime daiquiri. The water taxis skirting around the mama ferry to welcome you to the island.
Here's the best part -- Just because Bequia is undeveloped doesn't mean there isn't anything to do, or that you will be stuck bird-watching. Au contraire, none of those activities are me. Bequia populates late December through mid-April -- if you go outside of that time, prepare for loneliness. In season, yachties from England, France, Italy and Scandinavian countries (the Popeyes of the world) flock to the Grenadines. The harbor around Christmas sparkles with boat lights and the Frangipani with sophisticated travelers (not necessarily well dressed, everyone is relaxed, casual, and down-to-earth, this is not St. Barts either). The Frangipani has a jump-up on Thursday night -- which includes a magnificent but expensive buffet and a steele band. The Green Boley and the Port Hole have fantastic roti.
If you come to Bequia by air, stay at the Frangipani, The Plantation House (aka Sunny Caribbee), or the Village Apartments. The Frangipani is B&B, shared baths, reasonably priced, a few rooms have private baths. Plantation House is a luxury hotel, and the Village Apartments are self-catering. You choose, they are all nice. To get from beach to beach, hotel to hotel, you can walk the sea path (very cool, especially during a full moon, you'll understand tidal pull when you do this), take a water taxi, or a land taxi. Renting a car is completely unnecessary and downright frightening.
There is so much to see -- and you can walk to all of it, if you choose, although some walks can be long and uphill. Here's another good part, if you get bored, which you definitely won't in 10 days, charter a boat to Mustique (I've caught glimpses of Mick Jagger twice) and go to Basil's, sail to the Tobago Cays (fantastic snorkeling) or just charter a boat, the Grenadines are splendid. Boat charters cost anywhere from $60 per person to $!!! per person, depending on your needs.
Bequia, I think I'll throw this in, is also CHEAP. Getting there is expensive, but once there, the world is your oyster. For a 10-day trip, I brought $1,000 and had to throw money at the wind to spend it. I still came back with $300.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
christine_richard
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Location: New Orleans
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 5 members
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