Dear Husband surprised me for my birthday with a trip to Sandals Royal in Barbados. This is an all inclusive resort, meals, bar, and activities all included.
Before Cyndi accuses me (again!) of being totally spoiled, let me just say that, as a travel consultant, DH sells a LOT of Sandals properties, and got the room for taxes and some fees. Add in that the flights are on JetBlue points (also taxes and fees) this trip cost only a fraction of the full price.
Speaking of the room, it was a crapshoot as to what we would get as the Resort was “comping” us. But they did right!
Kudos to your hubby,,, great job of surprising Frances and spoiling her!!! Franny, glad you had a great time and very memorable birthday!!!
Amazing trip, resort and mostly the surprise you got Frances for your birthday. Life should be good and we shall appreciate this gift given to us. I hope our people can get inspired by these lovely moments you had the chance to live.
Ok! It's official! I hate you!
Wednesday, March 4th
Beach day! The resort has a beautiful beach,but literally on the other side of where our room is located. Quite a walk, a little bit more than twice the way to the pool. But the weather is mostly sunny today, so it's worth it.
The beach has the usual plethora of umbrellas and lounge chairs, but also has a nice grove of palm trees which provide a lot more shade. That’s important if I don’t want to become one large sunburnt freckle!
Temperature a little bit warmer, but the breeze at the pool is a strong wind at the beach. 20 MPH or so, 33 KPH. And constant. But it keeps the temperature very liveable. The wind, though,is keeping the Hobie Cats on the beach.
Not so the parasurfers, saw six of them up and down the beach, three of them right in front. The speeds that they get to and the air that they grab is pretty amazing.
Water was a bit rough for swimming, so swam in the beachside infinity pool. Just like Hawaii, “Come see our beautiful beaches, and swim in our pools!”
Put a bunch of humans together, add food & drinks, and the birds won’t be far behind. Caught this lady getting a buzz on!
Eventually the winds got so bad, birds were flying backwards, so we retreated to the pool we had been using. Back to the room, get ready for dinner. This time an Italian themed Mediterranean restaurant. OssoBuco, here I come!
whoouuu !! Great Travel report again Frances !! love the pics ! let us know more of the Bathroom happenings behind the Painting ! hahahaaaaa
Huggs Anita
Tuesday, March 3rd
Thank heavens, no roosters today. I guess somebody had chicken soup yesterday!
Back to the pool, today, the weather report makes showers likely, and the beach is twice as far. But typical of the Carribean, if you don’t like the weather, stick around for fifteen minutes. No rain and cloud cover anywhere from 10 to 100%.
But people are funny. A dark cloud rolls over, and a fairly substantial rain comes down. You would think that they thought it was a hurricane. Running out of the pool to stand under umbrellas that are not doing much good as the rain is coming down at an angle.
Hummingbirds show up from time to time, and managed to get a picture. Look below the flowers to the left, behind the dangling leaf.
Got one of it sitting on a branch, too.
Dinner at La Parisian, a rooftop restaurant with amazing views, and a nearly infinity pool. Escargot, and the best bouillabaisse I’ve ever had.
P
Monday, March 2nd
Wake up to the sound of a rooster greeting the morning. That sounds so idyllic, but not at 5AM! Fortunately, someone choked him, and went back to sleep.
Leisurely breakfast, and staked out chairs at the pool for a lazy morning. Pool swim up bar opened at 10:30, but stuck with plain pineapple juice. Quick lunch, back to the pool. This time, a frozen Margarita. Temperature in the low 80’s (F) high 20’s ©. And yes, swimming did occur.
Back to the room for a pre-dinner shower and cocktail. There is a large framed painting on a rail on an inside wall in the room.
Move it aside, and there is a window into the rather sybaritic shower. Kinky!
While I was taking my shower, DH rolled the painting away, so I made sure I took extra care washing my sensitive parts. Soon he came in to help, and….we’ll just roll that picture back to where it was! Needless to say, we didn’t get to dinner when we planned!
Cocktails, and Dinner at a Chop House, then followed music playing to the night’s party. Carribean music, dancing, conga line too.
Sunday, March 1st
Got up at oh-dark-thirty, as DH says, to meet our 9 AM flight, allowing to arrive at JFK three hours prior, as required for international flights. Uneventful flight, with the usual gang of idiots who think the lit seat belt sign means “time to get up and use the lave”.
We meet our transfer at the airport, and a short drive later, check in. As I said earlier, it’s crapshoot as to the type of room, but we got a swim-up concierge class! The only better room has 24 hour butler service. That’s spoiled!
Swim up patio
Rest of our room from the patio
Unpacked, and then wandered about until dinner. A Greek themed seafood place, just off the beach. Delicious, and the baklava was fantastic
View from our table
Leisurely stroll to our room, and crash!