Right on the northern tip of St Lucia, Gros Islet was once a fishing village but is now a thriving and popular resort. Located about an hour and half away from the international airport, this part of the island is well served by taxis and buses as well as airport shuttles.
With year-round glorious weather, Gros Islet also enjoys a wonderful climate with high temperatures and plenty of sunshine. We stayed in two stunning properties in this part of the island and had an absolutely amazing time. Our first Stay was at Bay Gardens Beach Resort, St Lucia where we had a suite at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort in Rodney Bay Village. This property boasts a fabulous location right next to the island’s best beach, Reduit Beach, perfect for boating, where we enjoyed our cruise tour. the beach is known for it’s mile of white gold sand which is perfect for swimming.
The Splash Island Water Park is just next door and is open to hotel guests while the bars in the heart of the resort are only a ten-minute stroll away. We loved staying within easy reach of the action while also having the option to enjoy the resort’s own wonderful amenities.
The colorful resort itself features six accommodation blocks of three stories each, all with bright lime and orange paintwork. The grounds are full of bushes and flowers, while the huge pool is the perfect spot to cool off. We really enjoyed the pleasant, relaxing atmosphere, although we did drag ourselves away from our sunbeds to try some of the hotel’s activities. There are water sports on offer including kayaking and water-skiing, as well as an on-site spa and fitness center. We also took the water taxi to Pigeon Island across the bay for a spot of sightseeing.
We loved our luxurious suite with its comfortable bed, separate living area, spacious bathroom and full kitchen. We also enjoyed dining in the two al-fresco restaurants with their delicious a la carte meals and buffets. With everything included in the cost, we found our stay to be great value and a whole lot of fun for all the family, with kids’ clubs and family-friendly activities in the price. We also thought that this would be a wonderful place for honeymooning couples thanks to its relaxing yet luxurious atmosphere, its comfortable accommodation and its wealth of facilities.
Waters Edge Villas, Gros Islet The second part of our dream stay in St Lucia was in a four-bed villa at Waters Edge Villas in Rodney Bay. Right on the waterfront, this property afforded incredible views over the marina and since it was right in the heart of the main resort area, we had easy access to shopping malls, restaurants, bars and the casino.
The modern villa offered the height of luxury with all contemporary conveniences. Although we had our own private kitchen for self-catered meals while benefiting from all the amenities at Bay Gardens Beach Resort which was just a shuttle ride or stroll away. With enough space to accommodate ten people, a private swimming pool, deck and beautiful decor, we enjoyed a truly luxurious stay here. We thought these villas would be ideal for larger groups of friends or families wanting to enjoy their own private space.
Both the resorts we stayed in during our special vacation were absolutely beautiful and offered every amenity to make our stay perfect. We had a wonderful time in St Lucia and would return again in a heartbeat. With fabulous facilities in an equally gorgeous setting, it’s a vacation we won’t forget in a hurry!
Papillion Bistro and Bar is located at 22 East 54 Street Nestled between iconic Fifth & Madison Avenue in NYC where it’s sidewalk cafe patrons can enjoy a relaxed lunch, or pre-dinner drinks and soak up the atmosphere Just a stone’s throw from the Museum of Modern art & famous Madison Avenue shopping district a popular venue for shoppers.
The restaurant attracts a mix of locals and tourists and serves a selection of international cuisine making use of traditional ingredients like Bourbon and habanero sauce and is vegetarian friendly.
We entered Papillion Bistro at 6pm and were pleasantly surprised by The décor from the Parisian Beaux-Arts period created with alcoves, light fixtures, wall art, wood work and more for a relaxed charm. Our friendly server greeted us courteously and seated us efficiently at a pleasant part of the restaurant in comfortable seating with a view of the long oak wood bar where I watched the bartender shaking up cocktails.
There is a brunch, lunch and dinner menu open everyday from 10:00 am to 10:30 pm. The menu offers a good selection of traditional pasta dishes, salads and the traditional burger and steak choices. Fresh seafood such as shellfish including shrimp, oyster, tuna, salmon and sea bass is also available.
For our drink choice we chose an Old Smokey cocktail with four roses bourbon, cedar smoke, smoked simple syrup, orange bitters, luxardo cherry. It had the most exquisite complex flavor both sweet and sour with a luxurious cherry undertone and was the perfect start to our hors d’oeuvres.
for our starters we chose the Papillon House Salad with grilled chicken that takes on a twist from the Waldorf salad with crispy onions and a truffle vinaigrette, French Onion Soup Au Gratin loaded with melted Swiss cheese, Fried oysters with horseradish Beurre Blanc, fresh tuna and coconut shrimp served with sweet habanero mango that compliments well with the coconut.
For our main course I had the free range half-roasted chicken moist & flavorful, creamy mashed potatoes lightly seasoned & buttered and the sautéed escarole & haricots verts freshness/crunch with a creamy whole grain mustard sauce that complimented the dish giving it an extra piquant taste.
My companion had the rib-eye steak served with mashed potatoes complimented by the flavorsome gravy and steamed vegetables. The steak was extremely tender and succulent, the fresh broccoli cooked to perfection with a crunch and the honey-glazed carrots had a buttery texture.
After a suitable pause, we ordered desert which arrived quickly. We chose a delicious chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sauce. The chocolate cake was rich moist and sticky and the raspberry sauce had a crisp tart flavor.
Our service at Papillion Bistro was swift and coordinated for each course with our friendly and professional server checking in on us making sure that everything was to our satisfaction.
We found the dining experience extremely pleasant and observed that other diners were served quickly and also seemed delighted with their menu choices. I will definitely be returning to Papillon Bar and Bistro to try out the rest of the succulent menu and sample some more cocktails. It gets my vote for great food, drinks and a lovely relaxed ambiance as well as a great location.
For Menu options and reservations please call or visit: 212 754 9886 papillionbistro.com
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The Moon Palace is the newest Palace Resort and the ideal spot for a family or adult-only break at any time of the year thanks to a climate which is warm and tropical with a small chance of inclement weather due to the stormy season. We visited in December with great weather, soft sand and warm caribbean water for a relaxing getaway before the frenzy of the holiday season begins.
The resort is located 90 minutes away from Montego Bay airport. Finding a flight is easy with loads of available nonstop and direct flights from many US cities and you can take in the lush vegetation and environment this tropical island has to offer as you travel to and from the airport.
What does everyone want from a perfect Jamaican vacation? Sun, sea, sand, cocktails? We enjoyed them all at The Moon Palace. Our room was absolutely stunning; no matter which of the 700 rooms
you’re allocated you’re still guaranteed at least a partial ocean view and the amenities were incredible.
The furnishings were stylish and comfortable and we appreciated the separate seating area especially when relaxing in our room, enjoying a drink from the mini bar or the in-room liquor dispensers which serve up vodka, tequila, rum and whiskey. We took advantage of the free Wi-Fi and the 24-hour room service liberally during our stay!
Vacation really does have to be all about the beach and we sure weren’t disappointed! Lush palm trees line the stunning white sands which are lapped by the gloriously clear Caribbean Sea just steps away from our room.
With a choice of casual and formal dining spots, bars and lounges, there’s always somewhere to indulge in the all-inclusive treats while the kids playroom, pool keep the little ones are entertained.
The Playground playroom is designed to make the kids’ stay even longer with plenty of fun games to try, including air hockey, foosball and a program of planned games and activities. Open between 10am and 10pm every day this is the perfect spot for even your younger members; under four with supervision.
Family time can be spent in one of the pools or trying out the Flow Rider; grab lunch at the outdoor pizzeria and see who can stay on their boards the longest.
I chose to simply relax and unwind on the spectacular beach where I enjoyed jerk chicken, buttered corn on the cob from the Jerk hut and a red stripe beer.
Dining is always a big part of every vacation, and you’ll be spoiled for choice for options at the Moon Palace Jamaica. We were very impressed by the five restaurants and six bars that are on the property and centrally located; meaning you don’t have to walk far to get an amazing meal.
The Boulangerie has a European feel and with its mouth-watering array of pastries, ice creams and crepes all complemented by specialty coffees. This self-service coffee shop is open 24 hours a day for a casual snack.
When it comes to family dining, the Buccaneers Reef is ideal. Its all-you-can-eat buffet serves up both international and local cuisine, so there’s sure to be something for even the most picky family member to enjoy at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
If you’re looking for something more formal for a romantic meal for two, La Gondola should be your number one choice. With Italian cuisine a la Carte options, this restaurant serves delicious contemporary and traditional flavors in a smart environment.
I especially enjoyed MoMo Japanese restaurant that serves authentic Teppanyaki cuisine showcased in a more formal environment. Want to dine with a stunning mountain vista before you? Pier 8 welcomes you for a traditional and casual seafood lunch or dinner. If you like to keep it super casual with the 1950s and 60s vibe of the American-style the a la carte Pool Bar is where you can eat all the barbecue and hamburgers you can manage!
No vacation is complete without a few drinks in the evening (or maybe by the pool!) The casual Lobby Bar is open until midnight but if you’re looking for a more intimate and glamorous atmosphere the Piano Bar is waiting with its specialty martinis and group singing with the pianist who can literary play any tune and style of music for great fun.
The Aqua Lounge is open 24 hours a day so you’ll never need to wait for a top-shelf drink; while the Fresco Juice Bar is ideal for pursuing your health goals. Let’s not forget the all-inclusive 24-hour room service of course, just in case you can’t drag yourself away from the comfort of your room!
The luxury amenities don’t end there. The fabulous spa with hot & cold plunge pool offers relaxing massages, herbal steam baths and a host of other pampering treatments to help you re-energize and de-stress from your busy lifestyle.
The night life is fantastic too with a show every night after dinner from diva inspired singing performances, Jamaican dance troops to a magic act that’s a lot of fun for kids. After the show we visited the dance club to join in on the Jamaica Funk line dance before retiring to our rooms
to open the sliding doors and curtain and soak in the lovely view and island fragrance before bed.
Opening your wallet is not needed to swim with the dolphins, romantic dinner on the beach, sunset cruise, snorkeling & Dunn’s River falls excursions or indulging in a relaxing massage spa service since guests who stay 7 nights receive $1500 resort credit. If your feeling adventurous travel to lovely Ocho Rios only 5 minutes away.
Water sports- Hobie cats, Kayaks, and Water Bikes are included in package. If you can tear yourself away from this luxurious property there are organized tours to explore the island. I especially would have liked to do the snorkeling tour on a schooner boat that departs 100 feet from where I was sunning and Swim With the Dolphins a 5 minute walk on the pier; but I was too contented to make reservations.
We had an absolutely amazing time at the Moon Palace Jamaica and best of all, we returned home refreshed and feeling ready to take on anything the holiday season could throw at us! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this gorgeous resort to anyone looking for a Caribbean paradise vacation so check out what the Moon Palace Jamaica has to offer by visiting Moonpalacejamaica.com
JetBlue is the way we go to Jamaica with plenty of non-stop arrival departure times from the NY and NJ area that have convenient connections. When I travel with jetblue I know it will be a smooth on-time ride with a great selection of complimentary new films, Wifi, snacks and beverages including Dunkin Donuts coffee so I can enjoy watching my movie and receiving important emails on the flight. Getting to Jamaica has never been easier with our favorite airline.
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