Category: Diary and News

Ah, Saint Lucia—a West Indian gem that captivates with its lush landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in this tropical paradise, you’ll undoubtedly want to bring home a piece of the island magic. Let’s explore the best souvenirs in Saint Lucia and where to find them.

Saint Lucian Chocolate: A Taste of Paradise

Saint Lucia is renowned for its high-quality cocoa, and what better way to savor this than through their delectable chocolates? The island boasts a few artisanal chocolate makers who transform locally sourced cocoa into heavenly treats. Head to places like Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Estate or Jade Mountain’s Chocolate Laboratory for an immersive chocolate experience. These sweet delights make for perfect gifts, capturing the essence of Saint Lucia’s rich cocoa heritage.

Piton Beer: Cheers to Saint Lucian Flavor

For beer enthusiasts, Piton Beer is a must-try and an excellent souvenir to take home. Named after the iconic Pitons, the twin volcanic peaks that dominate the island’s skyline, this refreshing brew encapsulates the spirit of Saint Lucia. You can find Piton Beer in local grocery stores, bars, and restaurants, ensuring you can savor the taste of the island long after your trip.

Handmade Crafts at Castries Market: Local Artistry at Its Best

No visit to Saint Lucia is complete without exploring Castries Market, a bustling hub of local crafts and culture. Here, you’ll discover an array of handmade souvenirs, from vibrant paintings and wooden carvings to intricately woven baskets. Take your time wandering through the market’s stalls, chatting with the friendly vendors, and selecting unique pieces that resonate with the island’s creativity.

Doudou Bags: Fashion with a Saint Lucian Flair

Souvenir, consider getting a Doudou Bag. These handcrafted bags are made from traditional Madras fabric, a colorful and distinctive material that reflects Saint Lucia’s Creole heritage. Whether you choose a tote, clutch, or backpack, a Doudou Bag adds a touch of Saint Lucian flair to your wardrobe and serves as a constant reminder of your tropical escape.

Local Art and Pottery: Bringing Saint Lucia Home

Saint Lucia’s vibrant art scene is a testament to the island’s creative spirit. Visit local art galleries and studios to discover paintings, sculptures, and pottery crafted by talented Saint Lucian artists. Pieces inspired by the island’s natural beauty, culture, and folklore make for exceptional souvenirs that bring a touch of Saint Lucia into your home.

Spices and Hot Sauces: A Culinary Adventure

Embark on a culinary adventure by bringing home some of Saint Lucia’s signature spices and hot sauces. The island’s fertile soil yields flavorful spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. You can find these culinary treasures in local markets and specialty shops. Pair them with locally produced hot sauces for a spicy reminder of Saint Lucian cuisine.

Saint Lucian Rum: Raise a Glass to Memories

Rum enthusiasts, rejoice! Saint Lucia produces some of the finest rums in the Caribbean. Brands like Chairman’s Reserve and Bounty Rum offer a diverse range of aged and spiced rums, each with its own distinct character. Visit distilleries for guided tours and tastings, and then select your favorite bottle to bring home. It’s a delightful way to savor the flavors of Saint Lucia and share the experience with friends.

Seaside Artifacts: Treasures from the Caribbean Sea

Stroll along the pristine beaches of Saint Lucia, and you might stumble upon nature’s own souvenirs—seashells, corals, and driftwood. Collecting these beachcombing treasures allows you to take home a piece of the island’s natural beauty. Get creative with your finds by turning them into decorative pieces or keepsakes that evoke the soothing sounds of the Caribbean waves.

West Indian Clothing: Island Fashion with a Twist

Batik clothing is a colorful and comfortable fashion choice in Saint Lucia. The fabric is hand-dyed and often features vibrant patterns inspired by the island’s flora and fauna. Pick up a batik dress, shirt, or scarf from local boutiques or markets for a stylish and authentic Saint Lucian wardrobe addition.

Caribbean Literature: Words that Resonate

Immerse yourself in the rich literary heritage of Saint Lucia by picking up works by local authors. Explore the island’s history, folklore, and cultural nuances through captivating novels, poetry, and non-fiction. Not only do these books make for thoughtful souvenirs, but they also provide insight into the soul of Saint Lucia.

Where to Find These Treasures

• Castries Market: The heart of local crafts and souvenirs.
• Project Chocolat: For exquisite Saint Lucian chocolates.
• Local Distilleries: Chairman’s Reserve and Bounty Rum offer tours and tastings.
• Malabar Beach Strolls: Collect seashells and driftwood along the coast.
• Art Galleries and Studios: Explore the vibrant local art scene.
• Grocery Stores and Boutiques: Find Piton Beer, spices, and batik clothing.
• Bookstores: Discover Caribbean literature that resonates with the spirit of Saint Lucia.

As you explore the beauty of Saint Lucia, these souvenirs will not only remind you of the breathtaking landscapes but also capture the warmth and authenticity of the island’s culture. Whether it’s a piece of artwork, a sip of local rum, or the aroma of Saint Lucian spices, each souvenir becomes a tangible memory of your Caribbean adventure.

Welcome to holiday of StolenTime, designed to remind special couples like you, what made you special together in the first place.

Within the context of the frenetic pace of life today, we recognize that spending quality time together to reconnect is not easy to orchestrate. This is why we have created a place and a holiday of StolenTime that you can fully customise to meet your specific needs and desires. Within Five Holiday Experience Themes carefully selected to inspire you and enrich your relationship, we invite you to select activities or experiences that speak to you

This summer, Rendezvous will be presenting for the first time ever – Summer Tryst, the discovery of new experiences together. Our guests say they come to the resort to pause and reboot. A summer break at Rendezvous offers just that. From July to September, couples can look forward to cooking and discovering exotic herbs and spices, taking photography classes set against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery, diving through turquoise blue Caribbean seas, seeking adventure through rain forests, majestic mountains and magical sites and relaxing by learning yoga or Pilates or being pampered with sensual spa experiences.

If you are looking for new, refreshing experiences you can share together or just want to have fun discovering the undiscovered St. Lucia, Summer Tryst is ideal for you.

We Won!

TripAdvisor has announced the winners of its 2018 Traveler’s Choice Awards for destinations, recognizing travelers’ favorite places around the world. We are very happy to announce that Rendezvous is a proud recipient of this award!

A Travelers’ Choice award is a huge achievement, and a powerful way to stand out from our competitors. We are honored that we have been recognized by the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice for this prestigious prize.

Established in 2002, Travelers’ Choice awards are the highest honor TripAdvisor can bestow. The only travel industry awards based on millions of reviews and opinions from travelers around the world, these annual awards reflect “the best of the best” for service, quality, and customer satisfaction, from hotels and accommodations to destinations, attractions, and even brands and products.

Travelers’ Choice award winners are selected annually based on feedback from millions of TripAdvisor members. Travelers’ Choice awards single out not just popular choices, but truly exceptional ones that keep travelers coming back.

How gratitude journaling can help boost your mood and create a positive mindset

We can dream of the places we’d rather be, look back on fond memories and long for the people that we miss and aren’t able to see right now, but what if we paused and thought of all the things we can do?  

Whilst these uncertain times mean our day-to-day lives have dramatically changed, there are still so many positive things to be grateful for and reflecting on these elements, through gratitude journaling, can give a much-needed boost to your mood and wellbeing.  

By asking us to focus on the positive elements in our lives, rather than those we miss or long for, gratitude journaling helps us to come back to the present day. During these unusual times, it is particularly important that we appreciate the good things in each day, not only to uplift our mood, but also to keep our minds balanced and enhance our overall wellbeing. 

Taking just five minutes to reflect on your day and write down three or four things you are grateful for may not seem as if it would have a high impact, but the benefits, both short-term and long-term, have been proven to be significant. 

Starting with the most obvious benefit, practising gratitude helps create a positive mood and increase happiness as it encourages you to focus on the good things in life. When done in the evening, it can help improve sleep by steering you to think about the positive elements of the day, rather than focusing on factors that may cause worry or concern. As you include your daily achievements in your journaling, you’ll help to increase your self-esteem as you recognise all of the wonderful things you are doing each day. In the long run, the positivity that practising gratitude can bring also helps reduce stress levels, which, as we all know, can have a significant impact on our physical wellbeing, alongside our mental.  

With all of these benefits, plus more, it has never been a better time to begin gratitude journaling and to help you begin, we’re sharing some of our top tips: 

How to get started with gratitude journaling: 

1. Find a notebook that you love
   By now you have probably cleared out each cupboard and drawer, finding a few unused notebooks that were perhaps bought for a particular intention. You may never have gotten around to starting that diary or sketchbook, but now you can put that beautiful book to good use by making it your gratitude journal! The first page could even include being grateful that you found such a perfect notebook…
2. Start small, dream big
   It may seem difficult to be grateful at the moment with the effects of the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of little things in your daily life to be grateful for. Is the sun shining? Did you have a great workout today? Ate a delicious breakfast? Maybe your favourite song came on the radio and made you feel happy, or you managed to squeeze in a video call with a friend in between home-schooling and working from home? Finding little moments to cherish will help you to stay in the present, increase your positivity and avoid drifting off into potential worry zones.
3. Stay present, but reflect
   Once you have gotten into the habit of jotting down your daily gratitudes, start looking back every so often and appreciating all of the wonderful things you have in your life. You’ll gradually build up a book of wonderful thoughts and happy memories that you can use to perk yourself back up again during some of the down days. It is the perfect way to remind yourself that there have been, and will continue to be, lots of things to be grateful for, even if some days it’s just the weather!
4. Keep it somewhere in sight
   Keeping it in a place where you’ll see it daily, particularly when you are first starting out, helps to remind you to get journaling and form the habit of doing so. If you’re looking to incorporate it into your early morning or night-time routine, then your bedside cabinet can be a great place to keep it.
5. Practice it daily
   Incorporating gratitude journaling into your daily routine not only helps to form a habit of it, but also helps you to maintain a positive mindset and reap the long-term benefits. Setting aside a certain time in the day or point in your routine can help ensure you remember to journal.