Mr A Frost – October 2010

I went on the holiday with three hats on. Firstly, as an agent who has sold the properties to a number of clients. Secondly, as an investor myself and thirdly as a holiday maker. As an agent I do feel a huge responsibility for those who have invested on my advice. As an investor I wanted to be reassured that it is all on course and as a holiday maker I wanted to have some fun! I have returned with my expectations surpassed on all fronts.

The easiest point to cover is my role as an agent as it is basically looking at it from the perspective of an investor and asking “have I advised correctly?” The answer on what I have seen is YES. As investors we all had concerns; I spoke to at least half of the guests and, as far as I know, we were all satisfied with progress and thrilled with the great potential moving forward. It would be ridiculous to say that everything is perfect but it is a work in progress and well on the way to being a truly fantastic experience. We had delays getting across to St Vincent so were very tired but, when we walked into the resort, it all changed. The cabanas are stunning and the service fantastic. There are some tweaks to be made and some experience to be gained with the staff but that is the reason for the soft launch. Mark Sawkins, the General Manager, inspired confidence. I spoke to him about a number of minor issues and he has them all under control already. He was happy to discuss anything and his experience shone through. Our half hour site tour was about 2 hours and well worth it. We know the timescales for the outstanding projects. It is great to know that it will all be ready for the paying guests in April. We could see the base for the infinity pools and the restaurants are well on the way. The beach already looks great but, when the work is finished, it will be stunning. It was only when the winds brought down the barriers that separate the resort from the building work that it was even noticeable to most guests. The apartments will be ready soon and the consensus was that they surpassed expectations. Cosmetically, there is work to be done but we were watching it transform during our stay. The planting and ponds will take longer to establish but we could see it happening. The resort is further ahead than I had realized. The facilities will continue to improve as it develops and will become a unique 5* experience. A huge amount has been learned which can only benefit the other resorts.

As for the holiday, it was great! The welcome was fantastic after the delays. Fresh coconut water and, more importantly, rum punch revived spirits. The cabanas were even better than we imagined. My son is 17 and doesn’t show much emotion. He was rushing round thrilled and I think he even did a little dance! Kevin, who showed us to our rooms, gave us a great introduction and we were not let down. The staff were great. They certainly have to gain experience but their attitude is superb. I would like to mention a few by name as they shone out. Electra is in charge of housekeeping. She knew every guest by name on the first day and took the trouble to ask when it would be convenient for the rooms to be cleaned. It is not possible to name all the maids but the rooms were immaculate. On the subject of rooms, it was unanimous that the beds were the most comfortable that anyone had slept in. Shane and Moriba were always helpful and entertaining. Their enthusiasm is infectious and Amanda in the restaurant is fantastic. All the waitresses were friendly but she was great with us, even helping with my daughters dance moves! The staff actually seemed to enjoy their work and it was lovely seeing them have a quick dance whilst washing up.

The sunset cruise was a treat. Dolphins and rum punch are a great combination. The kayaking and snorkeling were exiting and the dive staff are all superbly professional and friendly. There are a few touches needed to get the food to perfection but they are doing well. We had a few chefs amongst the guests so we are quite hard to please. Having said that the steaks, crab and lobster were excellent and everything was tasty and well presented. I have no doubt that it will be spot on very soon. The Harlequin wine is very good. I may have sampled quite a lot!

The hurricane certainly wasn’t the ending we had hoped for but it was actually quite an eye opener. This was the first on the island for 31 years so there is little experience. However, the management and staff were amazing. They worked tirelessly and we were looked after even when the island lost power and communications. Some of the staff had lost a lot and it was humbling when they were concerned about us. It made quite a difference to the overall feeling towards the resort and Harlequin. I left home as an investor in a resort and left feeling that it is actually my resort. I am not alone; a large number of us felt the same, we may only own a tiny piece but it is ours and we feel protective. There will not be many times that people are disappointed to be able to get home after a hurricane.

I am looking forward to going over again next year and seeing the progress. I am so confident that it will surpass all expectations

Mr J Matthews – October 2010

I felt I needed to write to you to congratulate you and the Harlequin Team for what you have now achieved at Buccament Bay. We were lucky to stay there 17 to 24 October for a great 1 week stay.

Without doubt – the biggest attributes you have here are;

Amazing staff. The service is totally genuine and not superficial
Great properties – comfort and luxury personified. We were lucky to have Villa 8 on the beachfront
Location – hardly any disruption from ongoing works. The site was well screened off and we hardly noticed the ongoing works.
The beach – the ongoing white sand replenishment has really enhanced the look of the beach from when I visited 12 months ago
Mark Sawkins – always present and available to talk to investors/ guests

We could mention so many outstanding staff members from the front desk to the restaurants and from the catamaran staff to the sports guys – all of them so want to be part of making everyone’s experience, a really special one!

The only slight drawback was the transfer from St Lucia on arrival. Only 2 small planes were available and we had to wait quite a long time for one of the planes to drop off the first guests at St Vincent. In all – we had a 2 hour wait in the airport.

We are already planning our next stay at Buccament Bay already and look forward to seeing continued progress at this great resort (and others in the future).

Once again – please accept our congratulations in developing a true Caribbean gem that ‘breaks the mould’

Mr C Marklew – October 2010

We visited Buccament Bay for the first two weeks of October, and had a truly fantastic holiday there. Transfers from St Lucia are clunky and are to be smoothed. The resort is still pre-official opening, but continuing construction work is unobtrusive and does not impede your experience with any dust or noise.

The assets of this resort are its location, its facilities, its luxurious accommodation, its food and its activities.

Location – St. Vincent has the natural tropical beauty of an island which is unspoilt by commercialism. The resort itself is set in a lush green river valley surrounded by mountains. The resort’s beach is on a reclaimed arc of land, with white sand covering the naturally occurring volcanic black sand.

Facilities – Concierge 24/7, Spa, Fitness Room, Clubhouse, Dive School, 2 Restaurants, Beach Bar, Business Centre, Tennis courts, Football pitches, etc.

Villa – The accommodation is deluxe, with quality furnishings delivering superior interiors. Room size is massive, with high ceilings. Highlights are the most comfortable beds ever, luxurious showers, and walk-in wardrobes.

Food – The food is fresh local produce prepared and presented very professionally, even though the current restaurants are temporary.
Bamboo is an a la carte restaurant. We ate lobster several times and the quality of all the food, especially the eponymous salad, was first-class.
The Bay View is a buffet-style restaurant offering extensive breakfast, lunch and evening dinner menus. We regularly ordered the lunchtime special, generally fresh fish, and were never disappointed: Tuna, Crab, Conch, Mahi-Mahi, Scallops, Grouper, Snapper, Butterfish, Shrimp, and Calamari were all excellent.
Evening dinners were themed, and the highlight for us, logically enough, was Caribbean.

Activities – The trips on offer are numerous; recommended is everything Indigo Dive lays on (kayaking, snorkelling, scuba, glass-bottom boat); the daily sunset catamaran cruise (with a bonus of dolphins if you’re lucky); and outings to Darkview Falls and the Vermont Nature Trail.

All of these assets, outstanding as they are, pale into insignificance compared to the impact which the staff had on our holiday experience, which we were totally unprepared for. It is the management team’s incredible professionalism, combined with the genuine willingness of its friendly staff, that really creates a unique ambience at Buccament Bay.

Take this quiz: how often are you able to return from holiday, able to name members of staff you’ve interacted with? My guess is, not very often. After Buccament Bay, here are a few of the fabulous staff who made our stay so memorable – Meghan, Laurence, Karim, Boris, Monika, Chris, Vianel, Kai, Allana, Shandol, Brod, Nikeisha, Dale, James, Neisha, Naisha, Isha, Jade, Hope, Cosmore, Esworth, Amanda, Bruno, Lavert, Ephraim, Kirton, Felicia, Danniel, Rozemma, Suzette, Samantha, Stevan, Josell, Eddie, Sam, Tatiane, Murphy, Trisha, Glen-Cora, Andrew, Alric, Alex.
I make that 42 people, without testing my memory too much.

Staff – We have been re-educated in the fact that a holiday is not just about the place, but also about those local people working on the resort. They are invariably charming, highly trained, and deliver impeccable service. This combination of warmth, efficiency, and professionalism, from the St. Vincent staff, is unique in my experience.

These are a few of my more outstanding memories:–
Snorkelling for endless varieties of vibrant fish
Seeing incredible wildlife (parrots, frigates, humming-birds, dolphins, frogs, lizards)
Swimming every morning at dawn in the clear, warm sea
Chatting to the wonderful friendly staff
Sleeping in the most comfy bed of our lives
Chilling on the sunset catamaran cruises
Enjoying a beach-bar pre-dinner cocktail
Kayaking around the Bay
Excellent live entertainment and, of course, the food…

How to summarise the best holiday of our lives? To say that the entire experience is luxurious, is an understatement: the level of pampering will delight even the most jaded of travellers, and both fellow guests and staff felt so relaxed that they felt like family. We both loved St. Vincent, its people, landscape and amenities. Buccament Bay Resort is already fabulous; this is Harlequin’s first resort opening, and it is pitch perfect. The entire complex when completed, will be a tribute to the scope and vision of Dave Ames: he has truly delivered a 5-star resort to rival the very best in the world.

A holiday at Buccament Bay is magical because of its staff, food, activities; we are already planning our return, for more fantastic times, which are guaranteed.

Mrs M Yates- October 2010

"When my tan fades I MUST go back! What a place! Staff are best ever your every need is attended to. My husband has difficulty in walking! no problem there are golf type trolleys to ferry you around, that is if you can leave the gorgeous beach. Food is top class and lobster,and fish, fresh every day. Sea warm, clear, and looks just like a lake it's so calm, watch the best sunsets ever, every evening. Rooms are top quality and housekeeping spot on. I cannot praise this resort enough, and will tell every one that you must experience this 5* luxury!!!"

Mrs M Rodger - September 2010

"We returned from our 2 week honeymoon at Buccament Bay on the 22nd September and it was certainly a trip of a lifetime for us. The resort may not be finished, however, we had a fantastic 2 bedroom cabana right on the beach with its own patio area with plunge pool and sunloungers. This coupled by the natural beauty of an island which has not been tarnished with commercialism, impecable service by all the resort staff, delicious food and great excursions made this a natural choice for honeymooners."

"We travelled from Glasgow and after a long journey, we were transported to the resort in a luxury car and met by the resort team who offered a cold towel and coconut water which was just the tonic. We were then shown to our luxury cabana where champagne, fresh fruit and chocolates were waiting for us."

"We have stayed in many 5* hotels & resorts and even though there was still construction work ongoing, it was still the best we have ever experienced. We spent our time on fantastic excursions (catamaran trips along the coast, trip to Bequia, Wallibou, sunset cruises, kayak safari & rainforest hike) and lazy days on the gorgeous white sandy beach sipping coctails."

" The Bay Restaurant was full of choice and we didn't eat the same thing twice although the coconut ice cream was the best I've tasted! We also had several evening meals in Bamboo where the quality of produce and standard of cooking was excellent. Thank goodness there was a gym to help work off some of the great food! We also sampled a couple of ESPA massages which were great and tried the hairdressing service by Monica which was lovely."

"Every member of staff in this resort made our stay truly memorable. There is a great mix of staff ranging from local people & those from neighbouring islands and further afield. You have to experience this place to truly understand how good it is. We can't wait to go back!"

Mr I Jones - September 2010

"In the 20 years that we have been going on holiday we can honestly say that it was the best holiday yet. Some may find that hard to believe given that the resort was not 100% complete, or may think that we need to get out more, but we have been to many Carribean Islands, America and Europe. We have now been re-educated in the fact that a holiday is not just about the place but mainly about the local people working on the resort. We made many friends and we never use that word lightly, and it was heart retching to leave, as a rule we try not visit the same place more than once but I promise you just as we promised the many friends we made that we will return."

"We are thankful for Harlequin giving us the opportunity to meet such genuinely lovely people and can not wait to see them again, the feeling of which we know is mutual as we are in regular contact with our new friends by email."

"We should add that the resort is beautiful, finishing's exquisite and was transforming day by day before our eyes."

Mr C Flanagan and Family - September 2010

"I visited Buccament Bay on the 27th August with my brother (21) and sister (18) and we had a fantastic time! I have read reviews from couples and families with kids and I want to talk about our time to highlight the fact that Buccament Bay have covered all bases by making the resort suitable for anyone, know matter your age! I was a little concerned before visiting that there might not be that much there to keep three young adults entertained for two weeks, but I couldn't have been more wrong!"

"The weekly schedule of all the activities on offer meant we could plan our week out and do something completely different everyday."

"Our land trips included a grueling but throughly rewarding 3 hour hike up Mount Soufriere (the islands volcano), a more relaxing hike through the Vermount nature trail, swimming under the waterfalls at Dark View Falls and a tour of Kingstown with a member of the Buccament Bay staff."

"Our boat trips included snorkelling at Bequia, diving off the resorts catamaran at Wallambou Bay (Pirates of the Caribbean filmset), fishing with the staff on the catamaran, dolphin and whale watching whilst drinking punch on a sunset cruise, aswell as swimming with turtles at Tobago Cays."

"Not to mention the vast majority of activities available on the resort itself... kayaking through bat caves, snorkeling at the shipwreck site whilst on the glassbottom boat tour, sample dive sessions in the resorts swimming pool with the full diving equipment. We also had regular spinning and circuit classes on the beach with the fitness instructor Kimberley, tennis lessons on the freshly laid tennis courts with the tennis instructor James (both are very knowledgeably, extremely enthusiastic and make exercise fun which is what you want when your on holiday)! We even had a game of football with the Liverpool F.C. coaches on the all weather purpose football pitch."

"Note, the spinning classes have now moved into the gym, which is fully kitted out with the latest Technogym cardio equipment (complete with built in televisions and ipod docking stations... very cool!), and a large free weights area. All these activities took the guilt off all the buffet meals, strawberry milkshakes and cocktails!!!"

"The food at the two restaurants (Bay View and Bamboo) was fantastic. Buffet breakfasts included every breakfast under the sun, a favourite of mine was the sausages, pancakes, french toast and maple syrup with a custom made omelette prepared by the chef in front of your very own eyes, again very cool! Every night at Bay View followed this same idea, with the option of having the chef prepare your very own dish with the exact ingredients you wanted. The choice on offer followed the theme of the night which included Indian, Chinese, BBQ and another favourite of mine... Crepe night (and yes if your wondering... the staff will bring out your favourite flavor ice cream to put on your crepe). There were always four pre prepared options for dinner as well, normally a chicken, beef, lamb and fish dish that went along with the theme of the night. So plenty of choice at Bay View and the live entertainment there means you'll hear some great live music! The other restaurant Bamboo is an Asian cuisine, and it has a much different vibe as it is a la carte so it's much slower and chilled out, but again the food is delicious! Lunches started off as buffets but this was taken away due to the number of people off site on the various trips, so a basic menu was introduced, this did have very limited choice but the management responded to customers requests as on the last day we were shown the new sample lunch menu, which had far more options."

"As mentioned on all the other reviews, the staff are unbelievable at Buccament Bay, so friendly, outgoing and accommodating. The service there will not be beaten anywhere in the Carribean! Nothing appears too much of an inconvenience, from making a Starbucks Java Chip Iced Coffee at your request, to arranging a day trip to St Lucia and Barbados. That's right, all you have to do is ask! The latter is a big plus for investors, as the Buccament Bay staff will also arrange day trips to the other Harlequin sites in the Carribean. A number of people I met whilst I was out there went to visit the Marquis Estate site and were extremely impressed with how things were organized with the Buccament Bay staff based in St Lucia, not to mention the stunning views of the site and the scale of the project. Closer to home, site tours of the uncompleted part of the Buccament Bay resort can also be organised, which gives you a real feel for how things will look when the site is fully complete."

"Finally, the rooms at the resort are brilliant, very spacious, comfortable and come with full US cable, ipod docking station and DVD player on request. The DVD library kept us entertained in the evenings. All villas come with sun-loungers and private plunge pools which are awesome! The swimming pool itself is not the main infinity pool that will be open in January 2011, but is large enough for the number of guests currently visiting the site. It is actually hardly used due to attraction of the white sand beach 10 feet away! And if your feeling lazy from a tiring day on the beach, just get a taxi back to your room from reception in a golf buggy!"

"Buccament Bay is a must for ANYONE! Whether you what to chill out and relax, or take advantage of the many activities. In terms of value for money you cannot beat it! The staff and facilities on site will make your trip worthwhile! I cannot speak highly enough about the resort and I am in the process of booking another holiday there next year!"

Mr A Burns, Mr R Shaw and Families - August 2010

"From our arrival in St. Lucia, we got to the resort by VERY small, chartered planes which made the journey memorable, at the very least!!! The resort itself is set in a valley, almost totally surrounded by lush, green mountains, which act as a truly magnificent backdrop, especially at night."

"Harlequin have opened various one and two bed cabanas, a special designated temporary eating area together with a temporary restaurant called the Bay View, to cater for guests until the site fully opens in January. There was also a small pool available for use and the beach area was open, complete with many luxury beach loungers and umbrellas etc. Several excursions were also available for guests; we went on four of them, all of which were fun and added greatly to the overall holiday experience."

"It’s rainy season at the moment and this has helped highlight the professionalism, attentiveness and desire of the resort’s staff, all of whom were faultless, always willing to help and always trying to improve your holiday experience.....very un-Caribbean!!! From top to bottom, the staff are definitely one of the resort’s biggest assets and must already be helping to make this resort stand out in the Caribbean."

"Another stand out experience was dining at The Bay View restaurant. I’d describe it as a proper European 5 star experience. The maitre d’ there is going to do the same job at the new Italian restaurant, once it’s opened, and if the other restaurants are to a similar standard as his, all guests will be spoiled for choice. All of us, including the kids, enjoyed our evening meals tremendously."

"The cabanas themselves were luxurious; everything you’d expect in a 5 star resort and more; spacious and new (of course) with most things catered for. The decor and finishings were all lovely, they’ve done themselves proud."

"On the whole then, we all had a great time at the resort, and therefore, when it’s fully operational in January, we expect that Buccament Bay will be a fantastic future holiday venue, which means a great opportunity for clients who’ve invested on Buccament to see significant returns. Furthermore, Harlequin will obviously learn lots from this “first opening” experience which will only help them make the resorts that follow an even greater success."

Mr Andy Parry and Family - August 2010

"Our family arrived on Sunday 15th August, to a fantastic reception from the steel band and welcoming Staff at Buccament Bay. We were taken to our rooms, which were new and very plush, true 5 star. We had some issues in the early days with water being turned off for short periods, however we did expect some disruption being a soft launch and us being the first people to use the resort. This was sorted out within a couple of days. We witnessed the plants and greenery go in over the first part of the stay with a work force that showed real respect for the guests and would be lovely to go back in 12 months and see how much of this has matured."

"Staff and service where courteous and very friendly, they couldn't do enough to ensure that our stay was an enjoyable one, even joining in the dancing during the evening entertainment. Roxanne, How low can you go? Low, Low. this waitress could do the real low limbo. Music and entertainment for everyone, including our 15 and 12 year old sons. The kids and teenagers had a great group of friends and formed there own club."

"The beach and surrounding bays and Islands are just so beautiful. The catamaran trips where great with Dolphin and Whales just outside the Buccament Bay, which we saw on the Sunset Cruise. Cocktails and champagne aboard. Plenty to do with the Liverpool Soccer School that our boys visited  daily and the Pat Cash Tennis academy, James the coach was a real pro. Andy Townsend arranged a beach Soccer for adults and kids, with a jump into the sea for cool down in temperature of 33c and a cocktail or beer waiting when we got out. I could write a book on the resort all good. I just recommend that the way of finding out is to visit and find out for yourselves what a beautiful part of the Caribbean this is."

Mr C Donovan and Family - August 2010

"I travelled out to Buccament Bay from 15th- 29th August with my partner and 2 children, aged 6 and 1. I have to say the service is already 5 stars and the staff could not do enough to accommodate us, especially the girls from the Kids Club. I was also impressed with the management and pleased to discover their vast experience of launching exclusive resorts around the world. The accommodation was superb and even better than the computer generated images in the brochures. The food is also excellent and the fillet steak cooked on the BBQ was probably the best I have ever tasted! Some of our highlights included the catamaran trip to Tobago Cays, the sports massage on the beach, the sunset cruise and chilling out listening to the resident band in the evenings. I would recommend the resort to families and couples and we can’t wait to return to Buccament Bay next year when all the facilities are fully open."