Tobago & St Lucia vacation

Planet

As an in depth specialist tour operator responsible tourism is at the very heart of what we do. To us, this means much more than a simple donation to a charity for each client. We try to build long and constructive involvements with local guides, guest houses, lodges and hotels, in the course of which we, and our clients, can make lasting wide-ranging contributions to the wonderful places and people we engage with. In this itinerary we use several lodges that fit with this philosophy perfectly, employing local guides and bringing long-term benefits to the local community.

We were the first tour operator in the UK to form a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards the implementation of best management practices in sustainable tourism. In real terms this means that we are working with hotels who are making a positive impact on their local community – socially, environmentally and economically.

In this itinerary we use a number of hotels who are dedicated to making a positive impact on their environment:

Kariwak Village on Tobago is committed to making eco-friendly choices wherever they can. Food in the restaurant is made from scratch using vegetables and herbs from the onsite garden where possible. The swimming pool is ozonated and chlorine free. They use water efficient plumbing and grey water recycling system for the onsite flower and vegetable gardens and are mindful of the products used in their housekeeping department for the health of their guests and the health of the planet.

Ecotourism has been a central theme at Fond Doux Eco Resort St Lucia long before it became an international movement. As a certified organic estate and a member of Green Globe (a building certification system that evaluates commercial, government, and residential buildings for their environmental sustainability, health & wellness, and resilience), the resort participates in a number of sustainable practices. Much of their land is harvested and used at their two restaurants offering guests genuine farm to table cuisine. Water in their cottages is heated through solar panels to conserve power. Other power and water conservation efforts include energy efficient lights, low flow toilets, and the option to reuse linens and towels. They are working hard to remove single use plastic - replacing plastic bags with paper bags at their gift shop, eliminating plastic straws and styrofoam plates and cutlery in the restaurant and discontinuing the use of individual plastic toiletries such as shampoo in their cottages, replacing them with refillable dispensers. Rather than building their cottages in a historic colonial style, Fond Doux preserves Saint Lucia’s architectural heritage by saving abandoned colonial buildings from around the island and restoring them. Fond Doux Resort is owned and run by St Lucians who work with local communities to train and hire local St Lucians to work at the hotel. In addition, furniture in the cottages is locally made to support to local industry.

People

In Tobago and St Lucia we use local ground handlers - this means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy and helps to improve employment opportunities in remote regions. By incorporating locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of guides and drivers into our itineraries, we ensure that money you spend on your trip goes directly into the local economy and local communities benefit from tourism.

Undoubtedly the best way to experience the true magic of Tobago and St Lucia is with a local guide. You can sit back and relax while the guide shows you around and takes care of the driving. They are a font of local knowledge–the islands are small and there is not much that misses their attention. We have known most of our guides personally for many years and you will find that most of them are very well known around the islands.