Category Archives: Travels

Caribbean Airlines and American Airlines loyalty programmes

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“Every mickle mek a muckle” “One one cocoa full basket.” Ever heard these expressions? They mean that every little thing adds up. I have been a Caribbean Miles Loyalty member for over 10 years and have benefitted regularly from using Air Miles to travel. 

I recently purchased a ticket for this year using Caribbean Miles.  The screenshot above shows that the normal one way fare is US$390.17. I paid US$188.37, thereby saving US$201.80! The breakdown is US$30 for purchase of 1,000 miles, plus US$158.37 for fees and taxes. So if you haven’t signed up for an airline Loyalty programme, what are you waiting for?

My Mastercard earns miles for travel on American Airlines and airlines in the One World alliance. That was recently used for travel to 2 cities/countries. A trip which would have cost about US$950 in total, travelling on Caribbean Airlines and American Airlines, cost me US$75.40 for the CAL Miles one way ticket fees and taxes, US$90 for purchase of additional Caribbean Miles and US$144.20 for American Airlines return ticket…Grand Total for air travel to 2 cities with stopovers…….US$309.60. I saved approximately US$640!! A few years ago, I used AAdvantage miles to fly from Barcelona to Grenada 🤗.

I put the majority of my purchases on my Mastercard, including small grocery bills of XCD$20 and so consistently accumulate airmiles. No I don’t agree with the “use only cash” or the envelope method advice. Yes, I pay off my balance in full every month.

To Caribbean Airlines, American Airlines and Mastercard, thank you for enabling me to have wonderful travel experiences, without emptying my pockets. @iflycaribbean @americanair @mastercardlatam @mastercard

#CaribbeanAirlines #AmericanAirlines #Mastercard

Sign up for airline loyalty programmes today! Do you use air miles for travel?

Photos: Out And About In Rural Grenada

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Saturday was Road Trip Day. I tossed my Samsung phone, iPad and Fuji Fine Pix camera into the bag. In the end, I only used the Samsung. I went from St George to the town of Gouyave in the parish of St John where I bought a delicious fish roti. Saw where Kirani James grew up. Man you gotta lift your hats off to his mother. Next it was on to Diamond in St Mark.

Grenada is a lovely island and exploring as a single female is very safe. I ended up in dead ends in Mount Granby and elsewhere. Check out all the photos on my Flickr page. At some point I will put captions.

 

View of the Carenage and beyond from Cemetery Hill.

View of the Carenage and beyond from Cemetery Hill.

A Wild Ride Of A Dream!

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I dream. A lot. And in colour. Sometimes it reflects real life situations which are current. Other times they are weird and wild, like this one from 2011. When I wake up, I don’t always remember that I dreamed until later in the day something happens and I say “oh yeah…..listen to what mi dream last night”

An article I read recently talked about being aware while you’re dreaming, or not. Last night I was very conscious that I was dreaming, and wishful that I wasn’t. Here’s what happened.

I was in a hotel. I was not a guest, but am not sure if I was an employee or just a Consultant on a short term gig. The dream started with me and the Hotel Manager walking across the poolside, with the air very expectant of exciting things to come later. The pool was quite large. While walking we saw a plane flying overhead, dangerously low. In my mind I thought “it’s almost like it wants to crash.” Well, a few seconds later, that is indeed what happened. Splash! Down in the pool it came, then turned belly up. There was no fire thank goodness.  Continue reading →

12 reasons to tempt you to drop everything and move to Grenada

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I agree with everything Michelle Peterson had to say in this article. Having lived here mostly for the better part of 17 years though, there are somethings she mentions which I have not yet experienced. Better get a move on it!

Paradise Beach, Carriacou (one of the 3 islands which make up the state of Grenada)

Paradise Beach, Carriacou (one of the 3 islands which make up the state of Grenada)

Idyllic….picture perfect

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If you could sail off in any of these boats, where would you ask it to take you?

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Beach Day

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Most weekends are spent at the beach….photos taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5

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If only I could sail a hobie cat…….

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The view looking across to the capital St George’s and the verdant hills beyond

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The coconut vendor came along at the right time. I had forgotten my water.

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Should have booked in to that five star luxury hotel

Ways To Create A Life You Don’t Need To Escape

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A friend posted this article with 11 ways to create a life you don’t need to escape. I was thrilled to read that I have done many of the recommendations on the list.

#1 Moved to Grenada. Also studied and trained in England.

#2 I always live below my means, except when it comes to travel.

#3 I have tried meditation. Actually, Oprah & Deepak’s meditation series continues next Monday and I have signed up again.

#4 I don’t try and prove anything to anyone but myself.

#5 I can’t recall my childhood self looking into the future. I was living in the moment. Didn’t really focus on anything much back then, except playing the piano, then later, being in the theatre. The only thing I remember was that during a lunch time conversation in high school, the year 2000 came up and I calculated that I would be 36 then and remember thinking “gee, that’s old!”

#6 Though I don’t feel I have a life which I want to escape, when I infrequently do, it’s SCHEDULES I want to get away from. I HATE having to HAVE to do something at a particular time. Flexible schedules all the way!

#7 I have definitely struggled with recognizing that small changes do make a difference. Sometimes I think “go big or go home.” I used to think that way about exercise actually. Used to think that if I didn’t have 90 minutes, it didn’t make sense to go to the gym. That was until I discovered high intensity interval training where you could get a good workout in 8 minutes.

#8 I don’t do this I don’t think. I follow a hodge podge of people on Twitter, from all spheres with different interests. I am into learning everything about technology right now so those gurus interest me.

#9 Yes, I do stuff. Sometimes maybe it is not what I SHOULD be doing at that time, but hey…..gotta do what makes you happy.

#10 Joining Instagram recently and (again) following random people which include photographers, has made me start yearning for living somewhere else obscure (so not a major international city) in a big country. Those photos of fall especially, by a lake, are just drawing me in.slap back to reality Yamfoot….winter is coming next.

#11 OMG I have a story in my head everyday all day! Actually I started to write my book and then put it down, now I don’t know where the first few pages are.

Anyway, this was a good list. I think I passed.

 

Save up to spend a few nights here

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The Caribbean is sometimes thought of as a place where excellence does not exist. Well certainly in the Hospitality industry, some hotels have a reputation of offering sloppy service and not delivering value for money.

Enter Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada, wholly owned by Sir Royston Hopkin, KCMG to debunk the myth that excellence is hard to come by in the Caribbean. Visit the Press page to read more about the owner and the many accolades the hotel has won. They recently refreshed the resort and I got a tour. Have a look at my pictures on Flickr. You might have already noticed them on the right side of these posts.

If you read the Trip Advisor reviews, you will see what visitors have had to say about their stay there. And the location just cannot be beat. On the quieter side of Grand Anse Beach, it offers rooms right on the beach. 1, 2, 3 steps and you’re in the warm azure Caribbean ocean.

So give yourself (and your soul) a treat. Save up. It’ll be well worth it. And fret not about the cost. Do you put a price on your happiness?

The Middle Passenger

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My seat choice is always the same. Aisle seat near the front of the plane. That allows me to stretch out my legs, [albeit in the aisle and risk it being tripped over] and also to get to the loo without inconveniencing others. But I waited too late to check in online and the only aisle seats were way in the back of the plane. That wouldn’t do. So I took a chance on a middle seat in my usual location. What would my neighbours be like, I wondered. Continue reading →