You also post your own “I LOVE FRIDAY” quote tagging your besties and weekend pals.

It is truly fascinating to observe people’s attitudes towards FRIDAY.   People spend the entire work week wishing it was Friday.  We are so in love with Friday that it has its own lingo to express our excitement TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday, one could find entire websites dedicated to just Friday and there are many songs about it such as “Friday I’m In Love by The Cure” and “Katy Perry’s – Last Friday Night” which dares us to create an explosive fun-filled Friday.

But for most, Friday signifies the end of a long work week, it’s a chance to sleep in late on Saturday, a night out with friends or just some couch time with the new James Patterson novel.  Friday can be looked at as a day of possibilities; an anything could happen kind of day.  Your Friday and the weekend could be epic, filled with nostalgic moments that you bring up in conversation some years later “remember that one weekend when…?”  Or your Friday and weekend could also filled with nothing, but you don’t mind because it means you’re not at work.

Here at Trade Winds Hotel and Bay House Restaurant & Bar we love every day of the week and I don’t think we have any one day which we love more that the other because every day is different for us.  We are privileged to spend every day interacting with people from different parts of the world learning about their culture, their lives, and sharing ours with them.  One could say we are in perpetual excitement because every day is Friday for us.

You can experience perpetual excitement, tranquility and serenity everyday when you stay with us at Trade Winds Hotel.  With an all year around 2 for 1 room-special you can make any day of the week Friday.  How about creating your own mini-Friday with Bay House Restaurant’s daily 2-hour happy hour whilst enjoying some of the island’s best sunset views, bartender Altino is always creating new cocktails.  Take a mid-week break and enjoy an ALL DAY BREAKFAST poolside or dine on our open deck restaurant where the breathtaking view is unforgettable.

So say bye-bye to the Friday Itch by browsing through our website and click BOOK NOW!

See you soon…every day is fun, fun fun!

Mother: A Cradle to Hole Me

It is true
I was created in you.
It is also true
That you were created for me.
I owned your voice.
It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.
Your arms were molded
Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.
The scent of your body was the air
Perfumed for me to breathe.

Mother,
During those early, dearest days
I did not dream that you had
A large life which included me,
For I had a life
Which was only you.

Time passed steadily and drew us apart.
I was unwilling.
I feared if I let you go
You would leave me eternally.
You smiled at my fears, saying
I could not stay in your lap forever.
That one day you would have to stand
And where would I be?
You smiled again.
I did not.
Without warning you left me,
But you returned immediately.
You left again and returned,
I admit, quickly,
But relief did not rest with me easily.
You left again, but again returned.
You left again, but again returned.
Each time you reentered my world
You brought assurance.
Slowly I gained confidence.

You thought you know me,
But I did know you,
You thought you were watching me,
But I did hold you securely in my sight,
Recording every moment,
Memorizing your smiles, tracing your frowns.
In your absence
I rehearsed you,
The way you had of singing
On a breeze,
While a sob lay
At the root of your song.

The way you posed your head
So that the light could caress your face
When you put your fingers on my hand
And your hand on my arm,
I was blessed with a sense of health,
Of strength and very good fortune.

You were always
the heart of happiness to me,
Bringing nougats of glee,
Sweets of open laughter.

I loved you even during the years
When you knew nothing
And I knew everything, I loved you still.
Condescendingly of course,
From my high perch
Of teenage wisdom.
I spoke sharply of you, often
Because you were slow to understand.
I grew older and
Was stunned to find
How much knowledge you had gleaned.
And so quickly.

Mother, I have learned enough now
To know I have learned nearly nothing.
On this day
When mothers are being honored,
Let me thank you
That my selfishness, ignorance, and mockery
Did not bring you to
Discard me like a broken doll
Which had lost its favor.
I thank you that
You still find something in me
To cherish, to admire and to love.

I thank you, Mother.
I love you.

By: Maya Angelou

Share with us some of your favourite Mother’s Day memories.

Many travellers will tell you that until you interact with local residents, you’ve only just skimmed the surface.  For many the real experience lies and begins with the people and the best way to do this is by food.   Enjoying a hearty meal has always been an intermediary force for bringing people of different cultures together.   Jokes are shared, ideas are exchanged, and travel experiences are relived leaving everyone with an unforgettable organic experience.

At the Bay House Restaurant you can enjoy authentic local dishes freshly prepared by Chef Hodge and his team.  Start your day off with a traditional Antiguan breakfast of saltfish, chop-up (sautéed spinach, ochro and eggplant), boiled eggs, fried ripe plantains, johnny cakes with a cup of freshly brewed bush tea.  Other local favourites to try are Fungi, Ducana, Seasoned Rice and Pepperpot.

We challenge you to put your culinary skills to test by trying Chef Hodge’s recipe for traditional Antiguan Breakfast, feel free to share your photos on our Facebook page.

Photo credit: Antigua Barbuda Food & Drink Guide

No vacation or meal is complete without a drink and our local award winning English Harbour 5 Year Old and Cavalier rums are a must try when visiting our bar especially during happy hour.  Our creative bartenders will make your favourite cocktails, old classics along with new and fun drinks featuring our local rums.   Our Wadadli Gold beer is the perfect drink for your poolside break after your delicious lunch of Seasoned Rice.

So on your next visit with us do ask for the Chef’s local special and remember to share your experience with us.

Travel well…happy eating!

Today some of our restaurant and kitchen staff attended a Sunquick seminar in our new conference room sponsored by local distributors Hutchinson Antigua Ltd.  Presenter Kim Howard Lund enlightened all attendees with new and creative ways in which we can incorporate Sunquick in our favourite recipes.

Sunquick and Trade Winds Hotel Team

Some new things we learnt about Sunquick

• Sunquick is a product of Denmark and NOT the Caribbean like many of us thought
• It comes in over 10 different flavours
• It can be used in baking recipes to add flavour
• A perfect substitute for fresh fruit in cocktails

Speaking of cocktails our bartenders got excited when Kim unveiled Concept 49…sounds quite top secret eh?  Well Concept 49 is Sunquick’s collaboration with bartender Christian Ifversen who developed delicious drink recipes.  Happy Hour started a bit early today when our bartender Altino began mixing cocktails and creating his own variations of the recipes.  Altino promises he’s going to do some more research and put together some awesome cocktails for you to enjoy when you join us for Happy Hour at Bay House Restaurant & Bar.

Blue Flirtini

Frozen Mango Margarita

Chef Hodge also promises a few surprises from the kitchen as he will try to incorporate Sunquick in some of our desserts.  Here are some delicious Sunquick flavoured desserts.

Chocolate Orange Cake

Cream puffs with peach and orange cream

So now that we’ve enlightened both our minds and taste buds we invite you to join us on this new adventure and we recommend you start at the bar

Wanderlust: a very strong and irresistible impulse or desire to travel the world

Despite being tagged as one of the Caribbean’s most romantic destination, Antigua is also perfect for the solo traveller.   Whether you are looking for an exotic and intimate setting to hide yourself away or seeking adventure the Trade Winds Hotel is the perfect place to stay.  Nestled on the hillside overlooking the ever popular Dickenson Bay you are provided with a hidden escape yet very close to the epicentre of beaches, watersports, sailing, shopping, golfing, day tours and an active nightlife.

A short 10-minute drive from the airport you are welcomed by our personable and friendly staff who will cater to your every need.   Our rooms are airy and comfortable equipped with all amenities plus private balconies overlooking our gardens and Dickenson Bay.  When dining at our TripAdvisor Recommended Bay House Restaurant our staff will seat you wherever you chose with exclusive personal attention.   Our alfresco menu offers local and international cuisine and ALL DAY BREAKFAST with room service so feel free to laze in bed all or day and catch up on your favourite TV/talk show.    Not to be missed though are the fabulous sunsets from our deck and our daily happy hour from 5-7pm…don’t forget your camera.

Colourful sunset from Bay House Restaurant

You can be as busy or as quiet as your mood dictates when you stay at Trade Winds Hotel.  Relax in our gardens or poolside with your favourite book, sketch pad or connect with your family and friends back home with our FREE high speed Wi-fi.   Work on your handicap on the back nine at Cedar Valley Golf Course or wander down to lively Dickenson Bay for some excitement and meet up with locals and other travellers.  Or head on out on the high seas on a circumnavigation or leisure cruise around the island…a few whales or dolphins may pop up to say hi .

For the nature lover lace up your hiking boots and take a peaceful and introspective hike through Wallings Dam, Body Pond or Pillars of Hercules or dun your flip-flops and tip-toe through soft sands under the moonlight as you turtle watch.

If you’re looking to “get your groove back”…hahaha…just kidding…but if you are looking to get your party on there are lots of fetes and parties to choose from especially during Sailing Week, Carnival and Independence, browse through our events page for a full list of upcoming events.

• Just like most travellers do keep in mind the following safety tips:
• Exercise the same caution you would at home
• Use hotel safes to store valuables
• Ask our Reception Team to provide you with a list of approve taxis and tours
• Download a GPS app for your smartphone

BOOK NOW and immerse yourself in our culture, local food, music and people.  See you soon!

Hiker photo credit: Craig “Grainas” Williams

Now Spring is here and we are very excited and we’ve been up to quite a lot.

In January we began converting our upper deck into a state of the art multimedia multifunction events/conference room…quite a mouthful eh?  We are not sure as yet what we should call this space as it can be used for meetings, training seminars, conferences, weddings, parties etc.  If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them…thanks .  Our smaller conference room also received an upgrade with a new smart television and AV equipment.

Conference room, events room?!?! Can you help us name this new space?

In keeping with our sustainable tourism and environmental policy to reduce, reuse and recycle we began refurbishment on our Restaurant’s bathrooms.   The refurbishment process involved the installation of motion sensor taps, dual flush toilets, porcelain tiles and granite vanities for longevity along with re-wiring and the use of energy saving light bulbs.  We would like to thank you for your patience during this process.

Our website has been sparked with love, romance and milestone celebrations as we’ve added our Weddings & Honeymoons packages and launched our Birthday & Anniversary Club.  Do take some time to browse through our offers and sign-up.

Begin your happily ever at Trade Winds Hotel (Photo byZiaPhotography)

New but familiar faces are at the helm of the Bay House Restaurant & Bar as the Dynamic Duo M&M (Michelle & Marcia) now steer the restaurant.  To stay connected with you the Bay House Restaurant is now on Facebook and you can follow us on Instagram.  Also to make it easier for you to stay connected with your family, friends or work we’ve upgraded our Wi-Fi and connection throughout the property is now seamless and FREE.

Coconut tree stumps being used as orchid pots.

Our Grounds Supervisor Mr. Abraham and his team have been busy in our kitchen garden so the next time you dine with us at Bay House Restaurant your meal will include freshly picked herbs, spices and veggies grown by us.

If you have visited recently you would have noticed that our trademark coconut trees are fewer and this is due to an islandwide case of Lethal Yellowing.  However, all is not lost as we’ve gotten creative by using the coconut stumps as orchids pots and we now have beautiful orchids in full bloom throughout the grounds.  In addition our Head Groundsman Daniel Montgomery and The Plant Protection Department have implemented a plan and have been treating and monitoring the surviving trees, we will keep you posted on their progress.

Who doesn't love sand between their toes?

Expect lots of sandy toes and more as we continue our “beachcombing adventures” in our quest to name Antigua & Barbuda’s 365 beaches.  To unlock your FREE pass to join our quest just stop by our Reception Desk and say the magic phrase three times “sun, sea, sand and FUN”.    For beaches and dates check our events page.

Let’s get social!  We would love to hear about your experience at Trade Winds Hotel & Bay House Restaurant or answer any questions you may have and we invite you to do so on TripAdvisor, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Foursquare, Instagram and Google+ or leave a comment here on our blog.

Thank you again for choosing Trade Winds Hotel and Bay House Restaurant.  See you soon!

To better serve our business clients and with the launch of our wedding packages, in January 2013 we began construction on a bigger multi-function events space and we are happy to say it is finally completed.

The new facility has been designed to be ideal for meetings, conferences, training seminars, weddings, private parties and much more with a seating capacity of 60 persons.

This new addition brings the hotel’s number of events rooms to two.  The space boasts state of the art AV equipment to include multimedia televisions with Skype and Webex capabilities, surround sound, microphones and high speed Wi-Fi.  Our smaller event room’s AV equipment was also upgraded to mirror the new room.

Located above the Bay House Restaurant the new addition is open and airy with natural lighting and beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea.  The variable lighting system and black-out curtains, allows you to customize your lighting requirements whether it is a bright light for training or toned down for intimate dinner functions.

Our Bay House Restaurant offers banquet or buffet style menus to accommodate your meal requirements, whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails or light snacks for breaks.

For further information and a tour of our facilities please feel free to contact our Events Team (268) 462-1223 or e-mail info@twhantigua.com with your requirements.

Hotel Amenities: 50-Room Hotel | Fully Equipped Business Center | 2 Multimedia Events Rooms | FREE High Speed Wi-Fi | Restaurant | Swimming Pool

Thank you for choosing Trade Winds Hotel & Bay House Restaurant!

But here we go…

A short 10-minute drive from the Trade Winds Hotel, you’ll come across a one mile strip of fine powdery sand, post-card perfect, a surfer’s gem the iconic Jabberwock Beach.  Throughout the year especially before sunrise the beach welcomes early morning swimmers, joggers and strollers from around the island.  It’s also a favourite spot to escape and enjoy your lunch or as many will tell you it is hard to pass the beach without stopping for a quick feel of the sand between your toes.

By mid-morn the skies the sea becomes dotted with the vibrant colour of sails and kites. Jabberwock Beach’s trade winds, gentle shore breaks and challenging banks provides ideal conditions for surfers of all skill levels.  If you’re looking to surf, there are two popular local surf schools set up right on Jabberwock Beach to get you started.

“Bend de knees and feel de breeze” as you ride a wave with Patrick of Windsurfing Antigua who is based on Jabberwock Beach from mid December to May.  With over 25 years of experience and one of Antigua’s most respected windsurfer Patrick guarantees he can have you windsurfing in one 2-hour lesson.

Launch into the air as you take flight with Adam of Kitesurf Antigua which has become quite popular after the release of Kite Scoop kitesurf video last year.

With the emergence of beach culture Jabberwock Beach and its breathtaking skyline has become a major attraction to visitors and locals alike, whether you’re a surfer or just an avid on-looker with aspirations of getting that perfect tan and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1KO4_LhTRw

Jabberwock Beach is a must see and a must destination experience when in Antigua.  So take that plunge it is as simple as mustering the will and clicking on www.twhantigua.com…BOOK NOW!

Who’s back?

The whales are back…the whales are back!!!

Whale Watching is one of our favourite things to do.  Yeah I know…you’re asking yourself…isn’t wind surfing…oh wait beachcombing…oh and yeah turtle watching your favourite things to do?  Well yeah you’re right we did say those are our favourite things to do.  But when you live on an island paradise like we do you can’t just have one favourite thing…so whale watching is one as well…and be sure in a few weeks we’ll share some more of our other favourite things to do…our list is endless

The turquoise clear waters of the Caribbean Sea surrounding our beautiful island not only adorns our picturesque beaches that we boasts to have 365 of, but during the months of February to May it is whale watching season as the Humpback Whales pass through with their families heading for cooler waters up North.

Words cannot begin to describe the truly magnificent feeling of watching the majestic Humpback Whale and the moment it breaks the surface of the water whether it is a few feet next to your tour boat or from the shoreline of the beach.  You don’t have to be a whale lover to enjoy the moment of awe and excitement you feel as you hastily look for your phone debating whether you should take a picture or call someone excitedly telling them “I just saw a whale, I just saw a whale…oh my god is was so awesome…I just saw a whale…it was so beautiful…oh my god”

Well for the past two weeks there has been lots of that kind of excitement and activity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram of daily whale sightings and photos by fans and tour operators like Adventure Antigua, Jabberwocky, Miramar Sailing and Overdraft Sport Fishing.   Sightings of pods as large as ten in areas such as Shirley’s Heights, Falmouth Harbour, Willoughby Bay, Cades Reef and Green Island.

Here are some of the beautiful photos shared on Facebook Group – Antigua & Barbuda Whale and Dolphin Network.

The first sign that whales are around is usually the blow.  A humpback breathes through the blow hole on top of its head and when it expels its breath the burst of air and water vapour can be seen as far as two kilometres away on a clear day.   The excitement of watching a great whale as its gigantic powerful body emerges over the surface of the water is certainly a feeling worth experiencing and a once in a lifetime treat, however in all your excitement please keep in mind the following guidelines:

• refrain from touching or feeding the animals, as they may become aggressive or dependent;
• turn off their engines when approaching and should move at no more than five knots;
• leave a clear path for the animals to move through, so they are not trapped;
• avoid approaching directly in order to prevent accidental injury to the animal or human;
• avoid close approach to the animals; minimum safe distance should be 50 meters or 164 feet.

For more information see the entire set of guidelines here: http://antiguaisland.blogspot.com/2012/03/whale-and-dolphin-watching-in-antigua.html

If you’re not out on the water the Bay House Restaurant is a very enviable vantage point to do your Whale Watching.   Enjoy fabulous sunsets, delicious cocktails at 40% off during happy hour from 5pm-7pm daily as you catch a glimpse of a Humpback or two.

So now that we’ve shared one of our favourite things it is time for you to click BOOK NOW and make them your favourite things too

See you soon!

Note:

• (Feature photo taken by Ryan Spence and shared from Antigua & Barbuda Whale and Dolphin Network)

Blooming flowers, chirping birds, warm weather, romantic sunsets and the idyllic panoramic views of turquoise waters makes Trade Winds Hotel the perfect backdrop for your spring destination wedding.

Begin your happily ever after with the Trade Winds Hotel Wedding and Honeymoon Packages.  We take the worry out of the planning allowing you to enjoy the moment and each other.   Melding the vibrant colours of the Caribbean you can exchange vows in our beautiful lush tropical gardens or on our panoramic deck with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.

Our Beautiful Beginnings wedding packages are the perfect choice for an elegant, romantic, intimate, exotic and memorable occasion:

Stay 7 nights pay for 6 OR Stay 5 nights pay for 4:

• With a complimentary upgrade to an Ocean View Junior Suite with breakfast daily
• Day after honeymoon bliss breakfast served on your private patio
• Bouquet and boutonniere for bride and groom
• Elegant tasty wedding cake
• Wedding coordinator

With the vows said and the bouquet and garter thrown enjoy a relaxing, romantic and affordable honeymoon getaway with our “Forever and Always” honeymoon packages:

Stay 5 nights pay for 4 OR Stay 7 nights pay for 5:

• Complimentary upgrade to an Ocean View Junior Suite and breakfast daily
• A welcome bottle of chilled champagne in your room upon arrival to toast your future
• Beautiful arrangement of tropical flowers in your room
• Honeymoon bliss breakfast served on your private balcony
• A private romantic candle light dinner on any night of your choice

Contact us today and let’s help you plan that enchanting new beginning.

Be sure to to also check out our Pinterest Spring Wedding board for some of our favourite ideas.

Important to note: 

• Couples must be on island for two days prior to their wedding to obtain a Marriage License.
• Divorce Certificate(s) MUST be presented if persons were married before.
• A Marriage Officer will be appointed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs