Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the No Before You Go Travel Show show
where we share all the latest travel tips, tricks and
insights to make your next vacation the best one. Yeah,
so sit back, relax, grab a cocktail and enjoy the
show with Ennac Travels, George Benyat and our senior travel
consultant Janet Begnac.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
What's up everybody? Hey everyone, welcome back to another edition
of the No Before You Go Travel Show. We got
a show for you to day on this fourth of
July week. It's a short week. Holiday falls on a Friday.
You gotta love that. Yeah, when holidays fall on a
Friday and weather's weather's great, vibes are good, it's a
it's a holiday. It's a short week. And I feel
(00:43):
like you know when you when you go to work
on a short week at this point, like in the
like American corporate culture these days, it's pretty much off.
Oh yeah, just an off week.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yes, Like nobody like feels like working. I feel like
I've been in VAK mode this whole week.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
So it's the least productive like this week, and then
Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's those are those are
the big ones where like no one's doing it like, oh,
you might be there, you might be a body in
a room like your product your productions in the in
the crapper. Yeah, you know what I mean, there's no way.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, I'm physically there.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Just not mentally and doing no work.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I mean I've been doing so you're working.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, we work, but I'm just saying, like the vibes around,
vibes around the workplace of America's like it's a holiday week.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, I mean I've still been like, it's been hard
for me to focus this week.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah. Well we also have another reason because because it's
a we get that extra day off. What are we doing.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yes, we are headed out on vacation and we've been
super excited to tell you guys where we're going and
just do a whole vlog, a whole review YouTube, everything
on this. Before we get to that real quick, we
do have a couple of reviews that we want to
(01:56):
read and say thank you for. So this is from Whitney.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Ah oh, we have reviews. Okay, by the way, guys,
the best way to support the show five star review
It means the world. So before I even hear this reviews,
these reviews, I want to say thank you, because that
means the world was the best way to support the
company the pod. Because the more reviews we get, you
know the algorithm's work, it'll show our our podcasts more people.
So if you're getting some good value out of this,
even if you're not even booking with us, a review
(02:19):
goes a long way. What you got for us who
gave us some good vibes. I would love starting the
show like this.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yes, so Whitney HM eight six. It says must listen
travel podcasts. So glad. I stumbled upon your show a
few months ago when I was researching our trips for
our beatos. We were weary about staying at it all
inclusive until I started listening to your podcasts. I thoroughly
enjoy hearing about your travel adventures recommendation, specifically in the Caribbean.
My husband and I are planning a trip to Saint
Lucia in the fall. Oh oh wow, that just so
happens me where we're going. We'll tell you what resort
(02:44):
we're staying at. In a second. My husband I or we're
using points to book our trip. Otherwise I would book
through your team. I did go back listen to your
Saint Lucia episode last week found it super valuable. Keep
up great work, fun suggestion at a short listener, Q
and A at the end, maybe pull a question or
two v I. That is a great suggestion, Whitney Hma six.
So we will tell George to get on that.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Thank you Whitney. And yes you know we did do
something fun not that long ago on the stories. I
did an Ama ask me anything, but I like that.
Let's do a We'll do some sort of submitted question
of the day. Did you want us a question the
day or just questions in general.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Or just like a Q and A for the end
of the show.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Love it, love it, okay, perfect every and.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
We have one more so. This is from g ll A.
G D sold us on using a travel Advisor. Hello
Jane and George. Just a few months ago we began
listening to your podcast watching your videos. We had already
book Sandals Robaheman on our own, but you have sold
us on the idea of using travel Advisor moving forward.
If we decide to book more Sandals vacations, we handle
pretty much everything else too. Thank you for the fun
and informative content. We will be reaching out to book
(03:44):
with you in the near future. So thank you so much.
G L L A GED. We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Oh, thank you g L A g D.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Nice enough, okayj AJD.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Oh AJD, thank you so much. And we do book
everything we do. We are a top ten Sandals agency
in the world, which is crazy. Yes, globally it's nuts
that the agency has grown that much. But yeah, no,
we do a bunch of stuff. So whether you're doing
a cruise, European trip, Caribbean Sandals secrets, whatever, we can
handle it for you. And got We just got back
(04:14):
from a cruise, did a long cruise review on Virgin
and now we're about to head out to the beautiful
island of Saint Lucia and we are going to resort
we've never been.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
To, well, discord it, we've never stayed it.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Never never stayed there, but we have. This is a
high ranking resort and a very nice resort and this
is a special one. I think it's special, right, what
do you?
Speaker 3 (04:36):
And I think this can kind of like cater really
to anyone. So we are saying at Sugar Beach, Saint
Lucia Viceroy Resort. So this resort is not all inclusive,
but it does have an all inclusive package that you
can add on that's three hundred and sixty dollars per
adult per night, so it's not adults only. We are
(04:57):
actually going with my family, so my parents and my
brother and his wife and our two nieces. So a
few years ago we all stayed at Hyatziva Kapkana and
now yes we are doing Sugar Beach Saint Lucia and
we did add on the all inclusive package. So what
kind of you know, Once we do our full review,
we'll tell you, you know, if we think it's worth it.
(05:18):
I mean, just from what I know about how expensive
it is to eat and drink there, I think it will.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Be so yeah, it'd be really good experience because, like
I know, we focus on a lot of solely oncluisve resorts.
This will be a new opportunity to go to one
that offers both. Yeah, and we honest, like, the main
reason I love the Incluz package is it's it's like
a sense of more of a freedom during your vacation.
Like you don't like even like we've been to so
(05:43):
many resorts and everything, when when you have to pay
for it, like you have to pay for just a
round of drinks or just a snack or something. You're
just kind of like, you know, there's I just like
the convenience. It's more of a convenience thing.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, Like we stayed at Baha Mar a few years
ago and like going to the bar and getting a
drink that was painful.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Breakfast was like seven million dollars. It's not like just
to have breakfast. I mean just like things that like.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Oh, cocktail is twenty bucks, and then like two cocktails
were like forty bucks. And then when you like see
it and you're you're signing for that, you know, it's
just like oh some times today, yeah, you're like, oh,
oh this is not good.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And if you go to like the right incluisor resorts,
the food is just as good, sometimes better. I mean
it's crazy how good Like the inclusives have really up
their game. I haven't talked to this in a while,
Like around the culinary side of things. Well now, don't
get me wrong, there's a lot of on incruise resorts
that are missing the mark, and I feel like that's
where all inclusives get a bad rap. Like like the
person that gave a review, she's like I never considered
(06:41):
an inquis resort, probably because like you hear things like, oh,
the drinks are this and the food's this. Then you
actually go and you're like, it opens your eyes like
a whole new world of travel opportunities.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Now, yes, but there are some resorts that are like that, so.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Oh for sure. No, don't get me wrong. Absolutely, but
that's why like booking with the travel advisor, they can
point in the right direction and make sure you have
that great experience. I'm telling you, if you haven't tried
anll inclusive resort, or maybe you tried on in the
nineties or something, try them now. I think. I like
back in one of our original podcasts, I actually made the
analogy that all inclusive resorts in the nineties was essentially
a guy in flip flop slipping burgers on a grill
(07:16):
on the beach serving them up. Yeah, you may have,
and it's not like that at all. Like the restaurants
are top notch. One of my favorite restaurants I always
think about when I think about how far all inclusives
have come is the Steakhouse at Italier. Yes, it's on
the top, it's like on the rooftop level. It is
so nice. The salad bar, they have cured meats, they
(07:37):
have amazing wine selection, the state qualities, I mean, just
what you would expect from steakhouse here and it's included.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
And then two I do like this. I'm starting to
like this a little bit. Is where you have the
optional upgrade to pay even a little bit more if
you want to go even above and beyond. Something I
think we were talking last week about Virgin Voyage is
kind of missing the mark. Yeah, there are some that
you know, you can pay a little bit more. For example,
LeBlanc does that. Yeah, now if you're in a certain
(08:06):
room category, it's all included. But like there's always like
one restaurant at the LEBLANCX that you know you get
to pay a little bit more for and it's worth it,
I believe. Oh same for oh gosh, Ish Corret. Yes
that restaurant was you pay a little bit more? Yeah, yeah,
my gosh, it was worth every penny. So really good stuff.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yes. Yeah, So we're gonna give you just like a
quick preview of our trip and a couple you know,
things to know about Saint Lucia and maybe if you're
traveling to this resort and then we'll of course do
a live when we're there, and then when we get back,
we'll probably have a podcast in between, so we don't
just bombarde you with Sugar Beach Saint Lucia's stuff, But
then we will have a full review of that breaks
(08:46):
down absolutely everything. And we have a lot of travel
coming up, so there's gonna be a lot more a
lot of good content coming Yet.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
We we should bombard people with this resort because I
think this resort's gonna be amazing. I first of all,
love Saint Lucia. We honeymoon there. A lot of our
long time listeners know that it's Our dog is named
after the island of Saint Lucia. We hold it holds
a special place in our heart, not just because honey there,
because of all the things to do, they're how unique
the destination is. It's very different than a lot of
the Caribbean. It's it's and they're very great for active couples. Yeah,
(09:15):
and there's just all these little like niche things that
they do that not other islands do. For example, the
helicopter from the airport, you can take a boat from
the airport to get your resort. You can do all
these creative things that right, like.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Yeah, I mean you can't take the helicopter to this resort, but.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yes, but that's what I'm saying. But there's an option though.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
There's an option if you're staying further up on the
northern Reaiste of the island. Yeah, yeah, in the near
the castres area, then there's the option for that, or
if you're saying a Jade Mountain, because Jade Mountain has
its own helipad. And then so Sugar Beach is in Soufray,
which is you can kind of see Sugar Beach from
Jade Mountain. So that's the same area. So it's about
(09:54):
just under an hour ride from the airport. And as
George mentioned, you you also have an option to take
a boat. So there's a ferry and they will drop
you off at the dock at Sugar Beach. So we're
actually not doing the ferry. We are taking the resort's
boat because the resort does have its own boat, and
it's called Sugar Rush I think. And so we'll tell
(10:17):
you name yea good Yeah, so we'll tell you all
about it. But it's a speedboat transfer and so like
they're going to take us from the airport to a
little fishing village to get on the boat there. They
said all of our luggage will come with us, so
there's eight of us total traveling. So we'll let you
guys know how that goes. It was expensive, but I
(10:38):
think it's gonna be worth it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
So I'm so excited. Yes, yeah, I'm so excited. I
need a Caribbean trip. I know, we haven't been in
the Caribbean too long. I'm not I'm not even going
to comment.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
We've done a lot of Mexico and then, as you
guys know, we just went to Europe. So but we're
going back to the Caribbean again after this trip.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
So yeah, like I'm missing this heiny Caribbean island feel,
secluded feel, and I miss Saint Lucia. I miss it
so much.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah. So Saint Lucia is known as the Hawaii of
the Caribbean. It's great to travel to year round in
terms of weather. Now, June through November, when it's hurricane
season is technically their rainy season. That's when you're gonna
have the best.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Prices technically out of the hurricane belt, right technically.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
No, it's not technically out, it's just very far south
on it. But no, they've been like they got scraped
by barrel last year, and you know a few others.
But it's a safer play for hurricanes generally speaking. Okay,
so far can't Yeah, you cannot. We weren't curious how
a few years ago and a hurricane was going by there,
and that like never happens there, so you can never predict.
(11:46):
But some cool things about Oh so what I was
gonna say though, regarding timing of year, so uh, you know,
price wise, September through December is going to be your
best time price wise to go. But the weather's overall,
it's warm and everything year round. So this resort has
one hundred and thirty rooms and sweets, so it's more
(12:08):
of a boutique feel. Every room comes with a butler,
and I believe every room category also has their own
little plunge pool too.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Oh yeah, and we do have a plunge pool.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yes, And then my brother and his family they have
like a two bedroom suite. I think there's a pool
in the middle. So we're gonna do whole room tour
videos and.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
There's not many room tour videos out there of the
room category that we have, right and there's not many
YouTube videos, so this vlog, I'm hopeful that this vlog
is going to do very well.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah, and who I think that this resort is good
for so because it is so small and has more
of a boutique feel. You know, we're going as a
family vacation, the kid as our nieces. They can entertain themselves.
But they do have a great kids clubs with daily
activities that's included. But I mean, really, anyone if you're
(13:00):
oh yeah, yeah, if you're just if you're celebrating something
special or just looking for, you know, a nice vacation,
it's really good for anybody. So Saint Lucia is known
as the Hawaii of the Caribbean. In my opinion, I
think it's the prettiest island in the Caribbean. And I
think that this resort has probably the most beautiful setting
(13:22):
of any resort in Saint Lucia. I mean, because it
sits down at the bottom directly on the beach, and
it's like right, it's in between the pe tons the p.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Tons, which is special Jade's still I mean, that's an
interesting setting. I guess I don't know what should be
my setting, but I.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Think so like when I think of like I don't
mean to compare this to Santal's Saint Vincent, and I'm
not comparing it, but like Sandals Saint Vincent, you know,
you're it's like in the valley, surrounded by it, like
the just the setting is gorgeous. Yeah, So that's what
I'm referring to, is like this year at the base
of the Petons.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Yeah, you're just surrounded by.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Yea and a beautiful beach. That's there's great snorkeling off
the beach as well. So yeah, that's that's kind of
you know what I what I mean by that.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Like I just love that Saint Lucia doesn't have these
like massive high rise hotels and all that stuff. It
just seems so it's like.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Not like yeah like not can't Coon.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
No, like can't Coon or even Hawaii Hawaii there's always
high rise like so is the Hawaii is the Hawaii
of the Caribbean, but in a very like secluded village feel,
not necessarily like the big mega resort feel. I think
there's very few mega resorts in Saint Lucia, where in
other areas that you might and you might not think
all that doesn't matter. Maybe to some it doesn't, but
(14:39):
you know, if you haven't tried a small Caribbean island
for costs or for whatever, you know, if you can
squeeze in at a lower budget to get in and
try it, try it out. I'm telling you They're usually
priced a little bit more, obviously than can Kun and
some of these other bigger, heavier tourist hubs. But there's
a reason it's worth it.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Yes, yeah, absolutely so. The resort has five restaurants and
you can make dining reservations up to twelve weeks in advance.
I mean you don't necessarily need to know. If you
are traveling with us a group of eight, I would
at least recommend it. We did do that. A couple
of big tips about Saint Lucia that I would recommend
(15:18):
if you don't like waiting in lines. They do have
a fast trak service available on arrival.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I hate lines. After our last trip, I'm not this
might not even be could have been bad luck. I'm
not saying Virgin voyages love they love lines, but we
sat in a lot of lines. Yes, I'm lined out, yes,
so I don't even want to see lines on a
piece of paper. Yeah, I don't want to draw lines.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Okay, anyways, and then Saint.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Lucasha, I'm out of line.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
The airport does also have a departures lounge, which I
would highly recommend we are doing it because I think
the island has outgrown the airport. And you have probably agreed.
You've heard if you've heard any thing, if you've heard
any of our Saint Lucia podcasts in the past, you've
heard me say that, because it really has like it.
(16:06):
The airport is tiny and it is crazy busy, and
there's like nowhere to sit down. So the lounge is
one hundred percent worth it. I think it used to
be like fifty five or sixty a person. I want
to say we paid seventy five a person for this.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
But yeah, inflation for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yeah, and they give you some snacks and then it's
free Wi Fi. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Quieter, and it is very quiet and they're comfortable. They
have like couches in there and stuff. I think it's
the old air traffic control. It has the shape. It
is high, is that, yeah, but some some ATCs aren't
high if you have a small airport.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Yeah, No, I'm pretty sure I'll ask somebody. I'll ask
somebody to confirm, but I bet you it is because
the way the windows are shaped. It's got the three
sixty panoramic windows that are shaped at an angle. Yeah,
classic mini airport atc Well, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Well, I guess we'll we'll find out. We'll report back.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
So not that such an irrelevant PA, but whatever. Yes,
So we bring you the hard hitting travel facts, right.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I know we're not going to bring you too much
facts today, but we will in the coming episodes of this.
But we are going to the spa and this resort
is known for their spot. It's called the Rainforest Spa.
So yeah, we're doing some like special coconut massage. I
don't know. I just picked it out.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
It sounded cool, sounds good to me.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, So we'll report back on that.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And real question is included. Do you go naked or underwear?
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Oh my gosh, you're going to talk about that again.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Well, you know I used to be Hey, I'm gonna
go in my underwear. Now I'm more a full naked
kind of guy. Oh my gosh, just because it's just
I mean, you know, see, no one talks about I
think it needs to be fine to talk about stuff
like this. I'm just kidding.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I wonder if like the massage therapists are like, all right,
is he gonna go naked?
Speaker 2 (17:54):
I wonder if they wonder, yeah, like are you? I
mean to them, it doesn't matter. You can't really tell me.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
They probably just they can't. They do it well. They
can definitely tell. Really, when they lift up the sheet
and they don't see that there's anything to tuck the
sheet into, then yeah, I think they.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Know what are they talking the sheet into, Like.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
They tuck it into like your underwear, not.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Me, I guess because I'm gonna go naked.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
But exactly That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
But they do be well, they never even feel around
to look for it for me.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Well, I think because they can see that there's that
it's your you know, bear butt through the sheet.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
They can see through the sheet.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I don't know that they can see through the sheet.
That's terrifying, But not the lining. You know, they can
see that there's not an outline of underwear.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I'm at this point, I'm gonna wear jeans the way
you're talking.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Oh yeah, right, George just loves to like say that,
and you know, try to get a rise out of me.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
So it's working.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
No, I mean, I just think it like I have
a ton of clients that listen to this podcast, and
here we are talking about you know, it's a joke.
It's fine.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I will for if it makes you feel better, I
will wear. I don't care what your jim short.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
We're never going to see those massage services again. I
don't care what you I mean.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
If they see my bear booty, they see my bear booty.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Yeah, whatever you want to do, you you do.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
It's super pasty white. I don't know why they would
want to see it.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Yeah, nobody wants to I'm just kidding, all.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Right, moving on, moving on?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, so uh, any do you have any thoughts or
things you want to add about this trip, and we'll
report back on the activities for the kids that were available,
because I'm sure for those of you who you are
traveling as a family and not looking, you know, just
an adult's vacation, you're wondering how much there is for
(19:40):
them to do. And so our nieces are aged ten
and seven, so we will report back.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I think what I'm most excited about, outside of obviously
spending great time of family is I do want to see.
So we've been to so many all inclusives that are
just all inclusives that they don't have the all inclusive upgrade,
which means all the food's all inclusive and everything. Like
I said earlier, you might have an optional upgrade for
one restaurant. This is kind of the opposite where it's
(20:08):
actually a not all inclusive resort, but they have an
inclusive package. So I'm wondering that the food's going to be, Like,
what's that food gonna be?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Like, I know, I think the food's gone.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I think that food's going to be outstanding.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
There are some exclusions though as to what is included
with the all inclusive package. Like there's a specialty burger
restaurant that they have and apparently it's worth it from
what I've read.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I'll by burger if I have paid for it, that's fine.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Yeah, And I saw somebody said it was the best
burger on the island, but it's like on the beach,
so that's not included. And then there's like they're more
fine dining restaurant called Saltwood. You get like a stipend
for the meal, so okay, so kind of yeah, like
one hundred and twenty five dollars per person.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
That's fine.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah, no, no, no, we have reservations for it. I asked
my dad, I was like, are you gonna pay for
this for us? Yeah? And he said yes. So I
was like, okay, we're booking it.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
So, I mean, we would pay for it if we had.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
No I know, but I just wanted to make sure
that he was also okay, since you know, this was
kind of like their trip.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
So yeah, yeah, well, I'm super perful that we're going
on this. This would be fun and like so, I
think the food is a big thing. I'm gonna monitor
obviously drink quality, which we always do. There's no swam
of bar. That's kind of a I wish there was one,
but it's not that kind of resort. I don't think.
I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be
mega low key. I think it's gonna be one of
(21:28):
the chillest vacations we've had because from it's a deek resort.
Talk between the pitons, I don't you know, this is
gonna be like the ultimate relaxation.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
I think, yeah, I'm not doing anything for three for
four days.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I think it's gonna be the vibe of like Islam
mute Harris, like the vibe of secrets is law.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Yeah, we least did a bike tour there. I don't
plan on doing that.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Yeah, I might not even Yeah, I mean I will
go to the gym, Like, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I'm gonna go to the gym. That's gonna be the
extent of my activity. And then I thought about hiking
the Pitons again, but I don't think I feel like it.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
I might do it. I'm still fifty to fifty on it.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
So we have done that before, but it was in
twenty eighteen, so.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Yeah, I'm a little I'm a little older now the
climb might be a little harder, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
It took us two and a half hours to get
up and two and a half hours to get down,
Like coming down was just as hard as going up.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I actually did it fasted too. I had no food
in the system, right, which was insanity. Like I didn't
think it was gonna be a bad deal. I think
it was a big deal. But because it's like I
do a lot of stuff fasted whatever, Like I didn't
skip breakfast, just drink coffee and I'm gonna go climb
a how have that. It's like twenty three hundred feet
or something.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
It's pretty something like that or twenty five hundred.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It's pretty far up there. I mean you're in the
clouds right there are clouds are there, and it maybe
bit off bourn I can chew. But it was fun.
It was fun. But yeah, you know, that's the beauty
of Saint Lucia. There is a lot to do off
the resort, and you know, if we're gonna do all
that lounging, I'm thinking I might should do the climb.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I mean, then you go for it. I'm not going
you won't go with me, No, not this trip. Really,
I'm relaxing.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yeah going, No, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Yeah, you're going there as so good resort is like
so they do have a shuttle system to get around
the resort, but if you're staying down like on the
beach level, then you're closest and it's easier to get
around to like the main areas of the resort. But
I feel like if we want to, you know, hike
and get a little bit of exercise that way outside
of the gym, we just like hike up to some
(23:21):
of the areas of the resort.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Oh well, okay, but that's just my but but one thing,
like if the pitons are right there, though, I might
just do it out of convenience because it's right there.
I don't have to go the whole way.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
No, you don't, because they have.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Those quarter points. You stop a quarter of the way,
you stop halfway, stop three quarters of the way, and
then you go to the top.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
I don't have to go all the way to the top,
although once I get halfway, I'm probably going to the top.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
We And by the way, if you guys want to
see what this hike was like, we do have a
little video of it. Not a little video, but it's
in our U one of our Saint Lucia videos.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
It was our Regency the Talks video from the twenty
eight it's.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
An older time. It's an older video, but we did
film ourselves going up and it was it was ajourney. Yes,
it was a journey. Okay, Anyways, what else we talking
about here? I know we got what are the restaurants
that they have? Name of them all?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I don't have all of their names in front of me,
but we will go through that on the next podcast.
But they have five and again, you can make reservations.
I think every Friday they do like a barbecue, a
beach barbecue. Oh, well, love that, so we have reservations
for that. Yeah, it's it's gonna be different but fun trip.
I'm yeh, super excited. We're literally heading to the airport
(24:28):
in less than an hour.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I know this is family friendly, but I have the
feeling that this might scream like high end anniversary or
high end anniversary, high end honeymoon.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Yeah. I don't think there's going to be like, you know,
too many families there, but I know they have a
great kids club with a lot of activities and things
to do for kids.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yeah. I don't see bachelor bachelorette parties coming here. I
don't see giant groups or like employee outings here like
you would see at some of the larger resorts. So
I think this is going to be like, you know,
like a little quaint honeymoon, high end total relaxation fives
kind of something perfect after a hectic wedding, you know,
planning a weddings exhausting and all that. Like, yeah, let
(25:08):
Pinac travel plan the honeymoon.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Yes, yeah, absolutely So, like I mentioned, we are about
to go to the airport and we are doing our
overnight stay on the way there. So my family is
in the Charlotte area, and Charlotte does have NonStop flights
to Saint Lucia daily this time of year, and so
they're all taking that and so we are flying and
(25:32):
it was actually a little bit less it saved on
the ticket, so sometimes you know, this can happen that way.
But we're flying to Charlotte tonight and then we'll all
be on the flight tomorrow and Queen Yeah, And my
parents asked me this, and I was like, oh, this
is something that I should probably just mention on the podcast.
So since it's a holiday weekend, and what should you
(25:52):
expect for travel, which I was at the gy this
morning and the TV they said that this was going
to be like one of the busiest years of Fourth
of July travel, but I feel like they say that
every year. But so my dad is like, what time
should we get to the airport tomorrow? So they have
tsa PreCheck. My brother and his family do not, and
(26:13):
I'm like, are you checking a bag?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Which they are, of course they are. Yeah, so what
I don't travel as much as we do.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
So yeah, So they're going to get I suggested, just
because we have seen Charlotte Airport be absolutely insane.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
So now Charlotte Airport, believe it or not, is a
top five airport in the world. Yeah, he wouldn't realize
that Charlotte was last year.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
I think it was, yeah, top five.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Now we're not saying that your local airport is or
is it going to be like this? But I think
not just because Charlotte's top five either. Think in general,
traffic is heavier through airlines and we you know.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
During especially at a big major hub like that.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
And during COVID, we were tracking every week. Remember on
our show on we would track the number of travelers
through TSA. That's a published number. Oh yeah, and I'm
going to look Yeah, if you want to look that
up while I'm talking here, I would venture to say
that if you compared. I think they do a three
year history on the TSA website, and I bet you
(27:11):
if you compared this year to last year and the
year before, we are either flat or up is what
it feels like. And I have a feeling too, I
think like I think the labor side of thing on
TSA is like tough. It's like tough to hire good
people in TSA, So I will I wonder if there's
less staff. And so you're just seeing because I've noticed
(27:32):
that they should open up more lines sometimes and I
just feel like they're balanced some labor issues. And so
that combined with a higher demand for travel, you got
problems with TSA. You got problems getting through security, just
like things are backed up. It's just not just. And
I will always say this travel. I traveled a ton
pre COVID. You did too, But I traveled a lot
(27:53):
for I had. I had a corporate job pre COVID,
and I traveled. I was I was on the road
three three weeks some month. You remember those days. Yeah,
not very fun, but I did it. And I would
travel all the time, like I just and travel pre
COVID was more convenient. I can't really, I really can't
put my finger on what exactly changed. But for sure,
pre COVID things were just smoother, it was more convenient.
(28:16):
I'll even go as far as say, like flight attendants
were more friendly, like it was just a different environment.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
I definitely agree with the flight attendant thing.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Yeah, yeah, like it's weird, like you know, I.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Think everybody was more friendly.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You hear people, You hear people talk about you, hear
people talk about like what flight was like pre nine
to eleven. That was definitely like a revolutionary change for
flying was nine to eleven. Like TSA became a thing,
you know, you could like getting in and out of airports,
you just go in freely pre pre nine to eleven.
Post nine eleven you have to have a ticket. So
a lot of that changed. I'm not saying that change
is that drastic, but it is a similar, like a
(28:48):
feeling change, just a feel thing.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Yeah, I also think it's just more chaotic. I think,
and please don't take this the wrong way, but I
I feel like if there's one thing that COVID taught
a lot of people is that you only live once,
and you know, don't just like sit at home, like
all travel tomorrows. I guarantee go see the world. And
so more people are traveling, so I think that you
(29:10):
have a little bit more inexperienced travelers.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
So it just slows things down, close satings.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Down, and like creates a little bit of chaos, you
know that sort of thing. So TSA numbers. So when
I was at the gym, they said that tomorrow July
third and Sunday July sixth would be the two busiest
days this week. So yesterday, July first, it said they
screened two point four and some change million passengers. Sunday
(29:39):
was a big day. Sunday was two point nine to
five million passes.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Okay, if you scroll back, you can actually the compare
comparison to last year.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Well, I just want to say, and then June twenty
second was over three million.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Yeah, but a lot of people that don't know these numbers,
that doesn't resonate, So let's.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Compare it to uh, this is only this year.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Oh, they don't go back they used to. They we'll
have to find the data.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
That is all find the data.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
But that is a lot guys. I know, for those
that don't track to Essay numbers that that's a pretty
busy Those are pretty busy days. Yeah. I want to say,
like my recollection is during COVID, I remember it would
be like twenty seven thousand or something. It would be
so small.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Yeah, So I told my parents that they should get there.
They live about forty minutes from the Charlotte Airport, so
they're going to get there about three hours before, just
to be on the safe side. And one thing that
I want to mention is why I mentioned checked bags,
because if you are checking a bag, your bag must
(30:34):
be checked sixty minutes before at least sixty minutes before
your flight. If it's after that or if you're within
like fifty minutes of your flight, they will not allow
you to check in or fly. So you need to
make sure you leave plenty of time for that, especially
if you don't have status, or if you're not flying
business class, if you have to wait in the main line,
(30:55):
just please allow enough time for that. And you would
rather I know, three hours you're like, oh my gosh,
trust me, you would rather be sitting at the airport
and you know, like go caild homes fight.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, I did find I got twenty twenty four days.
Oh okay, what's twenty So what are the dates you
brought up? You said July first first, what'd you have
for last year or what do you have for this year?
I got last year?
Speaker 3 (31:16):
U My first was two point four zero million.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
Yeah, we are up over ten percent because July first
last year. Now the dates are like the day of
the dates were different two point seven million.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So that's so that this is down then this is down.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
I think you said it was three.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
No, this is two point four million for.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
July first, Oh, it is down.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Then Okay, what was the Sunday before?
Speaker 2 (31:41):
I don't I don't know. I don't have So that
was all I have is the actual number date. I
don't have the week day day.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
So then what was June thirtieth of last year?
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Two point eight? Oh, so there you go.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
So then June twenty nine, so that was the Sunday
before the fourth.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
The twenty eighth was two point nine.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
So that this Sunday before the fourth was two point
nine million. So that's a little lot, but I mean,
you know it's hovering around the you know, close to
three million.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Yeah, yeah, No, it's pretty cool. This data goes all
the way back to twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
But it's going to be a busy weekend for travel,
So pack your patients number one and just.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Do that in plan for delays, do that in general
these days. Just pack your patients.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Yes, absolutely, yea. So all right, do you have a
question of the day?
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah? Are you ready for a question the day?
Speaker 3 (32:32):
I am? I was gonna say I think that kind
of sums up. We were just doing a quick preview.
Tell you guys where we're going. I know we've like
put some nuggets out there, and we wanted to get
some sort of podcast out before we left. Sorry, we
have been inconsistent with that. We're going to try to
get better, but we've been saying that for months.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
So perfect, perfect, all right, are you ready for our
question of the day?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Question of the day? All right, we're back on ask
credit for this one here. There's some really funny questions.
I'll ask credit right now. You can tell it's a
holiday week because people are on Reddit. Okay, are you
right here?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You go?
Speaker 2 (33:02):
What are your opinions on how Diddy's trial ended? I'm
just kidding.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
That is crazy?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Oh my god, I mean, does did he want to
be out at this point? I think, like, like.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
I don't know, I can't believe. I'm honestly, I'm not
surprised that he got off on some but I don't know.
I just I appreciate fifty cents commentary. I had all
things just going on in the world because he.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Efty cents the most trusted news source in the world.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
He does not give he has no filter a crap
about what he says or what anyone thinks, and it's
just quite entertaining. I love fifty cent. You know, we're
we were born in the mids late eighties, so like
we grew up on his music, you know, in high
school and stuff, and so like we when.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
In the Club came out, it was an absolute banger.
I mean everyone played it. Every radio station had it.
I mean it was I remember burning a CD with
that on it for the first time, Like it was
just such a popular song. And then like his whole
that it took off. That song made his whole career
take off.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
But he he has so many opinions on Diddy and
the whole trial, and he posted him on Instagram. Sometimes
he deletes them, but it's overall it's just very funny,
So go follow fifties page if it's funny.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
When he was literally somebody hilarious.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
So I checked. When I heard that the verdict came
out today, I was like, oh, I bet fifties already
posted it, and like I saw it after on Instagram
like four minutes that, like there was a verdict reach
and not on fifties profile, and I was like, oh,
let me see a fifties already commented on it, sure enough,
like within seven minutes he had already made a post
(34:42):
coming about it, and it's it's actually it's kind of
it's kind of funny when he posted.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
But I'm not gonna say, yeah, you just go to
fifty Let's.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Go to his instagram.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Let's get to the real question of the day.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Oh, that's not the real one.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Now here's a fun it's another fun one though. What's
the fastest you've seen a marriage end? Like, I don't
know if that means like how long the marriage was
or how quickly it just ended. I don't know that.
I'll go to some of the comments here, hesitant to
go here.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
This is some like some one that we know.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Shortest marriage, Yeah, like I guess, shortest period of time.
I mean we won't say her name.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
No, we won't say her name, but I think it
was like a month we went to that wedding.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
That was an expensive wedding. Oh my god, dad, very
nice that we know her name. We're not going to
say it. Her dad probably is not happy about that,
because that probably spent that was probably sixty thousand dollars
and that burned up in eight.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
Weeks, especially when like a week before the wedding, her
dad told her he didn't care if she backed own.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Yeah, I think he was still trying to Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Yeah, and then she didn't back out, and then like
a month later, it may not have even been a
full month. Yeah, then it was. It was.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
It was a massive wedding. Though. It was a massive wedding,
and I think, like me and you, because we were
close to her, we kind of knew that these things
going to why, but they went through it anyways, and
it was a I gotta give it to him, beautiful wedding.
It was awesome, had a great time, like the band,
the music, the DJ, the dancing, the venue, the food
(36:14):
that it was an utter celebration. And then we have
the and it just yeah, I mean they pretty much
fould her Di force right afterwards.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, it was like after the honeymoon.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
It was pretty much on an olement. I mean, it
wasn't even I think it was.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
I went to her divorce hearing with her, so it was, oh,
it was.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
It must have been. It was after the time period.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
But then there was the other one that we were
both in a few years ago and wed. Yeah. So yeah,
but we we they're they're great friends of ours, but
we just knew that they were rushing into all things
life and.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Oh, they rushed into everything.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
And I was like, this is going to last two
years and it was like two years and three months.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
I think the marriage was an attempt too. They kept
like double downing to fix problems when really you just
need to take a pause sometimes sometimes to fix things,
you got to take a pause in life. Don't add
more thinking, that's the solution.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
So here is never the Peniac's Marriage Counseling podcast.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
This whole podcast staring and something totally h Hey, we're
a happy couple. We've made it a long time. You've
kept me around for a long time. That's impressed. That's
a really impressive feed. That's the question today. Have you
how the heck have you kept on to me?
Speaker 3 (37:25):
So I was gonna say, for those of you that
don't know, George and I have actually been together for
over twenty years. Yeah, and high school sweethearts.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
And as a freshman in college you were senior. I
was the cool college guy dating a senior in high school.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
But we've been married though because we waited a long
time to get married, but we've been married. What it's
gonna be third? Yeah, thirteen years this year, so thirteen years.
Speaker 2 (37:50):
Yes, our marriage is a teenager now, yeah, just about
thirteen years. You've kept up with me. You kept me
around for thirteen years. That's impressive, that's crazy. I don't
even keep myself around for thirteen years.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Okay, Well, now that you have not gotten so that
grade of information and so much information from today's podcast.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
You got travel information and.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Talked about marriages and divorces. But stay tuned for a
live from Saint Lucia podcast coming up in the next
few days. And then, like I said, when we get
back and have a chance to digest everything, we're going
to go through all things Sugar Beach, everything you need
to know about traveling there, and just some other you know,
Saint Lucia travel tips in general. But if you want
(38:33):
more information on anything that you've heard today, we'll be
back in the office next week. I actually am going
to try to shut it down a little bit, but
you can give us a call one one hundred and
six seven four three two seven eight. Go to Pina
travel dot com click request to quote it comes directly
to me, or sign into our DMS.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Yes, guys to have a happy and say Fourth of July,
be safe. This very safe, and have you fall on
a Friday. There'll be some fireworks marts. Don't be careful
with fireworks. There's too many videos on the internet people
blowing their hands off. Just be careful with fireworks. It's
not worth it. And now we have to get that
little one second rush and you see the explosion, and
then I see the way young people handle fireworks and
I'm like, you know, they say the ers are the
(39:10):
busiest people a blowing their hands.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
Oh yeah, but we got to go to the airport.
So thank you guys for listening, and we will catch
you live in Saint Lucia.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
See you next time.