Now that my website and blog is up and running, it is time to share some past trips and highlight some of my favorite properties! As you follow along on the blog, don’t hesitate to reach out to Geaux Beyond to book an experience at any of the properties featured. Let’s Geaux!

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It is only fitting to start with my stay at La Samanna in St. Martin. From the moment I walked through the doors, I was swooning over the décor and the beautiful beach. This is such a gem of a property. Our first night we were treated to a private Veuve & cheese tasting in their wine cellar, La Cave. This is a must do experience for couples and honeymooners. Our sommelier, Luca, is so passionate about his job. He was such a joy to be around. We all loved hearing his stories and learning more from him.

Morning yoga was a great way to kick start our day. Every morning there was a breakfast buffet with an amazing view (see picture below for jaw-dropping views). All Geaux Beyond clients will receive the following VIP perks and amenities:

Welcome letter and fruit basket
Daily breakfast for two
Room upgrade, subject to availability upon arrival
Complimentary lunch for 2 once per stay at the Beach Bar (drinks not included)
One-day car rental (with 5 night minimum stay) - excluding taxes, gas and insurance

For this trip, it was a hosted FAM Trip with Millennials in Travel. Your travel agent fact of the day is that a FAM trip is a hosted trip also known as a familiarization trip. Essentially, the resorts invite travel agents like myself to experience and get to know their property first hand. This allows us to be able to confidently sell a property and gives me insights into how to assist my clients in making the most of their trip. It helps me know which rooms, experiences, restaurants, etc. to suggest when building an itinerary for my clients.

Every "work trip" always includes at least one site inspection. Even when it’s not a work trip and I’m traveling with my family, I try to sneak away for a bit to walk around certain hotels. I have always enjoyed seeing new properties - I guess I’m in the right industry!

On this particular trip, our group was able to check out all the room categories. This includes hotel rooms in the main building to oceanfront suites and even cliffside villas. I was lucky enough to enjoy one of the oceanview suites during my stay. It was an experience like no other waking up to the sounds of the waves crashing in the morning.

We had a lot of unstructured time on this trip where we were able to really enjoy La Samanna. Even if this meant hanging by the pool with laptop in hand answering client emails and working on itineraries, I truly felt like I got to soak in the property. The property offers daily activities that visitors can join on a complimentary basis. These included tennis clinics, pilates, spa time, snorkeling, etc.

A fun surprise one night was a group BBQ dinner. This would be another perfect addition for honeymooners or groups. We also took a day trip to Loterie farms where we hiked and took in the views. If you book your trip with Geaux Beyond, I can always assist in fun off-site activities - even though I have a feeling you’ll never want to leave the property.

Overall, La Samanna is a true 5* experience. The resort is described as “the vibrant jewel of the French West Indies,” which I know from my experience is accurate. From the moment I entered the resort to the moment I unfortunately checked out, I was dazzled by the beauty of the resort. The accommodation options allow for this to be a special vacation spot for any and all travelers. The staff is attentive and truly hospitable. I look forward to the day I get to come back to La Samanna and now understand why families have been coming back here for 30+ years.

I just booked flights to visit Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla next month. I can’t wait to share the experience with you all. If it is anything like my stay at Belmond La Samanna, I know it will be something special. Make sure to follow my next adventure on my Instagram - @geauxbeyondtravel.

If you would like to book with Geaux Travel, please fill out the trip inquiry form found here.