Located among the beautiful and unscathed Grenadine islands, the Old Fort sits atop Mount Pleasant on Bequia, the most charismatic of them all. I wanted a private, quiet, romantic, non standard, warm, totally relaxing, fun but very interesting place to visit on our very special 11-11-11 vacation. My research brought me to the Old Fort as fitting the entire expectation list.
If you want all inclusive, crowded beaches, in your face merchants, countless run of the mill excursions, shopping, loaded buffets, exotic hotel rooms or villas with jacuzzis all sitting on an ocean, for a few thousand dollars, then DO NOT GO TO BEQUIA or any Grenadine Island for that matter. You do not want the above things as per my wish list for the ideal getaway vacation.
Would you like to fly into Barbados airport, jump a 19 seat twin otter plane for a ride with a view you only see on television, beautifully treed islands with golden beaches surrounded by turquoise waters, a prearranged private open air taxi when you land, an enchanting historical drive on a narrow roadway lacking traffic, where the driver knows every one of only 5000 inhabitants on the island, where the temperature is a constant 30 degrees day and night with a magical palm breeze and set foot above a mountain top as you stare at a magnificently restored 19th century small historical charming and very private old fort nestled among the most romantic and absolutely gorgeous flora and fauna you have ever set eyes on? Then GO TO BEQUIA, or St. Vincent or Mustique, or Canouan, or Union or Palm Island but you can ONLY stay at The Old Fort on BEQUIA, the Big Little Island, as it is affectionately known.
My new fiance and I (got engaged at the enchanting and magical fort) stayed 11 days and have recorded it as the getaway vacation of a lifetime.The host Quirin (the residents only know him as Kingking) treated us like family; whatever our little need was, he immediately had a solution or was quick to retrieve something. Kingking is one of the charming sons of the founder, Otmar Schaedle, They found a place in Paradise and unveiled it for all of us to see and experience. You do not stay or visit the Old Fort. You "live it".
Yes the Fort is a little away from the major beaches, restaurants, bars and shopping such as it is. That's a good thing. The island is less than 30 square miles so you get around it in no time. You can easily go to the places you want during the day by easily accessible taxis (or walk) and retreat to the Old Fort for the absolutely beautiful setting of the evening (I loved the dining ambiance). the Old fort provides a very special opportunity to do the things you love to do in the Carribean but have all the peace, beauty and romance of a fairy tale. Bequia itself is charming and beautiful and has one of the world's top beaches, which we shared with never more than a dozen patrons in this off season (yes I am serious). It is not very developed as in much of the Caribbean but the friendly people and charm of the island made us feel welcome and comfortable.
Nobody I have spoken with since our return has ever heard of Bequia, let alone seen it. The visitors we met said sssshhhh, don't tell anyone. But hey, I love sharing and The Old Fort and Bequia is a place that every person should experience at least once in your lifetime.
Kingking, his brother Robin, even their dad Otmar whom we got to meet, along with Shara the everything lady, Josiah, the master chef and handyman, and Sheldon, the groundskeeper, along with Nera the cat who slept with us several nights, the friendly dogs and two donkeys all made our experience at The Old Fort, Bequia, and the breathtaking Tobago Cays a memory of all time. (DO NOT VISIT THE ISLANDS THERE AND NOT SEE TOBAGO CAYS; BIG MISTAKE!).
Of course this trip was an "11" out of 10!!!
