28 - Sunday, January 5, 1992 ~ North Shore News Sandals Antigua TRAVEL Where fun is mandatory ANTIGUA — There is something to be said for going alone to a couples-only resort in the Caribbean. What that is still eludes me, but I have a few impressions. One gets to meet a lot of barmen, particularly at a resort like the newly-opened Sandals Antigua, whose ‘‘all-inclusive’’ feature means that you don’t pay extra for meals, tennis, watersports, the health club — or drinks. And Sandals does not hold back. They serve premium grog all day fong and well into the night. There’s no messing around with money, bar chits or beads. In this kind of situation a man can feel quite. expansive and stand a few rounds. The meals can have that effect on the waistline. Sandals serves very good food. From every table in the dining room there is a view of the Car- ibbean, and diners on the terrace can find the shade of a palm tree ‘and almost reach out and touch the beach. . Guests are escorted to tables and served by waiters who are well-trained, warm but thankfully without the brash familiarity that often passes for service these days. Breakfast buffets are so good - even honeymooners showed up. Lunch buffets were better than many a show-off cruise ship, while the three restaurants, in- cluding one doing Japanese fare, produced dinners that appeared to : delight the troops. Before going any further the cost should be revealed — about $400 a day for a-couple. Not cheap, you could say, but ‘think - about it. Any decent hotel in the Carib- bean is going to cost $200°a night in the high season, which means any time you want to go. The better places charge around $400 a day for room,. breakfast and dinner. Everything else is ex- tra, such as water-skiing at U.S. $15 a pop. - “Sandals gives you a_ beautiful room with king-size bed and air- conditioner operated by remote, just like the TV, and the latter - NORTH SHORE VENTURE TRAVEL & CRUISES HAWAII January Special! 7 nights at 5868 PP/DBL : Price includes: @ Return airfare from Vancouver to Honolulu, and inter-isiand a airfare from Honolulu to either ’ KAUAI, HAWAII or MAUI. & Car Rental for 7 days Hotel Accommodation for 7 & : nights. A 110 East 14th St, q (at Lonsdale) North Vancouver § 986-1377 f David Wishart TRAVEL TIPS features a good selection of in- house movies. Bathrooms are spacious and handsomely tiled, coming with an amenity kit that rivals any swanky hotel. All-inclusive sports include scuba diving, water skiing, sailing and windsurfing, and they don’t cut you off after one trip around the bay. You can waterski until your arms come off. And there’s even a beach dog called Bullet to help fetch the tow rope. Bullet, who looks like a cross between a labrador and a whippet, spends hours in the water at his self-appointed task. He lines up the ski boat and a skier in the water, waits until the ski boat sw- ings by with the rope, then lunges _ for the handle. A brisk paddle to the astonished skier and Bullet hands it over. Then there’s the entertainment. Something is happening all the time, sometimes a little noisily, but the beach is long and beautiful, and Bullet is always happy to go for a walk. In the evenings there’s music and dancing, steel bands drop in, and yes, they play the Newlywed Game. Some guests get carried away and ask the front desk for a vicar. One night two couples got married before dinner. Standing at the bar within ear- shot of a brace of Wedding Mar- ches was almost too much for a visiting Irishman who was there with a woman from Kerry who owned a pub. “I hope this isn’t mandatory,”’ he said. A young man from New’ York said he liked the all-inclusive aspect because he does not have to carry a wallet, and his hand is not always in it. For him, not having to think about money is part of being on vacation. - The concept is clearly a good one. Sandals owner Butch Stewart, one of the smartest and sunniest people in the business, also has six Sandals. resorts in Jamaica, plus a Cessna Citation jet for commuting. He is that rare breed of hands-on boss who has a magic touch with people. “F tell you something about Butch,’’ says the driver. of a taxi (fare also included) taking me to the airport, ‘“‘any mon that can get a dog to work.on the beach like that dog Bullet... is quite a mon, mon.” , More Mexico for Less. Cruise 7 days to warm & sunny Mexican Riviera’ Visit beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan & Cabo San: Lucas For only $799 U.S. per person, ra including Round Trip Air Fare wo Very limited availability —: CALL NOW! 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