Our First Trip to Bequia - The Lookout was Heaven!
For the past 20 years we have been vacationing on Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos. We always rent a condo on the beach for two weeks and have enjoyed the high-end experience and familiarity. Typically, a key lockbox with a combination was left on the door and we never met the owners/caretakers/or agents. This year we decided because of COVID travel restrictions over the past few years, rising prices in Providenciales, and an increasing crime rate, we would try something different.
Although we are not “sailors”, we do love sailing and decided Bequia (which had been on our radar due to friends’ recommendations) would be a new adventure. Both of us being 70ish however, and although we have visited over a dozen Caribbean Islands, we had some concerns about visiting this new destination for the first time. We investigated several options, a few of which were on the Atlantic side of the island, too far from town, and victims of the Sargassum invasion, so we opted for the Caribbean side of the island and close to Port Elizabeth. Friends recommended we investigate “The Lookout”, and are we ever pleased that we did!
We were immediately drawn to the staggering vistas from the Ocean Deck shown on their website. Our plan was to book it for two weeks and we contacted Chris and Louise (the owners) by phone to interview them regarding our concerns. We were immediately put at ease and all of our “reservations” went out the window in a single call. We were provided with answers to all of our questions, given all of their contact information, a detailed package on the accommodation options, plus lots of Bequia information, and were encouraged to contact them at any time with any further questions. We went from wanting to rent because of the view, to knowing we had to rent because of the exceptional, informative and caring demeanour of the hosts. So much so that within days, we increased our rental to three weeks and were considering four.
The billing and payment were simple and seamless. Chris and Louise arranged our taxi pick up at the airport in Saint Vincent and our taxi pick up at the ferry dock to take us to “The Lookout”. Flying out of Toronto by Air Canada was a nightmare and we were 5 hours late on our departure, missing the last ferry to Bequia. No issues with our hosts! We contacted them by WhatsApp and they recommended a hotel, rebooked our cabs, and were waiting for us next day to meet us, help us with suitcases, and check us in.
The apartment (Ocean Deck) fully met, and in fact exceeded our expectations. The view was even more spectacular in person! We were provided with a few days of high-quality provisions, which took away the urgency of grocery shopping. They thought of everything in outfitting the apartment with supplies (bug repellent, night lights, soaps, shampoos, adaptors, events listings, beach towels, cooler bags, lots of hangers, etc.). The apartment was modern, clean, spacious, cool and breezy (we never had to turn on the A/C). They spent an hour giving us an orientation which included a much-appreciated rum punch! Upon leaving they insisted we contact them with any questions we might have, and of course we did, and they were always quick to respond with more than enough information.
Within a few days, Chris and Louise began to realize that we were so happy in the apartment sitting on the terrace and watching the harbour, with hundreds of sailboats, yachts, and cruise ships, that we were becoming stagnant. They immediately began a successful campaign to get us up and moving to enjoy this tropical gem of an island. Suddenly we found ourselves attending happy hours, music festivals, dinners out, lunches out, drinks on the beach, and an awesome cruise on the Friendship Rose to Mustique (don’t miss it)! We received almost daily updates about what was happening on the island and suggestion of things we might enjoy trying.
We had just an amazing stay at The Lookout, and I must say the interaction with Chris and Louise simply made our 5-star vacation. They are very kind, interesting, knowledgeable, world travellers, and well-spoken ambassadors for their little island paradise. They appear to know just how much interaction their guests prefer and gauge themselves accordingly. We noticed this in observing our level of interactions with them as compared to others renting the second unit (Hummingbird Deck). I guess we were needy! 
We cannot recommend Chis and Louise highly enough as hosts! Actually, probably more appropriately tagged concierges! Believe us, you will be in the best hands possible!
Stephen & Wayne, Toronto, Canada. Stayed at our Ocean Deck apartment
April 2023