News from Montserrat…Fall – Winter 2006/2007

Montserrat, West Indies – November 30, 2006 – The Soufriere Hills Volcano is not the only thing on the charming Caribbean island of Montserrat that has been attracting attention this season. The island is full of life with plans and preparations for annual festivals and new developments.  Below is an update on what's new in Montserrat.

WinAir Adds Additional Montserrat Flights
In anticipation of the influx of visitors for the holidays, WinAir has added two additional flights to its Montserrat/Antigua flight schedule – making a total of six daily flights. >From December 4, 2006 until March 2007, visitors can now fly from Antigua to Montserrat as early as 7:00 a.m. and as late as 5:00 p.m. to accommodate international carrier arrivals. Return flight service from Montserrat begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 5:35 p.m. For more information and to book travel, visit www.fly-winair.com
 
Air Montserrat Flies December 1
Air Montserrat has announced that it will be commencing operations on Dec 1, 2006.  One-way fares between Montserrat and Antigua will start at US$65 inclusive of all taxes and charges. Once the Montserrat-Antigua route is established, Air Montserrat plans to extend its services to other islands in the region, which will give Montserrat its first direct flight services to other Caribbean islands since the opening of its new airport in July 2005. Air Montserrat is owned by Philip Rogers, a native Montserratian, and is operated by Trans Anguilla Airways (2000) Limited with the aircraft being based in Montserrat. The airline, operating a Britten Norman Islander that holds up to nine passengers, will also offer charters to the neighboring islands, sight seeing tours, and cargo lift. For reservations and more information on Air Montserrat, visit www.airmontserrat.com or call 612-284-3672.
 
Book Montserrat Accommodations Online
Travelers to the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean can now book accommodations at WorldHotel-Link.com. Visitors can now book vacations stays at six Montserrat properties including Erindell Guesthouse, Travellers Palm, Gingerbread Hill, Miles Away Villa, Tropical Mansion Suites and Vue Pointe Hotel. For more information and reservations, visit www.worldhotel-link.com
 
New Cultural Center
Montserrat will welcome a new cultural center this winter. The Montserrat Cultural Center is a product of Sir George Martin, former Beatles manager, who spearheaded the massive fundraising drive. Sir George's connection with the island began in the 1970's when he established Air Studios. The building contains a 700 seat auditorium, meeting rooms and rehearsal rooms. In addition, there is an outdoor seating patio which overlooks the landscaped gardens. This state-of-the-art Cultural Centre will be a great asset to Montserrat and its cultural community. The opening of the center comes in time to host events for the annual Montserrat Festival/Carnival celebration December 15, 2006 – January 1, 2007 and St. Patrick's Day festivities, March 10 – 18, 2007.
 
Travel Photography Workshop
Seasoned travel photographer Igor Kravtchenko and expert landscape and travel photographer Carolyne Coleby will be hosting a digital photography workshop on the Caribbean island of Montserrat from February 24 – March 3, 2007. The weeklong workshop will provide participants the opportunity to explore one of the last unspoiled Caribbean destinations while learning about photography and improving skills and techniques with qualified professionals. During the week, while taking landscape, portrait, travel and underwater images, students will have the opportunity to explore Montserrat's rainforests, dark sand beaches, flora and fauna on field trips and scouting locations. The fee for the workshop is $800 USD including field trips/excursions.  To register and for more information, visit: http://www.kimagic.ca/Workshop or www.turtlebayapartments.com
 
Montserrat's Festival
Montserrat's Festival runs from mid-December until New Year's Day. Festival has many similarities with the carnivals held in other islands, and highlights the island's wealth of culture and talent. There are calypso competitions, the Festival Queen competition, beauty and talent shows, and the parade of costumed troupes on New Year's Day, as well as Masqueraders dancing in the streets. As night falls, excitement builds up at street "jump ups" – informal dancing in the street, with exuberant crowds following a truck playing loud music. In addition though, there are a host of other shows and events that often include choral singing, drama, and the schools' performing arts festival. For a full list of Festival events, visit www.visitmontserrat.com
Emerald Community Singers of Montserrat
The Emerald Community Singers of Montserrat, long considered the leading Folk Group in the Caribbean, is celebrating their 35th anniversary.  The group has appeared at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, at the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Houses of Parliament in London, in the grandeur of York Minister in the north of England and at a variety of music festivals in the Americas and Britain. Visitors to Montserrat will have the opportunity to see the group perform during the 2006/2007 winter season at the Vue Pointe Hotel every second Wednesday night of the month. For dates and time contact the Vue Pointe Hotel at 664-491 5210.
 
Montserrat, a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles, lies in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. Known fondly as the "Emerald Isle" of the Caribbean, this pear-shaped island is a traveler's paradise for nature lovers, divers, adventurers, family and villa vacationers, and honeymooners.  The former capital city, Plymouth, lies buried in volcanic ash, a transformation that likens this British overseas territory to a modern day Pompeii, while in contrast, the rest of the island flourishes, boasting green mountains, world-class nature trails, deserted dark sand beaches, untouched reefs and a quiet, friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be.

For more information on Montserrat and its breathtaking scenery and unspoiled, unpolluted coral and volcanic vistas, visit www.visitmontserrat.com

November 30, 2006   Posted in: Caribbean