Dominica World Creole Music Festival
| Dominica Lodging
Text and photos by William Farrington
(except for Springfield Guesthouses which are courtesy of Nancy Osler)
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Lodging choices, in Dominica,
have a more personal touch, taking on the character of its owner and
appealling to a particular traveler. We offer a small sampling to be
updated. Exotica for instance is the ideal artists retreat, for the
business traveler The Fort Young in downtown Roseau is a great choice,
Papillote appeals to the adventurer, and the Anchorage to the diver/
mariner.
Roseau Valley Hotel
 
Patsy & Hugh in front of Roseau Valley
Patsy and Hugh at The Roseau Valley Hotel are accomodating hosts, we enjoyed ourselves there and or fellow guests were a fun bunch as well, a sumptuos spread and great coffee is offered at breakfast, unfortunately we were just coming in at that time but it looked very good. there are 11 rooms on two floors and seemed even homier.
The free wireless internet is a welcome amenity.There are 10 rooms, one or two bed apartments, and one studio apartment with kitchen facilities. Deluxe rooms with private balconies, fans, Cable TV and telephones. The hotel is within hiking distance of many of the most scenic spots on the island, including: the Fresh Water Lake, Trafalgar Falls, Middleham Falls, the Volcanic Hot Springs, and Boiling Lake.
 
 
 
Guests of the Roseau toasting with Kubuli beer
 
Papillotee
small, secluded Inn perched at the head of the Roseau River Valley with comfortable rooms
overlooking gardens, mountains, waterfalls and pristine rainforest wilderness.
 
Wander in the RAINFOREST GARDENS
Flowering jade vines of an unbelievable shade of blue, huge pink ginger blossoms, aroids, begonias,
bromeliads, heliconias, orchids and ferns form sumptuous compositions to tempt artists, botanists,
gardeners and photographers. Geckos and other creatures live contentedly with 30 kinds of bird and
19 species of butterfly amongst hot and cold waterfalls and soothing hot and cold mineral pools.
  
  
Grounds of Papillote - Ron Mellow discovering a crab giving birth by the river bed, holding the babies in his handlding the babies in his hand
 
 
Relax in THE RAINFOREST RESTAURANT
Sip delicious fresh brewed Dominican coffee or herbal teas and sample our chef's tasty wholesome
cooking while you gaze down upon the beautiful Roseau River Valley which stretches down to the
sea. Sit quiet and still as hummingbirds flash by tending their ginger plantations and hawks and herons
glide across the sky to the mountains beyond. Chat with fellow guests or immerse yourself in green
thoughts.
 
Lunch at Papillote - Sauted flying fish in a creole sauce with plantains, dasheen puffs, rice and salad
Travel tips -What to Bring -What to Expect
What to bring: Lightweight, casual clothes and light rain gear or a mini-umbrella and comfortable
shoes with non skid soles. A sweater or lightweight jacket is adequate for evening breezes through the
winter. Our temperature can range from 60 to a balmy 80 degrees. A small flashlight is very useful.
What to expect: Papillote is a simple but special place in tune with Island life. Our rooms have private
bathroom facilities, hot running water, electricity and comfortable beds, but our rooms are not
equipped with television or phones. We do have wireless internet access. Our cool mountain
breezes make air-conditioning unnecessary and a 24 hour phone is available at the reception area.
 
Contact Information:
Papillote Wilderness Retreat, P.O. Box 2287, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, Windward Islands,
Tel: 767 448 2287
Fax: 767 448 2285
e-mail: papillote@cwdom.dm
http://www.papillote.dm
http://www.avirtualdominica.com/papillot.htm
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The Springfield
Guesthouse
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| The Springfield
Guesthouse is abuzz with activity, hosting guests ranging from
researchers and scholars to adventurers at this Architectural
Heritage site that dates from 1760. Originally a French
plantation house and over the course of the centuries it has
been a guest house, private residence and even head of
Government after a hurricane struck the island so it is rich in
island history. Strikingly perched between steep, wooded
mountains with a view that reaches to the horizon, the property
has recently has been totally renovated and is now also a major
research center studying rain forest ecosystems in the
surrounding virgin forest. |
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| The Springfield and its
grounds (198 acres) were donated to Clemson University.
The original plantation house is the center building of a much
larger guesthouse that was built up over the decades. A double
occupancy room and a single occupancy room are located on the
upper floor of the original house (with a sea view). The dining
room and bar are located on the main floor.
Accommodations come in several options,
cottage, apartment, guest rooms and dormitories. Local chefs
provide 3 meals a day and bag lunches featuring local dishes and
organic fruits and vegetables from the estate garden. In
addition to wireless internet, library and computer room the
property is rich in island history.
Tourist rates start at $79.00 US single occupancy and $95.00 US
double occupancy. This includes all taxes, service charge and
breakfast. Dorm rates start at $39 US/ person/night including
tax, service charge and breakfast (max 6 ppl/ room, max group
size 50). Amenities: 200 acre rainforest estate, wireless
internet, walking trails, river bathing, organic farm, natural
history library, laundry service, cell phones for rent,
restaurant and so on. |
Contact Nancy Osler:
Nancy Osler 767449 3026
nosler@clemson.edu
website
www.springfield-dominica.org
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Exotica Cottages
Exotica Cottages
www.exotica-cottages.com
email: exotica@cwdom.dm
telephone: 767-448-8839
fax: 767-448-8829 (contacts: Fae or Athie Martin)
Exotica is the labor of
love of a creative minded couple, Fae and Athie Martin, who opened the
cluster of cottages 1300 ft above the sea on Morne Anglais to guests.
After ascending the twisting old road through that clings to the side of
the western slope of the mountain the first thing one notices is that it
is much cooler than in Roseau. The calm here gradually dissolves the
stress of traveling. With a view from the cottage consisting mostly sky
with lush vegetation and sea far below, it is not a suprise when Fae
says that many of their guests come to get away from it all.
 
 
When Fae and Athie came
here it was to retire. Athie started a garden, Exotica, to preseve local
fruit trees. He explained that "Common fruits had become exotic as a
result of the banana idustry" so he and his brother decided that there
should be a garden that preserves the Guava, Passionfruit, Soursop,
Avocado, Sugar Apples, Sapodillas, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Carambola, and
Cashew and other varieties of indigenous fruit trees.
The garden predates the cottages which evolved he says because "people
have always come to eat Fae's food wherever we have lived". Fae simply
says " I just love to cook". And her food was extraordinary.
Brunch began with a fresh squeezed juices - Tangerine, grapefruit, or
passionfruit followed by a menu of Tita a local delicacy made of
avocado, farina. Creole Liver in a cherry tomato sauce seasoned with
thyme, parsley, garlic, salt and vinegar. Codfish( soaked in Brown sugar
to kill the salt) mixed with tomato and onion seasoned with pepper and
curry, breadfruit, callalou, fresh fruit , and locally grown coffee.
 
Fort Young Hotel
Fort Young Hotel
Victoria Street, P.O. Box 519,Roseau, Dominica, W.I
Tel: (767) 448 5000 Fax: (767) 448 5006
Email:
fortyoung@cwdom.dm Website:
fortyounghotel.com
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Photo courtesy Fort Young website
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Photo William Farrington |
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(Hotel info from Fort
Young Website:) The Hotel sits
on a site chosen by the French in 1720 for a fort, strategically located
to protect the Roseau harbor, the British upgraded and named it Fort
Young. The Hotel incorporated the foundation, (it is visible in the
restaurant). Conveniently located, the hotel is on a bluff overlooking
Roseau and the bay. A short walk from downtown and the ferry landing for
transportation to Martinique and Guadeloupe. The hotel was completely
rebuilt in 1989 and features include Waterfront Restaurant, Boardwalk
Cafe and Bar, Sun Terrace, Health & Beauty Centre, Jacuzzi, Exercise
Room, Duty Free Shops, Dive Shop, Jetty, Conference facilities, Business
Centre. A recently completed oceanfront expansion luxurious and spacious
Guest rooms with lounge area or Suites offering separate living room,
whirlpool tub, kitchen facilities (with microwave and fridge), large
balcony with expansive view of the Caribbean sea. |
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Photo courtesy Fort Young website
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Photo courtesy Fort Young website |
View of the Anchorage from the dock |
A table at the Anchorage restaurant |
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Friendly and efficient,
the family owned establishment is a mecca for divers and yachtsmen. On
the Castle Comfort side of Roseau offers home cooked meals including
popular Thursday night barbecues, and 30 years experience in island
safari tours. Its origins lie in serving yachtsman attracted to the area
calm waters. It still serves yachtsman but has prospered with the growth
of the whale watching and dive industries. Not all of Dominica's
adventures are above sea level, the landscape is just as dramatic
beneath the surface of Caribbean Sea. The reefs off the west coast are
known as some of the most pristine on the planet. Divers prize the deep
water vertical reef known as "Swiss Cheese and Condos". "Champagne" a
shallow dive takes its name from the geothermal vents that cause bubbles
to rise. The Anchorage Dive Center a mecca for international divers, we
spoke to the dive master who told us that Crater's Edge is
notable for it's varied marine life and unique shape. The atmosphere at
the Anchorage Hotel and Dive Center is friendly but serious, a
cosmopolitan meeting place for divers from around the world. Lessons
start in the Anchorage pool and lead within three days shallow dives
such as Champagne. The Anchorage also offers unrivaled whale watching
excursions aboard it's 60 ft luxury catamaran "Miser's Dream".
Dominica's deep water bays are home to Sperm, Humpback, Pilot, Spotted, Fraziela, Risso, Bottlenose and Pseudo Orca whales and dolphins. |
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Ocean facing room with view |
Whaling catamaran Miser's Dream |
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