Summary

In this special travel episode "Live from the Caribbean: Island Hopping Adventure," Angel and Brian Holmes take you on their real-time research journey through Grenada, Bequia, and Barbados as they scout locations for The Holmestead Bar & Retreat. From navigating treacherous mountain roads in Grenada to falling in love with the sailing culture of Bequia, and experiencing the party atmosphere of Barbados, they share unfiltered insights about each island's potential. The couple discusses the realities of seasonal tourism, infrastructure challenges, and what it really takes to build an international business. Angel reveals her vision for each location while Brian provides his practical "Director of No Fun" perspective on the logistics and financials. They share honest pros and cons, from Grenada's amazing people and stunning scenery to Bequia's perfect sailing community and Barbados's party scene. Their adventure includes everything from rum punches at 8 AM to hiring local drivers as tour guides, showcasing both the excitement and exhaustion of location scouting. This episode proves that turning dreams into reality requires boots-on-the-ground research, cultural sensitivity, and the flexibility to adapt when plans don't go as expected.

FOLLOW US:

Instagram: @neverstopdreamingbiggie and @angelpholmes

Learn more at https://neverstopdreamingbiggie.com/spirits

Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/neverstopdreamingbiggie/

Learn more about The Holmestead Bar at https://neverstopdreamingbiggie.com/the-holmestead-bar-retreat

Places we loved during our stay:

True Blue Bay Resort: https://www.truebluebay.com/

Bequia Plantation Hotel: https://bequiaplantationhotel.com/

The Cocktail Lab Bequia: https://www.instagram.com/thecocktaillabbequia/?hl=en

Frangipani: https://frangipanibequia.com/

Sweetfield Manor: https://sweetfieldmanor.com/

Takeaways

• Research seasonal tourism patterns before committing to international business locations
• Build genuine relationships with locals when scouting new markets - they provide invaluable insights
• Consider transportation logistics for both operations and customer accessibility
• Grenada offers amazing people and scenery but challenging roads and short season
• Bequia provides perfect sailing culture and community but limited year-round tourism
• Barbados has great infrastructure and energy but doesn't match their intimate bar vision
• Factor infrastructure challenges like narrow roads into business planning and vehicle choices
• Document your journey for both content creation and future business planning
• Trust your instincts while remaining open to unexpected discoveries and opportunities
• Plan for multiple transportation scenarios when international travel is involved
• Prioritize becoming an asset to the community rather than just extracting value
• Off-season visits reveal the true local culture and business sustainability challenges

Chapters

00:00 Welcome from Grenada - First Impressions

02:30 Grenada Pros and Cons Discussion

07:39 Traveling to Bequia via Multiple Transportation Methods

09:15 Bequia Beauty and Sailing Culture

12:45 Finding Potential Locations and Meeting Locals

15:15 Barbados Reality Check from the Hotel Room

17:30 Why Barbados Isn't Their Scene

19:45 Overall Trip Reflections and Next Steps

Have ideas, questions, or comments? Email us at [email protected].