by Monique Jacob | Nov 28, 2021 | Tour Operators, Travel Tips
On November 15, the Government of Dominica announced that protocols were approved to allow the resumption of ferry services to Dominica for the first time since March 2020. The protocols for the ferry passengers are the same as travelling to Dominica by air.
Disembarking travelers require:
- a Negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival,
- health notification of approval to travel to Dominica, after completing the health questionnaire,
- vaccination certificate (if applicable), and
- proof of payment for the entry Antigen test.
Upon arrival, vaccinated travelers will undergo the Antigen test and if negative, will be medically cleared. Non vaccinated travelers will also undergo an Antigen test, followed by five to seven days of mandatory quarantine.
L’Express Des Iles
L’Express Des Iles resumed services between Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Lucia on November 21, 2021. To book a trip and for updated schedules visit their official website: www.express-des-iles.fr
Val Ferry
Val Ferry announced that its service between Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique will start up again on December 10, 2021. To book a trip and for updated schedules visit their official website: www.valferry.fr
Initially only 50 passengers will be allowed to disembark the ferries in Dominica. However, the return of the ferry not only mean return of travelers from the French West Indies but also increased connectivity for travelers from Europe.
Hotel the Champs welcomes our Ferry passengers.
by Monique Jacob | Nov 28, 2021 | New Flights, Tour Operators, Travel Tips
On December 8th, American Airlines commences the highly anticipated non-stop commercial jet service between Miami International (MIA) and Douglas Charles Airport. Announced by AA on July 23, Dominica is among the new destinations in the Caribbean as the airline expands its services in the region.
The airline will initially operate twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturdays using Embraer 175 aircraft. The Embraer 175 (E175) have a seventy-six (76) passenger capacity, with twelve first class seats, and sixty-four premium seats with extra leg room and main cabin seats.
December AA Schedule
In addition to offering easy access out of Miami, these flights greatly increases Dominica’s North American access connectivity. Through the American Airlines network, these flights allow for same day connections to 42 North American cities and territories.
AA Connecting Cities
There was such tremendous interest and response to the initial offering, that American announced that starting January 5th the flights will increase to three times weekly.
Hotel the Champs looks forward to welcome new and returning travelers via American Airlines.
Search for your flights: Book Flights on American Airlines (aa.com)
by Monique Jacob | Mar 18, 2020 | Hotel, Promotions, Tour Operators
At Hotel the Champs we value our relationships with the trade as much as we do with our guests who stay with us. The following list summarizes our efforts to work with the trade who book stays and experiences with us:
- Best Rates (always below published public rates, even on packages)
- Minimum of 20% below standard rack rates available to Tour Operators
- Travel Agents receive a minimum 15% commission on bookings
- Trade only packages. Some of our packages are only offered to our trade partners, giving you an edge in the market.
- Customized packages to suit your client’s needs. Through our relationships with local tour operators and guides, we are able to design what you want at great rates (some add-on package amenities are also commissionable)
- One-Stop-Shop. There is no need to go to multiple service providers, we will make the local arrangements for your clients.
- FAM Trips. We love the trade and we welcome you to visit on familiarization trips so that you get to know our staff and property before sending your clients
We have dedicated personnel working with the trade, so please email Monique at
trade@hotelthechamps.com with your questions or booking inquiries. You may also call and WhatsApp us, +1(767) 615-3533 (Monique) or +1(767) 616-3001 (Lise) for assistance.
by Monique Jacob | Feb 25, 2020 | Diving, Hiking, Syndicate, Tour Operators, Travel Tips, Waterfall
A Sample “Playlist” to Discovering Dominica
From North to South, East to West, Dominica has so much to explore. At The Champs, taking the traditional bucket list up a notch, presenting a playlist guide to the best of Dominica, with options from easy to extreme.
- Drift down a “River of Dreams”
A river for every day of the year, so why not take a ride. For the easy-going traveler, an Indian River boat ride is the most relaxing choice and it’s only five minutes away flowing through the town of Portsmouth. For the more adventurous, let’s go tubing down the Layou or Pagua Rivers.
- Take a “Misty Mountain” hop (hike)
A must-do on the Caribbean’s most mountainous island is a hike. The Champs is close to Dominica’s tallest peak, Morne Diablotins. The 4 to 6-hour return trek isn’tfor the faint at heart but if that’s your speed we will arrange with certified guides.
- Go chasing “Waterfalls”
Across the length and breadth of Dominica are multiple waterfalls for a very Nature Island experience. Three of our easy favorite choices are Milton (Syndicate) Falls, Chaudière Pool, and Emerald Pool.
- Look out for the “Three Little Birds”
Syndicate Nature Trail within the Morne Diablotins National Park is by far one of the best places to go birdwatching and see Dominica’s indigenous parrots and many of the over 190 species of birds on the island.
- Go “Into the Deep”
We embrace all the water that comes with being at the center of the Caribbean. At the Champs, we organize the best dive excursions with our local dive shops, dive training and certification is also available. If you don’t want to dive, let’s go whale and dolphin watching. Dominica is the whale watching, capital of the Caribbean.
- Lounge next to “Castles made of Sand”
Yes, Dominica has beaches, actually, Portsmouth and surroundings have some of the island’s best beaches. Let our team put together a beach picnic and drive you to Coconut Beach, Picard Beach, Purple Turtle Beach, or Toucarie Beach. All are within 5 to 15 minutes of The Champs.
- Let that “Pony Run”
Exploring Dominica by horse sounds like fun. Take a guided horseback tour along historic forest trails in the Cabrits National Park and end your ride on the beach into the water. 
- The lake is boiling “Hot, Hot, Hot”
Dominica is home to the world’s second-largest Boiling Lake. The six-hour guided hike through Valley of Desolation takes you along unique terrains to a world wonder that will take your breath away.
- We are a welcoming “Famalay”
There are so many things to do in Dominica we can’t list them all, but our knowledgeable staff are here to help you find something to suit your tastes, just ask.
by Monique Jacob | Dec 8, 2019 | Construction, Hotel, Pool, Tour Operators
If you visit today, everything may not be in its expected place and we apologize for any mess.
Following the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017, Hotel the Champs needed to regroup, so we created a plan to come back better (and bigger). We relocated the restaurant and bar and rebuilt our jacuzzi and pool deck. These changes left us with open spaces and a new vision for the future of The Champs was born.
The Champs Green Makeover: The Green Resilience Project
Future Location of Rooms #6 & #7
Earlier in 2019, as part of our “green makeover”, we installed our solar panels and work began on reinforcing the foundations where the jacuzzi and bar were previously.
We intend to add two new Superior XL rooms on the middle level and build an extended stay apartment at the roadside level. The Superior XL rooms should be completed by Winter 2020.
Currently, we have halted all construction work through the 2019/20 high season to ensure there is no discomfort for our guests. And rest assured nothing affects our five-star rated customer service.
Finishing the details for the Poolside Bar
A new addition that guests will get to experience this season at the renovated pool deck is a mini poolside bar, which will be stocked with beers, sodas, and other canned or bottled beverages to enjoy while lounging at the pool.
We continue to welcome our guests and look forward to offering that signature Champs service to larger groups when these new rooms open in 2020.
Follow our blogs and subscribe to our newsletters for construction updates.
by Monique Jacob | Dec 8, 2019 | Hotel, Tour Operators
MORE FLIGHTS TO THE NATURE ISLAND DURING WINTER 2019
The idyllic charm of Hotel the Champs awaits our guests as increased flights are expected into Dominica during the high season. According to a release from Dominica’s tourism officials, airlines serving the island began adding flights in October and the increases are expected to remain in place into 2020. These new flights and schedule changes will make traveling to Dominica and Hotel the Champs much easier over the coming months.
Connecting from North America
Passengers connecting via San Juan, Puerto Rico can now take advantage of Silver Airways’ (formerly Seaborne Airlines) increase to daily flights into Dominica’s main airport, Douglas Charles Airport. The scheduled flights depart San Juan for Dominica at 3:15 pm and overnights in Dominica, departing for San Juan at 7:15 am. Silver Airways has codeshare/interline arrangements with American Airlines, Delta, United, and JetBlue, among others.
The French West Indies & Europe
French airline, Air Antilles added new routes and flights into both of Dominica’s airports effective October 25, 2019. The airline’s Twin Otter service will offer flights into Canefield Airport four-times-weekly from Guadeloupe. These flights depart Pointe-A-Pitre for Canefield at 4:25 pm allowing passengers from Air France, Air Caraibes, Corsair and JetBlue to conveniently connect into the island. Air Antilles’ ATR service from Pointe-A-Pitre operates daily with a morning arrival into Douglas Charles with onward connections to St. Maarten (Princess Juliana International) and San Juan, Puerto Rico. This flight returns in the evening connecting back to Point-A-Pitre. A new route on the ATR service is a three-times-weekly flight from Fort-de-France, Martinique into Douglas Charles Airport. This new service operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and also continues to St. Maarten and San Juan. Air Antilles has codeshare/ interline agreements with Air Caraibes, Air France, Corsair and Winair.
Regional Connections
In October, Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT), added three flights to its service to Douglas Charles Airport, bringing the airline’s weekly total to twenty-eight flights primarily from hubs in Antigua and Barbados, connecting Dominica to the region and beyond. LIAT has interline agreements with JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways.
For More Information
In addition to these airlines, travelers to Dominica can connect into the island on interCaribbean Airways, Windward Island Airways (WINAIR), and Air Sunshine, as well as via the fast ferry services offered by L’Express des Iles and Val Ferry. More information about air and sea connections into Dominica can be found on our How to get to Dominica page and from Discover Dominica Authority.
