Let's Talk about Dominica
Ferry Services to Dominica Return
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....
Dominica Welcomes Direct Flights From Miami
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...
Travelmyth Badges Awarded to Hotel the Champs
Hotel the Champs received recognition by one of the world's top recommendation and hotel search engine companies, Travelmyth. The Champs received 8 badges from Travelmyth as one of the best small hotels in Dominica. ...
Expansion Update
Time for an Expansion Update! It has been a few months since we gave an update on how our expansion is progressing. The COVID-19 pandemic did slow the construction works down some. However, our crew is working and it is all beginning to take shape. The bulk...
Travel with Clem visits Hotel the Champ
We are always telling you about how wonderful a stay at Hotel the Champs can be. Today we feature a beautifully written experience by Travel Blogger, Clem of the blog "Travel with Clem". Clem recently visited Hotel the Champs accompanied by Dominican Bouyon Band,...
Hiking behind the Macoucherie rum factory
This week we will take you away from Hotel The Champs and the surroundings. Behind the Macoucherie rum factory you can hike a long way. The Macoucherie rum Factory is 24 km from The Champs direction Roseau. Just before the (new) bridge you go down to the left...
Fruits and Veggies from our own Garden
Dominica is called the Nature Island of the Caribbean, once you will enter the country (by sea or air) you will understand why. At Hotel The Champs we are not farmers but because it is so easy to grow fruits / veggies (plants, flowers and trees) we decided to put...
Walking in the “Backyard” of The Champs
You don't need a car, you don't need a taxi if you like you can start walking from Hotel The Champs. You just walk direction Portsmouth an turn to your right at Borrow Square ("Bus station") direction 1 mile / Calibishi. This will take you about 30 minutes. When you...
A walk up to Grange Road Portsmouth
Very relaxing walk for a Sunday morning. We, Hans and Lise (Owners of The Champs) like to walk for just an hour before starting our day. We take the car and drive a bit, park the car and start walking. For this walk we parked the car at the home of the elderly on...
Hiking around Freshwater Lake
Unlike many Caribbean islands, Dominica is blessed with several lakes, Freshwater Lake is the largest of Dominica's four lakes. It is located at just over 2,500 ft above sea level and is the natural source of the Roseau River. The lake has been dammed to provide water...
Off to the Ocean they go….
Every year, from March to October, Leatherback, Green and Hawksbill sea turtles nest and hatch at Rosalie Bay. The endangered gentle giants can travel great distances, as far away as Canada, Europe and Africa, to Dominica to nest on our protected black sand beach. To...
Nature in our ‘backyard’….
A nice walk in ‘the backyard of The Champs’ is to the viewpoint over looking the bay in Portsmouth and Cabrits. You can just start your walk at The Champs and walk up the hill, before the water tank you go left on a small trail. If you are lucky you can spot parrots...
Hiking Bwa Nef Falls
If you would like to visit a waterfall in the Northern part of Dominica, check out Bwa Nef Falls! The trailhead to Bwa Nef can be found off of the Northern Link Road between Lower Penville and En Bas/Vielle Case, about 30 minutes drive from Hotel The Champs. There is...
Looking for the perfect Beach?
Batibou Beach is an expansive and secluded soft-sand beach in the North-East of the island. This beach is known as one of the best beaches of Dominica. It is about half an hour drive from Hotel The Champs on the way to Calibishie. On arrival you can park along the...
Catching fresh fish in Dominica…
On a quiet early saturdaymorning walk you might have the luck to catch a glimpseof some fishermen taking in their nets. Most generally, Dominica fishermen rely upon small boats ranging from hand crafted boats carved from a single tree trunk by the native...
The Champs is ready for you!
If things loosen up again, you don’t want to stay home anymore. You deserve a nice and relaxing break on our beautiful Nature Island! We don’t know when you are allowed to stay with us yet, but you can pre-book your StayCation now and make sure you will be one of our...
Fifty shades of green; Syndicate & Milton Falls
Nestled on the foothills of Dominica’s tallest mountain, Morne Diablotin, and close to the Picard River Gorge is the Syndicate Nature Trail. From hotel the Champs it is just a 10 minutes drive on the main road before you take the...
History and nature combined in Cabrits National Park…
Cabrits is the name of two steep block-like summits that are the remnants of a large collapsed volcano. Despite their elevation, the two Cabrits, West and East both provide fine views and they rise directly out of the ocean in a rather spectacular manner. From Hotel...
Let’s take a tour on the scenic Indian River
Dominica is known as the island of many rivers. The most beautiful one is certainly the Indian River, which became famous for filming movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean. From Hotel the Champs it’s only a 10 minute ride or 30 minute walk to the bridge just south...
Take a walk in the Brandy Manor Valley
Coming off the road that runs from Portsmouth to the east coast of the island is a gentle walk that we can recommend to take in the Dominican countryside, and wildlife. Simply look out for these signs and you can park your car...
Champs Interview part 3 – Kevin – our new chef!
Chef Kevin was very busy in the kitchen when I arrived to interview him. There was an amazing fresh garlic-y smell infiltrating the restaurant area from the kitchen. He was finishing up making a garlic herb butter which he showed...
How we work with the Trade
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,...
Read recent Guest reviews – Hotel The Champs
We aren't sure how many of you book your hotel stays through online travel agents or directly with the hotels themselves. There are advantages to both sides. We do love looking at our reviews as they're real guest experiences...
Champs Interview Part 2 – Sabrina – 10 YEARS!
Name: Sabrina How long have you worked here? Since November 25th 2010, it was Thanksgiving which is how I remember so precisely. Things have changed since the departure of Ross. I used to have to work late more often, so it was a late night on Thanksgiving but that...
TOP 5 in Dominica – Hotel The Champs – TravelMyth Award Winners
Hotel The Champs has been awarded the Top 5 of hotels in Dominica by Travelmyth - the hotel search engine for sophisticated travellers seeking unique hotel experiences. We are proud, yet not that surprised - what with our location so convenient for many...
Our playlist: ‘Let’s Play in Dominica’!
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...
Champs staff interview part 1 – Tamara
Name: Tamara Role: Breakfast and morning tasks as required. It's a small hotel where we have to be flexible. Tamara was given no warning of the interview and I hadn't met her before so she was a little reserved at first but opened up easily and seemed very friendly...
Daytrip to Salton Falls & Emerald Falls (PART II)
The second part of this daytrip includes the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site - Emerald Falls - but lets not forget from last week that after the hike to Salton Falls lunch is now in order. Turn right out of Salton Falls and after about 2 minutes driving a straight...
Daytrip to Salton Falls, a delicious lunch and UNESCO World Heritage Site (PART I)
The hike to Salton Falls is easy enough, it’s the way back up the hill that could be challenging for some, but fine if you can do some uphill walking – you will deserve a good lunch and an easier walk after it (see part 2 next week)
Walk to the Saturday market in Portsmouth
Many of our guests who stay on a Friday night enjoy an early morning walk to the Saturday market in Portsmouth. We wanted to illustrate what the journey is like. It was a slightly overcast day which made it cool at 7am and more chance for rainbows. There is lots to...
To Dine in or to Dine out in Dominica
Perched in the hills of Picard, Restaurant the Champs is the 'perfect' blend of Chef Kevin's mouthwatering meals, five-star service with a smile, and relaxing panoramic views of the best Dominica's North West Coasts have to offer. The Champs caters to a wide range of...
Introducing our new Chef Kevin Gregoire
Join Hotel The Champs as we welcome a new member to our restaurant team. With many years of experience in local, regional, and international cuisine, Chef Kevin Gregoire is a refreshing addition at The Champs. Our themed nights are back, so we invite you for Pizza...
Sorrel Drink – A Caribbean Christmas Staple
It's not Christmas in Dominica, and throughout the Caribbean, without Sorrel Drink. Traditionally served during Christmas and New Year's celebrations, Sorrel Drink is a beverage made from the flower of the 'Roselle' plant in the hibiscus family (locally called Sorrel,...
Travel Tips – Credit Card Payments
Traveling internationally brings multiple questions, so we at The Champs have created this segment in our blog to offer our guests (booked and potential) some travel tips and guidelines which will help you when visiting Dominica and for travel in general. Our first...
Live the life you love and Book a Stay at Hotel The Champs
Enjoying Yoga on The Deck Create your personalized stay at Hotel The Champs by booking things that you would like to do and places that you would like to go. Enjoy the relaxation that you’ve been yearning for. Yoga lovers, email direct with Lise to get the best...
Pardon our Mess – Hotel the Champs is Growing
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...
Airlines Increase Service to Dominica
Increased flights are expected during the high season. These new flights and schedule changes will make travelling to Dominica and Hotel the Champs much easier over the coming months. Carriers with additional flights are Silver Airways, Air Antilles, and LIAT.
A Sunday Morning Walk in the North of Dominica
Hans and I love to walk in the early mornings. On Sunday mornings we try to explore a different area if time and weather permits. In the week we go out no later than 6am but on Sunday’s we sleep a bit later, and start around 7am. Today we drove up to the little...
How to Get & Use a Promo Code of The Champs
Hotel The Champs would like to provide you with the best service and best discounts that you will not be able to find anywhere else across the island of Dominica. We are here to serve, pamper and make you happy. Click here on this link and a new page with an email to...
Dive Package: Top Hotel & Top Dive Center
Hotel the Champs and Cabrits Dive Center join forces to offer top-rated dive packagesThe north of Dominica has been buzzing with excitement this year, but it is still somewhat undiscovered as a destination for dive, and travellers are enthusiastic to explore...
Developing the Art of a Tiny Caribbean Hotel
In October 2007 Lise and Hans came to live and work in Dominica. They never worked in the hospitality industry and never formally studied hospitality. But they have stayed in many hotels and visited countless restaurants and bars. Staying at Hotel The Champs has...
Congratulations! Happy 60th birthday Lise
On Saturday June 29th our proprietor Lise reached her big-six-o and of course that was a good reason to celebrate and to do some other things than just the usual weekend workdays.We actually started already on Friday by giving ourselves time to get a guided tour of...
Life Long Memories; What a Treat at the Champs
Not every slogan that is proposed by our marketing team makes it to our website or a brochure. Here’s and example of one that we haven’t used (yet): “Make Life Long Memories; Our Treat” But although we haven’t used that slogan, this week we got another nice proof that...
Hike to and Picknick at Syndicate (Milton) Falls:
You walk about 10 minutes before you reach the river, there you have to cross the river 4 times. Hans crossing the river to be able to follow the path that leads to the waterfall. Here you can sit and relax, enjoy your pick-nick or and take a swim in the pool. You...
The best sleep on the islands most comfy beds
Behold the rise of Dominica's largest and most comfortable King and Queen beds, at Hotel The Champs. The proprietors were inspired to get these new beds after traveling to Barcelona earlier in 2018. A king-size bed is always the ideal option for lots of different...