Sandy Stories
COVID-19   |   Awards and Applause   |   Animal Sightings   |   Resort News   |   Resort Upgrades   |   Notices
As the long summer days linger in our memories, nature rests her rainbow palette. The African winter sun settles in, and the pastel colours of the beach turn into a quiet reflection of leafless trees and gentler light - as winter dances to her own song. Her beauty dazzling with soft pallets of ice-blue skies, navy blue ocean and caramel-coloured beaches - she transforms St. Lucia with her cool, fresh air into a winter wonderland. As the mighty Humpback Whales splash in the Indian Ocean and the keenly observant Hippos dilly-dally through St. Lucia
 
streets; we are yet again reminded of the beauty of the Far-Northern KZN coast and all its splendour! The first half of 2020 was not all smooth sailing; the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed - to some degree - various aspects of our lives. With these changes, it brought a sense of nostalgia for a time when our interaction with one another was a given; but this too will pass, and one of these days, we will once again take a stroll down the beautiful sandy beaches of St. Lucia.
VRS Covid-19 Shareholder Notice
RCI

We would like to extend our gratitude to every shareholder, as well as to South Africa as a nation, for heeding the call of President Cyril Ramaphosa on the eve of the nation address in relation to the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions. We, as the Managing Agent of your preferred holiday destination, would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to navigate this pandemic.

 

A message from Marjorie Forssman, Managing Director of Vacation Recreational Services:

“Our commitment to providing an environment to create everlasting memories for all our shareholders and guests remains at the forefront of our mission. In light of the current COVID-19 situation, VRS is implementing viable management solutions for your home-away-from-home to ensure the health and safety of you and your families for when you can enjoy your holidays once more. The VRS Team extends their heartfelt empathy for all who have been affected, direct- or indirectly, by this outbreak. Our faith lies firmly that South Africa will emerge from this situation stronger than before and with a heightened appreciation for this beautiful country; let us remain united as a nation.”

 

Kindly note, in compliance with government regulations and our own policies and procedures that Sandy Place will remain closed to the public until it is deemed appropriate, by government, to return to normal operations. That being said, we want you to know that we are missing the sight of all your lovely families arriving in Reception and the happy sounds of your holidays unfolding! We are eagerly awaiting, and we know you are too, the day when we are able to open our gates once more; returning to a time where you may relish every moment at your ‘home-away-from-home’ in a safe and relaxing environment.

 

Click here to view relevant COVID-19-related news and information

 

As our further commitment to you during these trying times as we are sure you are looking forward
to being able to visit your home-away-from-home:

 

 

DON'T LOSE YOUR WEEK

VRS Options has been made available to our shareholders to deposit the week(s) which have been lost, due to the nationwide lockdown and/or the extended closure of Sandy Place in return for tokens to the full value of the respective week.

Please visit VRS Options, bank the stay you can no longer occupy and retrieve your tokens, to be used for a future Resort-stay. A small Exchange Fee is the only payment required to open the possibilities of a multitude of Resorts to you. While we understand this means you might not receive an equivalent stay at Sandy Place for a future date, we are sure this gesture, of an alternative holiday for your family, will result in many cherished holiday memories.

Visit VRS Options
 
 

Our thoughts and prayers are with each shareholder, as you manoeuvre through these trying times. Please do not hesitate to reach out to VRS Property Admin, should you require further information.

All emails can be directed to propertyadmin@vrs.co.za


Sandy Place
– A Legacy worth taking good care of

We are well aware of and sensitive to the impact of the current state of national disaster, but in our role as ‘caretaker’ of your Resort, we understand that our monthly obligations – such as municipal charges, rates and taxes, administration, Resort maintenance – remain payable; and are necessary in order for us to ensure that we are able to welcome you back to your beautiful Resort as soon as possible.

 

We would like to thank all those shareholders who have continued to pay their levies, especially those who have paid even though they, sadly, lost the use of their week this year, due to the COVID-19 situation. 

 

This is a Team-Sandy match
and we need each one of our shareholders,
at our side, in the line-up.

We thank all shareholders for your continued support in ensuring the upkeep of the Resort at this time.

Awards and Applause
RCI Silver Crown
Sandy Place holds RCI Silver Crown Resort status
 

In order to receive RCI Silver Crown Resort status, established standards have to be met and maintained, based on Comment Card scores from guests. Comment Cards are questionnaires sent out to each guest following their Exchange Holiday, designed to rate their experience in a variety of hospitality-related categories, which make a significant contribution towards recognising the Resort’s quality.

This excellent result speaks to the amazing calibre and dedication of the Sandy Place Team and their commitment to ensuring your little St. Lucia gem continues to shine and that they are “Creating the Environment for Everlasting Holiday Memories”.

Top Animal Sightings
by Sandy Place visitors this season:
Hippo
Hippos

We all know the age-old question relating to why the chicken crossed the road. Well, in St. Lucia, it is a tad different: “Why did the Hippo cross the road?” A Hippo, who is now something of an internet sensation, went viral on social media due to his antics in the streets of St. Lucia at the start of 2020. The now-famous Hippo even made the evening news! Hippo sightings in town are plentiful, and visitors are encouraged to do a Hippo Boat Cruise. Take a look here.

Bird Watching
Wildlife and Bird watching

Sandy Place is in close proximity to Hluhluwe Imfolozi National Park and Isimangaliso Wetland Park, which offer entrance to both the Eastern and Western shores. Wildlife and birdlife are in abundance, with regular sightings of Elephants and the occasional Leopard. Birdlife flourishes in the wetlands, with an array of species to be seen. The flamboyant Flamingos on the beaches and along the estuary are certainly a crowd-pleaser.

More Resort News
Snoek Derby

Fishermen: Mike Hagan and Friends

One of our regular visitors, Mike Hagan, caught the catch of a lifetime during his recent stay at the Resort. Mr Hagan and company have been fishing the shores of St. Lucia annually and are renowned for their large catches at First Rocks.

On the last morning of their most recent Sandy Place holiday, the group decided to head out to First Rocks one last time before heading home. When the time came to leave, Mr Hagan decided to stay behind and spend some time just relaxing. As the peaceful time passed, suddenly Mike had the urge to cast one more line. So, he headed to Main Beach to do just that and boy, did he land a catch worth waiting for! After some tussling with the streamline swimmer, he landed a Pompano, weighing in at approximately 15kg. Well done, Mike, definitely 'the one that didn't get away'!

Harley Davidson Rally

Meet some local heros - NSRI, Station 40

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), a voluntary, non-profit organization, was founded in 1967. Station 40, the St. Lucia chapter, was launched in 2018 after the NSRI chose St. Lucia as the base for this new station.

The construction of the base is ongoing, but the Station is fully operational, with several training camps, fun runs and events having been held to date to raise funding for the Station. The NSRI Station 40 teams are volunteers from within the St. Lucia community and have already been on call and saved numerous lives at our respective beaches.

NSRI is a South African charity staffed by volunteers who are on call, day and night, throughout the year. With rescue bases along the coast and on inland dams, their goal is to prevent drowning through education, preventative measures and rescue.

In the Know with Sandy Place Upgrades!
Mural - Before
Mural - After
Fresh New Murals

Over the years the beautiful wall murals, made of shells from the surrounding beaches, have deteriorated as a result of the effects of the climate and weather. The Sandy Place Team decided to use the opportunity to modernise the walls and have since replaced those weary murals with stunning artwork depicting the surrounding nature, parks and coastline.

Story - Before
Story - After
Sandy Stories Cut Out

Are you ready to take your Sandy Place picture-taking to the next level?! Well, the Resort’s much-anticipated fabulously fun photo-cut-out-board is complete! Now you and your family can snap your annual family pic at this quirky photo stand. Choose your character and step right up: ‘cover girl’, ‘aspiring angler’, ‘surfer dude’ or ‘pigtailed toddler’. Please share, we cannot wait to see your photos: resortstories@sandyplace.co.za

Keep the Good Times Rolling...

One of the ways we welcome our guests and shareholders home is by celebrating fun days, special occasions and annual holidays!

Father's Day
 
Christmas 2019
The Festive Spirit started at Reception with a splash of cheerful paint on the windows, wishing every visitor, upon arrival, a ‘Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year’. To spread the Christmas spirit and cheer a little further, each guest received a mini Christmas cake. Santa made an early appearance on Christmas Eve to hand out some treats to the children on the Resort and he eventually ended up with several ‘helpers’.
Woman's Day
 
New Year
In the spirit of a celebratory ‘POP’, guests received a complimentary mini bottle of sparkling wine and a 2020 calendar to usher in the New Year.
Spring Day
 
Valentine’s Day
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, Cupid snuck onto the Sandy Place grounds and “dressed” our trees at the Swimming Pool area. Hearts sprung up in the gardens, to await our Valentine's visitors. Reception was dolled-up with love, love and more love, as each guest received a sweet Hluhluwe pineapple as a welcome gift, with a cute tongue-in-cheek blurb reading – “If you were a fruit, you would be a FINE-Apple!”.

UniVate Properties

Uni-Vate Properties is your one-stop portal for all Vacation Ownership, Residential and Commercial Properties.

Pride News
 
VACATION OWNERSHIP
 
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
 
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

The Uni-Vate Properties portal not only allows you to buy weeks at your favourite Resort but you can also sell your Vacation Ownership week in a few simple steps.

 

Click here to view our latest stock

African Blessings

AFRICAN BLESSINGS
Did you know that we support African Blessings?
This Non-Profit and Public Benefit Company cares for its community, children, animals and the environment. Check out their website for their latest projects and developments.

 

More info...
VRS Options

VRS Options
VRS Options allows you to exchange your fixed holiday for availability at various Resorts, for alternative dates or unit sizes. We’ve secured you a multitude of destinations through some of our partners to give you more holiday options.

(Please note that the exchange fee will increase in 2021)

More info...

Take the pressure out of planning the journey to your favourite home-away-from-home: our partners at ACT Travel are here to plan your flights, car hire and so much more to ensure you have the most relaxing vacation.

Uni-vate Properties
Important Notices
2020 Calendar > Download
2021 Calendar > Download
 
Instruction Letter 2020 > Download
Instruction Letter 2021 > Download
 
VRS Website >
Visit Here
 
COVID-19 >
Read More

Join our online community to keep up-to-date with happenings
and coastal-life at sunny Sandy Place!

Sandy Place Facebook
Do you want to read about the latest news and happenings in St. Lucia and at your “Home-Away-From-Home”?
Then join our online community where you can browse through all the latest "Sandy Stories" and share your recent holiday experiences with us! We cannot wait to see your fishing photos and video camera-skills; you might soon see yourself and your family featured on our Facebook page: resortstories@sandyplace.co.za

In Closing
Sandy Place Facebook
As we look forward to the second half of the year, we would like you to know that every moment spent with you, and all the moments still to come, are priceless in our eyes. These are the moments of happiness and of forging everlasting holiday memories with your loved ones.
 

We look forward to the holidays ahead, jam-packed with fishing trips, sunny beach days and lazy afternoons spent at the pool, to make your holidays an experience, and a treasure to cherish.

Warm Regards
Marjorie Forssman
VRS – Managing Director 
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