Beyond the Resort: A Love Letter to the Caribbean

There’s a difference between visiting a place and understanding it.

Premiering March 1, 2026, Beyond the Resort is a new Caribbean travel series that moves past infinity pools and curated excursions to explore something far more meaningful: people, history, identity, and ownership.

Filmed entirely in Saint Lucia, the first four episodes follow travel journalist and TV host Natalie Preddie alongside on-air personality Kayla Marie Williams as they immerse themselves in community-led experiences, locally owned Black businesses, and the layered cultural fabric that defines the island beyond its postcard beauty.

Behind the camera is multi-award-winning filmmaker Tristan Barrocks, whose cinematic, human-centred storytelling sets the tone for the series.

For Barrocks, this project was deeply personal.

“As a Jamaican-Canadian who grew up in a Caribbean household, I carried the culture with me long before I truly explored the islands themselves. Beyond the Resort gave me the chance to return with fresh eyes, to step away from the polished postcard version of the Caribbean and lean into the unknown, the secluded, and the often-overlooked spaces.”

He continues, “Through this project, I wanted audiences to feel the soul of Saint Lucia beyond its beaches: the people, the food, the wildlife, the rhythms of daily life. This series is a love letter to the Caribbean, not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing place of depth, complexity, and discovery.”

At a time when travellers are increasingly questioning how and why they travel, the series reflects a broader shift toward intentional tourism — where impact matters as much as itinerary.

Natalie Preddie calls it a necessary conversation.

“Beyond the Resort is really about intention. It asks viewers to reflect on their motivations for travel and consider how their choices impact the places they visit. We’re exploring how tourism can support local communities, celebrate culture, and build connection. It’s a bigger conversation about how we show up for one another in a global community.”

Preddie adds that this season, rooted in Saint Lucia, feels especially meaningful.

“This series is deeply personal. We’re exploring the Caribbean from a place of respect, curiosity, and lived connection, and inviting viewers to experience the region the way locals do.”

We recently had the chance to sit down with Preddie and find out more about the YouTube series and her tips for taking your vacation Beyond the Resort:

Beyond the Resort focuses on community and culture over traditional sightseeing. What sparked this approach for you?

I’ve spent years covering travel and kept noticing the same pattern: the closer you get to local people and local context, the more meaningful the experience becomes. Too often, destinations get reduced to visuals and amenities. I wanted to create a series that recenters travel around people, history and community impact. That’s where the real stories are…and honestly, that’s where the real joy is too.

It was incredibly special because she was rediscovering the island at a completely different stage in her life. Guiding her through deeper cultural and community experiences, not just highlights, changed the energy of every moment. You ask better questions, you listen more closely, and you stay open. Sharing that kind of layered experience with someone makes the journey more reflective and more human.

Purposeful travel means your presence has awareness attached to it. You understand that where you spend, who you book with, and how you engage matters. It doesn’t mean perfection, it means intention. Curiosity instead of assumption. Participation instead of consumption. Travel can create connection, economic opportunity, and cultural respect…but only if we approach it consciously.

I hope viewers walk away more curious and more thoughtful and realize that depth is available in almost every destination if you look for it. You don’t have to abandon comfort but you can expand perspective. I want people to see that culture isn’t an ‘add-on’ to travel –it is the experience.

Start small and be deliberate. Book one locally owned experience. Choose one independent restaurant. Ask one better question everywhere you go: ‘Who’s behind this?’ I also created a simple Travel Deeper handout that gives practical steps travellers can follow without overcomplicating their trip. You don’t have to change everything! Just shift a few decisions with intention.