Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from October, 2008

I'd rather eat than cook. So when I heard that the Sandals Resorts in Jamaica were offering an exploration of Jamaica's rich culinary heritage I thoug

Canada.com I'd rather eat than cook. So when I heard that the Sandals Resorts in Jamaica were offering an exploration of Jamaica's rich culinary heritage I thought, "That's for me, and who cares about the calories." I stayed in a Dutch-style village at the luxury-included Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa, in Westmoreland, on Jamaica's south side, 80 kilometres from the Montego Bay airport. The other villages were Italian and French. There were seven restaurants: Italian, Asian, Caribbean, Tex-Mex, Jamaican, International and a European patisserie.

THE CARIBBEAN'S 15 BEST HOTELS

The Forbes Traveler 400 experts pick the top hotels One of the cornerstones of the Caribbean is the fact that nearly every resort is set along a stunning strip of sand. What sets the truly great hotels apart from everyone else is what you find away from the beach—fortes or phenomena that advance the guest experience to a whole different level.

Caribbean hotelier hopes to drive market with price-led offers

Travel Weekly One of the Caribbean’s leading hotel groups is hoping price-led offers will shore up the market in the face of high air fares and the credit crunch. Elite Island Resorts, whose properties include The Verandah Resort and Spa and St James’s Club in Antigua, says it is working with UK operators such as Kuoni and Virgin Holidays to boost business.an

Antigua Literary Festival: Books and Beaches

examiner.com Combine your love for a crystal white sand beach and a good novel and reserve your tickets now for the Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival. The festival, November 7-9, is the brainchild of Baltimore Times publisher Joy Bramble and her sister Pam Arthurton, whose family settled in Antigua after their native land of Montserrat, was devastated by volcanic activity.

Top 10 Caribbean islands to unwind in 2008

Canada.com 5. Nevis - Best for an authentic Caribbean experience This island has a flat coastline that soars up to the rain forest enshrouded 3,200-foot Mount Nevis. It feels intimate, in part because it's tiny (population 11,000), but also because development has been controlled with no high-rise hotels. 6. Anguilla - Best for Beaches Almost in the shadow of nearby St. Martin, with St. Bart's visible on clear days, Anguilla is flat and sandy and remains relatively undeveloped compared with its neighbors but it's still home to some of the most luxurious resorts and villas.

Many ways to let loose in St. Lucia

suntimes Vacationers often flock to the Caribbean to kick back, relax and fall into the luxuriously slow cadence of "island time." It's no coincidence that St. Lucia, with its tranquil beaches, lush rain forests and gorgeous scenery, ranks high on the list of island paradises. But this "Helen of Troy of the West Indies" is more than just a pretty face and honeymooners' hideaway. Tourists looking for a little adrenaline boost will find ample opportunity to do more than just lay out and sip fruity drinks.

Sailing the Open Seas to Montserrat - Ondeck Sailing Offering Sailing Excursions from Antigua to the Emerald Isle

Montserrat's new aquatic adventure offers visitors breathtaking views of the island's majestic coastline and enchanting tropical landscape. Beginning December 1, 2008, Ondeck Sailing will provide travelers with a taste of the ocean by providing daily sailing excursions between Falmouth Harbor in Antigua and Little Bay in Montserrat using 65-footer Ocean Racing Yachts. "The Montserrat Tourist Board has been working closely with the Ondeck Group for the past couple of months trying to make this sailing excursion a reality. Our goal is to encourage and increase day trippers from Antigua as well as give visitors an opportunity to add on a few days to their vacation in Montserrat," said Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism, Montserrat Tourist Board.

Nonstop to the Caribbean

am New York Many airlines are cutting back service to the Caribbean this fall and winter, but New Yorkers bound for the islands will still enjoy plenty of options. They can fly nonstop to 26 Caribbean destinations from the New York area's three major airports, about the same as last year. However, because airlines are retrenching in the face of high fuel costs and a faltering economy, they'll have fewer flights to choose from.

Hidden Caribbean Property Hotspots : Dominica

Nubricks.com Dominica is one of the most unspoiled and underdeveloped islands in the Caribbean, with waterfalls and lush rain-forests aplenty. So, is this banana exporting nation beginning to bare fruit as a property hotspot? Dominica is an island nation and borderless country in the Caribbean Sea, the northernmost and largest of the Windward Islands. The island is characterized by a very rugged and rocky terrain, which makes it impossible for plantation production. However, Dominica has been a producer of coffee, cocoa, and citrus fruits throughout its history, but its biggest share of agricultural production since the 1950’s belongs to bananas. Formerly a British colony, Dominica became independent in 1978 and remains a member of the British Commonwealth. In Latin, its name means ‘Sunday,’ which was the day on which it was discovered by Christopher Columbus.

An explosion of taste at the St. Lucia Food & Rum Festival

easier.com The St Lucia Food & Rum Festival 2009 – set to be a truly tantilising taste sensation – is back by popular demand for a third consecutive year, from Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th January 2009. The Festival is a four day Caribbean culinary experience, attracting some of the best chefs, wine and rum connoisseurs, mixologists, food critics and music fans from across the Caribbean and the globe. The Festival itself will be a combination of dinners featuring mouth-watering menus from celebrated chefs (regional and international), cookery demonstrations and rum tasting of over 40 rums from across the region – a ‘must-see’ experience for visitors to the tropical island of St Lucia.

Hilton plans to quadruple Caribbean and Latin America portfolio

Hotel and Motel Hilton Hotels Corporation currently has 42 properties in the Caribbean and Latin America development pipeline and has identified a number of strategic markets in gateway cities and resort destinations for further growth of selected Hilton Family brands. With an existing portfolio of 51 hotels throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, this expansion will bring the company's total presence in the regions to more than 200 properties.

The gateway to the Caribbean

easier.com Located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean lies the tropical island and new investment hotspot of Antigua. Now regarded as 2009’s most chic and glamorous tourist destination of the Caribbean, the island offers holidaymakers and residents alike their very own Robinson-Crusoe retreat with miles of white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Drenched in natural beauty, with endless powder white sands, hidden coves and protected coral reefs, holidays in Antigua can be described as the ultimate Caribbean escape and are truly a beach lover’s paradise.

Fall and Winter Caribbean Cruises on Windstar

Earthtimes Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations invites travelers to the sun-drenched beaches and tropical waters of the Caribbean aboard the 312-guest Wind Surf and the 148-guest Wind Spirit. The 148-guest Wind Spirit sails roundtrip from St. Thomas on 7-day sailings offering guests pristine beaches, lively island culture and duty-free shopping. Port of calls include St. John, St. Martin, St. Barts, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda. Cruise rates begin at $1,949 per person, based on double occupancy.

British Airways to begin weekly schedule flight to St. Kitts

SKNVibes.com BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 7TH 2008 (CUOPM) – British Airways is to begin scheduled flight into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. The full service global airline has announced it will begin weekly flights from Gatwick on Saturday January 10th 2009. “British Airways’ position as the airline with more flights to the Caribbean than any other UK carrier is further strengthened by the addition of St. Kitts to the network.

There's more to the Caribbean than sun and sand ....

Canoe travel There's more to the Caribbean than sun and sand (although that's reason enough to visit). When Caribbean tourism representatives came to town last week for events at Yonge- Dundas Square and elsewhere, they revealed a host of new attractions, deals and details on upcoming festivals. Here's a sample:

Caribbean tourism well served despite XL closure

Travel Counsellors British holidaymakers wishing to take a break in the Caribbean are still "fairly well served" despite the closure of holiday operator XL, a leading expert has claimed recently. XL Leisure Group, which contained a charter and scheduled airline as well as various tour operators, was placed in administration in June 2008. The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) has stated that popular winter destinations in the Caribbean were "better served" before the demise of XL. However, Derek Moore, chairman of AITO, said that the Caribbean still proves consistently popular among British holidaymakers, alongside North Africa.

Win a week for two on the idyllic Caribbean island of St Lucia

TimesOnline A haven for honeymooners and peace-seeking celebrities, St Lucia is a Caribbean dream-come-true. Blessed with lush rainforests, sparkling seas and long, wide, pristine beaches, there are few more beautiful, relaxing and romantic holiday destinations in the world. And this month, we’ve teamed up with The Landings St Lucia, a RockResort property, and TravelDep to give away a sensational seven-night getaway on this idyllic isle

Virgin Atlantic Airways celebrates 'decade of Caribbean flights'

Go Travel Insurance Leading UK airline Virgin Atlantic is this month celebrating a decade of operating flights to the Caribbean. The carrier has been flying to the area since 1998, when it began operating services from London Gatwick to Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua. As part of its anniversary celebrations the airline will sponsor a ten-day music festival in Barbados, featuring a number of UK bands playing at various venues across the island.