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Showing posts from November, 2009

Healthy Reefs Buoy Haitian Hopes for Tourism Revival

NYTimes.com : "There was a time when Haiti was known as the 'Pearl of the Antilles,' a Caribbean vacation destination as famous as Jamaica or Puerto Rico are today. Haiti's sandy beaches and coral reefs lured tourists by the boatload. Its 1,100 miles of coast offered playgrounds for scuba divers, yachtsmen and cruise ships. And the tourism trade until the early 1990s provided solid incomes for Haitians."

St. Bart's: Tiny Caribbean Jewel for Food, Fashion

ABC News : "The island is a haven for the chic and the hip. Cutoffs rarely meet the dress code, unless they're designed as such and topped off by a fabulously sexy top — for men or women. St. Barthelemy has a couple of pet names. Americans tend to say St. Bart's, while the Francophiles declare the nickname is St. Barth, though still prounonced 'bart.' The capital is Gustavia, a port town resembling a Mediterranean village with stucco buildings and colorful decor. The world's top designer boutiques, including Hermes and Roberto Cavalli, line the streets, along with a myriad of restaurants and cafes."

Try the Southern Caribbean

SGVTribune.com : "Breathing room, salon specials and a nap are tempting to enjoy while the ship is in port, but when beaches are this pristine and inviting, and the shore excursions this intriguing, how can anyone remain onboard while docked in Barbados? The easternmost of the Caribbean islands and the southernmost port of the cruise, Barbados (www.visitbarbados.org) offers some of the best beaches in the world, all open to the public by law. Two of the best, Brandon's and Brighton beaches, are actually just a half-mile walk west from port. A 10-minute drive the other direction takes you to the southern tip of the island, and this is where I finally lost my surf virginity. Freights Bay is one of the top surf spots on the south coast, and it's easy to see why. A sheltered bay, favorable swells and waves breaking in about 4 feet of water where the bottom is mostly sand and reef make this the perfect classroom for lessons."

Montserrat, back from the ashes

Travel | The Guardian : "A mountain chicken that's actually a frog; a half-snake, half-lizard creature called a galliwasp; and an avian Dr Dolittle ... this is the stuff of a children's fantasy, or perhaps a particularly vivid hallucination. In fact I was deep in the rainforest of Montserrat, discovering the bizarre local wildlife."

Air Jamaica Wins “The Caribbean’s Leading Airline” Award

South Florida Caribbean News : "MIAMI – For the twelfth consecutive year, Air Jamaica has been named “The Caribbean’s Leading Airline” in the World Travel Awards. This year’s award ceremony, held in London, was the culmination of voting by thousands of travel industry professionals in more than 190 countries."

Island makes words flow -- chicagotribune.com

I chicagotribune.com : "Q What is your favorite vacation destination? A St. Kitts, in the Caribbean, where I often go to write. It hasn't fully become a tourist destination yet, so you can still experience small-island Caribbean culture in one of the most beautiful, temperate spots on earth."

Jamaica less traveled

JSOnline : "In Portland Parish, Brother Lion espouses healthy eating as part of his Rastafarian religion. Swaddling his feet in brown fabric, he shimmies up a tree trunk and grabs a handful of coconuts, brings down a few, and cracks them open for visitors to enjoy."

Fly “Dominica Air”

Dominica News Online "“Honey, let’s take a weeks vacation to the Caribbean, maybe just before Christmas or in January when the air rates are a little lower.” “With the economy as it is, everyone seems to be having great deals now. Maybe I will find out about that island that our friends visited on their cruise. What was it called? Oh yeah, Dominica, I get it confused with that Dominican something Republic place. American Airlines has been doing a lot of advertising lately about ‘Fly Cheap to the Caribbean Now’, Sun & Fun, etc. I’ll check out their web-site."

A Beach, A Banana, And A Flight From Britain: Plane Spotting In St. Lucia

Jaunted : "Whether you're heading down on the new Jetblue flight from New York-JFK like we did, or coming all the way from London-Gatwick on the direct Virgin Atlantic flight, you'll want to get a load of the air traffic that sporadically makes its way into St. Lucia's Hewanorra airport at the very southernmost tip of the island, and here's how... Both days we were at the airport, we noticed flights arriving from the west and then, of course, taking off towards the east. If you want to watch the landings, then you'd do well to the portion of St. Jude's Highway that rounds the end of the runway in order to reach the town of Vieux Fort, which is practically cut off from the island by the airport."

St. James’s Club and Villas, Antigua

St James’s New Royal Suites : "St. James’s Club & Villas, on a 100-acre peninsula on the southeastern coast of Antigua, has two accommodation choices: The Club and The Village. The Club has 197 guest rooms (including the new suites) plus restaurants, lounges and activity centers. The last time rooms were added was in 2007 when eight oceanfront Premium Guest Rooms debuted. They boast ocean views from balconies; flat-screen TVs; soaking tubs for two; and sofa beds to sleep three guests."

Experience Barbados and save up to $100

Experience Barbados With Delta Vacations and Save Up to $100 | SYS-CON MEDIA : "BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Vacations® makes planning a week-long Barbados getaway that much easier this winter with seven night hotel and air packages from a variety of cities including Atlanta, New York, Detroit, MI, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and Salt Lake City, UT. With easy air connections via Atlanta, Barbados is just a quick flight away this winter where travelers can spend a week in paradise on the pristine beaches, inviting turquoise waters, and vibrant and historic culture. Book by Nov. 30, 2009 and travel through April 30, 2010 with savings up to $100. For full terms and conditions of this offer, visit: http://www.deltavacations.com/specials/specialoffer.do?specialOfferCode=11162DVC."

Get your groove back in Jamaica

Metro "Haunted colonial mansions, triathlons and motivational theme parks — not things you think of when you think of Jamaica? Think again, mon. Jamaica is fast becoming the health and activity capital of the Caribbean. Feel like you need to recharge rather than merely relax? With direct flights on JetBlue launching in January and locals that welcome you with open arms, you’ll be getting your groove back in no time."