caribbean travel

Before You Travel to the Caribbean: Haiti Island Guide

2009-12-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

Haiti is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, and is likely to remain that way for some time. The U.S. State Department – along with a number of other countries – considers Haiti unsafe for tourists and has issued strong warnings to avoid the country. If travel to Haiti is encouraged in the future, visitors will experience vibrant culture and nightlife, magnificent architectural attractions and stunning natural beauty.

Haiti Basic Travel Information

Location: Western third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Size: 10,714 square miles

Capital: Port-Au-Prince

Language: French and Creole

Religions: Mostly Roman Catholic, some voodoo

Currency: Haitian gourde, U.S. dollars also widely accepted

Area Code: 509

Tipping: 10 percent

Weather: Temperatures range from 68 to 95 degrees

Haiti Security Situation

Violent crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, theft and murder, is prevalent. Over 60 Americans were kidnapped in 2006, most in Port-au-Prince. The U.S. State Department recommends that if you must travel to Haiti, register on their Web site. Other safety tips:

Travel in pairs or small groups.
Keep car windows closed and doors locked at all times.
Don’t wear jewelry or conspicuously carry valuables.
Stay away from shantytowns, such as Cité Soleil, La Saline, Bel Air and Martissant, where gang activity is common.
Do not photograph individuals without first seeking their permission.

Haiti Activities and Attractions

Haiti has two magnificent architectural attractions, Sans-Souci Palace, known as the Caribbean Versailles, and Citadelle la Ferriere, the largest fortress in the Caribbean. Both are near Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s second-largest city. Port-au-Prince's chaotic Iron Market is packed with stalls selling everything from fruit to religious totems. Haiti’s top natural attractions include Étang Saumâtre, a large saltwater lake with flamingos and crocodiles, and the Bassins Bleu, three deep blue pools linked by spectacular waterfalls.

Haiti Beaches

Labadee Beach near Cap-Haïtien has superb sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling opportunities. In the vicinity of Jacmel are white-sand beaches like Cyvadier Plage, Raymond Les Bains, Cayes-Jacmel and Ti-Mouillage.

Haiti Hotels and Resorts

Most of Haiti’s hotels are in or near Port-au-Prince. Affluent Petionville, which overlooks the capital city, is a center for restaurants, art galleries and hotels, including the Kinam Hotel and the Hotel Montana. The Kaliko Beach Club is on a black-sand beach about an hour’s drive from Port-au-Prince.

Haiti Restaurants and Cuisine

Haiti’s French heritage is reflected prominently in its food, which also shows Creole, African and Latin American influences. Some local dishes worth sampling are accras, or fish batter balls; griot, or fried pork; and tassot, or turkey in a spicy marinade. Petionville, which contains many of Haiti’s hotels, features restaurants offering French, Caribbean, American and local cuisine.

Haiti History and Culture

Columbus discovered Hispaniola in 1492, but in 1697 Spain ceded what is now Haiti to France. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half-million slaves revolted, leading to independence in 1804. For much of the 20th century, Haiti has suffered from political instability. The vibrant Haitian culture is felt most powerfully in its religion, music, art and food. In 1944, a group of untrained artists opened the celebrated Centre d'Art in Port-au-Prince. Today, Haitian arts, particularly paintings, are popular with collectors worldwide.

Haiti Events and Festivals

Carnival in February is Haiti’s biggest festival. During this time, Port-au-Prince is filled with music, parade floats, all-night parties, and people dancing and singing in the streets. After Carnival, Rara celebrations begin. Rara is a form of music that celebrates Haiti’s African ancestry and voodoo culture.

Before You Travel to the Caribbean: U.S. Virgin Islands Guide

2009-12-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Each of the three U.S. Virgin Islands has its own distinct personality, and together they offer travelers an extraordinary range of choices. Outgoing St. Thomas has an abundance of shopping and exuberant nightlife, while much of St. John is preserved as a national park. St. Croix, though neither as boisterous as St. Thomas nor as peaceful as St. John, will appeal to both shoppers and nature lovers.

U.S. Virgin Islands Basic Travel Information

Location: In the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, about 50 miles east of Puerto Rico

Size: 134 square miles

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Language: English, some Spanish

Religions: Predominantly Baptist and Roman Catholic

Currency: U.S. dollar. Major credit cards and traveler's checks usually accepted.

Area Code: 340

Tipping: Tip porters $1 per bag. Tip 15-20% at restaurants; many add a service charge.

Weather: Daily highs average 77° degrees in winter and 82 in summer. Rainy season is September to November. Hurricane season is August to November.

U.S. Virgin Islands Activities and Attractions

Shopping is the biggest activity on St. Thomas, and thousands of cruise ship passengers disembark in Charlotte Amalie every day to do just that. Steep discounts on duty-free goods mean you can save up to 60 percent on some items. While St. Croix has superlative shopping in Frederiksted and Christiansted, its main attraction is Buck Island, a small island off the northeastern coast with underwater snorkeling trails. As for St. John, the serene island itself is the attraction, with almost two-thirds preserved as a national park.

U.S. Virgin Islands Beaches

St. Thomas has 44 beaches; its most famous, and one of the loveliest, is Magens Bay. This public beach has plenty of facilities, but does charge a fee. On St. John, Caneel Bay has a string of seven beaches. Trunk Bay, also on St. John, is known for its underwater snorkeling trail. Sandy Point on St. Croix is the U.S. Virgin Islands' biggest beach and a nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtle; it's open to the public only on weekends. Buck Island, just off St. Croix, has excellent snorkeling.

U.S. Virgin Islands Hotels and Resorts

Hotels and resorts in the U.S. Virgin Islands can be pricey. If you want to save money, book your stay as part of a package deal that includes airfare and lodging or travel in the off season, which runs from mid-April to mid-December. Staying in a guesthouse or a villa is another way to save. St. John’s premier eco-resort, Caneel Bay, has no TVs or phones in the rooms, making it a great place to reconnect with nature. For a more glamorous setting, try The Buccaneer on St. Croix or Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas.

U.S. Virgin Islands Restaurants and Cuisine

As varied as the people who settled these islands, the cuisine of the U.S. Virgin Islands draws on African, Puerto Rican and European influences. Traditional dishes incorporate local spices, fruits, root vegetables and seafood. Look for fresh fish like wahoo and mahimahi; callaloo, a soup made with leafy greens and flavored with pork and spices; curried goat; and sweet potato pie.

U.S. Virgin Islands Culture and History

Columbus discovered the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1493. During the 17th century, the three islands were divided between the English and the Danish. Slaves were imported from Africa to work the sugarcane fields. In 1917, the U.S. purchased the Danish islands. The culture combines American and Caribbean influences, incorporating musical traditions with African roots like reggae and calypso, as well as blues and jazz. Stories about spirits, or jumbies, are another popular local tradition.

U.S. Virgin Islands Events and Festivals

The St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival, St. John's Fourth of July celebration and St. Thomas' annual Carnival are three of the most popular celebrations.

U.S. Virgin Islands Nightlife

Skip St. John and head right to St. Thomas and St. Croix if you’re in search of nightlife. Both islands offer sports and wine bars, plus a variety of live music, casinos, dance clubs and local dives that serve up a mean rum punch. Try the Sugar Mill or Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas.

Elite Suites of the Caribbean

2009-12-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

A destination wedding, honeymoon or anniversary requires a special room, and some of the most luxurious hotel suites in the world are located at posh Caribbean resorts. Not everyone can afford to stay in a suite costing $52,000 -- the nightly rate at the Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva. But the hottest suites in the Caribbean are a relative bargain by comparison, and Elite Traveler magazine's list of 101 Top Hotel/Resort Suites of the Year includes some more reasonably priced rooms that still won out because of their combination of service, amenities, style and location:

1. Amanyara Ocean Villas, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Description:: Each of the villas at the Amanyara is like a mini resort unto itself, with three or four separate indoor-ooutdoor bedroom pavilions, a living-room and dining-room pavilion, kitchen and infinity-edge swimming pool surrounding a reflecting pool or ornamental lake on more than an acre of property at Northwest Point.

Cost: $12,000 per night

2. Eden Rock Villa Nina, St. Barths

Description:: The Villa Nina is 6,000 square feet of sheer luxury, from the valcucine kitchen to a cinema room, private art gallery, and in-suite dining prepared by Chef Jean-Claude Dufour.

Cost: $76,100 per week

3. The Reef Atlantis Penthouse, Paradise Island, Bahamas

Description:: This 4,000-square-foot suite has 180-degree ocean views, two-story vaulted ceilings, a pair of master bedrooms, a media room, 10-seat dining area, private balconies and a full kitchen -- all perched atop the newest beachfront hotel on Paradise Island.

Cost: $10,000 per night

4. The Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya Presidential Villa, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Description:: Water choices abound at this stylish three-bedroom villa, which is just steps from the Caribbean but also features a private swimming pool and lap pool. The 2,600-square-foot two-story villa has an upstairs bedroom with commanding views of the sea, a private spa and sauna, and is staffed with a private chef and butler.

Cost: $6,500 to $15,000 per night

5. Temenos Anguilla Resort and Residences Sea Villa, Anguilla

Description:: Enjoy not only views of the Caribbean but also the nearby Greg Norman-designed golf course at this luxury beachfront resort. The villas at the Temenos all have four bedrooms, four and a half baths, and more than 6,000 square feet of total indoor and outdoor living space.

Cost: $35,000 per week

6. Raffles Resort Canouan Island, Raffles Villa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Description:: The Raffles Villa consists of a main house and guest cottage, three bedrooms total, and includes a full kitchen, living room, private pool, and private terraces for each bedroom, all served by a private butler and chef.

Cost: $5,000 to $10,000 per night

7. Hotel Guanahani & Spa, La Villa, St. Barths

Description:: The ocean-view "love tub" highlights the amenities at this three-bedroom suite with its private garden swimming pool, living room, and three bathrooms, 1,650 square feet in total.

Cost: $3,970 to $8,835 per night

Before You Travel to the Caribbean: Jamaica Island Guide:

2009-12-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

Jamaica is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the Caribbean, and is especially known for its all-inclusive resorts. The island is full of storied tourist destinations -- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, to name a few -- and all have distinct personalities. It's a big country, geographically diverse, and well worth exploring beyond the confines of your resort.

Jamaica Basic Travel Information

Location: In the Caribbean Sea 90 miles south of Cuba.
Size: About 4,243 square miles/10,990 square kilometers (146 miles long, 51 miles wide).
Capital: Kingston
Language: English, local patois
Religions: Mostly Protestant, with some Roman Catholics and spiritual sects, including Rastafarians.
Currency: Jamaican dollar; U.S. dollar widely accepted.
Telephone/Area Code: 876
Tipping: 10-15%
Weather: Hot, tropical and humid along shore; cooler inland, especially in the Blue Mountains

Jamaica Attractions

Many people come to Jamaica just to sit on the beach, but many also make time to explore popular sights like Dunn's River Falls (come early, before the cruise ships arrive) and rafting on the Martha Brae River. Jamaica also has 400 years of history to explore, notably in towns like Port Royal. To escape from the heat, take a drive up into the cool Blue Mountains and meet some real Jamaicans. Montego Bay is known for its nightlife; Negril is a bit more laid back, and Port Antonio quieter still.

Jamaica Beaches

Montego Bay, Negril and Port Antonio are all blessed with beautiful beaches, from white-sand strands to quiet coves with wave-carved caves. The beaches on the south shore have wilder surf, but fewer crowds.

Jamaica Hotels and Resorts

Jamaica has a vast attay of lodging options, from small family inns to upscale resorts like the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall. The Beaches and Sandals resorts are some of the most famous all-inclusive resorts in the world; the Hedonism properties are among the most freewheeling. For a different yet authentically Jamaican experience, check out the Island Outpost chain of small luxury resorts, including Goldeneye, 007 author Ian Fleming's famous mountaintop perch.

Jamaica Restaurants

Jerk chicken, anyone? In Jamaica, you'll find this spicy local favorite cooking over open fires in steel drums as well as on the menu of upscale restaurants. Sonia's in Negril is known for its authentic Jamaican dishes; the Ruins in Ocho Rios has a beautiful outdoor courtyard.

Jamaica Culture and History

A rich cultural and historic legacy awaits visitors to Jamaica, from ancient forts guarding old pirate towns to the unique story of Rastafarianism and the mysterious culture of the Maroons.

Jamaica Events and Festivals

The birthplace of reggae celebrates its musical heritage and much more during year-round events and festivals.

Jamaica Nightlife

New Kingston is the home of Jamaica's hottest nightclubs, but you'll find plenty of late-night partying throughout the island, from Margaritaville to Mo Bay.

Caribbean Carnival Calendar

2009-12-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

Caribbean Carnival, like those in Rio and New Orleans (Mardi Gras), is traditionally a big blowout party leading up to the solemn season of Lent in the Christian calendar. However, while many Caribbean islands do celebrate Carnival in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday -- including Trinidad & Tobago, whose Carnival is world-famous -- others hold their Carnival celebrations at other times of the year.

Barbados, for example, calls its Carnival "Crop Over," a traditional harvest festival that takes place in August. St. Vincent's "Vincy Mas" is one of a number of Carnival celebrations held in the summer, bringing some excitement to what is otherwise a slow time of year in the Caribbean.

The good news for visitors is that if your in the mood for a unique island experience, you can find a Carnival celebration almost any time of the year. In fact, some islands have Carnival events stretching over months, from the Feast of the Epiphany in January to Ash Wednesday, for example.

Here are all of the Caribbean islands that celebrate Carnival and the months in which they do so (exact days can vary from year to year). Those listed as "Lent" celebrate Carnival in the traditional season, which can fall in February or March depending on the date of Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday:

Anguilla: August
Antigua: August
Aruba: Lent
Bahamas (Junkanoo): December-January
Barbados (Crop Over): August
Bermuda (Bermuda Day/Junkanoo): May
Bonaire: October
British Virgin Islands (Emancipation Festival): July-August
Cayman Islands (Batabano): April-May
Cuba: Lent
Curacao: Lent
Dominica: Lent
Dominican Republic: Lent
Grenada: August
Guadeloupe: Lent
Haiti: Lent
Jamaica: April
Martinique: Lent
Montserrat: December
Puerto Rico: January-February
Saba: July-August
St. Barts: Lent
St. Eustatius: April-May
St. Kitts and Nevis: December-January
St. Lucia: July
St. Martin/Maarten: St. Martin: Lent; St. Maarten: April
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Vincy Mas): June-July
Trinidad and Tobago: Lent
Turks and Caicos (Junkanoo): December-January
U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Croix, December-January; St. Thomas, April

The Caribbean's Best Golf Courses and Golf Resorts

2009-12-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

The Caribbean has always been a popular golf course, but today there are more choices than ever for golfers. The Dominican Republic has emerged as one of the world's best golf destinations -- Casa de Campo's Teeth of the Dog course is listed as #35 in the world by Golf Magazine, for example -- and you can even find golf in such unusual destinations as Cuba and Haiti. So pack your clubs for your next trip to the Caribbean and experience firsthand the fun of playing golf under the tropical sun!

Anguilla: Temenos Golf Club

This links course has 14 sea-view holes that distracts duffers with panoramas of the Caribbean and nearby St. Martin/Maarten. But keep your eye on the ball, because the course is full of lagoons and ponds, including one stocked with bonefish if you decide to throw down the clubs and pick up a rod and reel.

Antigua: Jolly Harbor Golf Course

This par-71, 18-hole championship course on St. John's is located next to the Jolly Harbour Marina in a lush tropical setting and winds around seven lakes.

Aruba: Tierra del Sol Golf Course

This Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course is Aruba's only 18-hole championship golf course; it's a par-71, 6,811-yarder that highlights not the ocean but rather Aruba's arid outback of cactus and divi divi trees.

Bahamas: Lyford Cay Club

The exclusive Lyford Cay gated community on the west end of New Providence Island is built around the the Lyford Cay Club, a members-only institution with an 18-hole championship golf course ranked among the world's best -- if you can get an invitation to play.

Bahamas: One&Only Ocean Club Golf Course

The luxury One&Only Ocean Club neighboring the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island boasts a Tom Weiskopf designed resort course that will appeal to weekend warriors and serious golf fanatics alike. The course hosts the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational.

Bahamas: Four Seasons Great Exuma at Emerald Bay

Greg Norman designed this championship 18-hole course on the Bahamas out-island of Exuma. The oceanfront fairways run past sand dunes and tall seashore grasses to end on a final hole at the end of a spectacular peninsula. Named one of the best resort courses in the Caribbean by Travel & Leisure magazine.

Bahamas: The Ritz-Carlton Abaco Club on Winding Bay

Tiny Abaco is home to a wonderful seaside, Scottish-style links course (minus the harsh wind and stony soil), a par-72, 7,138-yard masterpiece.

Bahamas: Our Lucaya

The Our Lucaya resort on Grand Bahamas Island features Westin and Sheraton hotels and a pair of championship 18-hole golf courses, plus the Butch Harmon School of Golf. The resort also has a casino, kids' club, nightclub, multiple restaurants, and a nearby straw market. No wonder it was named one of the best resorts in the Caribbean for a family golf getaway by Travel & Leisure, as well as one of the best Caribbean golf resorts in 2006 by readers of Caribbean Travel & Life magazine.

Barbados: Sandy Lane

Sandy Lane is where Tiger Woods got married, so need we say more about the quality of the golf here? The resort's Green Monkey course (named for the green Bajan monkeys you may see scampering across the greens) was designed by Tom Fazio on the site of an old quarry, the walls of which tower over some of the fairways and bunkers. Nine holes, par 72, 7,100 yards, and you can only play if you stay at the pricey Sandy Lane resort and are willing to shell out a greens fee in the $400 range.

Bermuda: Mid-Ocean Club

The members-only Mid-Ocean Club is one of the oldest golf courses in the region, opened in 1921. The championship 18-hole course in Tucker's Town can only be played by invitation or by members or their guests, but hotels owned by club members also may be able to get you a tee time on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. Remember, if you're going to wear shorts to play, they must be modest "Bermuda-length"!

caribbean travel

2009-12-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

What's your idea of the ideal Caribbean vacation? Whether you want to hang out on a pristine beach, hit the nightclubs, tour historic plantations and other sights, or spend your days on the golf course or tennis courts, you've come to the right place to find out everything you need to know about all the great activities and attractions the Caribbean has to offer!

In a region where the natural beauty of tropical rain forests, pristine beaches and colorful reefs are among the main attractions, you'll find plenty of nominees that merit inclusion in any "best of" list. However, the treasures that make up my list of Seven Natural Wonders of the Caribbean are the best of the best -- those sublime spots where nature has the awesome ability to take your breath away.

The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
The Baths is the Caribbean snorkeler's paradise, a jumble of ancient underwater boulders that form a series of caves, grottos and pools along the coast of Virgin Gorda. Thanks to the calm and sheltered waters, even the most novice snorkeler can enjoy the beauty of the coral-kissed rock formations as tbey paddle from hidden pools right up onto the shore of the main beach. There's nothing more refreshing than a plunge into the sparkling sea after exploring The Bath's intricate shore caves -- it can take an hour or more of clambering and snaking through the rocks to see them all.

Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques, Puerto Rico
A kayak trip down a narrow mangrove river leads to Vieques' Bahia Fosforescente, or Biolumnescent Bay, which is both a unique natural site and a wonderful experience for visitors. The bay's shallow and bacteria-rich waters provide the ideal environment for one-celled protozoa that use bioluminescence, or light creation, as a defense mechanism. In other words, these microorganisms light up when disturbed, either by a predator or a swimming tourist. On a moonless night, a swim in the biolumanescent bay of Vieques is truly a magical experience as ripples and waves of light stream from your paddling arms and wiggling fingers.

Bonaire National Marine Park
In a region where nearly every destination has a reef system and boast of its diving opportunities, Bonaire is acknowledged as one of the true meccas for scuba buffs and snorkelers. Bonaire's National Marine Park literally surrounds the island, from the shoreline to the point where the water reaches 200 feet in depth, and is the best protected reef system in the Caribbean. Human activites, while closely controlled, range from swimming, kayaking and windsurfing to diving and snorkeling.

El Yunque Rain Forest
The Caribbean's most famous rain forest is also it's most beautiful, one of the crown jewels of the U.S. National Park Service. The park isn't huge, but its 28,000 acres includes staggering biodiversity -- home to thousands of native plants and hundreds of animal species. With 600,000 annual visitors, El Yunque can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed, but quieter experiences can be had in the summer (when locals enjoy a dip in the cool rivers, largely away from tourists), spring, and fall. Hiking, fishing, and even camping is available to those who truly want to immerse themselves in the rainforest experience.

The Pitons, St. Lucia
One of the iconic vistas not only of St. Lucia but in the entire Caribbean, the twin volcanic peaks of the Pitons rise dramatically from the sea. The Pitons Management Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, includes active hot springs, coral reefs, and tropical forests. Hardy visitors to St. Lucia take the challenge of hiking to the top of the 2,619-foot Gros Piton (Petit Piton, at 2,461 feet, is off limits to climbers).

Pitch Lake, Trinidad
Some call the Pitch Lake of Trinidad the ugliest tourist attraction in the Caribbean, and some visitors have likened its appearance to a giant parking lot. But this bubbling, hissing, stinky 100-acre lake of liquid asphalt is the largest of its kind in the world, and well worth a visit. Located near the town of La Brea, the Pitch Lake is 350 feet deep, and visitors can walk on parts of its crusty surface. Guides will show you how the lake is constantly moving and swallowing some items, spitting out others. The lake, which contains an estimated 6 million tons of asphalt, is replenished from pitch veins that run deep below the earth's surface.

Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat

The highly active, sometimes angry Soufriere Hills volcano in Montserrat has been both a blessing and curse to local residents. A major eruption of the volcano beginning in 1995 devastated the tiny island, rendering the entire southern half of Montserrat uninhabitable, burying the capital city of Plymouth under tons or ash, and killing 18 people. But the volcano also is an irresistible lure for island visitors, who can view current eruptions and abandoned buildings from a former golf course now covered by volcanic mudflows. Tourists also can visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, which closely monitors activity at Soufriere Hills.