Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for caribbean
Craft Market Reopens in Bahamas
By Linda Tancs
After being gutted by fire in 2001, Nassau’s Straw Market in the Bahamas is open for business. The Bay Street fixture offers local handiworks and is accessible by cab or jitney from Cable Beach. Unless you’re a polar bear by nature, you likely won’t be swimming there in January, so why not shop till you drop!
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Sloth Central
By Linda Tancs
The sleepy surf of Costa Rica’s Caribbean side may seem like an unlikely place for a rescue center for the native sloth, but three miles north of Cahuita lies the world’s only sloth rescue center, Aviarios del Caribe. The learning center and sanctuary is home to special adult resident sloths named Millie, Toyota, Spiderman, Einstein, Nala and TopoGigio. The sanctuary offers visitors the opportunity to sleep with the sloths (well, kind of) via a small hotel on the premises. Just one more way to get up close and personal with the natives.
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A Sailor’s Life in BVI
By Linda Tancs
Sailors have been competitively plying the warm waters of Nanny Cay in British Virgin Islands now for 40 years. This year marks the 40th anniversary of BVI’s Spring Regatta, taking place today through 3 April. Visitors can fly to the British Virgin Islands through San Juan, Puerto Rico and from Antigua or St. Martin with American Airlines, Cape Air, BVI Airline and LIAT. Flights to Antigua and Barbados are available on Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and BWIA. Ferry service is also available from St. Thomas, USVI.
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Dominican Republic is Attractive to Pensioners
By Linda Tancs
The Dominican Republic is known for baseball superstars, sugar cane and cigars. But did you know that the economy has doubled in size since 1990 according to the President’s address at the 2010 UN Millenium Development Goals Summit? The government recognizes that foreign inputs of currency or capital contribute to the development and collective well being of the population, so foreign pensioners can establish exemptions from the payment of tax on dividends, interest, realty and other property as residents of the Dominican Republic. Of course, if you choose to work, you pay local taxes. But why would you do that when you can laze away on the beaches, watch the whales, golf, or venture among 16 national parks, nine natural monuments and six scientific reserves? The choice is yours.
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Dutch Treat
By Linda Tancs
Curacao is a Caribbean island in the Netherland Antilles. Independent from the Dutch politically, culturally the ties are as strong as ever. The official language is Dutch, but this country sandwiched between Aruba and Bonaire has a multicultural flair as well. They call it authenticity. With European and African roots, influences abound from the early slave trade, the Spanish and Portuguese migration and, of course, the Dutch occupation. Largely undiscovered and devoid of tourist traps, the island offers lazy beach days, unparalleled diving and world-class shopping among the sherbet-colored Dutch colonial buildings dotting the capital city of Willemstad. Bon Bini!
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Cookout in the Caymans
By Linda Tancs
Renowned French chef Eric Ripert of New York’s Le Bernardin is presiding over a long weekend cookout celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Cayman Islands. The star-studded roster of chefs offering tastings, demonstrations, and dinners includes Susur Lee, Charlie Trotter, Rachel Allen and chef-turned-food raconteur Anthony Bourdain of the Food Channel. Now through 16 January, the events range from wine and food tastings at the Ritz-Carlton on Grand Cayman to an oceanfront lunch at historic Grand Old House, a cayside picnic, beachside BBQ and assorted galas to celebrate with grand Caribbean flair. Your culinary heroes await you.
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Caribbean Honduras
By Linda Tancs
It’s getting harder to enjoy the quiet life in the bustling Caribbean, but there’s still hope at Roatán, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands. West Bay Beach hosts a coral reef that meets the shore at the south end, allowing you to commune peacefully with a variety of colorful fish, sponges and sea fans. The cruise ships generally meet up at a southern point referred to as “Tabayana Beach.” Even so, the area is remarkably quiet–particularly, though, at the northern end. There you can enjoy the fine, silky, palm-lined sand and its accompanying turquoise-blue water. Either way, it’s a win-win.
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Best Caribbean Island
By Linda Tancs
It might not have the name recognition of neighboring St. Maarten, but the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba won the distinction of Best Caribbean Island this year, thanks to Travel + Leisure magazine. So how does a small (five square miles) and remote island land such a distinction? Maybe it’s the lava tunnels, hot springs and vibrant marine life accessible to divers only by boat. Or perhaps it’s the unspoiled beauty of the rain forest, tidepools and historic ruins beckoning trekkers. Whatever the reason, your first challenge is getting there. Squeamish flyers might want to avoid Winair’s death-defying landings at the 1300-feet-long runway. Take the ferry instead from St. Maarten.
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Kittitian Heritage Year Round
By Linda Tancs
How often have you dreamed of living the island life? Cool ocean breezes, swaying palms, golden sunsets. It’s all yours at St. Kitt’s Christophe Harbour. Riviera-inspired retreats are now available at Sandy Bank Bay, a horseshoe bay with two reefs and a natural sand bank more than 100 yards long. Amenities in this exclusive community include a beach club, golf course and marina slips for megayachts. All yours for under a cool million–for now. Any takers?
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Great Deal for Rum Runners
By Linda Tancs
Smooth and white with a hint of coconut. No, this isn’t just another garden variety Caribbean beach. It’s the Malibu rum distillery at Cockspur Beach Club at Barbados’ Brighton Beach. If the spirits move you, then now is the time to catch a great deal from JFK to Bridgetown with new service from JetBlue. For less than $500 per person, you can spend 4 nights in the quiet, adults-only Divi Heritage Beach Resort with private verandas overlooking exclusive St. James Beach. Welcome to Fantasy Island.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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