So you’re planning a Caribbean vacation and you are wondering about what you want to see and do in this paradise on earth? Laying on the beach and soaking up the sun? Watching a spectacular island sunset? Or just snoozing away in a hammock beneath the palm trees? If this sounds to you like wasting your vacation time, and you want something more active, then fear not! The Caribbean offers a lot more than just sunbathing and picturesque sunsets. There are plenty of active and adventurous endeavors which will excite every thrill-seeker, from golf and tennis to water sports and underwater exploration. Eco-oriented visitors who love nature can enjoy the great outdoors. It’s up to you to decide which activities interest you the most, since the Caribbean has something for everybody.
Lots of Caribbean resorts and hotels have specially-designed packages for golf and tennis players. The major resorts have on-location tennis courts available for their guests, and by reservation for people who aren’t staying at the hotel. Often hotels and resorts with tennis courts offer tennis instruction, so even beginners can enjoy great tennis action. If you prefer spending your daytime hours in or on the surf or soaking up the sun, most hotels have lighted courts for nighttime play. Golf is also a popular reason why people vacation in the Caribbean: The year ’round tropical Caribbean weather is perfect for enjoying a laid-back game, or engaging in sharp competition. Many of the region’s golf courses are situated in breathtakingly beautiful settings beneath majestic mountains and surrounded by tropical greenery. There are great golfing experiences throughout the Caribbean, but particularly on the large islands. Most courses are available for visitors, and they offer rental equipment as well as golf lessons. Golfers will find courses which were designed by world-renowned course designers and players, with some of the best courses in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.
The azure waters of the Caribbean provide the backdrop to a wide variety of water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, waterskiing, and fishing. Beneath the calm waters lies a wondrous world of exotic and colorful ocean wildlife, including coral and brilliant fish. Caribbean vacations offer some of the best dive destinations in the world, and are home to hotels and resorts which specialize in diving and offer special packages for divers. You can rent equipment and take scuba lessons and certification. Or, you can try out snuba diving, which is a cross between snorkeling and diving. The many coral reefs, volcanic vents, and old shipwrecks are fascinating places to explore, and make for an unforgettable experience for adventurers of all ages. Fishing is another popular Caribbean activity since there are countless numbers of fish species living beneath the surface of the crystalline blue waters. Windsurfing is also a very popular water sport in the region and many resorts and hotels offer lessons for beginners. Also water rafting, kayaking, and parasailing draw fun seekers to the salty Caribbean waves.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Amazing Caribbean Cruises
The Next time you’re thinking of taking a vacation to the Caribbean make sure you consider going there by cruise. The Royal Caribbean cruise ships are much more fun than travelling there by air. I would much be pampered and entertained on the cruise than getting into a cramped aero plane seat for 8 hours.
Apart from enjoying the sun and the blue water there are plenty of fun things to do the Caribbean cruise ships which make for a fun filled week with your family or friends. You have plenty of options from music to dance to fine dinning, movies, swimming, and sports, jet-skiing and even casinos. They even have an amazing with different types of massages when you want to relax. Its always important to plan your packing, you want to make sure you pack all your travel documents and medication.
You should also make sure you pack all your favorite dancing clothes because there is tons of dancing every night. On these Royal Caribbean cruise’s they have a wide variety of shows performances and entertainers every night. You even have a jazz bar if you just want to relax and unwind. The Fine Dining restaurants are perfect for romantic dinners so make sure you book ahead. If movies are your thing you even have a mini theatre playing your favorite movies for you. They also have a bowling alley onboard. There are so many fun activities I remember being a little boggled when I was in my room doing nothing.
As soon as you get on your given a seven day activity guide. If you’re planning on travelling with your kids, you have nothing to worry about. There are plenty of funky activities for the kids as well. If your kids like swimming the pool has some fun waterslides. The restaurants also have food festivals on for the kids. The Royal Caribbean cruise ships also dock at the port of St Kitts. This is a beautiful island with lots of sights to see, it also has a huge line of jewelry stores if you want gifts for your wife or loved ones.
The Combination of all these activities the sun the beaches and blue water make for a perfect vacation. Its best you start planning before summer and make your reservations for your dream holiday, take this time to feel like a star and let yourself be pampered, dress up and enjoy every minute of it.
Apart from enjoying the sun and the blue water there are plenty of fun things to do the Caribbean cruise ships which make for a fun filled week with your family or friends. You have plenty of options from music to dance to fine dinning, movies, swimming, and sports, jet-skiing and even casinos. They even have an amazing with different types of massages when you want to relax. Its always important to plan your packing, you want to make sure you pack all your travel documents and medication.
You should also make sure you pack all your favorite dancing clothes because there is tons of dancing every night. On these Royal Caribbean cruise’s they have a wide variety of shows performances and entertainers every night. You even have a jazz bar if you just want to relax and unwind. The Fine Dining restaurants are perfect for romantic dinners so make sure you book ahead. If movies are your thing you even have a mini theatre playing your favorite movies for you. They also have a bowling alley onboard. There are so many fun activities I remember being a little boggled when I was in my room doing nothing.
As soon as you get on your given a seven day activity guide. If you’re planning on travelling with your kids, you have nothing to worry about. There are plenty of funky activities for the kids as well. If your kids like swimming the pool has some fun waterslides. The restaurants also have food festivals on for the kids. The Royal Caribbean cruise ships also dock at the port of St Kitts. This is a beautiful island with lots of sights to see, it also has a huge line of jewelry stores if you want gifts for your wife or loved ones.
The Combination of all these activities the sun the beaches and blue water make for a perfect vacation. Its best you start planning before summer and make your reservations for your dream holiday, take this time to feel like a star and let yourself be pampered, dress up and enjoy every minute of it.
Interesting Caribbean Facts
The Caribbean is unlike any other place in the world. It is home to some of the most beautiful islands and waters you will find anywhere. You will see white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters filled with some amazing marine life. The cultures that you will encounter are among the most carefree and relaxing in the world. There is truly no thing like visiting this area. There are many interesting things that you probably didn’t know about these territories.
Let’s take a look at some of the interesting facts about this region:
1. One of the most amazing Caribbean facts is that most of the residents are descendants of African slaves. They were brought there to work and once slavery ended, they remained in the paradise like conditions. There is not a central culture to all of the different islands. Much of the culture descended from the European countries that founded the islands. For example, the islands of: Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe have a very rich French heritage. Many of them speak French or with that accent and observe many of that nations customs.
2. On the same note a strange arrangement has been going on in St. Martin for hundreds of years. The Dutch and French have shared the island for over 350 years now. This becomes even more amazing when you come to realize that it is only 37 square miles in land mass. It makes it the smallest shared area in the world. While it is tiny, the two countries have coexisted nicely over the years with minimal problems.
3. The islands have been host to some of the most famous people the world has ever known. For example, Barbados was the only place outside of the United States that George Washington ever visited. The island of Grenada was also the first country to issue an Elvis Presley postage stamp. Nearly every celebrity has graced some Caribbean islands at some point in their history.
4. While mentioning Barbados, you should know that they have the oldest representative legislature in the Caribbean. They have been governing the island since 1639 and show no signs of slowing down. This is quite an accomplishment for any authority.
5. One of the most mind blowing facts that you’ll ever hear is that only about 2% of the islands are inhabited. Think about all of the islands that you have heard of. There is quite a list and all of these are inhabited. Now consider that that figure only represents 2% of the total islands that are down there. That is pretty amazing in itself.
6. The culture and economy of the majority of these nations is tied heavily to the United States. All of the trade with these islands is conducted only with the USA. This country is linked directly with their current culture and economy.
Overall, the Caribbean islands are an amazing place to visit or live. If you have never been there, you should check them out immediately. There is a good chance that you will never see another place as beautiful in your life.
Let’s take a look at some of the interesting facts about this region:
1. One of the most amazing Caribbean facts is that most of the residents are descendants of African slaves. They were brought there to work and once slavery ended, they remained in the paradise like conditions. There is not a central culture to all of the different islands. Much of the culture descended from the European countries that founded the islands. For example, the islands of: Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe have a very rich French heritage. Many of them speak French or with that accent and observe many of that nations customs.
2. On the same note a strange arrangement has been going on in St. Martin for hundreds of years. The Dutch and French have shared the island for over 350 years now. This becomes even more amazing when you come to realize that it is only 37 square miles in land mass. It makes it the smallest shared area in the world. While it is tiny, the two countries have coexisted nicely over the years with minimal problems.
3. The islands have been host to some of the most famous people the world has ever known. For example, Barbados was the only place outside of the United States that George Washington ever visited. The island of Grenada was also the first country to issue an Elvis Presley postage stamp. Nearly every celebrity has graced some Caribbean islands at some point in their history.
4. While mentioning Barbados, you should know that they have the oldest representative legislature in the Caribbean. They have been governing the island since 1639 and show no signs of slowing down. This is quite an accomplishment for any authority.
5. One of the most mind blowing facts that you’ll ever hear is that only about 2% of the islands are inhabited. Think about all of the islands that you have heard of. There is quite a list and all of these are inhabited. Now consider that that figure only represents 2% of the total islands that are down there. That is pretty amazing in itself.
6. The culture and economy of the majority of these nations is tied heavily to the United States. All of the trade with these islands is conducted only with the USA. This country is linked directly with their current culture and economy.
Overall, the Caribbean islands are an amazing place to visit or live. If you have never been there, you should check them out immediately. There is a good chance that you will never see another place as beautiful in your life.
Caribbean Island of St Thomas
Introduction
St Thomas one of the US Virgin Islands. St. Thomas with its lush tropical gardens, beautiful beaches, friendly people and interesting history. St Thomas is but a two hour flight from the city of Miami. Of the four US Virgin Islands St Thomas is the second largest and out of the four US Virgin Islands St. Thomas attracts the most tourist.
Beach
There are wonder and spectacular beach for swimming, sun and fun. Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches are found on the island of St. Thomas. A 32 square mile island of magnificent white sand beaches, through the middle of the island runs the beautiful running east to west with lush tropical vegetation and some of the most beautiful harbors in the Virgin Island. Dazzling white sand beaches and lush tropical gardens stretch as far. The St Thomas Island is consistently one of the top ten ranked beaches anywhere in the world. Some of the beach activities you will find on St. Thomas are: swimming, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sunbathing.
Caribbean
St. Thomas is an exotic Caribbean getaway. This 32 square-mile island is the home of the US Virgin Island capital and is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in the Caribbean. With some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, hotels, and resorts it is one the great places in the Caribbean for vacationers who love the ocean, shopping, studying history or taking photos. St. Thomas is the US Caribbean’s major cruise port of call and best of all duty-free shopping destinations. In all of the Caribbean Islands St. Thomas is known as one of the safest.. It is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see in the Caribbeans. If you are thinking about going on a Caribbean cruise, definitely the island of St. Thomas is one you would not want to miss. To best enjoy your St. Thomas Caribbean Island vacation is by taking in as much local culture as possible, plan on taking in local events, trying the local foods or listening to some of the local bands. With the some of the topped ranked beaches, the best shopping, great sports activities and wonderful dining this Caribbean Island of St. Thomas was made for.
Shopping
The shopping one St. Thomas is duty free, it has a duty-free shopping limit of $1200 with no sales tax. It is the highest in the Virgin Island. St. Thomas is home of some of the best shopping, it is one of the main attraction for many visitors to the island. The shopping areas here, are both very popular with the cruise ship passengers and vacationers. Exquisite dining, spectacular nightlife, and the finest duty-free shopping in the world are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas has a reputation as being the shopping capital of the Caribbean. Thousands of visitors go to St. Thomas yearly from the Caribbean’s region and throughout other parts of the world. The Island of St. Thomas has been a shopping paradise since the late 1600s and the early 1700s, the island was a refuge for many notorious pirates. Charlotte Amalie had become one of the busiest ports and trading centers in the Caribbean by the late 1800s. In Charlotte Amalie there is a wonderful nightlife, fantastic dining and of course the duty-free shopping. There are old warehouses that once stored pirate treasures, but now store the treasures of shoppers from around the world. Some of these stores are laid out like a shopping malls and are usually are packed with cruisers and vacationers.
Resorts
Lodging on St. Thomas can range from quaint inns and bed and breakfasts, luxurious private oceanfront villas to large Caribbean casino resorts. For a romantic getaway destination it is very popular, because of the many beach resorts that can be found on this Caribbean Island. There are many resorts which are designed for individuals of any age, but there are others that are designed for adults only. Many of the St. Thomas resorts offer amenities to help make your Caribbean Island vacation an experience to remember such as: tennis courts are available at most island resorts, jet skis and kayak are available in both single and double riders they can be often rented out by the hour at local beach front resorts, and provide an invigorating way to explore the beach and coastline.
On the island of St. Thomas you have an unlimited number of resorts, hotels, and other accommodations to choose from.
Some of those accommodations maybe the Sapphire Beach Resort, the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort or the Morningstar Beach Resort plus many others.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a great vacation try the Caribbean Island of St. Thomas.
St Thomas one of the US Virgin Islands. St. Thomas with its lush tropical gardens, beautiful beaches, friendly people and interesting history. St Thomas is but a two hour flight from the city of Miami. Of the four US Virgin Islands St Thomas is the second largest and out of the four US Virgin Islands St. Thomas attracts the most tourist.
Beach
There are wonder and spectacular beach for swimming, sun and fun. Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches are found on the island of St. Thomas. A 32 square mile island of magnificent white sand beaches, through the middle of the island runs the beautiful running east to west with lush tropical vegetation and some of the most beautiful harbors in the Virgin Island. Dazzling white sand beaches and lush tropical gardens stretch as far. The St Thomas Island is consistently one of the top ten ranked beaches anywhere in the world. Some of the beach activities you will find on St. Thomas are: swimming, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sunbathing.
Caribbean
St. Thomas is an exotic Caribbean getaway. This 32 square-mile island is the home of the US Virgin Island capital and is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in the Caribbean. With some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, hotels, and resorts it is one the great places in the Caribbean for vacationers who love the ocean, shopping, studying history or taking photos. St. Thomas is the US Caribbean’s major cruise port of call and best of all duty-free shopping destinations. In all of the Caribbean Islands St. Thomas is known as one of the safest.. It is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see in the Caribbeans. If you are thinking about going on a Caribbean cruise, definitely the island of St. Thomas is one you would not want to miss. To best enjoy your St. Thomas Caribbean Island vacation is by taking in as much local culture as possible, plan on taking in local events, trying the local foods or listening to some of the local bands. With the some of the topped ranked beaches, the best shopping, great sports activities and wonderful dining this Caribbean Island of St. Thomas was made for.
Shopping
The shopping one St. Thomas is duty free, it has a duty-free shopping limit of $1200 with no sales tax. It is the highest in the Virgin Island. St. Thomas is home of some of the best shopping, it is one of the main attraction for many visitors to the island. The shopping areas here, are both very popular with the cruise ship passengers and vacationers. Exquisite dining, spectacular nightlife, and the finest duty-free shopping in the world are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas has a reputation as being the shopping capital of the Caribbean. Thousands of visitors go to St. Thomas yearly from the Caribbean’s region and throughout other parts of the world. The Island of St. Thomas has been a shopping paradise since the late 1600s and the early 1700s, the island was a refuge for many notorious pirates. Charlotte Amalie had become one of the busiest ports and trading centers in the Caribbean by the late 1800s. In Charlotte Amalie there is a wonderful nightlife, fantastic dining and of course the duty-free shopping. There are old warehouses that once stored pirate treasures, but now store the treasures of shoppers from around the world. Some of these stores are laid out like a shopping malls and are usually are packed with cruisers and vacationers.
Resorts
Lodging on St. Thomas can range from quaint inns and bed and breakfasts, luxurious private oceanfront villas to large Caribbean casino resorts. For a romantic getaway destination it is very popular, because of the many beach resorts that can be found on this Caribbean Island. There are many resorts which are designed for individuals of any age, but there are others that are designed for adults only. Many of the St. Thomas resorts offer amenities to help make your Caribbean Island vacation an experience to remember such as: tennis courts are available at most island resorts, jet skis and kayak are available in both single and double riders they can be often rented out by the hour at local beach front resorts, and provide an invigorating way to explore the beach and coastline.
On the island of St. Thomas you have an unlimited number of resorts, hotels, and other accommodations to choose from.
Some of those accommodations maybe the Sapphire Beach Resort, the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort or the Morningstar Beach Resort plus many others.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a great vacation try the Caribbean Island of St. Thomas.
Some Luxury Caribbean Holiday Ideas
Have you ever heard people saying that they’re planning on taking a holiday in the Caribbean, but then unsure as to where in the region they’re going? It’s a common dilemma – the Caribbean is a great draw to tourists, with its 10 hours a day of sunshine and pristine beaches, but actually picking which island is right for you can be tricky. It would take more space than I have here to write a guide to each of the islands, so I’ve decided to list a handful of family Caribbean holiday suggestions to give you an idea of what to expect from this beautiful and relaxed area of the globe:
Barbados Sports Camp
If you’re planning on taking a family Caribbean holiday in August, then the free Barbados Sports Camp is a must for your children – allowing you to enjoy the sun and the sand in peace! Families may book up to four children between the ages of 9 and 17 for 1 to 5 days at the camp, where up to 100 children can get tuition from former professional players of Netball, Football and Cricket. Dividing the kids up by age group, and with the emphasis placed squarely on fun, this year’s coaches included Alan Hanson, Mark Bright, David Seaman, Sir Geoff Hurst, Mike Gatting, Olivia Murphy and Fiona Murtagh. With that pedigree of coaching it’s sure to not only be fun, but educational as well!
Explore Revolutionary Havana
The infamous Cuban revolution is still felt in every aspect of Cuba, from the attitude of the locals, to the propaganda and the statues. No more is this felt than in Havana, where Castro delivered many a memorable (if very long!) speech, and where there’s a monument to the failed revolutionary hero of the 19th century – Jose Marti. The Plaza de la Revolution is the place to go to get a feel for the vibe, where the iconic picture of Che Guevara is a truly imposing presence. Aside from that, the various museums of the city have all kinds of artefacts and items pertaining for the time, allowing even non-islanders to get into the revolutionary spirit on a Caribbean holiday!
Stay in an Antigua Spa Hotel
Antigua has some of the best spa hotels in the world, so if decadent relaxation is something you look for from a Caribbean holiday, then look no further. Amongst the more memorable options are being worked on by two therapists with a ‘Synchronised Massage’ at Carlisle Bay, or enjoying a Caviar and Pearl Facial at The Verandah Resort & Spa. The perfect way to unwind after a ‘hard’ day at the beach!
See the Grizzly Side of Jamaican History
Jamaica is widely known as a land of sand, sea and good times. However, if you want to see the grizzly side of the island’s history, not only can you visit the site of the last pirate execution, you can also dare to take the tour of Rose Hall – the former home of the infamous Annie Palmer. Immortalised by the late Johnnie Cash in song form, the legend of her life is different from every source, but the general gist involves a background in Voodoo, the murder of 3 husbands and relationships followed by the murder of many of the slaves on the building’s plantation. She was then herself murdered as an act of revenge. The reason why the house is still a highlight for luxury Caribbean holiday makers? Because many visitors report that the building is haunted by her from beyond the grave, despite the tomb she’s buried in being designed to keep her there for ever. Visitors report voices, bloodstains, footsteps, music and babies crying upon visiting the house, and many more see things in the photographs that they don’t recall seeing at the time!
Go Diving with Sharks in the Bahamas
In 1877, Mark Twain commented “You go to heaven if you want, I’d rather stay here” in his first visit to the Bahamas. It certainly is that beautiful, and the experience is no less pleasant over 100 years later! If you want something a little more challenging, then Shark Diving is something that many will see as closer to Hell than Heaven… Still for those who can stomach it and aren’t put off by the warning instructions (“never move your arms away from your body!”), there’s some fantastic photo opportunities, and of course a memory and anecdote that will last long after your Caribbean holiday is over!
Of course, in addition to this there is plenty of cross over – all the islands have splendid beaches, all of them offer conditions ideal for scuba diving and all of them have their fair share of nightlife for the visitors. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it on a family Caribbean holiday – whichever island you end up visiting.
Barbados Sports Camp
If you’re planning on taking a family Caribbean holiday in August, then the free Barbados Sports Camp is a must for your children – allowing you to enjoy the sun and the sand in peace! Families may book up to four children between the ages of 9 and 17 for 1 to 5 days at the camp, where up to 100 children can get tuition from former professional players of Netball, Football and Cricket. Dividing the kids up by age group, and with the emphasis placed squarely on fun, this year’s coaches included Alan Hanson, Mark Bright, David Seaman, Sir Geoff Hurst, Mike Gatting, Olivia Murphy and Fiona Murtagh. With that pedigree of coaching it’s sure to not only be fun, but educational as well!
Explore Revolutionary Havana
The infamous Cuban revolution is still felt in every aspect of Cuba, from the attitude of the locals, to the propaganda and the statues. No more is this felt than in Havana, where Castro delivered many a memorable (if very long!) speech, and where there’s a monument to the failed revolutionary hero of the 19th century – Jose Marti. The Plaza de la Revolution is the place to go to get a feel for the vibe, where the iconic picture of Che Guevara is a truly imposing presence. Aside from that, the various museums of the city have all kinds of artefacts and items pertaining for the time, allowing even non-islanders to get into the revolutionary spirit on a Caribbean holiday!
Stay in an Antigua Spa Hotel
Antigua has some of the best spa hotels in the world, so if decadent relaxation is something you look for from a Caribbean holiday, then look no further. Amongst the more memorable options are being worked on by two therapists with a ‘Synchronised Massage’ at Carlisle Bay, or enjoying a Caviar and Pearl Facial at The Verandah Resort & Spa. The perfect way to unwind after a ‘hard’ day at the beach!
See the Grizzly Side of Jamaican History
Jamaica is widely known as a land of sand, sea and good times. However, if you want to see the grizzly side of the island’s history, not only can you visit the site of the last pirate execution, you can also dare to take the tour of Rose Hall – the former home of the infamous Annie Palmer. Immortalised by the late Johnnie Cash in song form, the legend of her life is different from every source, but the general gist involves a background in Voodoo, the murder of 3 husbands and relationships followed by the murder of many of the slaves on the building’s plantation. She was then herself murdered as an act of revenge. The reason why the house is still a highlight for luxury Caribbean holiday makers? Because many visitors report that the building is haunted by her from beyond the grave, despite the tomb she’s buried in being designed to keep her there for ever. Visitors report voices, bloodstains, footsteps, music and babies crying upon visiting the house, and many more see things in the photographs that they don’t recall seeing at the time!
Go Diving with Sharks in the Bahamas
In 1877, Mark Twain commented “You go to heaven if you want, I’d rather stay here” in his first visit to the Bahamas. It certainly is that beautiful, and the experience is no less pleasant over 100 years later! If you want something a little more challenging, then Shark Diving is something that many will see as closer to Hell than Heaven… Still for those who can stomach it and aren’t put off by the warning instructions (“never move your arms away from your body!”), there’s some fantastic photo opportunities, and of course a memory and anecdote that will last long after your Caribbean holiday is over!
Of course, in addition to this there is plenty of cross over – all the islands have splendid beaches, all of them offer conditions ideal for scuba diving and all of them have their fair share of nightlife for the visitors. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it on a family Caribbean holiday – whichever island you end up visiting.
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