Bonaire Voted #1 Dive Destination

Once again, Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers Choice Award for 2007 goes to Bonaire! This is the 5th year the island has won. Bonaire also received the #1 rating in four other Caribbean/Atlantic categories: Healthiest Marine Environment, Top Shore Diving Destination, Top Destination for Underwater Photography and Top Destination for Beginners, and took second place in the categories of Top Marine Life and Top Small Animal Encounters. Additionally Bonaire placed in the top three in the Top Value and Top Snorkeling categories, and in the top five in the categories of Top Visibility and Top Destinations for Advanced Divers. Check your local newsstand for the January/February copy of Scuba Diving Magazine to read all the rewards!

Newsflash! Increased Airlift to the Caribbean!

Air Jamaica is increasing their flights to St. Lucia and Barbados from JFK starting January 11. American Eagle is adding two daily flights from San Juan to Anguilla starting December 14. Continental will add a second weekly non-stop flight from Newark to Bonaire on December 16. Delta has added a new non-stop flight from Atlanta to Tobago and will be adding non-stops and one-stops from the NYC area to Punta Cana on December 9. And lastly, starting January 6, Northwest will add a new non-stop from Detroit to St. Thomas. Bon Voyage!

Using Overseas ATMs

ATM’s are a convenience of the modern world that most of us are very dependent on. Consider the rules of using atm’s the same overseas as at home, if you are visiting a modern country. The only difference will be that the cash dispensed is in the local currency. However, if you are not visiting a modern country, such as many of the islands in the Caribbean, do not expect to find as many ATMs. Yes, every island seems to have them now, but not in the abundance we are accustomed to. So be sure you take out enough cash per visit if this is your primary source of funds while traveling. Not sure if your destination has an ATM? Both Visa, MasterCard, and most banks offer this information on their websites. Is your pin number longer than 4 digits? If so, call the issuing bank and make sure it will work in your destination. And the last, most important overseas ATM tip is to let your bank know you are traveling. It is common practice for most banks to turn off ATM cards being used in foreign countries if they have not been given previous notice. They do this to prevent fraud but it can certainly prevent you from having enough cash on hand while traveling, so be sure and let them know!

New Hotel Spotlight: The Ku, Anguilla

The best way to describe this new Anguilla hotspot is Minimalist Chic at the Beach! Conveniently located on Shoal Bay East, this glimmering beauty opened on October 15, 2005 and has sent guests home satisfied ever since. The Ku is a great value, compared to others on the island, starting at only $160/night. The all-suite property has a lively beachfront restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “Ku” means “sacred place” in the native Arawak language… and it truly is a sacred gem in the world of affordable travel.

Airline Approved Beauty Products:

Sephora, one of my favorite body product retailers, has jumped on the “good things come in small packages” bandwagon that arose from the FAA’s new restrictions on carry-on liquids. Their retail shops and their website are both featuring many of their top-sellers in tiny packages – all at or under the 3 OZ limit that is currently still in place. Having traveled over the holiday season, I was pleased to see that both airports I visited were kind enough to have stashes of zip-loc bags on hand for anyone that forgot. If this restriction becomes standard policy then we can only assume more companies will adapt their product sizes too.

Starwood Hotels Has a New Baby!

The hotel chain recently announced that the new Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa will open on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten on December 13. This hotel is a welcomed addition to the tiny Dutch island that’s only other hotel of the same caliber is the Sonesta Maho – a property that is often sold out forcing those wanting to visit the Dutch side of the island to seek accommodations on the French side and commute to the gambling tables. Hopefully, the new Westin will share in the spotlight of success that its sister hotel in St. John has enjoyed for many years.

Good news for NE travelers wanting some fun in the sun this holiday season! Beginning Dec. 2, JetBlue will begin a second nonstop flight every Saturday from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Aruba. The second Saturday flight will be a permanent addition to the company's schedule and will complement the existing daily nonstop service to the Caribbean island that began September 15. In addition, JetBlue will add a second daily nonstop flight from New York/JFK to Aruba for the holidays to support high customer demand effective from Dec. 21 through Jan. 7, 2007.

The Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism has announced a new yearlong marketing campaign called the Jubilee Year of Festivals. The plan will promote major festivals and events the twin island nation will host in the next 12 months. Highlights of the Jubilee Year of Festivals campaign include: 25 Reasons to Travel to Antigua and Barbuda, 25 Adventures You Ought to Try in Antigua and Barbuda, and 25 Tips When Traveling to Antigua and Barbuda. The new marketing campaign will showcase many of the properties that have recently undergon millions in renovations.

Zagat Comes to the Caribbean! Zagat, the famed publisher of highly acclaimed restaurants, bars, and attractions, has launched its first Caribbean issue covering Barbados. The 2007 Best of Barbados is the first to cover the Caribbean, extending quite an honor to the island nation. Of course, we’ve all known that Barbados was a fabulous dining destination, and now the world will get to read about 169 of its top tables. Also given many pages in the guide is the island’s offering of fabulous golf courses. Sure, most have heard of Sandy Lane since Tiger Woods chose it as his Destination Wedding location, but Barbados has many other golf courses, some challenging and some just as interesting being stepped in history. Pick up a copy of the guide before your next visit!

Curacao is adding more hotels! Curacao has surprised many of us in the industry as it has experienced a quick rise top spot on many clients dream lists of island vacation destinations. Not only does the island have stunning beaches and the same crystal clear water that has made neighboring Bonaire a dive Mecca for years, but Curacao wraps a history lesson into the vacation experience. The Hotel Kura Hulanda was built by eccentric entrepreneur Jacob Gelt Dekker, and features the Kura Hulanda Museum, an anthropological museum that showcases the predominant cultures of Curacao past and present. Jumping on the tourism boom of this tiny island are the Hyatt Regency slated for completion in Summer 2008 and the Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino looking to open its doors in December 2007. We can't wait!

St. Vincent Planning its First International Airport! Currently, when flying into St. Vincent, you must change planes and go through customs on one of 6 neighboring islands - Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. From these islands, you can make the connection to Union Island, Canouan, Mustique, Bequia, or St. Vincent. The tiny island nation recently announced plans to build an International Airport with completion set for 2011. While it is a long way off, many loyalists to the region are thrilled at the expected ease in travel.

Planning a Group Trip? A new company, Triporama, has launched a website catered towards group travel leaders. Visit our Group Travel page to see direct links. Triporama.com will allow you to post information about your trip and sent e-vites to others to join in the fun and coordinate flight and hotel plans. Created in a similar fashion to the ever popular wedding website industry, Triporama has attempted to make their services unique. Group leaders using Triporama can poll their friends to find out what travel dates work best for the majority. The format is fabulous because it allows all group members to share in the travel research process and work on their own time. Visit CaribbeanJourney.com's group pages to get started!

Who Knew? The US Coral Reef Task Force. I knew the US Government had many areas that I was not familiar with, but I was extremely surprised today to learn that the government sponsors a Coral Reef Task Force. The organization was established in 1998 in an effort to protect the underwater environment surrounding our shores. They made headlines today in an article documenting the recent and rapid decline of larger types of Coral in Coral. The large coral is being replaced by smaller, less protective coral. The US Virgin Islands could see a vanishing act of large Coral within 50 years and Jamaica has already lost most of its large coral. We can all take steps to help preserve the Caribbean, visit our Go Green Pages to learn more.

Changes are coming to St. Thomas! I am glad to see that the recent improvements scheduled for the US Virgin Islands are focused on St. Thomas. Over the past few years, St. John has taken the lead as the most popular US Virgin Island with St. Croix in a close second. But what happened to St. Thomas? It was catering to tourists on a mass-market scale long before its sister islands. I think it was a combination of a shift in the marketplace and lack of attention to the once booming island. Most of my visitors to the USVI want places off the beaten track so St. John and St. Croix fit the bill. The USVI government has decided “if you build it, they will come” – a mega yacht club that is. The Yacht Haven Grande is set to debut in March and will offer accommodations and amenities to mega yachts and their owners. Opening this December is the $28Million Crown Bay Plaza offering all the upscale shopping a gal could wish for! And to show off these changes, the island is increasing its air lift from many cities.

Couples Resorts & the Jamaican Tourist Board are offering a passport promotion. As most of you know, come January 8, 2007, all visitors to the Caribbean & Bahamas must have a passport. The increasing cost of passports is seemingly a deterrent for those wanting to visit the Caribbean. One of my favorite all-inclusive chains, Couples Resorts, has teamed up with The Jamaican Tourist Board and is offering a $200 spa credit per room for travelers who make Jamaica their first stop with their new passport. The passport promotion is valid for travel Jan. 1-April 1, 2007 and travelers need to show their passport at check-in to prove Jamaica is their first international stop. A five-night minimum stay is required and the offer is valid at all four Couples Resorts in Jamaica.

Westin St. John launches a pre-holiday sale. The Westin St. John is often ranked as one of the best family resorts in the Caribbean. The resort offers full kiddie amenities, a splendid sugar sand beach, and proximity to all of the eco-adventures St. John has to offer. The Westin St. John Resort & Villas is offering a pre-holiday special starting at $439 per night, available for stays November 25 through December 22-a savings of more than 60% off regular rates for this time period.

Philadelphia plans first Caribbean Festival. Ok all you Philadelphians! If you don’t have any plans this weekend, then head down to The Philly Travel Show for a “Caribbean Village” and learn all about the changes and seasonal offerings the Caribbean is featuring. Prior to that you can visit Macy’s in the King of Prussia Mall for some lively and entertaining Caribbean cooking demonstrations.

Caribbean Journey participates in island study. When the tourist board of St. Kitts called last week I was happy to answer a few questions letting them know who I considered the target market of the island. Most of my clients that book St. Kitts are in the 40-60 age range and pick St. Kitts for its relaxation, peacefulness, and history. Most have been to the Caribbean before and want something “different”. The island does not appeal to the eco-adventure crowd or young singles looking for the nightlife. When the results of the study were released this week, I was pleased to see that I hit the target market dead on: “Results showed the majority of St. Kitts visitors fall into the affluent and desirable baby boomer category, ages 42 to 60, who possess more wealth than the U.S. national average and who have taken at least one prior trip to the Caribbean.” The tourist board will use this study to try and market to other demographics not currently frequenting the island.

ASTA offers tips for stress-free holiday trips. ASTA, The American Society of Travel Agents has launched their annual list of stress-free holiday travel tips. With the holidays right around the corner, a few extra steps taken in the planning process can result in a much more pleasant experience.

Most of us know someone with a chronic illness or in too fragile a state to travel to the Caribbean for fear of lack of access to quality health care. We have just joined forces with a company that will give peace of mind and allow people who might no normally make such a trip, to go ahead. MASA or Medical Air Services Association offers air ambulance to every Caribbean island. Traditional travel insurance usually does not cover the full evacuation cost of the patient and family members. MASA does. The service is pre-paid in the same fashion as traditional travel insurance.

Dominica is launching a new marketing campaign called “Defy the Everyday: The Nature Island of Dominica." The island is targeting the ever expanding active adventure market who often seeks destinations that offer spiritual and physical experiences in natural settings. To support this, almost every hotel in Dominica has added Yoga to their offerings of amenities. Dominica is home to 3 National Parks, one of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Caribbean is already seeing the negative effect of the new Passport Initiative that goes into place in January. 2007 high-season bookings are down from previous years. The effort to combat this was the hot topic at the 29th Caribbean Tourism Conference in the Bahamas. Jamaica has launched the “Join Me in Jamaica” Campaign; "We propose to set up a number of coffee stations in major commuter terminals in the U.S. where we will hand out coffee in Jamaican-branded cups and have onsite passport sign-up desks in collaboration with the U.S postal service," said the Minister of Tourism. Check back with CaribbeanJourney.com for locations!

Mr. Nicklaus has completed the first of 3 courses planned for the new Cap Cana development in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The first course, Punta Espada, is open now and the other 2 courses will be opening in the near future. The completion of all courses will swiftly make the Dom Rep the top Caribbean golf destination. Punta Espada is less than 20 minutes from the Punta Cana Airport.

Turks & Caicos wins top honors at the World Travel Awards! The island was host to the annual event, dubbed the Oscars of the Travel Industry but I don't think the role of host played a part in the two prestigious awards that were bestowed upon the island country. The Turks & Caicos won for "World's Best Beach" and "World's Best Island Destination". If you haven't already visited this island paradise and you are an all-about-the-beach person, then make the Turks your next stop! The water really is as clear as it appears in all the pictures and the sand is that white. Combined, both features make for unbelievable visibility and some of the top snorkeling and diving in the world! The island is host to only one all-inclusive, Beaches Turks & Caicos. This resort won for the Top Family All-inclusive Resort - it even includes Scuba Diving! If all-inclusives aren't of interest, the island has many fabulous villas. For the entire list of winners, visit the World Travel Award's website.

Bluefield's Bay Jamaica is a sleepy fishing village on the Southwest Coast of Jamaica. It is not home to any hotels just 5 of my favorite villas of all time. The Villas on Bluefields Bay are in a rare caliber of Jamaican villas, truly representing the bygone era when luxury was associated with the simple elegance of four poster beds, fine china and linens, not neon glitz and glam. The houses showcase one of the finest collections of museum quality Jamaican antiques. The deep rich mahogany used throughout the villas is unlike anything seen in most modern Jamaican villas. From the grand selection of books to the fine merit of cuisine, the experience is truly a labor of love. Not only do the owners pay homage to the authenticity of a fine Jamaican home, but the staff pays close attention to even the smallest detail of service. To most of the staff, this comes easily as they have been with the property for 10-20 years. And this is only the interior! Gazing out of doors, one can see that the exterior and expansive 2 acre seafront property offers just as much for the outdoor travel connoisseur.

Welcome! A new blog... how refreshing! I am Laura Sangster, owner/operator of CaribbeanJourney.com, a Caribbean Travel Company. I wanted a platform to post tips and news for my client and a blog seems the perfect option. I have one other blog all about Destination Weddings - a must read for any bride considering a wedding away. Thanks for stopping by and check back often! Cheers!