Caribbean Airlines

Small isn't necessarily a bad thing in the travel industry. In fact, for years I have seen a growing trend in my clients requesting smaller, more intimate hotels, namely boutique hotels. Whether or not Caribbean Airlines wants this title, I feel they do qualify as a boutique airline. The beauty of smaller companies is often more attention to detail, a lower staff to guest ratio, and overall more personalized service. Well, the Trinidad based Caribbean Airlines offers all of the above.

My Beach Baby

My daughter has been raised around the beach... from 2 years living in Miami, weekend trips from Atlanta to Hilton Head, and most importantly bi-annual trips to the Caribbean. She feels at home on the sand and it shows. These are some of my favorite shots from a special Mommie-Daughter trip we took in 2006.





I just returned from an adults-only vacation in Nassau and really missed my children. While I feel blessed to have the opportunity to run away with my husband from time to time, showing my children the world is one of my favorite things. Enjoy!

Michael Connors Antiques - True Caribbean Luxe

I have three of Mr. Connors's books and I lust over them quite often. His books, think indulgent picture books for adults, transport the reader to a time in the Caribbean when local craftsmanship included much more than carved masks and beaded necklaces. Try luxurious four-poster mahogany beds, planter's chairs, and marble topped console tables. Imagine an era where dinner was always served on fine English china, guests were seated around large polished mahogany tables adorned with 24" hurricane shades shielding flickering candles from the constant sea breeze that always found its way through the many open windows. Humidity so thick you could feel the weight of the air on your shoulders as you leaned back to take a long cooling drink of refreshment. That is the scene that plays out in my mind as I gently flip through Mr. Connors's books... More than any brochure that has crossed my desk, his books have the strongest "take me there now" effect. My favorite vacation spots are a few historic Caribbean villas, showcasing their own collections of rich antiques. They are seafront mansions lovingly cared for and graciously offered for rent.

If you have ever been to Paris, you will agree that the French have a 6th sense, a birthright of sorts, that makes them keenly aware of fine antiques. Sometimes, as I yearn for this sacred knowledge, I realize what is a French birthright, can be an acquired talent all my own. And this book is aiding my education:


I have yet to visit Cuba, but come hell or embargo, I will make it there in the next 5 years. And this book gets me so excited about my future trip:

Not only has Mr. Conners done a fabulous job of organizing pictures that speak into 3 lovely books, but being a connoisseur of West Indian Art & Antiques, he offers his expertise to the public through his NYC showroom and website. As expected, he live what he sells. This article in Traditional Home Magazine features his personal space, a marriage of Art Deco and West Indian delights that are certainly inspirational. Enjoy!

Caribbean Journey Gets a Wordle!

Busy-as-a-Bee and Needing a Break...

I am the one needing the break after a hectic few weeks of hurricane induced client drama... and yet my husband is the one spending this weekend in lovely Jamaica. (Yes, he does deserve it.) And so I am left with the children and the busy-business... dreaming of my next escape...

I love this picture of Lily. The car was loaded, we were due to depart momentarily for the 2 hour ride from the villa to the airport and she escaped the madness, kicked off her sandals, and jumped on the swing for a few more minutes of freedom...

Make a Difference - Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions

Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions is an organization built around giving back with a tagline of: "Preservation in Paradise". Having conducted their first do-gooder trip in 1990, they continue to plan 4-5 trips a year independently and another 3-4 in conjunction with the international Elderhostel program.





2008 Project, Hamilton, Nevis:

Alton Brown is Feasting on Waves

Alton Brown, creator and star of multiple shows on the Food Network Channel, is charting a new course, Feasting on Waves. The shows follows Alton's culinary adventure through the Caribbean islands.
The official word:

Alton Brown goes in search of America's culinary roots and Caribbean flavors in Feasting on Waves. He starts his journey on St. Kitts (aka St. Christopher), named by and for Christopher Columbus on his second journey to the new world. Alton, like Christopher, is traveling North and West through the Leeward Islands and on to the British Virgin Islands. Alton maintains the spirit of Feasting on Asphalt and seeks out the most authentic and traditional foods of the regions and meets the people who created them. Restaurants are the most obvious targets but Feasting is about the unexpected, so Alton also ventures to find roadside stands, street vendors, farmer's markets, farms, spice houses and homes of local cooks who make specialties of the region.

Enjoy his show and contact our Caribbean Travel Specialists to plan your own Caribbean culinary adventure!

Product Review - What's New on My Bar?

It pays to have friends with equaled passion for Caribbean travel! A dear pal recently dropped off a bottle of Jamaica's latest libation craze, not yet available in the US. Can you spot it?
In case you missed it, here it is debuting solo: Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum
The name Blackwell doesn't ring a bell? Try a quick Google search for "Chris Blackwell" and enjoy reading about one of the Caribbean's most fascinating sons. To summarize, think Bob Marley & Island Outpost Hotels. Even the label is quite lovely with a pressed wax seal and antiqued Jamaican map print:Well... it was so darn tasty on the rocks, but a wee bit strong for this gal. So I broke my own rule of Mojitos are ONLY concocted with white rum (Bacardi Limon to be exact) and gathered the limes, the mint, and the sugar cane syrup. Delish! (Recipe below)
And you must love a rum with its own Facebook Page:

Hurricane Ike Press Release from Turks & Caicos

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Caesar Campbell Mike Sottak
+1 649 231 6607 +1 649 941 4218
caesar@turksandcaicoshta.com mike@wiredislandtci.com


Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Industry Open for Business

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – September 10, 2008 – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) reports that it is largely ‘business as usual’ for the majority of its member properties and services catering to tourism in the island chain. Most properties in Providenciales, the main tourism center, suffered only minimal damage during the recent Hurricanes Hanna and Ike that passed by the islands. Greater damage was experienced in the outlying islands of Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay.

Power has been restored throughout most of Providenciales, and airline service by major carriers has resumed on regularly scheduled levels to Providenciales International Airport. Structural damage on Providenciales was minimal and no major beach erosion or environmental issues have been reported.

“We were extremely fortunate to have avoided a major hit to our tourism product, and are now prepared to resume business as usual in most places,” said Caesar Campbell, CEO of the TCHTA. “While September and October are typically slower months, and some properties are routinely closed for renovations during this time, we encourage travelers to consider the Turks & Caicos this fall and winter. As our country depends largely on tourism, it is important that we keep this economic engine running strongly as we work to help the less fortunate islands in the Turks & Caicos recover.”

Tourism operators such as scuba shops, fishing charters and others are also restoring their services back up to normal Fall season levels, and visitors can expect minimal if any, interruption from most service providers.

Smaller properties in the outer islands are still assessing damage and the TCHTA will maintain an updated status of all properties on its web site, www.turksandcaicoshta.com/fall08. A decision on cruise ship schedules will be made soon, after a more complete assessment of damages to Carnival Cruise Ship Center in Grand Turk has been made, although preliminary reports indicate that structure weathered the storms well.

Travelers are encouraged to contact their airlines, resorts and hotel directly to confirm reservations, and to monitor the TCHTA web site for more information.

Persons interested in making donations to the hurricane relief efforts in Turks and Caicos can contact 1-800-477 IKE4 (4534).

About the TCHTAThrough involvement and cooperation with its tourism partners, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) is dedicated to the achievement of sustainable growth in tourism for the benefit of its members and the wider community, while protecting and enhancing the unique character and environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). The TCHTA consists of more than 90 businesses and organizations, including the major resorts and property developments in TCI, as well as other businesses supporting the tourism and development industries. Additional information, including membership applications, can be found at www.tchta.com.

Shopping in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is a vacation destination unlike any other. Where the more traditional tourism hubs like Cabo or Cancun were somewhat gentrified prior to their current and more glamorized state, Punta Cana was scarcely a third-world city before it was seemingly conquered and converted into a mass of hotels and attractions and all-inclusive beachfront amenities.

Likewise, vacationing in Punta Cana is confined to the resort; they are sprawling and lapping over into one another, and the chance of you doing anything absent of a Punta Cana resort affiliation is fairly slim.

To combat any cabin fever that could transpire as a result of keeping cooped up in your hotel, when an opportunity to escape the shackles of an otherwise relaxing vacation emerges, you take it, and you embrace it.

Money—not that you haven't already extinguished enough of it by the time you actually make it to the Dominican, but we spend it, regardless, even while on vacation, and there are plenty of shopping centers in Punta Cana that will happily accept your money. While much of what you find there can typically pick up elsewhere, some are unique to the country and its culture.

Artesany Center - Offers everything from hammocks, crafted before you, to Guayacan wood pieces, to live shows. The Artesany Center inhabits a natural Dominican atmosphere and the crafts sold there are typically authentic and native to the country.

Plaza Bavero - Largest shopping center in Punta Cana. A diverse store selection populates the premises, ranging from drug stores to campy souvenir shops.

Plaza Punta Cana - A smaller bank of stores, situated across from the Occidental Flamenco.

El Cortesito Flee Market - Right on the beach and offering traditional Dominican textiles and food. Offers an eclectic sampling of the country's culture and its various exports.

If not for some novelty memorabilia, or the occasional deal, getting out from your Punta Cana resort and shopping can be your vacation from your vacation.

CookBook Reivew - Morgan Freeman & Friends Caribbean Cooking for a Cause

An important fact about me, if I wasn't in travel, I would be in food!

Punta Cana – Different City, Different Casinos

The city of Punta Cana is one drowned in All-inclusive resorts; a packaged vacation that has become a trend of recent years. All meals, drinks, entertainment, and activities are included in one reasonable price. So venturing from resort-property is somewhat uncommon and tragically limited, right? Wrong. There is a common misunderstanding that an invisible fence, somewhere, is keeping you from venturing off to other properties, and that is just not the case.

Recently, the gambling industry of Punta Cana has seen new casinos post up at some of the larger All-inclusives, mirroring their Vegas brethren in everything from the décor, to the games, and even the odds. No wonder, then, that as you walk through the doors of the city's casinos, that you are overcome by the same accosting characteristics; the flashing lights, the sporadic sirens, table games, and the slot machines. There exist, however, a few subtle differences between the two that run the risk of turning an otherwise enjoyable vacation into one that has you stretching every last dollar.

The Basics

• The casinos of Punta Cana offer the same odds as Las Vegas.


• Bets are accepted in both pesos and US dollars. However, casinos have lower minimum bets for those who play in pesos.


• Compared to Vegas Casinos, Punta Cana's are much smaller.


• Most will cash travelers' checks and allow you to charge chips to your credit card. ATMs are also abundant on the casino floors.
  

Game Differences

• Keno and SuperKeno are played much differently in the Dominican Republic. Unlike Vegas Keno where you select 20 of 80 numbers in the hope of having yours called, this version is played with a marked felt table and player-chosen balls sold for $5 each.
  
  Not only are the odds terrible, but the game is on rented floor space and therefore not affiliated with the casino.


• In place of Texas Hold'em Poker and Seven Card Stud are Caribbean Stud and video poker.


• British single zero roulette is replaced by a double zero version.

Casinos You Should Visit

• Casino at Paradisus Palma Real


• Bavaro Princess Casino


• Rio Palace


• Catalonia Casino

As with any casino experience, it is suggested to find and play the games that you are most familiar with and the ones that have favorable odds.

The casinos of Punta Cana are house in some of its larger All-inclusives, available to non-residents and ideal for anyone just wanting to sample the city outside of what their resort allows them.

Product Review - Guy Harvey Goods

I had the pleasure of meeting Guy Harvey at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show a few years back. Charming fellow. Having admired his artwork in homes of Caribbean friends for years, and loving his high quality T-shirt line, I am a fan. No other artist has captured the spirit of the ocean more than Mr. Harvey. The depth of detail on his originals, prints and tiles make us long for leisure days spent below the surface or quietly snorkeling from reef to reef. Guy's collection of goods has grown in recent years to include many fun items from dinnerware to towels and even wine. Raised in Jamaica and residing in the Cayman Islands, Guy stays in constant contact with the subjects of his talent, even going the extra mile to ensure conservation efforts are made to protect the species he loves. Visit the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation to learn how you can Make a Difference!

Limited Edition Print "Breaking Away":

Fine Art Poster "Down Under":

Men's T-Shirts:

T-Shirts for Little Boys too: