Posts Tagged ‘Caribbean’
Cheap Caribbean Holidays To Dom Rep
January 13, 2012
The Dominican Republic offers visitors a chance to experience cheap Caribbean holidays in the idyllic beaches, natural beauty and year-round sunshine of a paradisiacal island, all at good value for money and with a distinctly Latin American twist.
In general the climate is tropical with hot temperatures year round and two distinct seasons: one wet and one dry. Temperatures vary very little across the year but the early wet season is generally the hottest time, while the early dry season is the coolest. In the capital, Santo Domingo, for example, averages vary from 25C in January to 28C in July.
The people of the Dominican Republic are a celebratory people, proud to honour their culture and heritage with numerous events throughout the year. Visitors will find that these events and festivals are a great way to learn about the country’s traditional music, dance, and crafts, as well as sample local fare and mingle with the people.
Looking for the cheapest hotels in Dominican Republic? Get the most for your money with an all inclusive hotel that has been carefully selected as the best value for money. Try any of the following resorts: Grand Oasis Marien, Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro, Bahia Principe San Juan or Grand Paradise Playa Dorada.
The Dominicans appear to celebrate some festival or other every month, most of them are patriotic in nature and some are religious fiestas. These are celebrated with music and dance. Nightlife in the beach resorts is fairly lively with bars and discos along the waterfronts. Many of the large hotel complexes provide their own entertainment often with live shows.
Lastly some advice regarding your safety and please don’t believe all you hear about the Dominican Republic being unsafe! Just take the same precautions that you would anywhere. Not walking down dark streets at night, not flashing large amounts of cash or wearing expensive jewellery. Why give anyone the temptation? If you are at all unsure, don’t do it.
Learn more about cheap Caribbean holidays. Stop by Jose Maurette Garces’s site where you can find out all about cheap all inclusive holidays and what it can do for you.
Activities in Antigua
May 26, 2011
Named by Christopher Columbus with the Spanish word meaning ‘ancient’, Antigua is an Island in the Caribbean Sea. It has an economy that is fuelled by tourism, relying on its image as a luxury Caribbean get away. And it does draw a lot of people the world over to experience its tropical beach scenery. To say it was a beach destination, however, would be to do it little justice, as there is plenty more on offer than the sand and the sea. This article is a brief outline of what else you can do in Antigua.
One way to get more out of a coast line is to do a bit of sea kayaking! “Paddles” is a company that boasts a “sea kayaking” adventure which lets you explore some of the islands beautiful mangrove inlets, having the wildlife pointed out to you as you go. On these trips you will learn how important these mangroves are to the coastline ecosystem, not only providing the filtering system which makes the waters so crystal clear, but also protecting the coastline from storms and sheltering baby fish.
If you are looking for a great way to end the week, then Sunday evening at Shirley Heights will give you just that, with good food and dancing. It used to be a historic military observation point, it sits on a mountain by the coast, and it hosts a giant barbecue every Sunday offering live reggae and steel music for dancing, and lots of rum punch for drinking.
You would be missing half of what the island has to offer if you stayed on land, however, for it is in the Caribbean sea. Scuba diving is a great way of exploring the ocean, and some trips will make your holiday. For example, the company Sting Ray City give you the opportunity to swim with some sting rays, and to help feed them. If you are lucky you will be shown how to induce sleep in them so you can hold them.
The reputation Antigua has for being a beach resort is deserved, but it falls short of what else is has to offer. There are great partied to be had inland, or in the sea you can meet some amazing creatures, but whatever you choose to do, your options are certainly more extensive than what factor of sun lotion to wear.
Which Antigua Hotels are nice to stay at.
Havana: Private Homes
February 21, 2011
We all know these are difficult days and there is no much money left for holidays and leisure in our pockets. So we have to find cheap alternatives – either that or stay at home and don’t go any where. If you are thinking of going for Cuba Holidays then I am going to give you a hint on how to cut down on the cost.
Hotels in Cuba as I mentioned before are not very cheap although there is a number of options for as little as $14.00 per person per night. The problem is that everybody traveling on a budget want to stay in these very few hotels so to find accommodation in cheap hotels in places like Havana for instance is extremely difficult. There is an article listing the cheapest hotels in Havana. Please follow the link http://www.qassia.com/the-cheapest-hotels-in-havana for more info on cheap hotels.
If you are traveling to Cuba on a tight budget then why not to take advantage of the excellent prices that Casas Particulares in Cuba offer. Casas Particulares is the term used locally for Private Rentals in Cuba. These properties have a special license from the government which allows them to accommodate Tourist.
Although it is very cheap there are few things you should know before you book on of this houses or apartments in Cuba. The government has given a license to the landlords that want to rent their houses with few conditions and limitations.
Home owners in Cuba that rent their houses follow the government restrictions. The risk of loosing your property or your license is too high. It is very difficult to find a house her you can stay on your own but there are ways. Visit Private Villa Rentals in Cuba if you require further advice.
So what I am trying to say is that staying in Casas Particulares in Cuba is a good idea for cutting down the cost of your holidays to Cuba but is not for everybody. This type of accommodation is suitable for people that have no problem sharing a house with a Cuban family.
There are very few houses, villas and apartments that risk rent on an independent basis. You will not find this advertised openly on the web as it is illegal according to the Cuban laws yet you can find few of them especially in Havana. If you want to stay independent on a private house in Cuba the best thing to do is get in touch with the landlords or the webmasters of websites advertising vacation rentals in Cuba.
Before booking your Holidays to cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk by Jose Mauricio Maurette for more information on the best twin centre Cuba Holidays.
The History of Jamaican Cuisine
January 8, 2011
Vacationing in Jamaica will always be fabulous, but it would be a big mistake to leave without experimenting with the cuisine at least a little bit. Your hotel in Jamaica will serve local native dishes, as well as a selection of Western style dishes. Traditional Jamaican cuisine has many influences, some environmental and some cultural. To understand the evolution of the diverse flavors of Jamaican food, one must take a look at the early history of the country.
The indigenous people of Jamaica are thought to have settled on the island sometime between 4000 and 1000 BC. It is easy to determine that they probably sustained themselves by consuming the vast variety of available seafood and tropical fruits in the area. The same traditions in the local foods exist today, but where did the strong flavors come from? When Christopher Columbus first arrived on the island in 1494, he found the tribe of the Arawaks preserving meat by adding peppers, allspice and sea salt. The same concoction is what we now call Jamaican jerk spice. Allspice, the cornerstone of classic Jamaican flavor, is the dried fruit of the Pimenta Dioica plant.
As is well known, Christopher Columbus claimed the island of Jamaica for Spain, thus the influence of Spanish dishes on the island. For example escabeche is a dish of poached or dried fish which has been marinated in a vinegary mixture. In 1655 the Spanish lost Jamaica to the British, and through many years of British colonization, the strong influence of English food and drink made its mark on Jamaica. Tea is consumed in huge quantities on the island, perhaps more than any other Caribbean country. Oxtail, Corned beef and cabbage are classic Jamaican main courses, as well as being distinctly British. Sugar cane plantations were developed over much of the island under British rule, adding a whole new dimension to the palate. Ice cream made with coconut milk became popular at this time.
Resorts like Ocho Rios Hotel offer great examples of Jamaican fusion dishes. Fusion cuisine combines the elements of cooking techniques and flavors from two or three different cultures, as well as incorporating local ingredients. For example, the influx of Chinese and East Indian slaves brought different varieties of curry to the island. Even today curry is a huge part of the regular cuisine in Jamaica. There are many curried meats available, but most commonly you will find curried goat and curried mutton. The Cantonese introduced their stuffed dumplings, which in turn became a pastry filled with spiced meat known as the Jamaican Patty. The British left their stamp with many dishes, one example that was fused with Jamaican ingredients is brown stew chicken or brown stew beef. British tradition used potatoes, carrots and meats in a brown sauce. Jamaican tradition uses no potatoes and lots of jerk spice.
A traditional Jamaican breakfast is a great illustration of all the influences on the local cuisine. The components are: ackee with saltfish, green bananas, callaloo, fried dumplings and saltfish. Ackee and saltfish is a combination of a lychee-like fruit and the Spanish influenced salt cod. Boiled green bananas, or plantains, are a traditional crop on the island. Seasoned callaloo’s main ingredient is a locally grown leafy vegetable, but also can include okra, chili’s, coconut milk, crab, lobster or other meats. Fried dumplings are a cornmeal flat bread whose origin can be derived from East Indian influences, as well as British.
Dark rum is perhaps the most iconic Jamaican product. As a distilled beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, it has a high alcoholic content. It is usually aged longer than gold rum, and therefore has a stronger flavor. Hotels in Jamaica will always have a healthy selection of local rums for travelers to sample. Dark rum is not generally used in cocktails as it is considered a flavorful drink on its own. The strong caramel flavor is very pleasant, especially served warm.
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Seabourn Cruises – Call (888) 655-6141 for Luxury Cruises
November 5, 2010
http://www.luxury-latitudes.com. Seabourn Cruises – the Best of the Best. See http://www.seabourn-cruise-guide.com
Duration : 0:1:25
Cancun – Mayan Riviera 3 vacations in one
October 8, 2010
Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Cozumel, 3 vacations in one, everything for everybody, fun under the sun. Turquoise Caribbean sea, powder white sand beaches, virgin coral reefs.
Duration : 0:8:11
How To Travel To Varadero From The United Kingdom
April 9, 2010
If you are looking to travel to Varadero in Cuba from the United Kingdom than there are going to be several things that you need to think about before you go. The city itself is fabulous and a fantastic spot any terrorist to visit. However, there are always going to be things that need to be considered before going on a trip there.
The first thing that it is important for you to be doing is to be making sure that you have all of the correct legal documentation that will allow you to leave England and across the border into Cuba.
You will also need to consider the cost of flights. Flying to Cuba from the United Kingdom is a rather expensive thing to do and as such you will really need to consider when you are going, as travelling during the busier summer months will end up setting you back a lot more money.
When you have your flights and all of the correct legal papers that you need, you can actually start to plan the trip. This will include where you are going to be staying, what you will be doing what you will be seeing when you are there.
It is also going to be very important for you to consider your safety when you are there and the safety of the people who you are going with. If you are going with a family, then this will be even more important, and therefore you should work out all of the little danger is that you might face when you travel there.
These are the sorts of considerations you will have before you leave.
There are so many activities to enjoy with you plan Cuba holidays now! Spending holidays in Cuba will give you the opportunity to enjoy the great culture, friendly people, and great food!
Sailing Vacations In The Caribbean
April 4, 2010
There are plenty of destinations for people interested in sailing and if you are tired of the Virgin Islands then move on over to the rest of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean islands are part of an island chain covering 2,500 miles. Given the enormous distance, it is no surprise that tourists spend weeks out there in order to enjoy the splendour that it has to offer.
Just like in the Virgin Islands, there are loads of charter companies you can try for a range of hobbies. These firms come in different sizes, but perhaps the best is the yacht charter.
When you charter a yacht, apart from the yacht, the other features and benefits that come with it are meals, separate guest rooms, a galley, toilet and shower.
Since you are the paying guest aboard the boat, you can customize the menu by telling the cook before the trip what you want to eat. You can help out by buying the provisions yourself, having someone from the crew do it for an additional fee or select a set menu from one of their pre-composed packages.
Since most of the islands in the Caribbean are small and uninhabited, you are certain to explore places that not many have seen. But if you can’t afford to rent a chartered yacht, don’t worry because you can probably get one that will cost as little as $50 if you are able to book a pre-arranged trip with several other guests to split the cost.
One thing you have to be ready for during you sailing holiday is the likelihood of a storm. These normally happen in the months from June to November. If you are not sure that this is the best time, book the trip on another date.
But if you are adamant about going on your dates, there are some online tools you can utilize to check if the area you will be sailing in has ever been hit by a storm before.
The other option is to plan your itinerary to the Caribbean islands further south because they are less likely to be affected by a hurricane. These places include the islands of Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, and Turks and Caicos.
If you like the idea of going sailing around the Caribbean there are ample opportunities. You could do far worse than start in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands and travel south or west. If you start in St Croix, which the pirates of old used to call Santa Cruz, you will not need a passpert and can take your pets with you, but you will need more ID if you call into foreign islands.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with St Croix Hotels. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.
What To See In Havana
April 2, 2010
You probably know already that the best way to know a foreign city is to walk along its streets. If you are considering Havana within your scheduled itinerary for your Cuba holidays then allow me to introduce you to the nicest walks in this amazing city.
El Malecon: This is by far the most beautiful see front promenade in the whole of the Caribbean. A walk takes about 1 to 2 hours depending on how many stops and cocktails you have along the way. You can even strip off your cloth and sun bath while resting on the top of the wall like so many others do.
Calle 23: Calle 23 is the main artery of the second most famous quarter of Havana know as “Vedado”. It is probably one of the longest avenues along which the social, political and administrative core institutions of Cuba are located. It is also full of bars and night clubs particularly interesting is “La Zorra y El Cuervo” popular for its Latin Jazz sessions.
Calle Obispo: This is probably the busiest pedestrian street in the whole of Havana. It is located in the Old Town and it is about 2 kilometers long. Calle Obispo begins in the spot where the Village of Havana was founded almost 400 years ago.
Calle San Rafael: It is a one kilometer long pedestrian boulevard along which many businesses, shops, bars and night clubs can be found. It is located in the vicinity of the Old Town.
Calle Galiano: This one is particularly popular among locals because of its many retail shops. The China Town and Casa de La Musica Salsa Palace are also located in Galeano Street.
It takes few days to get to see everything that is worth seeing in Havana. Whether you organize a walking tour from your hotel or you prefer to walk at your own pace in Havana you will be amazed by this vibrant city and your holidays will become and unforgettable experience.
Before booking your holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk by Jose Mauricio Maurette for more information on the best Cuba tours.
Cuba Holidays.
February 10, 2010
At this phase you are probably absolutely sure that Cuba is the country that you want to visit for your next vacation but most likely need some help on the actual booking process. This might seem a little bit trivial but it is definitely not the case when it comes to organizing holidays to Cuba.
The truth is that this Caribbean island is becoming ever more popular every year and this creates a problem for some travel agents . Cuba is definitely not a last minute destination , in particular if you are travelling in the high season.
High season in Cuba , comprises Easter period and the summer months of July and August, particularly popular among families travelling with children . November, December, January, February and March are awfully well-liked months especially among the European tourists in search of a warm country to escape from the cloudy skies and the cold weather .
Pretty frequently I get people calling asking me to organise an itinerary for them in the above mentioned months , but sometimes the enquiry comes too late . This is frustrating, equally for the customer and myself . For one pure reason, I just can not recommend anything worth it because all the popular resorts and best hotels are fully booked, leaving me with the only answer I can give . “I am really sorry but at this point there are no hotels available in the areas that you are interested ”
If you are looking to stay in big resorts then there is not much to worry about. The problem presents it self when clients are interested in combining areas like Havana, Viales Valley, Las Terrazas, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and or Santiago de Cuba. Areas like these with the exception of Havana are very limited when it comes to hotel availabilities.
If what you want is to put together a tailor made Cuba holiday in a high season my guidance to you is to call at least 4 months prior to departure in order to secure not only the rooms in your preferred hotels but also the best deal from the airlines . If you unfortunately did not read this article before and are thinking about a multi centre holiday to Cuba, there is always a possibility to find something available but is not going to be the kind of holiday that we wish for you.
In the case of low season months is very easy to find availabilities and good deals in terms of price and it really does not matter much when you call. Even so we feel very confident to put together the kind of itinerary that will fulfil your holidays
I truly hope you have found this article a useful resource and sincerely wish you a very pleasant stay in Cuba.
Please visit Cuba holiday packages web site by J. M. Maurette for further information on Havana Hotels