Caribbean travel tips and tricks

I just left the Caribbean and I couldn't believe the water was bathtub water clear.

The Caribbean is some of the warmest water in the world, and warm water is relatively unfriendly for plankton and other microscopic marine life.

If surface water is cold, it will sink, and deep water will be pushed upward in consequence. This vertical stirring of the water causes nutrients which would otherwise drop to the bottom to be brought upward, where they are reused by plankton. For this reason cold waters are rich in marine life, and larger animals that feed on plankton (like baleen whales) are found most often in cold-water regions.

But when surface waters are warm, there is much less vertical mixing, meaning less plankton — and clearer water as a result.

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Would love a winter vacation in the Caribbean and can't decide which island to go to - I want one that isn't rainy and cold in December (I want to swim and lie in the sand) AND has reasonable prices!! Aruba is great, I know, but, it's a bit pricey for us!
I'm looking for an inexpensive island that has tons of sun in Decmeber - I don't want to be rained on! When answering, can you let me know why you think it'll be great in December. Thanks!

Definitely Barbados. I've been there in December 2004, and it was sun, sun, sun. Trust me, it was paradise, escaping from the cold where I live, and I was able to enjoy the warmth!

Try comparing prices online and from travel agency to another, and do this until you find a fare that's a lot cheaper than most, then you grab it. For cheapest accommodation, and you don't care about luxury, but at least clean, then try Pegwell Inn Guest House.

This guesthouse is close to amenities, beaches, even of walking distance to fast food restaurants, especially post office, and there's public transportation right near that place - you could take a big bus into its capital, Bridgetown or even further Speightstown!

Hope this helps.

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i want to know where to visit that has good temperatures in september and october but no rain and a lot of hot sun preferably in the caribbean are i've already been to bermuda and bahamas so i want to go somewhere else preferably a young crowd and a party scene, thanks for your help

i have been vacationing in September every year for the last 10 in Puerto Rico. the weather is close to perfect hot sunny days with showers or storms in the late afternoon of early evening. you will not find better nite life than in San Juan and Old San Juan. in fact n October the have CandelaFeast in Old San Juan. great big party ! research it ! i guarantee you will love it
www.gotopertrico.com
www.tripadvisor.com (puerto rico forums)

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Located right at the tip of South America and surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the Caribbean is not just the No. 1 playground for the Americas, but also comprises movie-set beauty, coconut tree-clad mountains, verdant valleys of sugarcane and bananas, and seashore galore. Even the cities here glow with glorious architecture and the towns dotting the region have been established long before the automobile.

The islands are awash with island-flavored culture with just the subtlest hint of European influence, and world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, activities, attractions, and shopping. There are over fifty island destinations to choose for your Caribbean island travel and each has its own extensive catalogue of accommodations and activities for the Caribbeans famous exotic warm weather.

Below are our top picks for an awesome Caribbean island travel:

New Providence, the Bahamas

Most visitors erroneously call it Nassau because the island is the site of the nations capital, which was named after the Dutch Prince of Orange-Nassau in 1695 after he took over the British throne. In truth, the island is New Providence where about two-thirds of the Bahamian population lives, and where millions of dollars are invested in Nassau, Cable Beach, and Paradise Island. In recent years, New Providence has created a name for itself as one of the top places to visit when on a Caribbean island travel.

Considered an offshore financial center, New Providence is most obviously a fabulous shopping bazaar and Caribbean island travel destination. Stroll along the world-famous Bay Street and side streets and bask in the Caribbean carnival atmosphere. Or visit one of the out islands of the Bahamas - the famous Nassau and Paradise Island, connected with each other by a bridge.

But while the Bahamas has plenty to offer, what it is really most famous for is its island groove. The drumbeat is the essence and the soul of Bahamian culture with the instrument setting the heartbeat for all Bahamian music, including rake n scrape, Junkanoo and goombay.

Bermuda

An isolated paradise, Bermuda sits right in the middle of the great chasm - the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. Couple that with a history of English settlement and you have an island that is as unique as its topography. This Caribbean island travel destination is spotlessly clean, quaint, orderly, and extraordinarily pretty. Think pink and green. Pink for the pastel shades that wash this 21-square mile island. And green for the color of money that Bermudas offshore banking and insurance sectors generate. Plus, it is only a convenient 2.5 hour flight from most major cities on the US East Coast.

There are no slums, no billboards, and very, very few fast food outlets. Inconvenient? Not likely. Because all this is minor compared to the glorious sight this Caribbean island travel destination offers. From the colonial architecture of the tidy homes that line its roads to the fragrant tropical flowers - Bermuda is all beauty and grace.

T J Madigan
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-about-some-caribbean-island-travel-101533.html

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Part One of “Caribbean Cruises - Paradise Awaits” covered the growing popularity of cruising and highlighted the Eastern Caribbean. Let’s move onto the two other areas of the Caribbean you might want to cruise to.

Western Caribbean A Diver’s Paradise

The Western Caribbean has a more tropical flavor than the Eastern Caribbean and is becoming increasingly popular with cruisers. Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel and Costa Maya are among the most popular destinations in the West. Most ships that depart from Texas and Louisiana ports usually travel to this part of the Caribbean because it is so close and you will probably find the departure ports less crowded than ports like Miami.

Beautiful weather abounds year round but be aware that hurricanes can occur around the end of October to early November.

Snorkeling and scuba diving is world renowned and is perfect for those looking to spend their time engaging in water activities. Unique to the Western Caribbean are magnificent ancient Mayan temple ruins that are well worth taking the time to visit.

The Grand Cayman islands are easily the most popular destination in the Western Caribbean and are made up of three islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Brac. As it is a British Territory there should not be any language concerns and because of their Westerly location the Caymans are normally hurricane free making them ideal to visit any time in the winter.

Southern Caribbean Unwind In Lush Tropical Beauty

Lastly, we have the Southern Caribbean which is considered to be one of the last unspoiled tropical regions in the world. Antigua, Barbados, Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominica and the British Virgin Islands are the major tourist destinations in the area and they are all equally beautiful.

The dead of winter is the best time to cruise the Southern Caribbean and since this part of the Caribbean is not as popular yet it is less crowded and less expensive. The Southern Caribbean attracts the traveler that wants to get away from it all for some well deserved peace and quiet.

As temperatures in the Southern Caribbean remain pretty constant and tropical storms and hurricanes are unusual this is a perfect cruise destination for anyone wanting to see unspoiled natural tropical beauty. The Southern Caribbean is a perfect place to relax and unwind in some of the most beautiful settings in the world and the beaches will not disappoint.

With so many choices it can be hard to decide on which part of the Caribbean to sail to but rest assured you can expect a vacation you will always remember. Whether you plan to dive, shop, or just bum around on some secluded beach enjoying the sun you will find the Caribbean is just what the doctor ordered.

Mike Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/caribbean-cruises-paradise-awaits-part-two-74575.html

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If you had given up flying after the surge in air fares, it’s time you had a rethink. A Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai flight now costs almost half of what it did a few months ago. And the good news is that the fare cuts are not restricted to the main routes.

Over the last few weeks, airlines have quietly cut their fares. This has been attributed to the sharp drop in the price of aviation turbine fuel. ATF accounts for as much as 45 percent of an airline’s costs, and its price has declined by about 60 percent since last September to Rs 31,176 per kilolitre. Today, the price of ATF is down to what it was in July 2005.

The fare cuts could make a big difference for passengers. If you are looking to fly from Mumbai to Delhi this Friday and get back on Monday morning, you would pay just over Rs 4,500 for the ticket as against at least Rs 8,000 not too long ago - a fall that’s over 40 percent.

And it’s not as if the story is restricted to flights between high-traffic destinations. A round trip between Mumbai and Bhubaneswar that cost as much as Rs 8,500 is now down to a more affordable Rs 5,600.

Airlines have had little choice but to cut fares despite their numbers being under pressure as they need to get more people flying again. With most airlines reporting operating losses along with unused inventory, it makes sense to discount to a certain extent to fill capacity, Deep Kalra, CEO and founder, makemytrip.com, says.

Historically, it paid to book tickets in advance. That is the case this time round as well. A round trip between Delhi and Bangalore one of the busiest routes in the country could cost the traveller less than Rs 5,000 if booked now for the weekend beginning March 6. On the contrary, the corresponding fare to fly during the ensuing weekend is about Rs 1,500 more. The advance purchase fare is a win-win offer for both business and leisure travellers, says Sanjay Aggarwal, CEO, SpiceJet.

The drop in fares is not restricted to just domestic flights. Carriers like Air India and Singapore Airlines have also announced significant cuts. Airlines need to stimulate the market as load factors are falling since August despite a contraction in fares. Aggressive pricing is one way to achieve that, but it may impact them in the long run, Mark Martin, senior advisor, KPMG, says.

We cut fares by more than 50 percent in the last two months as ATF prices came down drastically. This will increase passenger traffic in the coming months, Air India’s spokesperson J Bhargava said. Likewise, Singapore Airlines has slashed economy-class fares by 52 percent to Singapore and other Southeast Asian destinations from India.

The question is how long can airlines sustain these fares. The drop in airfares was a reactionary gambit from airlines following the decline in ATF prices. It does not appear to be a part of a long-term strategy, thinks makemytrip.com’s Mr Kalra.

Tarun
http://www.articlesbase.com/flights-articles/flying-gets-affordable-once-again-as-airlines-cut-fares-755541.html

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i looked at a couple of sites to find cheap air fare but found no good ones nothing less then 308.00 round trip its for 4 adults and one minor of 17 yrs of age and could n e one tell me if that name your own price on priceline really work

Also consider when you are going, any holiday season or busy season will add to the price. Another site I like is www.farecompare.com, you can literally see what days are cheaper to travel if you pick when you want to go.

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MY FAMILY AND I WOULD TRAVEL ANYPLACE WARM THAT HAS CHEAP AIR TRAVEL. THERE IS 5 OF US ALL TOGETHER. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

This should help you: http://www.farecompare.com/maps/myAirportCategoryMap.html?departure=DTT&category=Domestic
It's Farecompare's "getaway maps" which tracks all published airfares from any given destination. Looks like Fort Myers for only $119… sounds pretty good to me! Click the fare you want, then the dates it's available, and it walks you through the booking with Orbitz or another reputable booking agency.

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Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling, either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any ideas on bike rentals.

I can only tell you about Puerto Rico because I have never been to the other places. But Puerto Rico would be great for cycling. Puerto Rico is beautiful, the whole island is beautiful. The outer edges are tropical beaches & the center is all lush green mountains. I think the mountain terrain would be good for cycling b/c u will go up & down & you can discover beautiful things along the way. PR is a US commonwealth so you will find the roads all paved & smooth & safe to travel, other islands might not be this lucky. Also there are alot of 'off the beaten path' type of trails through mountains & junglesas well. Puerto RIco has its on cycling federation. I included the website, however it is in spanish, but the first website about PR is in english. Spanish is the main language in PR but majority of people speask english as well.

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Would like to know of all the legal islands/countries that have legal nude areas?

For trip for a single guy who likes to just enjoy it freely and wants to get away from it all.

I go to both Hedo resorts. I dont agree with the writers comments about single guys. I am and have a great time everytime I go. They are plenty of single people. Especially at Hedo 2.

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